Peenie Wallie

February 18, 2012

Abert's Squirrel

Above: Abert's squirrel (or tassel-eared squirrel) (Sciurus aberti). This particular subspecies of Sciurus aberti is Sciurus aberti ferreus. I once asked my neighbor, "Aren't those things endangered?"

He replied, "They are if they're in my yard." :)

Posted by Rob Kiser on February 18, 2012 at 6:05 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

January 25, 2012

Critters in the hood

Here's some critters I shot recently around the hood.

Above: Coyote (Canis latrans). Canon EOS 40D with L-Series Canon f/4.0 IS USM 600mm lens. The coyotes are omnivores, and opportunistic scavengers. This one was chasing after a Northern Magpie that was scolding it. Image selection in Cam2PC. Post processing in Adobe Photoshop CS5.

Above: Fox Squirrel (Sciurus niger). Canon EOS 40D with L-Series Canon f/4.5-5.6 IS USM 400mm lens. This squirrel box was a project Jennifer dreamed up in honor of "Squirrel Appreciation Day". The squirrels are said to "hibernate" at this time of year, though their hibernation is mainly a period of less activity, as opposed to sleeping for months at a time. This time of year, they commonly move from their leaf nests into hollow tree cavities, if possible. Image selection in Cam2PC. Post processing in Adobe Photoshop CS5.

Above: Immature Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Note that this is an young bird as indicated by the yellow eyes and prominent tail banding. Canon EOS 40D with L-Series Canon f/4.0 IS USM 600mm lens. Image selection in Cam2PC. Post processing in Adobe Photoshop CS5.

Posted by Rob Kiser on January 25, 2012 at 12:49 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

May 9, 2011

Fox Kits

Posted by Rob Kiser on May 9, 2011 at 1:57 PM : Comments (1) | Permalink

May 7, 2011

The Cuteness is Strong in this one

Posted by Rob Kiser on May 7, 2011 at 9:19 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Coyote

Above: Coyote (Canis latrans).

Posted by Rob Kiser on May 7, 2011 at 8:58 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

The Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes)

Posted by Rob Kiser on May 7, 2011 at 3:13 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

November 11, 2010

Cold Busted

So, I pulled the memory card from the game cam today and it looks like there's a lot more critters out there than I'd realized. Aside from catching myself and Timmy, we've now photographed a fox the size of a pony, a raccoon the size of a bloodhound, two other cats, and a magpie.

Posted by Rob Kiser on November 11, 2010 at 4:35 PM : Comments (2) | Permalink

November 9, 2010

Aha!

I got up this morning and the live animal trap had been rolled away. I was thinking...if I don't have photos this time, then I think Robert R. is right - I'm dealing with "Predator". But, I checked my game came and this time, I got him. So, this appears to be a large red fox (Vulpes vulpes). I'm working on getting a larger live animal trap. Stay tuned.

Posted by Rob Kiser on November 9, 2010 at 8:30 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

August 1, 2010

Saturday at the Lake

Jen and I went to the lake on Saturday and paddled around a little bit. We didn't catch anything, but it wasn't like it mattered. We fed the ducks and watched the cormorants, tree swallows, and muskrats.

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 1, 2010 at 11:22 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

July 28, 2010

More photos from Rocky Mountain National Park

Above: Mule deer fawn near Morrison, Colorado.

Above: Stellar's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) near Estes Park, Colorado.

Above: Golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis) near Estes Park, Colorado.

Above: Golden-mantled ground squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis) near Estes Park, Colorado.

Above: Male Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides).

Above: One-sided Penstemon (Penstemon virgatus asa-grayi). Figwort family.

Above: One-sided Penstemon (Penstemon virgatus asa-grayi). Figwort family.

Above: Looking west toward the Continental Divide from Moraine Park near Cub Lake Trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park.

Above: One-sided Penstemon (Penstemon virgatus asa-grayi). Figwort family.

Above: One-sided Penstemon (Penstemon virgatus asa-grayi). Figwort family.

Above: Sulphur Flower (Eriogonum umbellatum). Buckwheat family.

Above: Fireweed (Chamerion danielsii), formerly Chamerion angustifolium. Evening Primrose family.

Above: Cutleaf Coneflower (Rudbeckia ampla). Aster family.

Above: Russian Thistle (Salsola tragus). Chenopodiaceae family.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 28, 2010 at 12:05 AM : Comments (2) | Permalink

July 11, 2010

Fawn Patrol

I'm not clear how old these fawns are, but they're not weaned yet. I can tell you that much. I saw them both nursing on mom tonight. I actually jumped the fawns out of some very deep grass. Nearly stepped on them when they both bolted, ran up to mom, and immediately began nursing.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 11, 2010 at 1:56 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

July 10, 2010

Fawning Over Fawns

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 10, 2010 at 12:30 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

July 7, 2010

Teleporter....Activate

I got a couple of shots of this fawn and the mom before they climbed into the teleporter and disappeared. I went down there in camo again and followed where I saw them go and they'd vanished, once again. The bucks are down there, chewing their cud. Just looking at me like I'm retarded - out walking around on a cold July morning. And I'm like...."I know you saw them...where did they go?"

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 7, 2010 at 1:34 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

The Ghosts of the Forests

"Deer appear, and they disappear. Yes, I do believe they have mastered teleportation." - Russ Chastain

I'm with Russ on this one. As improbable as it may seem, I think deer have mastered tunneling through the time-space continuum. Jen and I went out back looking for the fawns today, and it is truly maddening. Deer pop up and then disappear again like a whack-a-mole at the county fair. I dunno what's going on here, but I suspect it does involve time travel, worm holes, and the Black Hole of Calcutta.

We found 2 bucks and a doe or two out back, but no fawns. I suspect that, in addition to mastering time and space, the fawns have the added power of being invisible as well. Just maddening.

And Jen and I out there driving around on the four wheeler and I'm like...whatever you do, don't turn toward them or we'll be gored. I've been charged by one of those precious creatures and let me tell you...when they lower their racks and charge you, your life will flash before your eyes (assuming you live that long).

We've got a lot moving around up here this time of year. Elk, deer, bears, mountain lions, foxes, coons, skunks...I'm scared to open the door without a firearm. And somehow, Timmy moves through this world like he owns the place.

I'm out back mowing with a bushhog and Timmy comes marching out of the elephant grass with some prize in his mouth. I go after him because he's killed more animals this year than BP. He runs up under the 18 foot dual axle trailer and I dive underneath to try to save whatever he's captured. I'm thinking it's another chipmunk (he's killed two this week), or another Mountain Bluebird (he's killed 6 and counting), but it's just a ginormous field mouse so I leave him be and scamper back out from under the trailer.

Wendy assures me that he'll be killed, but I don't buy it. Timmy moves through the woods like he owns the place. He's two years old and hasn't ended up in another animal's digestive system so far. He's been treed before, but he's never been eaten. I think that says something. I think he's a winner.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 7, 2010 at 12:26 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

June 30, 2010

Fox in the Henhouse

Jennifer and I saw two amazingly cute spotted mule deer fawns with white spots today. They came through the back while we were building the treehouse. I dropped my tools and ran inside to get my camera and I swear those things disappeared like ghosts.

"Where did they go," I squawked.

"I dunno. They went behind the barn and then I didn't see them any more," she replied.

I walked all around the property. I jumped no less than 10 bucks in velvet, but not one doe. I couldn't find her or her fawns. Majorly disappointed.

So, in any event, we decided to run Bluebird trail and I heard these magpies just going nuts out back so we drove the ATV down there to see what the ruckus was. I was hoping that it was the fawns, but instead found a Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) eating something...probably a magpie.

The last fox up here died of an acute onset of lead poisoning. I think that this fox and Timmy can coexist, but I'm going to bushhog out back tomorrow so he can't sneak up on Timmy in the weeds.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 30, 2010 at 9:21 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

May 10, 2010

The Pine Squirrel

Above: A Pine Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) in Wendy's feeder.

Categories: Photos, Mammals

Posted by Rob Kiser on May 10, 2010 at 10:06 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

April 10, 2010

Coyote near Lionshead

Wendy spotted this coyote near Lionshead yesterday, so we stopped to snap a few pics.

Categories: Photos, Mammals, Coyotes

Posted by Rob Kiser on April 10, 2010 at 11:46 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

August 13, 2009

The Daily Deer

Well, I laid down my XR today and managed to break the clutch lever, believe it or not. I was able to drive it back to the house, but shifting gears wasn't easy. When I got back to the crib, I decided to go out back and shoot my deer. But, I suppose that we're all getting pretty bored looking at him. OK. So there's a "5 by" mulie that weighs over 200 pounds that lives in the woods in my back yard. Big deal.

So, I decided to get on one of the four wheelers and drive up to my neighbor's and see how his deer are looking. Warning: I would suggest that, if you're a hunter, you should stop looking at this point. Seriously. Do not scroll down. You've been warned.

These are four wild deer grazing in an open field lined up shoulder to shoulder. This scene was not staged in any way. The deer lined up on their own volition. All I did was snort and stomp my feet to get them to look up and pose for this shot. I used Photoshop only for auto-contrast and to sharpen the photos slightly.

Each of the four mule deer bucks in this photo is at least a "5 by" and a poacher could easily have killed all four with a single shot from a .270. More photos of this same scene (below).

(By the time I left, there were actually six trophy bucks in the field together, but only four of them got the memo about the chorus line, apparently.)

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 13, 2009 at 11:50 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

August 2, 2009

Baby Mule Deer

We saw a couple of baby mule deer yesterday evening near Mount Falcon. I think it's late in the year for them to still have spots like this. I hope they make it.

Update: In the Rocky Mountains, on average, mule deer fawns lose their spots after 86 days. This typically occurs between July and October.

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 2, 2009 at 10:41 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

July 20, 2009

Postcards from Nowhere: Aspen

Update: These photos were shot free-hand without the aid of a tripod and are posted straight out of the camera. Some are over-exposed. Some are under-exposed. Some are poorly cropped. All I really have time to do is cull out a few and drop them onto the website and then move on.

I'm not really interested in growing as a photographer. A serious photographer would drive up to Maroon Bells at dawn and set up a tripod and a laptop and try to get some really clean low-noise images in the can with a 50mm "normal" lens with the ISO set at 50 and the Aperture set at f/20 and a UV filter, etc. But that's not really my bag. I get bored with all that very quickly. I like to keep moving and find new places to shoot. So, again, I apologize for the rough look of these images, but this is where were are.

Above: Rocky Mountain bluebells (Mertensia humilis). (This photo was actually taken near Evergreen, Co.)

Above: Jennifer prepares to wade in a creek above Maxwell Falls. (This photo was actually taken near Evergreen, Co.)

Above: View from near the summit of Independence Pass, going west on Colorado State Highway 82, heading into Aspen.

Above: View from near the summit of Independence Pass, going west on Colorado State Highway 82, heading into Aspen.

Above: View from near the summit of Independence Pass, going west on Colorado State Highway 82, heading into Aspen.

Above: View from near the summit of Independence Pass, going west on Colorado State Highway 82, heading into Aspen.

Above: The Devil's Punchbowl just outside of Aspen, Colorado. These lunatics actually jump across the ledge like mountain goats, and then dive into the punchbowl below. Crazy.

Above: Cosmos flowers.

Above: Cosmos flowers.

Above: Carnations. Update: I'm told these are Zinnias.

Above: Carnations. Update: I'm told these are Zinnias.

Above: Pansies.

Above: Flower bed beside one of Aspen's artificial recirculating creeks.

Above: Little Annie's restaurant in Aspen.

Above: A pedestrian mall in Apsen.

Above: Fountain on a pedestrian mall in Apsen. The kids would put balloons in the fountain and then watch them rise up, balanced on the fountainheads.

Above: Yellow Columbine (Aquilegia flavescens).

Above: Wendy had a name for this, but I forget what it was.

Above: Cosmos.

Above: Cosmos.

Above: No clue what this is. Update: Possibly a Dahlia?

Above: This is a sepia-toned photo hanging in a hotel in Aspen of some people negotiating Independence Pass by horse and buggy. The road today is not much wider than this in places. It's paved and as has guardrails now, but in parts it goes down to one lane - no joke.

Above: Flowerbed in front of an Aspen hotel.

Above: Wendy identified these as Delphiniums.

Above: Cosmos.

Above: Cosmos.

Above: Delphiniums.

Above: Ski lodge in Aspen Highlands.

Above: Flower basket in Aspen Highlands.

Above: Maroon Lake with Maroon Bells in the background.

Above: Jennifer negotiating the trail to Crater Lake.

Above: American Dipper (Cinclus mexicanus). This bird actually swims underwater fairly well. Very surprising the first time you see one go under and then pop back up a few feet away like it was no big deal. I assume that he must have some type of oil gland on him like a duck because his feathers never seem to get wet and I've never seen one sunning their wings like a cormorant.

Above: The trail to Crater Lake through Aspen trees and Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus carota). Queen Anne's Lace was imported into the New World from Europe as a medicinal plant and has been used as a contraceptive for centuries. Also known as the Wild Carrot, the vegetable carrot was bred from this same plant.

Above: The trail to Crater Lake through Aspen trees.

Above: The Colorado Chipmunk (Tamias quadrivittatus) is a species of rodent in the squirrel family Sciuridae. It is endemic to the United States.

Above: Jennifer at Crater Lake posing before a large stump. Note all of the dead trees behind her in the lake - this wood was all taken out by one of the unimaginable avalanches that periodically decimate everything in their path as they tumble down the chutes of the slopes around Maroon Bells.

Above: Rocky Mountain Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea).

Above: Castilleja, commonly known as Indian paintbrush or Prairie-fire.

Above: The American Pika (Ochotona princeps) is found in the mountains of Colorado in boulder fields at or above tree line. They are the smallest of the rabbit group.

Above: A grove of Aspen trees. Some claim the largest living organism in the world is a grove of Aspen trees in Colorado, New Mexico, or Utah.

Above: No clue what this is.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 20, 2009 at 11:40 PM : Comments (4) | Permalink

June 2, 2009

Other Critters

This guy has been lurking around lately...looking to get Timmers, I'm sure.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 2, 2009 at 3:14 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

November 11, 2008

Wile E. Coyote

I saw a gray animal trotting through a patch of dormant mountain grass and at first, I thought it was a gray fox. But upon closer inspection, it was a coyote. I don't see a lot of them up here, for whatever reason. I think they're actually more common down the hill. The photo isn't great, but he was running in low light and even with the ISO at 1600, it's hard to capture a crisp image. If he would come out earlier, I could get a better shot. Maybe I'll get a 'wounded rabbit' call and try to get him out in the daylight.

Posted by Rob Kiser on November 11, 2008 at 10:13 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

November 4, 2008

Red Fox

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes).

Posted by Rob Kiser on November 4, 2008 at 10:39 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

November 3, 2008

Fox Trot

This is a Democratic Red Fox(Vuples Democratis) looking for a handout at dusk to take back to her crack den.

To shoot these photos, I panned with the fox as she was trotting in low light. It's not an easy shot to get, but if it works right, the effect is that everything is blurred out except for the fox, making the subject stand out from the background. The Canon L-Series EF 100-400mm f/4.0-5.6 IS USM lens has a special setting for this shot, so the Image Stabilization only functions along the vertical axis, allowing the image to blur along the horizontal axis.

Johnny, the big deer, is living in some government-subsidized housing in the woods behind my house these days. I didn't take any shots of him tonight, however, as it was cold and dark by the time I returned from the farm.

Continue reading "Fox Trot"

Posted by Rob Kiser on November 3, 2008 at 8:49 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

November 2, 2008

The Daily Deer

I went up to George's today to shoot some. I didn't run into George and I didn't see the fox. I sat up there for a bit and then drove back down to my house, where I almost ran into "Johnny." This is the biggest deer around here, so far as I know, anyway. He was eating crabapples off of the ground beneath my crabapple tree. This guy is so fat I think he could hibernate if he wanted to. The last three photos are of a different buck I saw up at George's. The bucks appear to be entering rut, as they're starting to aggressively rub and scrape, and they're sniffing the air to see if the does are in heat.

Continue reading "The Daily Deer"

Posted by Rob Kiser on November 2, 2008 at 6:52 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

November 1, 2008

Red Fox

Continue reading "Red Fox"

Posted by Rob Kiser on November 1, 2008 at 6:41 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 24, 2008

Daily Photos

A bull elk chews his cud this evening in the Evergreen HIghlands.

Continue reading "Daily Photos"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 24, 2008 at 11:23 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 22, 2008

First Snow

We got a little snow last night and then it snowed on and off all day. Not much, mind you. Just a light dusting. It was technically our second snow here at the compound. But this is the first time this season that it's snowed all day like this. The snow fell in fuzzy round balls and I went out shooting after lunch. The deer were going crazy, eating everything that wasn't nailed down, including Juniper and Russian Thistles. I'm hoping that it will warm up for the weekend though, so Jennifer and I can take the new canoe for a shakedown cruise in Lake Evergreen.

Continue reading "First Snow"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 22, 2008 at 8:17 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 21, 2008

Br'er Fox

I'm still trying to get a decent shot of this fox. I must admit that I don't know much about foxes. For instance, I saw this fox bury some food today, like a squirrel burying an acorn. I was quite surprised as I hide no idea they engaged in such behavior.

Continue reading "Br'er Fox"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 21, 2008 at 6:55 PM : Comments (3) | Permalink

October 19, 2008

Red Fox

I shot a photo of a red fox tonight up at the farm. Beautiful animal.

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 19, 2008 at 8:20 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 12, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 11

I don't know why I do it. I really don't. But when I go out to shoot in the evening, I always go hop on my four wheeler and take off down the road and I always forget to look out back first. Or I never remember to look out back. Is there a difference? I dunno.

But, in any event, it's freezing cold out there. It really is. So cold that I'm wearing gloves and a helmet because last night I got so cold I had to stay at the Grundy's all night drinking wine and playing 13's. So tonight, I remembered how cold it was and I wore my gloves and my helmet and a jacket and I swear it just made no difference at all.

I can't tell you how what the weather is like except to say that it's as misty as Portland, Oregon and as cold as Detroit, Michigan. So maybe that gives you an idea of the weather here. The weather seems to be crashing along with the stock market.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer - Day 11"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 12, 2008 at 6:53 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 11, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 10

Today was gray and misty and cold. I still haven't seen the "big" deer Bud saw, but I did spot this one today, along with a fox and a rabbit.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer - Day 10"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 11, 2008 at 5:52 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 10, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 9

The bucks are clearly out of rut at this point. The bucks have left the does and are just hanging out and fattening up for winter. Today was cold and misty and they just laid around behind the house all day chewing their cud and occasionally sneaking out to steal a few bites of some tasty plant they like to eat at the base of the Russian Thistles. Jennifer was whistling to them from the redwood deck, which got them to turn around and face the lens.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer - Day 9"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 10, 2008 at 7:31 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 7, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 8

Tonight, I changed the gear oil in the front and read differentials on the four wheelers. I was going to change the oil in the crankcase also, but I was out of 10 weight oil, so I held back. Then, I decided to drive up and see if there were any bucks out by George's or Jan's. I saw a nice buck up at George's. Last night, I saw a couple of bucks up there as well. I've posted some of these photos above and in the extended entry.

I stopped by Bud's and asked him if any of these looked like the "Big" deer he saw with Art and Chris. But he keeps saying that there's a big one up there and I'll know him when I see him.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer - Day 8"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 7, 2008 at 8:52 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 3, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 7

I saw the big deer up at the top of the hill, between George's and Jan's places. But my battery was dead and I couldn't get any shots. Then Bud made Shepherd's Pie so I went over for dinner and some does and their fawns came around eating the acorns from the scrub oaks.

I'm trying to get some shots of the mule deer bouncing like Pepe Le Pew, but this is a hard shot to capture when they're moving fast at dusk.

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 3, 2008 at 8:36 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 1, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 6

I've pretty much given up hope of finding the "Big" deer. Probably, he was just passing through. Or maybe he never existed. Maybe he was a fig newton of our imagination. But I do enjoy shooting the deer that hang around here. So bear with me.

This evening, I found a few deer in Bud's yard, eating the acorns from beneath the Scrub Oaks that Jennifer and Allie missed this weekend. They love the acorns because they're extremely rich in protein. For the bucks, it's supposed to help them grow a larger rack. For the does, probably it just helps them to put on weight to make it through the winter.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer - Day 6"

Posted by Rob Kiser on October 1, 2008 at 12:03 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

September 28, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 5

The deer are seldom where I expect them to be. But I've found that if I go out about an hour before sunset, they start showing up. Sometimes, the does have become separated from the bucks and they're calling to them. Sometimes, the younger bucks are fighting with each other just for practice. Sometimes, the fawns are running like mad for no apparent reason. It's fun to watch them, but I still haven't found the "Big" deer that Bud saw.

These two bucks were fighting, but there were no does around. The larger buck has just recently scraped the velvet off of his rack, as you can see from the blood on his antlers. The smaller buck has lost a serious fight, causing his right anter to be ripped from his skull, and left broken and hanging. This is not that uncommon, actually, and he will live through the winter if it doesn't get infected.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer - Day 5"

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 28, 2008 at 11:06 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

September 26, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 4

This deer has a really bad limp. I doubt he will make it through the winter.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer - Day 4"

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 26, 2008 at 6:58 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

September 25, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 3

I decided to go out and try to get some shots of the deer this evening. So I grabbed my 40D and my long lens and stepped outside just in time to see them starting to move. They sleep in the choke cherries down behind my house during the day, and around dusk, they all move into the open pastures of the valleys to get some more grass. At night, they lay down and chew their cud like cows.

The fawns stay close to the does. The bucks that are mature enough to breed drive the does before them, with their fawns. The immature bucks just sort of tag along. And then the big buck brings up the rear.

These photos were all taken in my yard or Bud's yard around dusk today. There were somewhere between 5 - 10 deer today. About average for this time of year. It's been warm, so the elk are still higher up. The weather will push the elk down here pretty soon, but for now, the mule deer are enjoying the tail end of summer and putting on as much weight as possible before the snow comes.

The large buck shown the photo above is a massive beast. There are two other bucks in the photo with him, that obviously don't hold a candle to him. His neck is larger than the chest of the buck behind him. Notice the ripples in his neck and shoulders.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer - Day 3"

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 25, 2008 at 2:41 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

September 21, 2008

The "Big" Deer - Day 2

I spent most of the day rereading J.D. Salinger's Catcher in the Rye and dozing on the couch. But when the light started to fade, I went out and shot some deer. Bud has me slightly intrigued by the "big" deer they saw the other day. So, I got on my four wheeler and drove up to the end cul-de-sac. And, just for the record, the people that live up there are royal jack@sses. Not only are they old and mean, but they're also ugly and bitter and petty.

Some extremely ugly housewife showed up in a little Subaru. She was as ugly as any woman I've ever laid eyes on and cold and bitter. The winters had cut deep furrows in her face and she kept telling me over and over again ,"This is private property." And I'm like, "I'm well aware of that. I was photographing the deer. You've made yourself perfectly clear. I'm leaving. You could be friendly about it at least".

"I am being friendly," she protested.

"THEN LET IT GO!" I shouted at her. Like...stop being such a raving b1tch for God's sake. I'm on a five thousand dollar ATV with a five thousand dollar camera. I live five houses down. I'm not some vagrant poaching deer on your stupid property. I'm not hunting. You told me to leave and I'm leaving. Give it a rest you revolting witch.

But, in the end, I got my shots. That's what counts. And she can call the law all she wants. She doesn't know me from Adam, obviously. If she did, she wouldn't be such an evil b1tch.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer - Day 2"

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 21, 2008 at 7:53 PM : Comments (1) | Permalink

September 20, 2008

The "Big" Deer

Bud comes over late in the afternoon to help me install my hand carved mahogany bar with granite counters. After we set it up, we're out front on the porch smoking cigars.

"You know them folks come through going to Alaska?" he says, chomping on his cigar.

"Yeah. Art and his boy Chris, right?"

"Yeah. Well, we went riding around yesterday so they could see some mulies. We saw three bucks...then three more....and they were good sized. Chris didn't know deer got that big. He saw a 5 point, but called it a 10 point...."

"Right. Well...they count 'em different back East for whatever reason," I offered.

"So then," he continues, "Art says....Holy Sh1t look at that sum-a-bich."

Bud stopped and relit his cigar. He's good at telling stories. Knows just where to pause for effect.

Continue reading "The "Big" Deer"

Posted by Rob Kiser on September 20, 2008 at 8:34 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

August 9, 2008

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Colorado Chipmunk (Tamias quadrivittatus).
Update: Not a Colorado Chipmunk, as the lines don't go through the face. This is most likely a golden-mantled ground squirrel (Callospermophilus lateralis).

Posted by Rob Kiser on August 9, 2008 at 7:57 PM : Comments (1) | Permalink

July 4, 2008

North American Moose

North American Moose (Alces alces).

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 4, 2008 at 11:57 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Mountain Goat

Mountain goat (Oreamnos americanus).

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 4, 2008 at 11:44 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Mule Deer

Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus).

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 4, 2008 at 10:48 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

North American Elk

North American Elk (Cervus elaphus).

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 4, 2008 at 10:44 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Red Fox

Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes).

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 4, 2008 at 10:38 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Striped Skunk

Striped Skunk (Mephitis mephitis).

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 4, 2008 at 10:30 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink