February 2016 Activity

Week 5
Big news, the lone large black hog has been shot and left for the buzzards.  We hope this is the last of the destruction in the south to the fenceline. 
Still very dry and having to keep the water troughs full.
Four does usually pass through early in the morning probably on their way to someones corn feeder.  Beginning to be concerned about excessive feeding of the deer year round, making them into pets.
Correction, although Bruce shot a sow at his feeder near Purgatory Creek, he did not get the big boar that is so destructive.  Janets game camera catches a sow with an entourage of some 8 smaller pigs at the south end of Steeplebrook.  So, we still have some hog work to do.

Week 6
There is a turkey nesting close by.  Saw her twice this week feeding in the mowed (last year) south side of the property.  It probably is good to mow the dead grass late in the year so that in the spring when the new grass is short the turkeys have easy feeding, yet have the cover of the cedars and oaks along the border.
Most days this week, the typical herd of 4 does is spotted either in the east end of the tract or the south end, mainly moving on through to somewhere.  As mentioned earlier, there are more than one neighbor who apparently fill their corn feeder year round.  This is not good for the deer.
The Virginia warbler does not show up anymore, so it must have been migrating through the area.

Week 7 (March 14-20)
Visitor all week, no activity recorded

Week 8
Only three does showed up for most of this week.
New hog damage in the south side.  Used tractor to replace the torn up areas---there were ten areas to repair.
Cleared about 6 big cactus.
On the subject of cactus, we still have not seen one of the acorns planted in the surrounds of a prickly pear cactus germinate and grow.  Close observation shows that germination is the problem, not deer foraging after germination.
Acorn planting in general has been a big disappointment.  Of hundreds of acorns planted over the last 3 years, only 4 have germinated and grown into small (one foot tall) trees so far.

January 2016 Activity

Week 1
Still seeing some new hog damage in the back yard.  We are trying to make the best of it by repairing  the damaged area by pulling the dirt back into the hole and seeding the same with little bluestem.  Completed perhaps 6 damaged areas.
Deer are scarce.  One neighbor called and said they had shot a deer with arrow and were tracking it in our direction.  They found the downed deer  and hauled it off.
Week 2
Neighboring property reports that they trapped a boar, a sow and three small pigs in their trap.  Perhaps they got the culprits who have been tearing up the south slope.  We shall see.
Deer population exploded to 9 does this week, but no bucks.  Seems like hunting pressure was greater this year than it was last year.
Small band of turkeys moved through.
Do not see much evidence of raccoons or possums, but from the droppings around, they do seem to visit at night, even up on the back porch where they leave their calling card.
Coyote evidence this year is down considerably from last year.  Not sure why, but the bordering ranches might be actively destroying them.
Week 3
Really dry again, having to water the wildlife tanks in front and back.  Holding back on feeding kitchen vegetable scraps to the deer as the hog keeps rooting up the back yard.
Week 4
Routine for the deer seems to be 3 to 5 does in the back near the fenceline early in the morning, seldom at night.
Winter bird count:  Cardinals, tufted titmice, Virginia warbler (new to us this year), sparrow, wren (not sure species), mocking bird, buzzard, pereque (call), Carolina wren, chickadee, phoebe.  Noticeable short list of birds this winter.
Also noticeable absent this year are red fox, coyote, turkey, and mice.