Friday, April 14, 2017

Mulies and wash calves





As I was checking cows around lunchtime a group of three mule deer does traipsed by.



You could tell that they weren't terribly alarmed by my presence.



I had the wind so I don't think they really knew what I was. They're pretty flighty but also curious. If nothing trips their flight trigger they'll often investigate things that are new and unfamiliar.



They seemed to be a mature doe and a pair of juvenile or yearling does. Perhaps a mama with twins from last year. The mature doe appears to be gravid.



It's always fun watching wildlife.

And it's fun watching calves. These little ones were navigating a shallow (ish) wash.



Hope you all are having a great day!

12 comments:

  1. I am now.

    The mulies seemed to be panting a bit, guess they'd been traveling for a while.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. They were heading from one set of gullies to another, about five miles over pretty rough ground. It was a bit warm today too. A few minutes later I saw them sneak up out of a wash and stop by the windmill for a drink.

      Delete
  2. Yay, wondered if it wasn't a preg doe and two yearling does. Was afraid I might be losing my spotting ability.
    Calves are always cute. Are your calves ever bothered by coyotes, or do your mommas run them off?
    we had a big ol reddish one that lived close to one of the cattle guards. He never caused any harm, and actually kept the ground squirrel population in balance. Fewer ground squirrel meant fewer holes for a horse to step in and fewer rattlers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The mamas are really good at running them off. It's not unusual to see half a dozen calves chasing a coyote either; they seem to think it's a game. If the coyotes get too persistent I shoot one and they back off quite a bit. Sure wish they'd gobble up some jackrabbits.

      Delete
  3. Fences do not mean much to whitetail deer unless it is 12-15 feet high. Same for Mule Deer? Agree that it is great watching wildlife- I watched the sunset today while seeing geese take off and land on a local lake. Not sure how far away one can hear a geese honking but it has to be quite aways. Beautiful animals.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not sure the mulies even notice fences. Pronghorn do; if they can't figure out how to wiggle through the wires they have to go around. For some reason they don't/won't go over.

      Delete
  4. Hi, just got back online after our move. This is more like country living after being in the Portland, OR area. Things move at a slower pace, but that is nice. Have not caught up with the posts I've missed yet. Just wanted to say/write " hi " after being away.

    Paul L. Quandt

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for stopping by Paul. Enjoy the country life!

      Delete
  5. Not having a good day, or week. I have a red coaster wagon I use at work to ferry the recycling out to the recycling dumpster. Tuesday morning, I stopped, but the full loaded wagon did not. ( paper is heavy ). My whole lower right leg is red and bruised, and I am walking like Dr. Zias, or General Urko.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's how Richard Feynman discovered inertia. More or less.

      Delete
  6. I also fought off something earlier this week, I don't know if it was a disease, or a case of food poisoning, but I had just pulled up to the library, and was about to get out of the truck, when my body decided we were fifty miles offshore, and dumped it's holding tanks. I have spent most of the week feeling like I have been run over by a truck.

    Plus, I lost WiFi this week. My landlord provided it, but his daughter is running the show, while he recovers from surgery, and she has decided that they will no longer provide that service. Rats.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My assessment is that your week has completely sucked Scott. I feel for you. I had a touch of some kind of stomach thing and puked while I was tagging a calf the other day. Slowly getting back to normal, for certain values of normal. I agree with your "Rats" on the wifi dilemma. Perhaps you should respond as Tony McAuliffe did at Bastogne when renegotiating a contract with the Krauts.

      Delete