First Trail Cam Pics for 2012

Well I took the family up to my elk hunting camp for a weekend out of the Phoenix heat and a little running around the woods. I put up my trail camera about a month prior. In spite of the very dry conditions and poor feed at the moment, the elk are back as well as some other critters.

It's not very often you see a Pronghorn in the woods. But a couple of years ago when we were scouting this area for the first time, my son and I jumped a lone buck. I don't know if this is the same or not, but every year since then we've got a single buck on the camera.
IMG_0714.JPG

For the first time, we seem to have caught a bobcat on the camera.
IMG_0726.JPG

A couple days ago a momma bear and her cubs walked through, did I mention this is only about a 1/2 mile from camp?
IMG_1430.JPG

And finally a bull that may have promise, he's got a month or so of antler growth to go.
IMG_1362.JPG

IT IS WARM IN PHOENIX...

we were down last weekend to have the hearing aids adjusted

Originally Posted by James.Grage

IT IS WARM IN PHOENIX...

we were down last weekend to have the hearing aids adjusted

You come a long way for such things James. Do you go down I40 to Flagstaff and then down I17?

Looks like all the critters were heading to water.
Variety is there for sure.
thanks.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

Looks like all the critters were heading to water.
Variety is there for sure.
thanks.

Conditions are about as bad as they get right now. Our yearly rainy season known as Monsoon Season is just about to get going, but hasn't yet. So things are about as dry as they can be. Animals are on the move both to find water and feed. The camera is set on a water hole that is obviously dry. In a couple of weeks it could be full. Fortunately there are a few other watering spots within a couple miles of this spot that are still holding water, so the elk are okay that way. Feed is the problem. The elk are still coming here however as there are still some green shoots they can nibble on around the edge of the hole.

Nice pics Phil.

We have the other end of the spectrum here right now, plenty of rain and lots of snow still melting up high. On Saturday I tried to get in to a camera that I left in a wildeness area last fall during the moose rut but the rivers were too swolen to get in. We only made it to the 2nd crossing and I got my colt angling across into the current and he had his own idea about half way across and decided to go straight to the far bank despite my not so subtle objections. As soon as he was sideways the current buckled him in half and sent us both down the river! He handled that pretty good though, all things considered, and found footing 40yds downstream, I got out 10yds further down. If you think a wounded Buffalo looks at you like you owe him money you should have seen the look on that colts face! He was not impressed, LOL! To his credit he didnt miss a beat when I asked him to cross on the way back out.

All my best thoughts are wishing our rain to go down your way

phil i think we got your rain this side of the atlantic. please come and retrieve it, as i think march was the last time i saw more than 1 day of sun at a time !!

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

Nice pics Phil.

We have the other end of the spectrum here right now, plenty of rain and lots of snow still melting up high. On Saturday I tried to get in to a camera that I left in a wildeness area last fall during the moose rut but the rivers were too swolen to get in. We only made it to the 2nd crossing and I got my colt angling across into the current and he had his own idea about half way across and decided to go straight to the far bank despite my not so subtle objections. As soon as he was sideways the current buckled him in half and sent us both down the river! He handled that pretty good though, all things considered, and found footing 40yds downstream, I got out 10yds further down. If you think a wounded Buffalo looks at you like you owe him money you should have seen the look on that colts face! He was not impressed, LOL! To his credit he didnt miss a beat when I asked him to cross on the way back out.

All my best thoughts are wishing our rain to go down your way

Oh my...the memories you just caused me to recall with that story. Back before kids when the wife and I were still in Idaho, we made the mistake of owning horses. Her last ride while pregnant was up in the hills in late spring....crossed a swollen stream....lady in front of us went down with the horse when the gelding decided to do what yours did and got himself high centered on a boulder. Somehow the horse righted himself and Betty held on for dear life and was dragged onto the other bank.

Later that day, her son who rode a new colt up the mountain while pulling another behind him decided to switch horses on the way down. We had brought lunch with us including some cans of pop. Well we crushed up the empty cans and put them in saddle bags. These saddle bags were on the colt that the son rode up on. So we start to head down the hill and those saddle bags start to flop a bit and the cans inside start clanking together.

You'd have thought Satan had opened up a hole in the earth and reached up from depths of hell and grabbed that Paint by the loins intent on bringing her down for dinner! That horse took off like a rocket and was out of sight for a good 15-30 seconds and then reappeared heading straight for us.....she plowed right into the side of Kent (the son) throwing him off his horse and then turned back down the trail and was gone. We found her awhile later where she'd gone off the trail to the downhill side, flipped over on her back and couldn't keep rolling because the saddle horn was holding her up. Truth is it probably saved her life. Kent and his dad managed to loosen the saddle and get her up on her feet. I will never forget that look of terror on that animal's eyes, but somehow she made it back to camp.

There is no animal I know of that you can love as much and hate as much all at the same time!

Originally Posted by spike.t

phil i think we got your rain this side of the atlantic. please come and retrieve it, as i think march was the last time i saw more than 1 day of sun at a time !!

I think March was the last time I saw a meaningful rain! Please send it our way. It's looking like either tonite, tomorrow or both the rain is going to start. As I retrieve pics, you'll be amazed at how different things will look. It's kind of our own little display of how the Okavango changes.

Like Africa....the same only different. Thanks for sharing.

Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

I think March was the last time I saw a meaningful rain! Please send it our way. It's looking like either tonite, tomorrow or both the rain is going to start. As I retrieve pics, you'll be amazed at how different things will look. It's kind of our own little display of how the Okavango changes.

will be interesting to see the changes in the photos. long term forecast says we are having the same crap weather for at least the rest of the month, costing us a fortune got a wedding to go to today, 2 people from the usa who live here part of the time. she said as she cant remember when her birthday is, she should at least remember her wedding anniversary by getting married on the 4th july, not sure why, did something happen then ? anyway its outside / inside at their manor house so i hope it rains less than yesterday!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

we made the mistake of owning horses.

LOL, thats not the first time I have heard it described that way.

Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

There is no animal I know of that you can love as much and hate as much all at the same time!

Agreed! Every time they frustrate me with some goofy shenanigan I end up just shaking my head and laughing (how can you be mad at them they are just animals). No matter how much time you spend around them and how well you think you have them figured out they do something that leaves you scratching your head.

Glad your escapades turned out OK and didnt inflict any permanent damage.

Well my buddy and I went up to the high country yesterday morning to check on some new areas in our unit that we've not hunted. While the rain has started, it's nowhere like the amount we've seen the last two years, so please send more spike!

My water hole is still dry and while the feed situation is improving, it should be much better than this by now. The strange thing is we're actually getting some pretty good rain down here in the desert, it just isn't hitting the mountains all that well. This morning as we were enjoying the cool air before setting out on another hike, a bull elk just about walked through camp! He must be finding feed somewhere as he had a nice full belly from the nights grazing.

If you've ever wondered just how aware animals are of their surroundings and specifically inanimate objects, wonder no more....

IMG_0416.JPG

This is a first in these last 3 years I've used a trail cam. We've heard turkeys in this area, but never have saw them.

IMG_0456.JPG

Last night at about 1:30am we had a whole pack of these guys come running by howling there heads off. And it was loud, so loud we couldn't tell which way from our tent they were.

IMG_0050_2.JPG

It makes me wonder if the cameras emit a noise or other signal that is foreign to them so they investigate it.

Originally Posted by BRICKBURN

It makes me wonder if the cameras emit a noise or other signal that is foreign to them so they investigate it.

As far as know I BB, there's no audible to human ears sound. But perhaps to elk ears? I get pics like this all the time. There's a cable lock that keeps would be thieves from stealing it, I've got pics of elk chewing on the end of the cable.

Nice pics. That is the saddest water hole I have ever seen. They must really be thirsty to keep coming back to check it. Maybe there is salt or mineral there?

Originally Posted by Diamondhitch

Nice pics. That is the saddest water hole I have ever seen. They must really be thirsty to keep coming back to check it. Maybe there is salt or mineral there?

There are other waterholes not very far away, roughly 0.5-1 mile, still holding water. Ranchers also have what are called "trick tanks" that catch water and direct it into metal holding tanks. The holding tanks are piped to smaller troughs that have a float on it to keep it filled. While they need to travel more to get to those water sources, it's not so far. The biggest problem I'm seeing is the low food supply. The grass will grow through September, but after that it's pretty much done. The elk therefore have only a couple more months to fatten up for the winter. Antler growth is also likely to be poor.

I think the elk coming through are as much nibbling on those green shoots. And while it does look pretty bad in the pictures, the dirt is actually moist as there has been some rain. I've got some other pics where the elk are lying down in the middle of it, perhaps to cool off?

The only good news in all of this is that there's no sign of cattle in my favorite spots. Hopefully this remains the case, we got messed up last year with the ranchers coming in and gathering their herds on horseback during our hunt. And of course the cattle compete for the food and water supply.

phil i would love to oblige, but since friday we have had this weird yellow thing in a blue sky..... think this could be our summer as it says might rain on thursday so come and get it then...

Originally Posted by PHOENIX PHIL

There are other waterholes not very far away, roughly 0.5-1 mile, still holding water. Ranchers also have what are called "trick tanks" that catch water and direct it into metal holding tanks. The holding tanks are piped to smaller troughs that have a float on it to keep it filled. While they need to travel more to get to those water sources, it's not so far. The biggest problem I'm seeing is the low food supply. The grass will grow through September, but after that it's pretty much done. The elk therefore have only a couple more months to fatten up for the winter. Antler growth is also likely to be poor.

I think the elk coming through are as much nibbling on those green shoots. And while it does look pretty bad in the pictures, the dirt is actually moist as there has been some rain. I've got some other pics where the elk are lying down in the middle of it, perhaps to cool off?

The only good news in all of this is that there's no sign of cattle in my favorite spots. Hopefully this remains the case, we got messed up last year with the ranchers coming in and gathering their herds on horseback during our hunt. And of course the cattle compete for the food and water supply.

What king of trail can did you use phil? and how long does is last? It's truly messed up when you have someone who will compete with you for the food and water supply when you hunt. Great pic by the way, thanks for sharing, planning to buy a trail cam for myself.

Originally Posted by atiffanie05

What king of trail can did you use phil? and how long does is last? It's truly messed up when you have someone who will compete with you for the food and water supply when you hunt. Great pic by the way, thanks for sharing, planning to buy a trail cam for myself.

It's a Reconyx, a bit on the expensive side to be sure. But the metal boxes they come with and the way you can run a cable lock through the back makes them about as secure a camera there is in my opinion. The electronics are also code locked, so even if someone steals it unless they break the code it's useless.

Still vandals could destroy it, but they're going to need to bring a hammer, bat or gun with them to do that. My hunting buddy has a friend that put up a camera without the kind of protection that you get with the Reconyx and some idiot destroyed it.