Search the Community

Does anyone know if anyone rents out horses or llamas for hunting? Tried google but no success. Or if anyone is willing to? Thanks.

Does anyone know if anyone rents out horses or llamas for hunting? Tried google but no success. Or if anyone is willing to? Thanks.

Amanda who is a biologist & her husband Paul were kind enough to let me tag along on one of her endangered Mexican Spotted Owl Surveys (Thank you!!!). I will be the first to admit I stink at photographing anything with feathers, but the real joy came from the nesting pair being successful with this youngin. I was so caught up taking pictures trying to get it right when I look over at a birder named Matt who also tagged along on the trip and there he was standing with his mouth agape 100% mesmerized by what was taking place in front of him. I stopped clicking then so I too could really SEE the mother owl retrieve the mouse and take it to the baby. I feel very lucky to have been a part of this. This baby needs to fight to make it as the survival rate is very low for baby Mexican Spotted Owls. Monsoons are definitely present in Southern Arizona. A water bug closeup. I was actually to surprised to see what they look like up close. Paul pointed out this beautifully camouflaged Canyon Tree Frog. The dove is nesting above an alligator enclosure. Not the smartest idea. I believe this is a Sierran Tree Frog, but I've most often heard it called a Chorus Tree Frog. Yikes! He was calm for awhile, but then got grumpy. California King Snake on the water's edge. Adorable family of masked bandits in a palm tree outside a local golf course. They were young and tolerant of my picture taking Someday I will take an excellent elk picture, but for now I get to practice on the Salt River horses. Nice blue eye on this young one.

For Mother's Day this year, my son & his girlfriend took me kayaking on the Salt River. The horses never cease to amaze me, but this was the first time I've kayaked through the middle of the herd. I couldn't have asked for a better Mother's Day gift than this. Plus a very nice man took our picture with a drone and e-mailed it to us. I'm the one in the back teaching my grandbaby dog how to ride on a kayak. I was sure hoping he wasn't taking pictures at first because Koa needed a little time to get used to riding on the kayak and it was a bit of an embarrassing adventure at first. I really don't know what to say, but what a cute smile (please zoom in on this one) These were taken during my feeble attempt at turkey hunting this year. I was supposed to go a different time, but ended up at the Tucson Mule Deer Federation Banquet and was so glad I did. I've never been to a banquet like that before and they do absolutely wonderful things for the mule deer in our state! It was almost better than turkey hunting, but not quite...lol I did manage to see the end of a rainbow (my first) while turkey hunting, lots of deer & elk, and quite a bit of snow but I struck out in the turkey department. REPTILES I recently came across this Gila Monster. I can still count on one hand how many I've seen in the wild. Patch nose snake that had recently eaten another snake (notice the lumpy body). Invasive soft shell turtle I caught with my fishing pole Glossy snake & I thought the picture of me taking this picture was kinda neat so I'm including it too. I do have a long lens, but I still have to get somewhat close. Greater Earless & Desert Spiny lizards A very angry Gopher Snake Photographed on foot at 50 yards (not by the lakes - this was a different unit). It was interesting. They are so different than deer or elk. I felt like I was their zoo and it was me they came to see. The little guy was a complete stitch to watch. He was running and jumping everywhere. Sure was fun to watch. And finally this summer don't forget to TAKE A KID FISHING!

I did the video that goes with this story. I thought I'd share it. In 1973, three friends decided to dress like mountain men and ride horseback from Phoenix to Canada... just for the adventure. They made their own buck skin clothes and took black powder rifles with them. The only modern thing they took with them was a camera. It took them six month to get there but they made it. Two of the guys got together in Phoenix a few weeks ago and I managed to catch up with them and hear their story. Their photos are really great. http://www.azcentral.com/thingstodo/living/articles/20130412arizona-canada-mountain-men-trek.html?fb_action_ids=10201134682547519&fb_action_types=og.recommends&fb_source=aggregation&fb_aggregation_id=288381481237582