Retirement and Real Winter

After 50+ years of various employment, I finally hung it up at year end.  My co-workers had a very nice send-off for me this week.  Here's some of the stuff that happened as a result.

Some truth in all of that.  Meanwhile, we're having the first real winter in a recent memory.  This snow plowing shot is from muzzleloader season.

Propane delivery for heat - a necessity and expense.

The thermometer on this camera isn't right - I suspect it is influenced by being in the sun.  But notice that the pond is frozen and snow covered.

And this is a couple days later with some tracks across the pond surface.  This camera had 2,000 photos but not one of whoever made those tracks.

We're having another Artic blast this week.  It's 3F as I'm writing this.  And the winter has already been pretty tough.  I decided to give the herd a little boost with one 50lb bag of cracked corn.

I spread it in 4 different spots but this stump is one of my regular mineral (salt) spots.

I did archery hunt this weekend.  I thought that movement might be good just ahead of the chill.  There were nine does out at last light.  I thought it would be better.

This is the brassica field.  They've obviously been digging thru the snow to get to the turnips and radishes.

But they've also been digging to get to the clover under the snow.

From above - you can get an idea of the traffic.

I really like the snow to see where they've been traveling. 

There are some "highways".

The stands of pines are popular.

Travel thru the prairie plot.

Pines for bedding.

They are pretty amazing to survive this weather.

The search for food when it is least available.

And the metabolic demand is the greatest.

This is my mineral stump area - no food in there at this point.

But I guess the mineral demand is still high.

I can't imagine being out 24 hours in this weather.

And they just lay down in the snow - the beds are obvious due to the bare spots from body heat melting snow.

Other animals are out in it too.

Like bobcats.

And coyotes.

The antler shed is just getting started.

It mostly happens between now and March.

Some hang on to them longer than others.

Frustrating shot.

Healthy looking coyote.

An owl arrives.

On watch.

Make it a pair.

Camera tour this week.

And action during muzzleloader season.

I'm planning to attend my first SCI convention this week.  It should be interesting.