The Hawk's View: January 2011

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

UP Heritage Locomotives in Fort Worth

Here is a photo I took of UP 4141 (George Bush) & UP1988 (The Katy), in front of the old Texas & Pacific Building just south of Downtown Fort Worth.

Twelve Point Buck Taken In Fluvanna TX in 2008

I am adding three photographs of a 12 point buck I took in Fluvanna TX, in 2008. This buck was following a doe while I was hunting in the East Pasture (windmill pasture). This buck was very fat, but I did not have a chance to weigh this buck.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, A Video of a Curve Billed Thrasher

A brief video clip of a Curve Billed Thrasher

Taken from a blind in the East Pasture

(Wind Mill Pasture)

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, A Video of Several Bucks

A video of several bucks that we looked at,

but decided to let them go, for one reason

or another

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, A video of Tim's Buck

A video of Tim approaching his buck

immediately after the kill

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, A video of Kadie shooting at targets

KD shooting at targets in the West Pasture

Deer Season 2010/11 @ Fluvanna Texas, January 1-2

On January 1st, Tim and I went back to 'pack out' all of our camping gear. Just out cruisin' around our pastures, we found a Tom turkey. He tasted good, too!
We also saw this old steam locomotive on display in Snyder. Pretty Cool!!

Turkey/s

Roscoe Snyder & Pacific RR

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, December 29-30

On December 29th, my buddies Larry, Henry (Larry's son), my brother "Leroy", and myself, went back for a couple days, just to hang out. A few photos here.

Way to go, Henk!!

Another one bites the dust

A PHOTO OF THE CAMP

Those who are highly skilled may possibly see three fat guys

in the center of this photo. These guys are fully camouflaged.

But for those with proper training, they are from left to right:

Larry, Henry (Henk) and Roger (Leroy)

Leroy with his "seeing eye" dog, ~~Wacko~~ WACO, at their "hunting blind"

As you can see, Leroy, and his "guide" use the latest and

most Up-To-Date skills in their pursuit of the

wily whitetail deer

SUNSET

Once Again

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, December 26th. Viewing the Caprock

Fluvanna, Texas is very near the caprock area of the Texas Panhandle. On Sunday afternoon, Tim and I went and looked around up there and I have included a few photos here

Windmills along the Caprock edge

View from the Caprock edge out onto the Llano Estacado

Caprock

A train in the distance on the Llano Estacado

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, December 22-27

I went to Fluvanna on Wednesday the 22nd and Tim joined me on Saturday Evening the 25th. I finally found a 'decent' buck on Christmas morning. He is no 'Monster Buck', but is a mature 8 pointer, approximately 19-1/2 inches wide overall. I was happy. I also photographed a 'very nice' mature buck on the evening of the 24th, that had 4 points on his right side, but the left side had been broken off, fighting. He had approximately 16" of the left main beam only. This buck was extremely heavy. Very possibly the heaviest Texas whitetail buck I have ever seen. I really, really hope to see this buck again next year (hopefully with a complete set of horns). I have posted a picture (excuse the photo quality). I also have a short video clip which I will post later.
When Tim arrived we hunted the new blind in the new pasture. We saw a mule deer doe that came within a few yards of us. On Sunday the 26th, Tim took a nice 8 pointer. From the time we spotted this buck, it took approximately 45 minutes until Tim was able to get a clear shot. This buck was a very nice, mature buck with lot's of 'character'. Most of his tines were broken by fighting and his neck, shoulders, back and sides were covered in numerous scars from recent and past fights. A very nice trophy for Tim's 1st buck. Way to go, Tim!

Very Nice Buck with broken horns. WOW!

Merry Christmas

A Nice 8 Pointer

I'm Happy

Tims' Buck

Tim's 1st Buck

Way to go, Buddy!

Back in camp with Tim's Buck

Check out all the scars!

Yeah, the deer has several scars, also.

TWO BUCKS

They oughta name a liquor store like that....

Relaxing back at camp

Somebody must have gone to TWO BUCKS

SUNSET

Awesome weekend!!!

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, December 10-12

On this weekend, my brother Roger "Leroy", came out to hunt (hang out). He was "needing" fresh venison to take back home. It didn't take him long. He arrived at 3:30 PM and had a doe and a spike by 5 PM.

Also, I acquired a new pasture to hunt that is just north of the 'wheat pasture', which is just north of our 'west pasture'. As this was a new acquisition, I didn't have much time to set up a blind. I bought several bales of hay in Snyder and hastily put together a blind, on a fence line between the new pasture (heavily wooded) and the 'wheat pasture'. I was hoping to catch a buck leaving the cover enroute to the wheat. I didn't find a buck (that I wanted to pull the trigger on). However, I did see large numbers of does and small bucks. I also took the time to move one of our other blinds to the north end of this new pasture, so that I could hunt in that area at a later time. I was able to take a walk around through the new pasture and I found a large number of scrapes and rubs. The cover is extremely heavy in this new pasture and it appears that there has been no activity here by people or live stock for a long time.

Camp set up on the south side of the containers,

as the wind was out of the north.

Leroy in camp

Leroy hiking out of hunting area (West Pasture)

Leroy skinning a couple of deer

Sitting in the 'hay blind' looking for a "shooter"

Large numbers of does and small bucks

crossing from the wooded area to the 'Wheat Field'

A Kestrel sitting on a power line.

These are very difficult to get close enough to photograph

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, November 24-27

We decided to start thinning out a few does on this long, holiday (Thanksgiving) weekend. Up to now, we have seen numerous bucks; but they have been either too small or too young. Also, we have seen several bucks that have good potential but have severely broken horns caused by fighting or whatever. It is sometimes difficult to "pass" on a mature buck, that has a nice rack that has been severely damaged by fighting. You don't know if he will even be around next year. Last year we passed up a 4-1/2 year old buck with an enormous 5 point rack on the left side, but the right side was completely broken off, with only approximately 2" of main beam left. We hoped he would show up this year; but we didn't see him. I hope he is still around. Maybe next year...........

I passed on several decent 8 pointers, hoping for a better buck later on, maybe. Rodney, T.J. and myself all took does this weekend. Tim & myself both passed up a very wide 8 pointer that appears to be 2-1/2 years old. If he's around in 3 or 4 years; he could be awesome.

I sat in my truck one afternoon, at the north end of a large wheat field that is just north of our west pasture. I counted over 50 deer that came onto the wheat that evening; including 10 - 12 bucks. One buck had a very nice rack on one side but was mostly broken off on the other.

SUNRISE

A NICE 6-POINTER

SKINNIN' DOES

HOUSE BUNTING

CAT BIRD

SANDHILL CRANES

BED TIME

Deer Season 2010 @ Fluvanna Texas, November 19-21

BOOGER RAY @ HIS NORMAL "POST" OF DUTY

Way To Go, BOOGER RAY!!!

1 down and about 50 more to go!

Deer Season 2010, Camp Site @ Fluvanna Texas

Sorry, to all my many fans and followers for abandoning my blog for several weeks. I want both of you to know that I have been EXTREMELY busy. I believe that is all the excuse required at this time. I will try to "catch up" with my stuff from the past couple of months. I spent a lot of time in Fluvanna, and really enjoyed taking advantage of the time I had to get in a little deer hunting this year. The next few posts will be photos and notes covering the time spent at Fluvanna, TX, deer hunting and ~~loafing~~ working.

OPENING WEEKEND - NOVEMBER 5-7