RUBY IS READY TO START THE HOLIDAYS WITH A LONG HUNT THRU THE GREAT OUTDOORS. HOPE YOU ALL ARE WELL AND HAVE FRIENDS AND FOOD TO BE THANKFUL FOR, JIM
Buy A Ranch and Walk On Your Investment
Dove Season Starts Tomorrow; Is Fido Ready?
With the opening of the North Zone tomorrow, thousands of Texans will be heading afield in search of dove. Lucky hunters will enjoy the companionship of a dog. It is critical to watch your dog closely for heat exhaustion. Many retrievers are also house dogs and have been inside so […]
50 Years in the Brush Country of South Texas and Never Leave Your Armchair
To celebrate three years of blogging, I ask you to peruse my efforts writing about ecology, wildlife management, bird dogs, and life in the brush country. My Blog
Drought, Snow, and Floods, OH MY! Results At Rockpile Ranch.
I reported in an earlier post that the recent rains, following a significant drought, had resulted in abundant Three-seed croton in South Texas. A little further to the north at the Rockpile, the drought was of course followed initially by a severe freeze/snow event lasting several days then a cumulative rain of some 14 inches! […]
Fawn Season; Pause Mowing and Shredding for a Week or Two
It’s that time of year again; time when does leave their fawns for a nap, sometimes in odd places. And either I’m getting better at spotting them, or there are more fawns this year. Two new ones on my morning walk today at Regional Park here in Castroville. So, leave mowing that vacant field for […]
Managing Bobwhite Quail on a Smaller Tract in South Texas
Quail are in trouble in South-Central Texas and it can be frustrating to be a quail hunter in a poor year. Perhaps the biggest reason for the decline in quail numbers is the fragmentation of the habitat across the state combined Sorry, but not everyone can be an heir to a big ranch and, […]
Bobwhites are Pairing Up!
I am getting reports that pairs of Bobwhites are showing up all over South Texas so with eternal optimism, I pray for a great hatch. Last season was very bad over most of Texas, even in areas where the birds normally do well. As usual, I get reports of pairs where people say there simply […]
Tree Ducks Find the Feeder!
Built out of left-over PVC pieces and hardware cloth, this raised feeder with a store-bought feed bin finally saw some action. Known as Black-bellied tree ducks or Mexican whistling ducks, these birds nest in tree crags. Beautiful if somewhat subdued plumage, they actually sound as if they are whistling when in flight. More info below. […]
The Psychology of Locking the Gate
I like to give clients a lock when they close on their new ranch. There is just something rewarding about putting a lock on your gate to your ranch. Sometimes it takes a lot of study, work, and creative financing to buy a ranch, but once done, the rewards are great, starting with locking the […]
