Young Buck Getting His Fill

Some of the early weeds are starting to emerge in the yard and the deer are starting to come early in the evening to graze. Although it's been a cold, nasty winter, for the most part all of them are healthy looking. Can't say that about the ones in the park at Thunderbird.

Why So Grumpy?

Think he's like me and fed up with all the snow. Took this photo at Prairie Dog Town. I love how the yellow feathers under the beak give him that frown.

Ison's Dam

Silas Lee Ison built this to create a waterfall in the early 1900's. He was a prospector / treasure hunter and one of the last known squatters living inside the Wichita Mountain Wildlife refuge after it was established. Legend has it different outlaws stashed money and or gold in the area.

6 x 6 Elk

This has to be the first big highlight of DSLR photography since I got my gear 3 months ago. After an exhausting climb up the southeast side of Granite Mountain I spotted this monster elk coming up a ravine just ahead of me. Also got a few good photos of two 5 x 5's and some smaller bulls, but this one had my heart pounding.

Wichita Wildlife Refuge Open Again

The campgrounds opened for business yesterday after a massive cleanup from the ice storm. Probably will pack up the Yukon and drive down for the weekend tomorrow.

Took this photo last month while hiking northeast of Burford Lake near Timber Hill. Was a little spooky. No big tree to climb if they took exception to my presence.

Hope to find Ison's Dam and the Spanish Cave this trip.

Ready For Spring

I'm not the winter person I remember from my youth. But the two large snow storms we've had this winter has awoken some of that childlike fascination. Our American Eskies sure enjoyed it and it made for some fun photos.

Find myself daydreaming of warmer days and nights and things turning green. The return of the monarch in it's magnificent migration north and collecting their eggs to hand rear. The growth from a tiny caterpillar to incredible butterfly and the joy of watching it fly from your hand out into this grand stage we call life.