They sure do grow up fast...

Everyone has heard this especially if you raised kids of your own, but no where is it more true than in nature.  I happened to bump into the set of whitetail twins that I found nearly a month ago.  Quite a difference between those first days when it was difficult for them to even get up and keep their legs under them, but now they're up and running covering 40 yards quicker than even the fastest athletes.  What a difference thirty days can make. They still know their best defense is to lay motionless and stay close to where their mother leaves them.  Mother does know best.  Not even a deerfly bite in the eye can make them flinch.

The pheasants seem to be growing just as fast also, but we'll be running into quite the variety.  I've seen a couple broods that have grown nearly as big as a partridge, and some have not even hatched yet.  No pictures yet, but I'll try to roust up a few and capture them as they develop into that long-tailed cackling rooster.

Who gives a hoot?

We do.  With all the rain that we've received lately it's been a little tough to plant food plots, but we did manage to find some time and some land that was dry enough on Fathers Day.  The majority of the planting is done although we've still got plenty to do. With another shower on Sunday night the new plantings got a good soaking (not that they needed it), but the rest of the planting will be pushed back a few more days. 

While Cordie planted away I managed to slip out and look for some photo-ops, and found this young great-horned owl in the pond on "Old 16-North" as we like to call it.  It's sibling was sitting nearby on another downed, and drowning tree, but was hidden by the grass.  As I snuck closer for a better shot they quickly took to the air and a drier and safer spot in one of the still standing Cottonwood trees.   One of the parents perched nearby and with more of my annoying movements they all soon took to a different area.  

If I don't blink, you can't see me.

  

Stripes and Spots are in this Spring!!

I'm no fashion expert, but from what I gathered while mowing trees last week was, that if you're a baby animal born in the month of May or June you better be wearing stripes or spots.  They all look pretty cute right now, and we seen everything from pheasants to ducks to whitetail deer, and even some rabbits.  We were lucky enough to catch a pheasant nest hatching out, and although I kind of muffed the pictures you get the idea.  I may have another chance since we marked about 25 nests.  This weekend Cordie counted and we still had 14 hens sitting on anything from about 6 to 20 eggs.  I counted three different broods that were already hatched while I was mowing between the trees at K&M, and saw at least six chicks in one and eight in another. 

The ducks should have a good year also.  This small mallard brood followed its mother everywhere she went.  We've got two other duck nests marked- a pintail, and blue-winged teal.  They should be hatching any day also if they haven't already.  June is the primetime when nests can pop at any minute.

This whitetail fawn lay motionless as I snuck close to take a picture with my phone.  After going by it the several times with the tractor and mower it had had enough and moved to a more peaceful place.  It's twin sibling lay only a few trees away down the same row, but didn't have the nerves of steel to let the tractor pass by.  It too scurried away on shaky newborn legs for another shady spot under a tree.  Momma wasn't too far off and had rounded the two up within a couple of hours of me leaving the area.  I spotted a third fawn in a different tree row that also found a more peaceful hiding spot.  All in all things are looking good for the fall. 

It needs to dry out a little before we can start planting food plots, but the chance of rain everyday this week, may not help us there.  There's still time, and everything else is top notch so we're not worried.  Once we do get them in the ground they should come up quick and thick with all the moisture.  Plenty of things to look forward to.

First Fish...

...of this year, of course.  Kellen and I got to spend a little time fishing and checking out the ponds while we mowed around the trees at K&M.  It was a successful outing with a couple of bass being caught along with one bluegill.  The fish seem to be in good shape, and it looks like the bass had a good spawn last year after we placed them in the pond. Lots of little LMB were spotted in the shallows.   I spotted several bluegills setting up their beds to spawn so they seem to be getting along fine also.  Not sure about the perch pond, but their is definitely life.  We haven't managed to catch anything yet, but their is plenty of food in the form of the minnows that we put in there last year.  We had a few bites, but nothing officially hooked and landed.

I've been thinking about adding a thing or two to the ponds, but as of now they seem to be in pretty good shape.  We'll continue to check on them as often as we can and keep everyone updated on any exciting finds.  I guess when it comes to fish patience is the key.  Don't forget to take a kid fishing.

Turkeys Win!!

As close as he would come.

It's been a while, but we did manage to get one day of turkey hunting in.  Armed with our bows this nice gobbler was not giving us a chance, but some others did although we managed to let those opportunities slip through our fingers.  Since the season closed Sunday we'll have to wait until next spring, or at least until this fall.

You lookin' at me?

Maybe it was the intimidating jake that kept them away, but I think it had more to do with the cool, wet spring, and that the turkeys were mostly bunched up.  Any attempts at calling were met with some pretty aggressive calls from the boss hen in any group that came close enough to check us out.  The one single gobbler that came in to kick this jake's butt hesitated slightly, but eventually faced him and was met with an arrow from my bow, but the hit was not fatal and I failed to recover him.

A dancing duo.

This pair of toms also visited our setup in late afternoon, but after several minutes of cat and mouse they managed to pass on the backside of our blind.  Due to some errors in decoy and blind placement we were never offered a shot.  I did manage to snap a few pictures, but not exactly what I had in mind.  It was a good time, but with no more opportunities both Cordie and I will be eating tag soup.  Dalton, John's son, did manage to kill a bird with his bow, so we were not completely skunked.

I also managed to slip south into Nebraska, but things didn't go much better there.  We encountered many of the same problems with bunched up birds and gobblers not interested in coming to a call.  We did manage to scratch out two birds between six hunters, so a poor percentage for turkey hunting fools.

By the way...

I recently changed the settings on the blog to make it easier for readers to comment.  I was not aware that this was possible, and I had several people tell me that they would comment if it wasn't such a pain in the butt.  I finally figured it out, so I hope everyone can feel free to leave a comment now and then.  We're currently on the road pouring concrete, but with the weather forecast it looks like we might get some farming done when we get back home.  Hope all is well. 

The Roundup

Cowboys roundup the herd at Custer State Park.  photo courtesy of www.travelsd.com

If you're looking for a way to enhance an already great South Dakota pheasant hunt, how about watching the roundup of 1500 wild bison.  Every year the the roundup occurs at Custer State Park as a management practice to control the herd size.  Nearly 1500 bison, or buffalo are gathered to be sorted, vaccinated, and a certain number auctioned off. It's another great opportunity in SD to view nature in an up-close and personal capacity.

This year the roundup will occur on Monday, September 27, 2010.  The roundup caps a three day festival celebrating western and Native American culture.  At the Snake Den we view this as a great way to either end or begin a pheasant hunt at the Lodge.  For those interested, transportation can be provided for the event. 

The hunt would be conducted on the preserve which consists of nearly 800 acres of land intensely managed for the best pheasant hunting found anywhere.  With over 70 acres of food plots, 50 acres of trees, and over 200 acres of grassland and upland habitat, the ringneck pheasant reigns supreme.  The property also boasts two ponds filled with bass, bluegill, and perch.  Additional opportunities are available for sharp-tailed grouse and prairie chickens, as the grouse season opens September 18, 2010. 

Email (schlomer@kennebectelephone.com) or call (605-895-2452) Cordie to book your Snake Den adventure.