CouesWhitetail

Wow, that's a gorgeous cat! Congratulations on finding that perfect spot and getting your dream cat! Amanda

Cactus Wrens actually make several nests, one for nesting and the others for the male to sleep in when the female is on the other nest. I think this was the secondary nest, the main nest is also on the porch rafter but not in a filmable spot. Amanda

Most Gila monster sightings are in the spring. They are coming out of hibernation and I believe it's their mating season in the spring. So they are just more active this time of year, and therefore more likely to be seen. I have only seen a handful in all my hiking around. Amanda

here are the photos Bill Quimby asked me to post. Nice pics Bill!

No, actually I don't carry it since Jim decided to just sell them himself on his website. I wish I carried them. Amanda

Fair enough....sorry about your shirt! Amanda

Thanks Jim! For those that don't know Jim, he is a biologist with AGFD out of the Tucson office and he wrote the book "Deer of the Southwest". His book contains loads of information and is well worth the money. Please consider buying one. Jim has been sharing some of his knowledge with us on this forum for years. Amanda

Hopefully by begining of April.... It's going to be cheaper, but have fewer features. 3MP photos only, the smaller size video file, and just a few delay options. It won't have a remote like the other two Covert cams. Amanda

I had a great time and thanks to everyone that helped out. As was mentioned Ben Brochu did some outstanding cooking including a great chicken tortilla soup Sat night and egg mcmuffin-type sandwiches on Sun morning! The weather was perfect....storms around us kept nice cloud cover while working and then cleared up at night so we could enjoy the stars. It was very nice to be able to chat with members of the forum as well as AGFD personnel. Anyone considering going on one of these projects really should do it. They are fun and productive. It's a great feeling to complete something like this that will provide water for wildlife for many years. Saw this gopher snake out sunning itself on the way to the project. He was still cold enough that he didn't really even respond to me, just a flick of the tongue to show he was indeed alive: Flowers were gorgeous on the way in and out: brittle bush: desert marigold: There were a few kids at the project and one was too small to help out so he spent a little time collecting some flowers. What a nice bunch! His father was the welder for the project: here is the boy with his dad's welder helmet on later in the day: Raul Vega, sector supervisor for AGFD, also brought his boy along: This water project is designed to collect rain water on an apron that is built over the large holding tanks. I believe the whole system can store 10,000 gallons and Ben Brochu, WM for the area, suggested that would be enough to last two years if it was full and then we were in a bad drought. Overview of the work site: Some of the storm clouds that kept the day cool: TJ working on the framing: The tank sitting under the framing: A fence is constructed around the entire project to keep cattle out. A spacing bar is used to keep the fence wildlife friendly: The AZ Deer Association helped fund purchase of a 1000 gallon water buffalo last year and we used that to help add water to the system: water trickling in: The water in the tanks and the trough are always at the same level due to some cool engineering. In addition to the water buffalo they also brought a much larger water truck and added water. The trough is angled and lined with concrete and rocks so wildlife can walk in and out safely. Oh and here is Angie sportin' the CW.com colors!! Great chatting with you Angie and Tracy! These projects are a great reason to get outside and help wildlife. It's a great way to meet some new people and talk with AGFD personnel informally. We will be working on the second water project in the area April 3-5. For more info: http://www.azdeer.org/37b_water_project.htm Amanda

Wow, awesome!!! Amanda

Very cool Doug!!! Amanda

Prayers sent....sorry to hear about your accident. Hope your friend comes through ok. Amanda

I can attest that it's rough in Eagle Creek!! I have ATV'd in there and it beats you up! I would hate to take a vehicle in there. I am surprised Scott Adams hasn't posted....he just emailed me pics of the ATV extraction they had to do because they broke a frame on the ATV!! Amanda

Nice pics! Amanda

Nice finds! Looks like you were in some thick country.... Amanda

Thanks for posting this cmc! Did you add it to the calendar also? Amanda

Hope you have a great one Ashley! Amanda

I don't see any snow in your pics that would be reflecting light? But anyway, to eliminate the overly white areas, just move the camera back so the infrared lights are not so close to the animal. It's the reflection of that light off the animal that causes the overly bright part. The infrared lights are supposed to light up the area out to 40 feet, so when you have something really close to the camera it can appear too bright. Amanda

Great info and pics! Thanks for sharing and congrats on all your finds. Productive day for sure! Amanda

I enjoy these! I actually did really well, but that's only because I have seen one like it before! Easy to see how the mind is led around. Amanda

Amanda I was just reading the wildlife news and some of the stuff written in there seems confusing to me compared to the statute you listed. "Every spring, deer, elk and other upland wildlife lose their antlers. They grow them all winter long, keep them through mating season, then the antlers fall off (or are shed) and the process begins anew. A common question asked of the Arizona Game and Fish Department is if individuals may pick up and keep the head or any part of wildlife they find dead in the field. What may appear to be an easy question actually requires a complicated answer. State law requires an individual to have evidence of legality when possessing or transporting wildlife carcasses or their parts. A hunting license and/or big game tag meets this requirement for wildlife lawfully taken during hunting season. However, if an individual in the field finds dead wildlife, or any part of an animal he or she did not legally take during the hunt, then that individual may not automatically possess and /or transport any of it. An exception is that there are no restrictions on the possession of naturally shed of cast antlers. If an individual wishes to keep such wildlife parts found in the field (other than shed antlers), he/she must contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department so an officer can determine the cause of death of the animal. If it is determined the animal died from a natural cause, such as predation, disease, fights, falls, drowning, lightning, etc., the wildlife part may be possessed by the individual. If the officer determines the animal died from an unnatural cause, such as wounding loss, illegal activity or vehicle collision, no part of the wildlife may be possessed or transported. If the cause of death cannot be determined and the wildlife part is fresh, meaning bone or tissue moisture is present and the part is not oxidized, possession will not be allowed. This also applies to parts, such as skulls, where the age cannot be determined because the finder has boiled and/or cleaned them. If the cause of death cannot be determined and the part is old (with no moisture and oxidized), possession will be allowed. Just remember, the key is to contact the Arizona Game and Fish Department prior to picking up the part. There is no way these parts may be lawfully possessed until the department has determined the cause of death. In recent years, the use of off-highway vehicles to go out and find these sheds has increased in popularity. The Game and Fish Department cautions all shed hunters who use OHVs to always stay on roads and trails when out shed hunting." I remember that article and I think it came out before they clarified the regulations. What's the date of your article? Amanda

Yes, I am curious about this too!!! Looks big enough to hold some fish and back in the country enough that it doesn't get fished.... Amanda

I don't see any attachments either. Amanda

Gotta say I wondered the same thing!! Maybe he thought he needed to dress up since he was sportin' the CouesWhitetail.com colors...... Amanda