LA BOTA RANCH WHITE-TAILED DEER UPDATE (December 13, 2014): I drove to the north fence line at La Bota Ranch, arriving at 3:07 p.m. It was partly cloudy (cumulus clouds), sunny, and windy – a beautiful afternoon. N.W.S. radio indicated a 3:00 p.m. temperature of 79°F, humidity 57%, and a southerly wind at 17 mph, gusting to 24 mph. I stopped at a sandy stretch of road along the fence line to investigate two sets of (illegal alien) footprints. The prints tracked in an easterly direction, then veered onto the short road to E.N.’s old campsite and disappeared in the thick brush. I drove to Sombreretillo Creek, arriving at 3:35 p.m. I checked the bedrock tinaja, which contained only a puddle, and no Rio Grande Leopard frogs were seen. Two ducks were seen in the creek below the Upper Falls. As I approached the pouroff at the Upper Falls a large Red-Eared Slider turtle scuttled off the small gravel island below the falls. It had been sunning on the warm gravel. It was very peaceful in the area – only the sound of the wind. However, small and invisible biting insects were bothersome. I saw a giant Collared Lizard come out from under a large sandstone boulder on the bedrock floor of the creek. The lizard was perhaps 7”-8” in length, but remained in view for only a few seconds before it disappeared behind (or underneath) the boulder. I had a cold drink and a snack. I also had a very strong, pervading feeling of being watched while at the creek. This was very unusual and it was a strong feeling. I left the area at 3:52 p.m. and drove to the West Meadow in the western sector of the ranch, arriving at 4:03 p.m. I parked the truck at the base of the Northwest Ridge. Axis doe “Alexa” was seen at trough 3 and I counted only 6 WTD in the pasture! Only one buck was seen bedded in the shade and a spike buck was also seen. The majority of significant bucks in the West Meadow Herd were entirely absent. I hiked down to the feed bins and determined that it was dominant buck “Thor” that was bedded down in the pasture! As I hiked into the pasture “Thor” rose to his feet valiantly, and nearby does and fawns that had been bedded also got up and ran off flagging their tails as a warning. “Thor” heeded the warning and also ran off, flagging his own triangular white tail as he ran over the east levee. He had let me approach to within about 40 yards before he fled. I checked the troughs and discovered there was a light amount of feed in them. It was later determined that this was leftover from the morning’s feeding. I saw two squirrels in the West Meadow, one of them on top of the feed bins. I walked back up to the truck, and WT doe “Libby” approached me. I fed her some corn by hand from a small pail. I attempted to take a video while feeding her, but she would not cooperate and the effort was unsuccessful. I carried the camera gear up to the Northwest Ridge and was approached by “Sheila.” I gave her some corn in a small pail and just sat down because there were no bucks to photograph. I had set up the E-M1 camera, the 150mm f2.0 lens, and the Libec tripod, seemingly for nothing. At 5:08 p.m. I looked down into the West Meadow with binoculars and saw “Thor” and WT buck “Omega,” who was still limping somewhat on his front left leg. I also saw a small 8-point buck and a few does and fawns. I just continued to sit and wait for something to happen, but it didn’t. Consequently I carried the camera/tripod down to the West Meadow where I took a few casual photos of “Thor.” Shortly afterwards “Thor” and “Omega” went back into the brush over the east levee. I hiked into the brush about 200 yards north where I just stood and waited. At 5:40 p.m. I saw a small 8-point buck grunting and chasing a doe through the brush. I obtained a short video of the activity. While recording, another larger 8-point buck ran past me from behind to intercept the smaller buck in competition for the doe. I watched the larger buck track the doe through the thick brush for a while. At 5:45 p.m. I saw WT buck “Hyperion” emerge from the dense brush about 125 yards to the northeast and generally head toward the West Meadow. I obtained a few distant telephoto shots of him. I ended the photo session at about 5:55 p.m. I hiked back to the truck, arriving at 6:00 p.m. Ranch owner A.M. was waiting there in his truck. He wanted me to show him the bulldozer tracks I had found several hundred yards to the northwest back on December 7th. I put away the camera gear in my truck and rode with A.M. to that area of the ranch. As we drove up the ranch road on the Northwest Ridge we saw WT buck “Abel” cross the road a few yards ahead of A.M.s Hummer. He was headed generally east. I showed A.M. the dozer tracks and we looked over the area in general, and then he dropped me back off at the West Meadow at 6:40 p.m. I drove my truck down to the feed bins and saw a small mouse on top of one of them. At 6:45 p.m. I poured ½ A.M. mix and a half bucket of corn into troughs 1-2 only; I poured ½ bucket of corn (only) into troughs 3-4. As I poured the feed & corn I saw large WT buck “Bucky” in the pasture! At 7:00 p.m. WT buck “Abel” appeared out of the darkness near the feed bins. I gave him some A.M. feed in a pan. Ranch cat “Max” showed up near the bins at about 7:00 p.m. as well, and I gave him a lot of attention. He sat in the pasture with me as I scratched his head, back, and stomach, and seemed to relish the attention. I actually dozed off for a while, during which time “Max” wandered away. After waking up, I saw “Alexa” feeding at trough 2. I left the West Meadow at 7:42 p.m. As I backed the truck out of the pasture I saw “Max” the cat lying near the top of the west levee in the darkness.
Posted on: Fri, 19 Dec 2014 17:25:59 +0000
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