Ranch Bucks 2012

For the first time I can recall, an entire deer season and post season has passed without sighting of a large buck. Typically we’ll see at least a couple of big bucks during the hunting season or at te very least during the post-season rut.

This was a slim year for bucks. Maybe it was due to limited forage related to low rainfall or maybe something else. We didn’t fire a shot this year as none of the bucks we saw justified shooting. We could have killed  forked horn bucks, but decided to pass. Here are a couple of photos of this year’s larger bucks.

This buck was following does in November.

The buck is a little hard to see, but if you click on the photo to enlarge it, you’ll see him in the center of the photo behind the yellow grass. He’s bigger than any we spotted during the hunting season.

Here’s a buck we saw frequently and he lives in the middle of the ranch. We passed on many opportunities to shoot him. We’re hoping he’ll live long enough to grow some better antlers.

Hopefully, this buck can avoid the mountain lions for a couple more years.

There are two bucks in the photo. The one behind is smaller than the centered buck. Maybe we’ll get better horn growth this year and these bucks will tempt us in 2013.

 

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How Many Mustangs can a Gray Wolf Eat?

Non-native wild horses are overly abundant in many western states, including California. Their presence has a negative impact upon the habitat of many native species including mule deer.

Another species is now present in California that may also have a negative impact upon mule deer. Concerned about predation by gray wolves, I asked a biologist friend if he thought gray wolves would impact the California mule deer population.

His response may have been only half serious, but he said the wild horses might have more to worry about than the deer.

In an effort to do some research and establish parameters for continuation of this discussion, I conducted an internet search for more information. I searched for “Wolves and wild horses” on Goggle Search.

This was my answer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2b2ZMwxMsXM

Not satisfied with this answer, I modified my search and came up with information provided in the following link. I believe the second link is  more accurate and realistic: http://washparkprophet.blogspot.com/2007/09/lions-wolves-and-horses.html

For each horse that feeds a wolf, we’ll probably gain about ten mule deer. Wolves or horses? It’s a close call.

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Harsh Reality

Ground squirrels are a key component of the grassland ecosystem.

The three-foot rattlesnake crawled out from under the  brush-covered rock pile where it had spent the night digesting the carcass a young California ground squirrel. Adult squirrels are difficult prey for the snake, but springtime produces young squirrels, not wise to the dangers of the grassland.The air was cool, but the rays of the morning sun inviting, as the snake stretched out into a position which allowed it to achieve maximum exposure to the heat source.

From its perch atop a blue oak, the red-tailed hawk spied the movement in the grass. With a hop upward and a 30 yard glide to the ground, it talons reached for the snake which was unable to retreat quickly enough to avoid disaster. The redtail climbed into the sky, holding the dangling reptile. The bird flew across the deep canyon, the snake hanging conspicuously, until it reached a spot where it felt safe enough to finish its meal.

While perching on a large boulder, the predator bird strattled the snake and ripped the still-live quarry apart – eating until it could hold no more.

Hen merganzers often have large broods. They cruise the lake shallows feeding on minnows and insects.

The hen merganzer led her brood down the estuary towards the lake below. Like a drill Sargent at the parade grounds, she uttered guttural sounds as the young birds chased minnows in the shallows. Suddenly her sounds became more agitated and the brood immediately sped to her side. Several of the small birds climbed on her back and the others crowded against her side. The group swam down stream at full speed with a roostertail wake behind them.

A bald eagle dropped from the sky, dive bombing the group and the hen dove beneath the cold waters to avoid death. The young birds scattered, but a second eagle appeared and then a third,  hovering and circling the brood like a flock of seagulls on a school of herring.

The mother merganzer surfaced for air, but she was no match for the attacking eagles. The white-headed monster from the sky had her it his grasp and in no time was carrying her limp body off for a meal. The other two eagles continued to harass the young merganzers until they each had one of their own with the other members of the brood were left to fend for themselves. In only a couple of minutes, the peaceful morning search for pond smelt had turned into a massacre.

Bald eagles are common around lakes and streams where they often feed on fish and waterfowl

The blacktail doe called softly to it fawns, which climbed to their feet to join her. Immediately they began to nurse eagerly. The mother let the young deer have their way for a moment and then turned to lead them onward. In the dwindling light, they approached a county road. The doe stopped for a moment before climbing down the steep embankment. The fawns were not far behind her.

Reaching the road, they began to cross. The sound of an approaching auto caused her to quicken her pace.

The driver of the auto was caught by surprise when she spotted the fawns directly in front of her, standing as still as statues, eyes reflecting the light from her headlights.

Swerving quickly, she momentarily lost control of the vehicle as it slammed into the hind quarters of the doe, which took one final bound and disappeared into a thicket of ceanothus.

The two fawns walked across the road and up to the dying doe. They hesitated and then laid down beside her still-warm body one last time.

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Supporting Deer and Deer Habitat

The Livermore/Pleasanton Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation (MDF), has been working to “Conserve and Protect” California deer and their habitat since 1993. During that time we’ve raised funds in support many projects that enhanced habitat, supported California’s Department of Fish and Game (CDFG), reduced deer deaths on highways, educated youth, supported hunting programs and firearms safety – to name a few.

In recent years, MDF has worked with the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA) and a coalition of various conservation organizations to support programs within CDFG during these times of change. In addition, legislative efforts, coordinated by COHA, have created a new environment where our voice as outdoorsmen and women is louder than ever.

Hunters purchased 175,000 deer tags last year with a harvest about 30,000 California deer in 2011. About twice that many deer were likely hit by cars on California highways. We do not know how many deer were killed as depredation for agricultural crop losses. We can only imagine how many deer were killed by poachers. Sale of 175,000 deer tags raised several million dollars to support California wildlife programs.  MDF and other conservation organizations, like COHA, led the fight to pass legislative reform requiring public oversite over these user fees. Deer killed by cars, depredation, poachers and mountain lions raised no money for wildlife.

But, automobiles, hunters, poachers and farmers are not a serious threat to the long-term health of California deer herds. Despite the fact that mountain lions prey heavily on deer they too are not a huge threat to the viability of healthy deer herds.

During California’s lengthy run of economic success, industrial prosperity, population growth, agricultural expansion and residential construction, deer have declined. Deer habitat is disappearing  and that loss of habitat is the biggest problem  facing deer and other wildlife.

Hunter or not, many people appreciate deer as one of the remaining large mammals that live in our open spaces both nearby our cities and in the remaining wild places of California. The Livermore-Pleasanton Chapter of MDF is asking you to support our efforts to keep deer relevant.

It is concerned citizens that will make the difference for deer in the long haul. We are making it our business to stay involved with our wildlife managers to track deer numbers, better evaluate population changes, improve habitat and educate the public about how important deer are to our  culture and outdoor experience. Please help MDF  accomplish its mission.

Headquartered in Salt Lake City Utah, the Mule Deer Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization with 2,500 California members, 11 California chapters and over 13,000 total members. Donations are tax deductible. Membership is $35 per year and entitles members to attend MDF functions and receive “MDF,” its offical magazine, each year.

Bob Holm and I are co-chairs of the Livermore-Pleasanton Chapter of MDF. We are very interested in helping you help deer. Contact information follows. We would like to expand our committee, find merchandise donors, new members and people who want to support our efforts. We have no magic, but we do have an organization, a good mission and cooperation from people who can get things done.

Rich Fletcher (925)989-4372 richfletcher@sbcglobal.net

Bob Holm (925)447-2044  rholm@hughs.net

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Palmated Mule Deer Buck

This palmated buck hid in a creek bottom, but a doe distracted him for a photo. The sun made photographing difficult, but the palmation is clear.

In my recent travels, I spotted this palmated buck following a doe in a creek bottom. Although it was mid day, a couple of my photos showed the palmation, a very rare occurence in mule deer – first one I’ve ever spotted.

Here he is from the opposite side. I tried, but failed in attempts to get a better photo of him.

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First Rut for this Buck?

 

First time?

 

That's better.

 

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Bucks and Birds

On Friday Rob and I made a trip to the ranch. We noticed that the does were scarce, but bucks were in the open with antlers growing larger. On the way home we came upon this buck. (Click to enlarge.)

These birds were finding a meal on the back of this buck.

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Piebald Blacktail Deer

Photos of piebald deer are rare. However, the West Coast of Washington is home to the gene that produces this color abnormality in blacktail deer and occasionally photos pop up. Here’s a shot I received from George DeBell, a Seattle hunter who found this deer approximately ten miles west of Centrailia, WA.

Piebald deer have both normal and abnormal coloring.

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The Rut

During the BC hunt, I was able to video bucks chasing does on two occasions. Watch these videos and you’ll see for your own eyes that whitetail bucks are more aggressive breeders.

The first clip is a good-sized muley buck and the second clip a smaller whitetail buck. These deer were filmed within a mile of each other.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOh8hv9pTUg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gMFgIa9lRb8

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Can’t Stockpile Wildlife

When you think you have control over a population of animals on your property, you’re heading for disappointment. Nature is designed to end surplus and if you don’t step in when a surplus is available, something else will.

Deer living in groups are less succestible to lion predation.

We found this out a few years ago when we had a rather unusal buck on our property. He was so unusual that we named him the high-horn buck. High-horn, lasted a few years and when we finally decided he was about large enough to shoot, he dissapeared. We believe he wandered onto the neighboring property, or maybe somebody decided to poach him. We’ll never know for sure.

Last summer we had two nice bucks hanging around and we could probably killed the largest of the two if we chose to, but we elected to pass and now the two bucks are just one. The largest has vanished and we believe a lion got him. Our deer numbers are down significantly – just when we thought we had a bunch of deer, numbers have dwindled.

These yearlings stick close to our camp in a group of five.

When a lion is working the area deer become less visible. Some have been killed, other have moved to nearby neighborhoods and the remaining deer are quite reclusive and nervous. 

Now that the second large buck is living alone, he may be vulnerable to a lion attack like his buddy. He’s a nice buck, but there’s nothing about him to entice us to shoot him this early in the season. We may have regrets before the season is out.

A lion like this can take a heavy toll on a local deer population, especially if she has juvenile cubs.

 As we walked the perimeter of one of our ponds, photographing frogs and salamanders, we came upon the bones of a small buck Rob had seen at the pond a couple weeks ago.

This young buck was hanging out by itself the last time Rob saw it alive.

It’s just a fact that you can’t stockpile deer, especially when (in California) you have no legal way to manage lions to increase deer numbers.

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