Just a Hunch...

...but I'm guessing that this is the same mother-and-twins I first saw in August.

Every Picture Tells a Story

Once upon a time, Nice Buck was in the clearing, minding his own business, getting some nourishment from the mineral lick.



Suddenly, Nice Buck noticed that someone was coming up the path and leaving the woods. It was the BULLY, Long Tine Tuggins!



Long Tine approached, Nice Buck stood his ground, they glared at each other.



And suddenly, the fight began. Even though Nice Buck was outweighed by at least 25 pounds, he knew he had to try; he was being tested.



In just a minute, it was over, and Long Tine Tuggins claimed the mineral lick. Nice Buck was off to find his buddies. He would never forget the night he left Tuggins looking like he'd been whipped in a bar fight.



Note to hunters: Are you rattling too much? Too often? Note the times at the bottom of each of these photos. For more rattling tips, see http://www.worldrecordwhitetaildeer.com/hunting_resources/hunting_tips/antler_rattling.php

Happy Thanksgiving!

First Shot from a New Spot

I moved my roaming camera to a new hilltop location. The spot has not been nearly as active as I'd hoped, but the one doe that did come by managed to frame herself nicely.

Buck Loses His Head!

When movement triggers this camera to take a photo, you can set it to take 1, 2, or 3 pics within the same minute. With the cam set to take two photos with each activation, I got the second shot (below) just as the buck turned his head. It's just a camera quirk - the buck was not harmed!

Water in the Creek Again

Last week's rain flushed and freshened the waterholes. Already, though, the wildlife has to contend with the formation of ice.

It Was 15 Degrees This Morning...

...so I decided to post a picture from a hot day in September.

Heavyweight Contender?

You'll need to click on this photo to enlarge it. Is it my imagination, or does this appear to be quite a large-bodied buck? Can anyone estimate his weight?

Someone Asked Me...

...why I don't post more pictures of rabbits. The answer is simple: For some reason, my cameras rarely capture one. Here's the best pic I've had in the last two months.

Sometimes There's a Trade-Off

Setting a trail camera on the ground can provide some interesting close-ups. In this case, however, I can't tell if this is a doe or a buck.

It Snowed Yesterday...

...and it looks like the snow's arrival cooled down some hot tempers - because just 45 minutes earlier...

Three Beards in a Row

Sure hope Butterball doesn't view this blog!

"I'll take 'Things on a Log' for $200, Alex."

One of the best things about trail cameras is that they're so portable. While they're most often strapped to trees, all you actually have to do is find a flat stable spot to stand one up and see what walks by.

Sunday Funnies: Stoned?

Maybe it's my imagination, but it appears to me that this deer must have found a patch of the famous Meigs County marijuana! (Again, you'll need to click to enlarge for full effect.)

I've Heard Them Many Times...

...but this is the first coyote my trail cams have ever photographed.

One for the Bird Watchers

I realized last night that I haven't posted any non-turkey bird photos in a while.
Is the one in the foreground a dove?

No Sure What He's Looking At...

...but he sure seems to like what he sees! (You'll need to click on the photo to get the full effect.)

Same Shot, Different Day

This deer is no dummy. It knows corn comes flying out of that feeder sometime in the morning. Trouble is, the timer is set for 7am. (Click photos to enlarge and see the deer's time of arrival each day.)

No Blur This Time

I'm guessing the turkey heard that I complained last week about his out-of-focus picture, as he came back for a better photo.

Heads or Tails?

In this case, all three came up 'tails'.

Sunday Funnies: Trespasser!

My brother sent me this one. His camera caught a neighbor's dog trespassing on our family farm...and at a most inopportune moment!

Oops! (No Harm, No Foul)

I highly doubt that Moultrie recommends you point their cameras at the sun (which I accidentally did the other day)....



...but thankfully the camera survived just fine, and was able to snap this affectionate mother-daughter moment the next evening.

Two Almost-Great Photos

If only the camera had been pointing a few more feet to the right...



...and if only the turkey was standing still when the photo was snapped.

This is One of Those Times...

...when I wish I had an infrared trail camera instead of a flash version.

One Minute They're Peacefully Grazing...

...and the next minute - BAM!

Did You Know?

An opossum has 50 teeth (more than any American land mammal) and a thumb on each of it's rear feet. (Sorry, folks - pretty slim pickins' at the trail cams lately!)

Another Week Without Rain

This creek should have water up to the grassline; now it's down to an occasional stagnant puddle or two. According to Ohio University's Scalia Lab Weather Station, the Athens area is about 13" below normal for precipitation this year.