Trailcams and Snow Frolic

There was a good snow cover before we arrived and we had about 8 or 10 inches of fresh snow while we were here.  Dave, Dawn, Graham and Grant came for a visit so we had a pretty good time in the wet snow.

 We've had exceptionally cold weather this week (below zero) and the pond was pretty well frozen.  Only the aerator keeps some open surface.  There were some hoof prints on the ice.

It was warmer on Friday afternoon when we arrived but a storm was predicted over night.  The deer have been working on the turnip field.

 Shortly after we drove in, there were 6 deer out there rooting around.  They get the turnip bulbs and I think it is a real winter treat.

 Here's one they didn't quite finish.

They were also digging around in the clover field but not to the same extent as the turnips.

We are still in a battle for our food with the mice.  This one was on a cabinet turntable.

 Saturday morning there was a fresh layer of snow.  It was closer to freezing and it continued all day right at the freezing mark.

 I think we ended up with about 10" of fresh snow.

 We bundled up and headed out for a Ranger tour.

 We had to compact a run for the sleds.  I used the Ranger to pick up at the bottom of the hill and the snow was so deep that it had a hard time climbing back up the hill.

 A little thick and sticky but we got it to work.

 Not sure why we picked this spot below the pond stand.

Snow and a little misty rain fell all day.

We decided to build an igloo.

 Although I think some were tearing down as fast as we were building.

They ended up with a tunnel thru it.

Supervisors in front of the fire.

 Eventually hot chocolate and a serious game of Monopoly.

I had no luck getting photos of the visitors to the feeder.  I think these are junkos.  We also had red bellied woodpecker, dove, cardinals, and a really small red bird (not sure what it was).

 I gave them another taste of corn in front of a couple cameras.

 Here I am last time putting a little deer scent under the last (3 week old) piece of venison. I'd been trying (unsuccessfully) to capture some predator photos.

 Yellow lab predator.

Freshness didn't seem to concern her.  I'm done with this predator baiting.

 A little wiener dog.

 Sheppard mix.

 Black lab with something in its mouth.

 And a real coyote.

A few antlers still showing up.

 The corn parade.

Artistic shot.

 The screw on the trap door of this camera fell into the snow.  I gave up and left it open.

 One sided.

 Check the eyes in the background.

A squirrel still visiting an empty bait site.