Just a picture

**Jack Moroney (RIP)** · 10-06-2006, 13:53

I was out looking for coyotes along the edge of my property today and looked up trying to see a flock of snow geese heading south for the winter. I thought this was a pretty nice picture so I thought I'd share it with you.

CoLawman · 10-06-2006, 14:08

Great eye Sir! Beautiful picture.

thebaffler · 10-06-2006, 14:12

Wish I lived near you, sir! It actually looks like Fall there. Down South it's still 85 degrees during the day w/ no Fall foliage.

incommin · 10-06-2006, 14:42

Nice photo. Driving 400 miles this weekend to go look at the leaves that are changing......

Jim

mugwump · 10-06-2006, 15:22

Very nice, I'm jealous. See any more flying squirrels?

Coyotes have been a godsend around here. They've knocked back the rabbit population, which was totally out of control, and they've forced the next-door neighbors to keep their yappy little mutt inside the house. The 0300 group singalong is eerily beautiful, too.

Gypsy · 10-06-2006, 17:11

Beautiful shot Colonel! I love the fall colors.

82ndtrooper · 10-06-2006, 18:37

Only in Vermont !!! I'm looking forward to the changing of colors here, but we're still experiencing 80+ temperatures with little rain. Guess I shouldn't complain.

Nice view up top Mr. Moroney.

**Jack Moroney (RIP)** · 10-06-2006, 19:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugwump

See any more flying squirrels? .

They come every night and seem to know when the owls are waiting for them. Very smart little critters. Coyotes here are a pain in the butt as they follow the snowmobile trails into the deer yard areas. Don't mind them culling the sick, but the young'ns don't have much of a chance when they get caught napping in the yards in winter. You are right about the calls, they can really carry on.

mffjm8509 · 10-06-2006, 19:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Moroney

I was out looking for a flock of snow geese heading south for the winter.

COL M,

You might want to move your decoy spread out into the open field...........if you intend to get a shot at those snows!

mp

**Jack Moroney (RIP)** · 10-06-2006, 19:14

[QUOTE=mffjm8509]...........if you intend to get a shot at those snows! /QUOTE]

After having to age and sex hundreds of waterfowl as part of my wildlife program in Maine I have sort of lost my desire to shoot and clean another duck, goose, gander, woodcock, grouse or anything else sporting feathers that can fly naturally. Of course at the height that these snows are flying around here waxed shot from a Remington 1100 would need a jato booster to reach them

mugwump · 10-06-2006, 19:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack Moroney

Don't mind them culling the sick, but the young'ns don't have much of a chance when they get caught napping in the yards in winter.

I don't think there's much deer predation by coyotes around here, more's the pity. We have terrible damage to our hardwood ecosystem; the deer eat everything except the buckthorn, which is taking over. They want us to shoot and bury again this deer season -- the chronic wasting disease (mad deer disease) is creeping down from Wisconsin. That is so foreign to the hunting ethos that many have just stopped hunting, even in Wisconsin where the schools all close at the start of the season. We have so many suburban deer around here that they are a real nuisance, and a pitiful sight during a rough winter.

**Bill Harsey** · 10-06-2006, 20:03

We have an artist in our midst, but don't tell anyone.

These damn SF guys can do everything...

vsvo · 10-06-2006, 20:28

Nice shot, Sir! Thank you for sharing.

jasonglh · 10-06-2006, 20:52

Great pic. On first focus I thought it looked like a Phoenix.

On the coyote population I would be glad to ship a few hundred north if anyone is in need we have plenty. Its not "cool" to shoot does or coyotes so we have too many of both.

**Jack Moroney (RIP)** · 10-07-2006, 05:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by mugwump

We have terrible damage to our hardwood ecosystem; the deer eat everything except the buckthorn, which is taking over. They want us to shoot and bury again this deer season -- the chronic wasting disease (mad deer disease) is creeping down from Wisconsin. That is so foreign to the hunting ethos that many have just stopped hunting, even in Wisconsin where the schools all close at the start of the season. We have so many suburban deer around here that they are a real nuisance, and a pitiful sight during a rough winter.

Just read an article on CWD and it seems that they have been looking at the wrong end of the critter. It is not spread by urine and feces but by blood and saliva. You are not allowed to feed deer in this state because of the possibility of CWD transmission from beast to beast, however that seems to be a moot point as they browse on the same food and drink from the same water sources. Hunting is a big deal here also and everyone knows when the seasons are just by looking at the swap out of the fishing rods for compound bows and rifles in the back windows of every pickmeup truck in the state. Our problems are not like yours as the competition for food here is basically over mast crop and browse. The turkey population has boomed and they are cleaning up the beech nuts and acorns before the deer can get to them in some places and we have a large infllux of moose that compete to a certain degree. Up until last year you could take three deer in a season between rifle, bow and muzzel loading. Hunting is encouraged in this state to the degree that they even let the youth have a free weekend of deer hunting. Of course, up until two years ago, a kid could show up at school with his hunting rifle in his truck window, now they have put the brakes on that because of school saftey concerns. It is disappointing to hear that no one seems to be able to control the deer problem in some states, folks just don't realize that left unchecked without natural predators they are sort of like rats with hooves and will outstrip their food supply. When we were stationed at Fort Belvoir, VA, we had one eat the Christmas wreath off our front door and we were living on post in quarters.