All About Pocket Knives

I'm sure that's nice.

You almost have to enjoy camping out to be in the military. Well you don't have to enjoy it but it makes things a lot easier if you do. We spent months each year "In the field" as it was call. I liked it in the summer time but I was not a big fan of it in the winter time.

Great photo essay, Paul. You must have been a scout - looks like you were prepared!

TPK wrote: ↑Sun Jun 25, 2023 5:32 pm You almost have to enjoy camping out to be in the military. Well you don't have to enjoy it but it makes things a lot easier if you do. We spent months each year "In the field" as it was call. I liked it in the summer time but I was not a big fan of it in the winter time.

I worked with an ex Marine for several years. When I mentioned how much I like camping, his comment was that after all the bivouacking he did in the Marines he did not intend to ever camp again! I was in the Navy and never spent a night outdoors.

Dinadan wrote: ↑Tue Jun 27, 2023 10:04 pm Great photo essay, Paul. You must have been a scout - looks like you were prepared!

TPK wrote: ↑Sun Jun 25, 2023 5:32 pm You almost have to enjoy camping out to be in the military. Well you don't have to enjoy it but it makes things a lot easier if you do. We spent months each year "In the field" as it was call. I liked it in the summer time but I was not a big fan of it in the winter time.

I worked with an ex Marine for several years. When I mentioned how much I like camping, his comment was that after all the bivouacking he did in the Marines he did not intend to ever camp again! I was in the Navy and never spent a night outdoors.

Yes, I think the Navy & Air Force experience a whole other form of military service the the Army & Marines do. I should have joined one of them instead but I was young & dumb.
Now I'm just dumb.

But if I had it to do all over again, I would join the Coast Gard and put in my 20-years and retired. Tried to tell my son that but he wouldn't listen.

I have been enjoying the fine photos of beautiful birds being posted by many of you: Buntings, Kites, Herons, etc. etc. But our homestead has been especially blessed today with both Turkey and Black Vultures. Something was discovered just on the other side of our neighbor's fence. Could not determine what drew them

My error. These should have been posted in the Ornithology thread.

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Sun Jul 02, 2023 6:17 pm My error. These should have been posted in the Ornithology thread.

Fitting both threads QS.

A friend's photo from Florida. A sea turtle came ashore to lay her eggs. These large turtles always leave two tracks; one coming out of the sea, then they always make a different 2nd track back to the sea.

Here's a little Muskrat I saw at the pond. Busy little guy.

Cool pics Joe

FRJ wrote: ↑Thu Jul 06, 2023 12:57 am Here's a little Muskrat I saw at the pond. Busy little guy.

I like those pics, I rarely see one out of the water.

Thanks guys.

I found it a bit unusual too, Ike.

I haven't checked the game cameras in a couple of months. Finally got a "round tuit".

We saw this old hen wandering around in the backyard a few times this spring, but we never saw a Tom. I guess she wasn't the old spinster we thought she was! I count 8 little ones.

Also saw a little bobcat.

Great pictures Unk.

Thanks Bill. We saw the Hen and her chicks yesterday up in the back yard again (my wife throws out bird seed every morning). The chicks are much bigger now, and she still had all 8 of them. We were wondering how many of the chicks the bobcats and coyotes would get, but they seem to be able to survive pretty well. We had some neighbors move in next door in December with chickens. They give us free eggs, so I fully support their decision to raise chickens! However, they have been losing a quite a few chickens to predators. We have a lot of coyotes, foxes, great-horned owls, and an occasional bobcat that love a chicken dinner.

Roadside deer......Doe and twins, Buck with newly sprouted headgear, one with a scar

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sun Jul 09, 2023 12:39 am Roadside deer......Doe and twins, Buck with newly sprouted headgear, one with a scar

Ike, great pics! Momma looks like she’s giving you the “stink eye” . They’re very protective with fawns at that age . The Buck with new headgear looks healthy. Thanks for the photos.

Waukonda wrote: ↑Sun Jul 09, 2023 12:39 am Roadside deer......Doe and twins, Buck with newly sprouted headgear, one with a scar

Great pictures. I have not seen our latest set of twins since Feb or so.
We've had several sets around here over the years . But a buck is a very rare sight . . .

Great pictures Unk and Ike!
Love to see the bobcat, I'm sure the turkey hen doesn't feel the same.
Ike, are those ticks on the does thar has the scrape on her side?
We don't usually see any new fawns until August and September,our rut is still on when the season goes out in late February.
Treefarmer

As a little back story on the photos I am going to post, my daughter and son-in-law recently moved to an acre lot that backs up to a little dry creek. This is an area that was previously brush land. Neither my daughter nor my son in law are outdoorsy types. She has no interest in guns nor does he and for that matter and I doubt he has ever fired a round in his life.
They have encountered a variety of wildlife travelling up and down the little creek and most is very exciting for them. They have everything from deer to feral hogs to bobcats but today their 'city dogs' found a snake in the back yard. It is clearly a Cottonmouth. Knowing they have no firearms, I suggested they use a garden hoe as the best weapon. These are not snakes to be messed with and I will attach photos below. They are not great photos but one in particular demonstrates why they have the Cottonmouth name.

Ray

Yep Ray, that's a cottonmouth, and a big one. No bueno for el perro.

Time for a hoe down.

I wonder if all cottonmouths are that fat. Looks like he just had a good meal. With those kinds of neighbors I'm hoping you could at least encourage acquiring and learning to use a shotgun.

Quick Steel wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2023 4:13 pm I wonder if all cottonmouths are that fat. Looks like he just had a good meal. With those kinds of neighbors I'm hoping you could at least encourage acquiring and learning to use a shotgun.

The ones we encounter here in the Florida Panhandle are heavy bodied like that, Garry.
They can be very aggressive too!
At times they have a distinct odor about them.
A good moccasin is a dead moccasin around Starvation Plantation, sorry if this offends anyone, not!
Treefarmer

treefarmer wrote: ↑Sat Jul 15, 2023 6:18 pm A good moccasin is a dead moccasin around Starvation Plantation, sorry if this offends anyone, not!

I couldn't agree more.

That's one fat snake, Ray. If your daughter isn't outdoorsy, I'd suggest rodent control. That snake didn't get that fat eating grasshoppers.

Missing my daily serving of red raspberries and blackberries while feeding the cows. Tasty and sweet. Also saw 3 hens making their rounds.