New Year,new dog,new projects.

[hank4elk]

47 and breezy this morning. Not a peep all night.
John found one big bulls tracks in and out. He just came to drink. No fresh cow tracks. One bull bugled at sunrise next door.
No other hunters in area. Outfitters going north each day.

They stayed out of the rain and wind today. Sunny and windy now. Drying out day.
Some grass sprouting here late. But it will freeze Thurs. morning.
Bull rubs 200 feet from house. 6 fresh sets of tracks from bulls Monday. 3 groups of cows.

One more chance. An opportunity.

 

[hank4elk]

41 and now 65.
Blew hard from south last 2 days. 35mph.

Around 2am he started bugling , around the house 6 times at least. Til 5am.
John could not sleep he said.
He was 40ft from my bed at 5am.

Gone by daybreak and left huge tracks over half dozen cow tracks. Bovine size,5inches.
John figured he was the same one he saw the day before his hunt started.

Sad he is gone and glad he is gone....my bro that is. LOL.
Dotti had a fit when I kept her in when he left.

Rains he brought set records for amount in 6 days in Oct. across state.
Grass growing before 1st frost, a week late, this weekend
A row of pinion rubs across my road, 50ft from the house.

French roast and Macanudos. Thanks bro. And arthritis cream.
Life is good.

 

[kansasdad]

I waved as we flew over (30k up) around noon today.

 

[hank4elk]

3 days ago 3 Blackhawks dropped in right overhead and snaked down the valley. Loud.

 

[hank4elk]

32 heading to 65.
Got another .25" for a total of 2.65" since Jan.
Crazy lightning in that one. Close crazy. Power out 10 hrs.

Extreme drought persists. Thousands of pinions dying. Even some junipers.

Going for a big bale for the elk tomorrow. They need something to eat.
Bull told me so this morning, outside my bedroom.
Tracks show small bunches of cows and some calves.... Bulls still here.
Food and water. Water.

Dotti is 28" high at the back. Fast. Smart and still a big puppy.
The new collar looks good, but she hates it. LOL
After gophers this morning.

Porch footings going in this week. Steps to follow.
Clear and warm for 2 weeks at least.
Work in good weather,while I can, when I can.

Got clean skin check up. Lots of frozen spray. No biopsies needed.

Still kicking.

 

[hank4elk]

32 at sunrise. 65 again.
Longest Indian Summer I can remember.
3 nights of giant moon.
Bull with 24 cows bugling after daylight the last 2 mornings.
Watched them walk out again. From my home.
Nice small fires in mornings.

Pulled a elk roast out from last years cow and have stew going now.
Dotti laying in the open doorway in the late afternoon sun.

Decided last night to pass on deer hunting this year. I felt guilty. Too few deer.
That and the ones I have glassed up are where I cannot go anymore.
Hip is sore at times and no need to push it.
I have filled 37 mule deer tags in my 70 years.

There are elk around and maybe I'll draw here again next year. Or get a LO tag.
Been feeding a lot of elk. The word is out that food and water available @HANK's food bank..
Late rut has been entertaining. Dotti working out the kinks with them is also fun. They have an understanding.

The few calves is a concern.
Drought has been tough on everyone.
The big bull ate my Cox's Orange Pippen to a stub. Need to move it around back inside the fence line.
Elk ate the couple acre patch of winterfat I had.

Bone density,full image ct's with the blood tests in Jan. Just to check on things.
Can't pull a Jerry Rice on the hip anymore...or close. LOL

But 3 years ago I could hardly walk across the market lot when I heard my named called, by Randy.
Maybe I can't hike these little NM hills much anymore.
But I have climbed most of the high peaks in the lower 48.
3/4 of the PCT.
The John Muir 3 times.

Still kicking and have not lost the Faith.

 

[hank4elk]

16 & heading to 43.
More rain since Oct than 9 months prior.
Rain,snow,hail,rain ...repeat.
It took an hour @ the carwash to get the mud off the Tacoma. Putting new mudflaps on the front today.

But still full extreme drought.
Thousands of pinion dying. IPPS.
Range bone dry.

Hundreds of elk hitting water @ Camp Hank, nightly.
Dotti has them trained to 100ft. from our loop road....or so she thinks.

Rodents at bay.
Good ranch dog.
Gotta weigh her. Guessing 60-65 pounds.
Too slim for Rio's coat.

She finished the turkey from last week.
Cleaned my bowl of the elk stew too.
Separate bowl for the kibble and she eats it all.

Kisses for scratches.
The big licky ickey.
Hhead on my shoulder,waiting for 1st light.

 

[hank4elk]

Dawn patrol.
No barks and back in a flash....with spike antler in mouth.
Must have found a Rio stash.
Ate one antler yesterday then devoured the bleached skull.

No tellin' where it came from. No spikes shot here in 16 years.

She had a stand off with a redtail on a bunny. Redtail flared and she was back on the porch.
Smart dog.