Fawns, Foodplots, Bobcats and Bucks

 So, it is that time of year.

I see more fawns each time I check the cameras.

Sometimes with Momma.

Sometimes off on a frolic.

 I haven't really tried to determine how many individuals there are.

So far, I haven't seen any obvious cases of twins.  Occasionally, I get a photo of a predator a few minutes after a photo of a fawn.

Apparently there had been enough rain over the last two weeks to get things germinated.  This plot had a legume mix and I added some sunflowers.  I can see some of the right stuff up but also many weeds.

This was a sunflower only planting.  It looks like the birdseed did pretty well.  I'm not planning to put up the deer tape to protect the sunflowers this year.  They're going to have to fend for themselves.

 Another field of legume mix.

Many of the pumpkins that I planted were up. Notice the deer print in the field - I didn't have the tape up yet.

 The largest pumpkins have the worst germination rate.  I'm hoping that they are just slow and will eventually fill in the rows.

Most of the rows weren't bad.  I only had 1/2 of the field planted previously.  I was back to finish the other 1/2 with pumpkins that have shorter times to maturity.

Unfortunately this is what the car was showing when I arrived.

 I got the rest planted but I was too cooked to finish tilling for weed control.  I did get the tape up.

 I'm not sure who's print this was in the field.  It was pretty large.  Dog, coyote, or bobcat?

There were several sightings like this one.  Large cat, bobbed tail, striped underside.

 Pictures not all that clear.

 But there were also pictures like this one.  Cat not as large, tail longer.

But some coloration like a bobcat (hard to see - click on photo).  Just a plain old house cat gone feral?

 And of course, the coyotes.

 They do seem to show up on camera 10 minutes after the fawns.

And the neighborhood dogs are out and about.  They were absent for awhile.

All these predators and we still see turkeys.

 The three amigos.

I can never get over what the ticks do to the deer at this time of year.  I'm not sure if those are ticks or flies on the back.

 The bucks are starting to show some antler.

 Some more than others.

 Sunrise.

Stretching.

This fella looks promising.

 Wow - that's quite a start.  Can opener shaped brow tine looks familiar.

Nice brows.

With kickers.

And the size of those bases.  Serious potential.

 I was gone for 2 weeks so who knows how much evaporated.  It's dry now.

 Before I planted at last visit.

78F after 8:00pm - it was hot.

I don't get out in short sleeves very often.