I'm fascinated by the show that nature can put on sometimes; better than any TV show. In both 2003 and 2004, right around New Years day, we got 3 feet of snow in two days. After that big storm in 2004, our watershed was over 100% of normal, and then we hardly got another snowstorm until late March, plunging the watershed to way below normal, and then above normal spring rains in April/May put us back to near normal, with excellent growth for the deer and elk.

2005 winter started with a good foot or so of snow in November, and then we had a good three weeks in Nov/Dec of -5F nightime temps, freezing the ground good and solid. Then it rapidly warmed up and rained hard and our valley was under flood watch for a few days with the ground not able to absorb the moisture. Yesterday and last night we got about 10" of snow, and now this morning, it's raining again. Sure puts a damper on coyote hunting plans as the coyotes don't like rain much.

Our watershed is currently approaching 120% of normal and I hear that around Ketchum and north into the Stanley basin that snowfall is 3+ feet in the last several days.

Anyway, the point to this thread is that we have members all across the country and I'd like to hear of your unusual weather stories (whether past or present) and how it affects your hunting.

It has been a hot dry summer and fall in Eastern Oklahoma where I live. We are under a Burn Ban and have been having a lot of wildfires. Wells and Ponds are going dry. The last two weeks have been more like summer than winter with Temp. in the high 70's most of the days. Has been good for shooting Armadillo's. Wife, Grandson, and I take our Pistols with us everyday when we go check and feed the Cattle on our Ranch. Usually kill one or more every day. Seven year old Grandson killed one yesterday with his S.A. Ruger Bearcat .22. Wife and I use .45 Autos. Good practice.

Another 10-12" of snow here last night in Bellevue, ID. It sure blasted down because it wasn't snowing at all when I went to bed at 11:00, and it quit about 7:00 this morning. The snow blower has been getting a workout lately.

I went hiking up a side canyon road yesterday evening (only possible without snowshoes when snowmobilers make a few tracks and pack it down a bit) with the 17 Rem looking for coyotes but only saw a few mule deer does and fawns. The early hard freeze we had sent all the ducks further south since everything was iced over so the dogs are on a duck-fetching deficit now.

Sounds like you folks in TX and OK are having a tough drought, and it amazes me that the wildfires are so bad in Dec/Jan. I hope you get some relief soon.

P97: I've been watching your dilema on the news and wish there was some way to get some of our snow down your way. We got belted this morning again. When I left the house at 4 am to go to work it just started to snow and by the time I got about 2 miles down the road I was down to 25 mph. I have 16 mile drive to get to work and I had to stop twice to clean the snow off my headlights. I finally got to work about 4:45. :rolleyes: Ended up with another 2-3 inches at the mine and 4-6 here at the house.

Shawn: my brother-in-law that lives in Twin Falls goes snowmobiling in your neck of the woods if your close to Stanley.

I've been out trying to call coyotes the last couple of weekends without success. It's been so warm here during the day (high40'-low 50's) I'm not sure if the hides would be much good anyway. That fox I got in Dec. looked pretty good tho. Even the rabbits are hard to hunt, only saw 2 last weekend. Havren't seen any snowshoe hares up high either. Plenty of jackrabbits tho.

Hmm, Southern Id. has more snow than we do.
Almost all melted here.
Temps around 35 - 40 in daytime.

All our snow in the valleys and up on the praire are gone. Been raining and I've given up yote hunting. Fields are just to wet.

It looks like spring around here. I live about ten miles south of Orofino and got one yote so far when there was snow and it was frozen up. It's got to the point that every time I go by the 243 it whines like a whipped dog.

This keeps up I'm going to put the squirrel scope back on it and get that sighted in.

been cold and snowy since beginning of November here in Southern Michigan.. then for the last week or two it's been mid 30's to 40's and for the first time in my life i experienced a pretty hefty Thunderstrom in January... i've never seen lightning or hear thunder in January before... freaky weather for sure... now it is supposed to get cold again and begin snowing... go figure...

I'm fascinated by the show that nature can put on sometimes; better than any TV show. In both 2003 and 2004, right around New Years day, we got 3 feet of snow in two days. After that big storm in 2004, our watershed was over 100% of normal, and then we hardly got another snowstorm until late March, plunging the watershed to way below normal, and then above normal spring rains in April/May put us back to near normal, with excellent growth for the deer and elk.

2005 winter started with a good foot or so of snow in November, and then we had a good three weeks in Nov/Dec of -5F nightime temps, freezing the ground good and solid. Then it rapidly warmed up and rained hard and our valley was under flood watch for a few days with the ground not able to absorb the moisture. Yesterday and last night we got about 10" of snow, and now this morning, it's raining again. Sure puts a damper on coyote hunting plans as the coyotes don't like rain much.

Our watershed is currently approaching 120% of normal and I hear that around Ketchum and north into the Stanley basin that snowfall is 3+ feet in the last several days.

Anyway, the point to this thread is that we have members all across the country and I'd like to hear of your unusual weather stories (whether past or present) and how it affects your hunting.

North Central Texas/Oklahoma is dangerous right now. We have been in a terrible drought the last few years but this winter was preceeded by spring rains that got the brush growing good, and then nothing, no rain through the summer and fall. After the first freeze, all of the green stuff has vanished, and left nothing but kindling. That's when the fires took over. Fields that usually grow winter rye and wheat are brown. The deer kick up dust as they walk by.

Unlike most, I don't think global warming has the world coming to an end because we've seen this many times before.
Conditions just fell into place this year for this to happen.
As far as hunting, the last month of season, hunters should have considered hunting over water holes because that seems to be more important to these animals than food. Supplemental feed was bringing our deer in real well, and since they didn't want to exert any energy, they fed at night most of the time.

Although we haven't done a survey in years, our deer numbers seemed to be up.
Well, if this goes on through the spring, it will effect the fawn crop as well. Funny how mother nature works in order to even everything out.

I live in a small city in the hill country of north central Ohio. The second highest point in Ohio is about twenty miles north of here. There are also two ski lodges within twenty miles north and east of here. A few miles west of here, the terrain completely flattens out, and extends on that way through to the Great Plains.

When I was a kid in the late 50's and early 60's, I remember playing in snow drifts that were so deep, if you fell in, it was way over your head. The snowy part of winter would last from around Thanksgiving on through April. We haven't had snow like that since the blizzards in the late 70's. Most of the winters now have very little, if any, snow. We do get freezing rain a lot though.

In mid December, it was really cold for a couple of weeks, with high temperatures in the single digits, and about eight inches of snow cover. It warmed up about a week before Christmas, and all that melted off. The daytime highs have been in the high 40's to mid 50's most of the time since then. Mostly gray, rainy or drizzly most of the time. Today, it's in the 40's and kind of foggy and misty.

During most of deer season, it was so wet it sounded like you're walking through a swamp. I don't think I could start a fire outside if my life depended on it.

P.S. We had a big storm blow through here a couple of nights ago with some pretty spectacular thunder and lightning for awhile. I have seen that before, but it's quite rare.

Wanna hear thunder during a snowstorm? Come on over to Buffalo, NY during a big lake effect snow event. It doesn't happen real often but it does happen. I'm sure Watertown, NY gets it too. South of Buffalo had a pretty good lake effect event opening week of deer season. I have a 90 mile drive to where I hunt so I was snowed out for a day. We heard several thunderclaps when the snow bands drifted through our part of town.

When a big cold front moves over the warm lake you get convection just like in a summer storm. Sometimes thunder and lightning come right along with it.

Gunslinger,
While I can't speak for the 50's or early 60's, in the 70's I remember snow so deep in Buffalo we used to dig tunnels and caves in it in our front yards. Hadn't seen snow like that until about 6 years ago. Then Buffalo got hit with a couple big snow years again. Had to shovel snow off my Father's roof a few years back. His neighborhood got 7 ft in a couple days. Happened right in the middle of deer season. I bought snowshoes that year to hunt with and promptly twisted my knee using them. Spent the rest of the season nursing a sore swollen knee. Haven't used the darn things since.

MikeW

Just a brief update: We're back to more like a "normal" Ohio January now. The temperature dropped below freezing last night, and there was a light dusting of snow on the ground this morning. The high temp was in the mid 20's. The high temperature for the next few days is supposed to be in mid 30's.

The news also reported there was an earth quake today measuring 3.5 on the Richter scale in north east Ohio, along the Lake Erie shore. I didn't feel it though. Hhhmmm. Thunder and lightning a few days ago; earth quake today. What's up with that?

Hot and dry in central Texas. Statewide burn ban. We're at least 10" of rain behind, and the lakes are WAY down (normally full this time of year).

A few days ago, drove by a bank sign that reported 87 degrees F. I believe it; had the a/c on in the truck at the time.

Had a couple of good years before this one where fawn survival rates were high; now the state is overrun with deer. If you hunt in Texas, shoot all you can. 4 so far this year and I'll go again if I get the opportunity.

We got another 3" of snow here today, and forecast is for another 3"-5" tonight, and another 2"-4" tomorrow. More, but lesser amounts in showers through the weekend. The sagebrush on the hill behind the house isn't covered yet, but the snow that is there is dense with it being rained on earlier, so water content is good.

I see from the news that the folks in S. Colorado got some snow that snuffed out some fires. How are you folks in OK and TX doing....any relief yet?

There are many trails of footy-prints across our hillsides as the elk and deer are streaming south to lesser snow cover.

Other than a bit of snow in Nov, we've had naught but rain. Rain just about every day for over a month now. Not much, mind you, but a slow drizzle. Feels like I moved to Seattle.

It's gettin' on my nerves.

Aside from a cold snap in late Nov, early Dec, it's been warm (for Jan) and wet. Feels like Nov or March.

Of course, I bought an ice boat this year...

Other than a bit of snow in Nov, we've had naught but rain. Rain just about every day for over a month now. Not much, mind you, but a slow drizzle. Feels like I moved to Seattle.

It's gettin' on my nerves.


We must be neighbors. I was watching the Weather Channel this morning while I was waiting for the local forecast. Seattle was supposed to be mid-40's & rain. Then they went to our local forecast: mid-40's & rain.

Well, we dodged a bullet on Tuesday, a big fire burned up about 4500 acres just west of our hunting lease. There are fires everywhere, and we have a slim hope of some rain on Sunday.
Here's hoping!

Keep your fingers crossed, Tom -

Hope none of the pumpers or workover crews toss a lit match or cigarette out the truck window!

We're really dry out here, too. Last moisture was recorded as a trace on Oct 19th. No snow in the high country, which we depend on for runoff to replinish the lakes down here for drinking water. Looks like a tough winter/spring/summer ahead.

Keep your fingers crossed, Tom -

Hope none of the pumpers or workover crews toss a lit match or cigarette out the truck window!

We're really dry out here, too. Last moisture was recorded as a trace on Oct 19th. No snow in the high country, which we depend on for runoff to replinish the lakes down here for drinking water. Looks like a tough winter/spring/summer ahead.
Yep, I was told that a bale of hay was about twice the price of last year because they have to truck it in. You know beef prices are going up too.
I've been hearing about your lack of rain too. I hope this changes pretty soon

Ken By the way. I took my grandson out fishing on New Years Eve to that same little pond you and Mason went to.
They were still hungry!
I think I have a fishing partner for life. We kept a few to eat so he thought that was pretty cool.

2" more of snow here last night, and another storm coming in Tuesday and Wednesday this week. A few elk and deer are down munching on an aspen patch 600 yards from my house as they move farther south.

I see Seattle has had 27 straight days of rain, with mudslides and all. Too bad some of that can't be sent to OK and TX, where they are nearing 600,000 acres of burn. Seems the Gulf of Mexico isn't giving up any of the normal storms that give life to that region this time of year.

We received about 2ft of snow before christmas. It's been nothing but rain since. Rained on Saturday, changed to snow on sunday freezing everything. It's 5 degree's now, but will warm up to 40 on tuesday. It rains every time I try and get out in the field. Very depressing! JP

Another 6"-7" of snow Tues-day and night here this week. The stinkin' sagebrush is almost covered up! I can now watch the resident fox up the hill laying in the sunshine on the snow when I come home for lunch since he/she (looks kind of pregnant) doesn't have the sagebrush to lay behind. I'm going to have to take out a loan for gas for my snowblower soon. :p

The half-dozen elk are still here in the mouth of the canyon (with one trophy spike), but they'll probably move on soon as the aspen patch has just so many buds in it, and the south/west facing hills aren't burning off anytime soon. There were quite a lot of mule deer too, but I think the coyotes are running them around. I'll have to take the Polaris 4-wheeler up the canyon road this weekend and harass the coyotes with some 25-grainers if the snowmobilers have the road packed down enough.

We had a good 8" of lake ice in December, very good if you like to fish through the ice, and very early good ice for Omaha. Daytime temps have been in the 50's more often than not for the month of January to date..very warm for January. I find myself very much missing Minnesota with the typical good old -10 to -20 two week cold snap that comes at this time of year. I hate this darn warm weather.....it's JANUARY!...where is the COLD? A few months from now it will be 90-100 degrees for about 5 months....where is my winter!

Here in the Willamette Valley the forcast has been the same since the third week of Dec. 2005; RAIN. Wish we could share the wet stuff with the south west to put out the fires.

Flyrod is gathering several layers of dust, the favorite fishing holes have an additional 6 feet of water or more. Too much debris and tall timber rushing by for wading. The mountain passes in the Cascades now have over 5 feet of snow in the lower elevations.

Good weather to reload or tie flies. :D

Hoopie,

Outside my front door, it's -30F this morning. I have to go to town later. It's about -40F in town. Good day to go back to bed....

National Weather service is calling for a big winter storm down here, snowtigger. Gotta like that, we've a weird winter so far.

Same ol', same ol' here in the southwest. High Country got a dusting (1" or less) of snow yesterday - we're still dry, dry, dry here in the Valley of the Sun. Temps did moderate a bit though - down to the high 30's at night and into the low 60's during the day with cloudless blue skies in between.

Ran the A/C in my truck yesterday. It was getting warm in the afternoon!

Ran the A/C in my truck yesterday. It was getting warm in the afternoon!
50% chance of rain this week-end.
Please Lord, give us a break!

National Weather service is calling for a big winter storm down here, snowtigger. Gotta like that, we've a weird winter so far.
Sure could use some of that snow up this way. The pumping & thawing guys are gonna be busy around here. But if you think your cold check out these temps!

http://www.arh.noaa.gov/wmofcst.php?wmo=NOAK49PAFG&type=public

Sure could use some of that snow up this way. The pumping & thawing guys are gonna be busy around here. But if you think your cold check out these temps!

http://www.arh.noaa.gov/wmofcst.php?wmo=NOAK49PAFG&type=public

Brrrrr! Those are some extreme low temps! I've only experienced about a -25 low here so far, and that was in the early 90's; haven't seen those types of temps for quite awhile. By the way, what do you mean by the "...pumping and thawing..." statement? Not enough snow cover to keep pipes from freezing and bursting?

Got another 2" of light dry snow here last night. The winter sports business is in good shape here so far.

Brrrrr! Those are some extreme low temps! I've only experienced about a -25 low here so far, and that was in the early 90's; haven't seen those types of temps for quite awhile. By the way, what do you mean by the "...pumping and thawing..." statement? Not enough snow cover to keep pipes from freezing and bursting?

Got another 2" of light dry snow here last night. The winter sports business is in good shape here so far.



We got a little snow today, at TWENTY BELOW!!!! Yes, the thawing people will find lots of work here. This will only make about 6-8'' on the ground.
Water lines are mostly buried to seven feet. If this weather keeps up frost will be a lot deeper than that.
Luckily, when I was building, my backhoe guy talked me into putting my line at 12 feet. Now, if the leach field just don't freeze.....

We got a little snow today, at TWENTY BELOW!!!! Yes, the thawing people will find lots of work here. This will only make about 6-8'' on the ground.
Water lines are mostly buried to seven feet. If this weather keeps up frost will be a lot deeper than that.
Luckily, when I was building, my backhoe guy talked me into putting my line at 12 feet. Now, if the leach field just don't freeze.....

7 feet frost depth...that's a bunch, but without insulating snow and those temps up there, I can see how it would still be a problem! Soooo.....if the leach field freezes, does that back things up to the house? I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

We had 7F this morning, and the wind chill was -8F. And, still I bundled up and jumped on the 4-wheeler and rode up the canyon in search of coyotes....against the wind of course. I only made it about a mile before two bull elk in the road made me turn around (didn't want to disturb them in this difficult time for them), so I didn't get to burn any powder. Here's a couple pics....one out my upstairs window looking West over Bellevue, the other up a side canyon looking East over Hailey. No snow predicted this week...blue sky and cold.

7 feet frost depth...that's a bunch, but without insulating snow and those temps up there, I can see how it would still be a problem! Soooo.....if the leach field freezes, does that back things up to the house? I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

We had 7F this morning, and the wind chill was -8F. And, still I bundled up and jumped on the 4-wheeler and rode up the canyon in search of coyotes....against the wind of course. I only made it about a mile before two bull elk in the road made me turn around (didn't want to disturb them in this difficult time for them), so I didn't get to burn any powder. Here's a couple pics....one out my upstairs window looking West over Bellevue, the other up a side canyon looking East over Hailey. No snow predicted this week...blue sky and cold.
Well, we got 1 inch of rain Sunday, as did most of North Texas. Looks like more rain coming in this week-end. Things were getting serious around here, but the fires are out now and things are now greening up!

Glad to hear it, Tom -

Hope things keep greening up for you and the tanks get full again.

Today makes 99 days since the last reported moisture - and that was reported as a "trace". Have a 30% chance of rain today, but looks like it will be another dry one. Supposed to get somewhere around 3"-6" of snow in the high country. That would help in the water shed.

We got a little snow today, at TWENTY BELOW!!!! Yes, the thawing people will find lots of work here. This will only make about 6-8'' on the ground.
Water lines are mostly buried to seven feet. If this weather keeps up frost will be a lot deeper than that.
Luckily, when I was building, my backhoe guy talked me into putting my line at 12 feet. Now, if the leach field just don't freeze.....

Wow. I thought we were the only ones who worry about septic systems freezing. Worrying this year too. We only have about 18 inches on the ground and Feb. Is usually way below zero. 2 winters ago the lines in town froze and when they dug them up the frost line was at 11 feet. We had 3 weeks of below zero and I saw -37 here for 3 days straight. BBBBRRRR. This year it got cold in November and warmed up in December and we are having the warmest January I can remember. Supposed to hit 43 tomorrow. If we lose anymore snowpack it will be a big worry next month. Steve

Glad to hear of the rain in TX Tom, and I hope you get some in AZ kdub. Single digits at night here, but warming up with a system coming in this weekend. Those are some cold temps Steve!

Stepdaughter sleeps with the window cracked open and she said she heard the coyotes singing a few nights ago so I'll have to walk some ridges and break a sweat this weekend!

7 feet frost depth...that's a bunch, but without insulating snow and those temps up there, I can see how it would still be a problem! Soooo.....if the leach field freezes, does that back things up to the house? I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

We had 7F this morning, and the wind chill was -8F. And, still I bundled up and jumped on the 4-wheeler and rode up the canyon in search of coyotes....against the wind of course. I only made it about a mile before two bull elk in the road made me turn around (didn't want to disturb them in this difficult time for them), so I didn't get to burn any powder. Here's a couple pics....one out my upstairs window looking West over Bellevue, the other up a side canyon looking East over Hailey. No snow predicted this week...blue sky and cold.


Well, It's starting to get REALLY cold here. Was -49 F when I hit the gate at work this morning. I only had to work outside about an hour today.
Spent the rest of the day fixing air leaks left by the last contractor remodel. It's almost worse to be in the cold draft than it is to be outside.
The 90 mile drive home is hard. Being in a warm car after being cold all day makes me want to sleep. Keeps my passenger awake, though..LOL
As for the leach field, we sit well above the septic tank. When it froze last time the tank overflowed and went, uh, somewhere. There's nobody downhill from us and I didn't investigate too closely, but there were some mighty green weeds down that way for a couple years.
Glad to hear it's raining in Texas, finally. Maybe the fires are over for a while.

Well, It's starting to get REALLY cold here. Was -49 F when I hit the gate at work this morning. I only had to work outside about an hour today.
Spent the rest of the day fixing air leaks left by the last contractor remodel. It's almost worse to be in the cold draft than it is to be outside.
The 90 mile drive home is hard. Being in a warm car after being cold all day makes me want to sleep. Keeps my passenger awake, though..LOL
As for the leach field, we sit well above the septic tank. When it froze last time the tank overflowed and went, uh, somewhere. There's nobody downhill from us and I didn't investigate too closely, but there were some mighty green weeds down that way for a couple years.
Glad to hear it's raining in Texas, finally. Maybe the fires are over for a while.

You could always open a S**tbucks in the back yard. "Ah, double frozen mocha, that'll be $5"

I've never been beyond -40 for straight cold, but I'd bet the windchill at -20 on a snow machine going between 80-100 mph is right up there...leaves brown spots on your face once it thaws...in your shorts if you hit a plowed road on the lake at that speed. :) At -40 your breath turns to snow and falls on your lap inside a car with the heat on.

Well, It's starting to get REALLY cold here. Was -49 F when I hit the gate at work this morning. I only had to work outside about an hour today.
Spent the rest of the day fixing air leaks left by the last contractor remodel. It's almost worse to be in the cold draft than it is to be outside.
The 90 mile drive home is hard. Being in a warm car after being cold all day makes me want to sleep. Keeps my passenger awake, though..LOL
As for the leach field, we sit well above the septic tank. When it froze last time the tank overflowed and went, uh, somewhere. There's nobody downhill from us and I didn't investigate too closely, but there were some mighty green weeds down that way for a couple years.
Glad to hear it's raining in Texas, finally. Maybe the fires are over for a while.

-49 F, now that's REAL cold! We haven't seen extreme cold here for at least a decade, but this year, the avg temps have been low for longer periods than a true cold snap. My wood pile is quite low for this time of year....gonna have to get into the "reserves" next month.

Our local weekly paper reported this week that our valley is at 154% of normal for moisture content. Looks like it's just going to keep climbing as it's snowing now, forecast 1-3" today, and 2-4" tonight, and snow & snow showers for the coming week. It thwarted my planned coyote hunting this morning.

Your leach field story reminds me of a place my parents have on the Middle Fork of the Clearwater River. Years ago, Dad planted a walnut tree over the septic field, and it really took off as the roots likely encircled the tank! If the tree ever dies in my lifetime, it might be a "retirement tree" to be sold for gun stocks, if the rapid growth didn't produce too course of a grain!

I'm all the way up to -37.7F this morning. Please send global warming my way!

Our forecast:

MIDDLE TANANA VALLEY-
INCLUDING...FAIRBANKS...FORT WAINWRIGHT...EIELSON AFB...ESTER...
NORTH POLE...MOOSE CREEK...TWO RIVERS...FOX...CHATANIKA...CHENA
HOT SPRINGS...SOURDOUGH CAMP
1137 AM AST SAT JAN 28 2006

...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IS CANCELLED...
.TODAY...MOSTLY CLEAR. AREAS OF ICE FOG. HIGHS 25 TO 40 BELOW.
NORTHEAST WINDS TO 10 MPH.
.TONIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. AREAS OF ICE FOG. LOWS 35 TO 50 BELOW.
NORTHEAST WINDS TO 10 MPH.
.SUNDAY...MOSTLY CLEAR. AREAS OF ICE FOG. HIGHS 30 TO 35 BELOW.
LIGHT WINDS.
.SUNDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. AREAS OF ICE FOG.
LOWS 40 TO 45 BELOW. LIGHT WINDS.
.MONDAY...MOSTLY CLEAR. AREAS OF ICE FOG.
HIGHS 25 TO 30 BELOW. LIGHT WINDS.
.MONDAY NIGHT...MOSTLY CLEAR. AREAS OF ICE FOG.
LOWS NEAR 45 BELOW.
.TUESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. AREAS OF ICE FOG. HIGHS NEAR 30 BELOW.
.TUESDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 45 BELOW.
.WEDNESDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR 30 BELOW.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 45 BELOW.
.THURSDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR 30 BELOW.
.THURSDAY NIGHT...PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR 40 BELOW.
.FRIDAY...PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS NEAR 20 BELOW.

We got all the Way to -35 today. Big deal!!
FAIRBANKS SUPPORTS GLOBAL WARMING!!!!!

Fairbanks was in the radio news over this past weekend....-51F low, and high was -45F!

On my last post on this thread, Friday before the weekend, we got 4-5" that weekend, and another 4" or so today. I thought I was going to avoid the roof shoveling exercise this year, but got the ladders out yesterday and got a lot of the edges off, and the north side, which was very dense and heavy.

I took a ride up the canyon behind the house this weekend; many elk and deer, and they are very low and too near the roads to be out of harms way. It's odd, I'm not seeing any coyotes this year and there have been various wolf sitings in the area, so I'm wondering if they've driven the song dogs out.

I see at least East Texas got a lot of rain this past weekend - hope things will start greening up down there for the fawn crop.

We've had very little snow in the last two weeks, and a lot of good steady cold!. -2F for a low here last night. Fairfield had a -5F low. Stanley had a -28F low! Forecast is similar for the next week or so. I know that's no big deal for you Canadians and Alaskans, but this long steady cold really bites into the firewood supply (and gas bill).

How's AZ, NM, TX & OK doing? Getting any rain since the majority of fires were put out by rain several weeks ago? I see that TN region is getting a bit of somewhat rare snow these days.

well we finnally got a little moisture, but most of it is just dew on the ground in the mourning, yesterday an ice storm moved in (thats right we dont get snow in tx, and oklahoma we get strait ice) so that will give us a little but still no more than an inch in total, and thats with the temp on wednsday at 75, we are now at 15

there has only been one drought that i can remember that is as bad as this one but i dont remember wich one was worse.

continue to pray for rain we need it.

well we finnally got a little moisture, but most of it is just dew on the ground in the mourning, yesterday an ice storm moved in (thats right we dont get snow in tx, and oklahoma we get strait ice) so that will give us a little but still no more than an inch in total, and thats with the temp on wednsday at 75, we are now at 15

there has only been one drought that i can remember that is as bad as this one but i dont remember wich one was worse.

continue to pray for rain we need it.

gomer, Your Ice storm rolled in here last night around 0100, and I am sitting here watching it melt some. We are scheduled for more tonight. Had to go pick up the wife at work last night, and skated all the way home.

By the way your little bit about the jet engine and pilots got a good chuckle today, as I had the forum up when one of my pilot friends came by. He thought it was great.

Lee L.

Nope - hasn't been a drop of moisture since Oct 18th - 124 days now. We're getting so dry, even the hardy desert plants have dried up.

Have had a couple of fires sprout up. One in the High Country north of Phoenix about a 100 miles that is now pretty much isolated and only got about 4,000 ac. Another grass/brush fire southwest of Phoenix about 40 miles. Burned about 1.500 ac. and was put out. Those that know these things say we're in for one lulu of a fire season this coming spring and summer. No meaningful moisture predicted through to the fall.

It's been a warm winter around here in Eastern Saskatchewan. Snow's about average, perhaps a foot deep if you can find a bush deep enough to keep the wind from drifting it. December was warm and January was a record breaker, 17°F above average. That ended this week, with Thursday at -35°F and a mean wind.

There's no snow further west and they had two serious grass fires close to Calgary the weekend before last. :eek:

Bye
Jack

It's amazing to me that there can be fires in Canada, in Jan/Feb!!

Some very odd weather going on here. We got about an inch of dry powder last night, with temps still around 0F; not very common. Enough to cover up the dog crap in the back yard though. :p

lets not get started on the fires,
i was comeing back from texas around new year and the smoke was so thick i thought it was a thunder storm (kinda like the smog in california) it stretched from one horizen to the other and took close to 10 min to get clear going about 80 mph.


yeah you guys to the east got the ice storm harder than we got it here in oklahoma city, but we still got a couple of inches.

In Canada, we have real fires (ok this was in August), but when the fire is so hot, there isn't any point to use waterbombers because the water evaporates before it even comes close to the ground and the fire causes the second largest evacuation in Canadian history...

It should be a pretty interesting summer here.

http://castanet.firewatch.net/firepics2/firepics2/2003-08-30/slides/Kelowna%20Fire.jpg

Now that's a neat pic!

We set a record here for this day at -6F. Supposed to be warming up more towards normal in the next week. I see Fairbanks, AK was at 42F a couple of days ago...now that's odd.

Very odd weather going on this year. Some Idaho firefighters were dispatched this past week to OK/TX to fight fires there. Thought they were all out, but I guess not.

Last night we got about 3 inches of snow, then woke up this morning to incredible wind. I heard (can't verify) that there was a 180 mph wind gust somewhere around Soldier mountain (Fairfield area). I had plans to drive up to Cottonwood, stay the night, then drive into Dixie, ID, and ride 4-wheelers 28 miles to Mackey Bar on the Salmon River on Friday for camping and steelhead fishing. Had to cancel that because of road closures. Dixie is supposed to have 5-7 feet of snow, and with the wind, probably a lot of downed trees across the road. Here in Bellevue, we're supposed to be in the single digits at night this weekend.

I like unusual weather, and this year isn't disappointing, but it is disruptive!

All the fresh snow here in nwCo has me itching to go snowmobiling. To bad the wife's horse had to go ballistic and ruin the end of the middle finger on my right hand. Stupid#@")*(&^%}{][ horse. :rolleyes: Does horse meat taste like elk? :D

We got another 3-4 inches last night on top of the 6-8 inches that fell since Tuesday night. Started out as rain tues. night but changed to snow after I went to sleep.

Sure wish I could send you some mud kdub. I'll have plenty when this starts to melt. You guys in Tx and OK can come get some too if you want.

This is what it looks like out the window this am.

Been 145 days without a single drop. The high country is getting upwards of 10"-12" of snow with high winds tonight and tomorrow. Forcasters say we MIGHT be getting between .2" - .5" of rain here in the valley sometime this weekend - if we're lucky!

Man, it's been so long since we've had any moisture, when it does rain, it will be mudballs for the first part, what with all the dust and crap in the air.

kdub,
Just saw a news clip that Phoenix was getting rain, and the high country was getting snow...is it true?!!

rj,
Sorry about the damaged finger. I've known a few horses like that. Didn't Lewis & Clark eat horse?

Yes, Shawn - we've been the receipients of a blessed rain all day. Last report was 1.38" at the local airport - a real gully washing, toad strangler for us! :D

High Country has has upwards of 20" and it's still coming down. All that snowpac eventually ends up as runoff into our drinking water impoundments along the Verde and Salt Rivers.

Went to check the sporting clays range in the rain today to assure things were covered up. Got stuck with the electric cart and had a grin on my face all the time I worked to unstick it! Got soaking wet, of course, but who cares?

Guess it snowed in Portland too!!! Kinda rare this time of year I guess.

kdub I'm glad you got the much needed moisture!! I'm not sure I want to see a strangled toad tho :eek:

Glad you got the rain, Kdub. I've been through a few droughts myself, and that inch ot two of rain will soak away so fast you won't see it by mid-week. Hope those toads get nervous. :D

Bye
Jack

Yes, Shawn - we've been the receipients of a blessed rain all day. Last report was 1.38" at the local airport - a real gully washing, toad strangler for us! :D

Went to check the sporting clays range in the rain today to assure things were covered up. Got stuck with the electric cart and had a grin on my face all the time I worked to unstick it! Got soaking wet, of course, but who cares?

Well that's good news. I've been through Phoenix a few times and while there was no water in the gullys when I went through, it was obvious those gullys had seen some significant flows at times.

Sounds like the range needs one of those fancy Polaris 4WD carts for you. :p

We got some wild weather this past week. Several thunderstorms rolled through (untypical this time of year), with lightning every second, wind, rain, hail. A tornado did some damage in Hagerman (West of Twin Falls, East of Mtn Home along the Snake River). ID tornados are nothing like the poor folks in western TN rec'd though. A friend from here that recently moved there sent pics of baseball size hail. Luckily, they escaped major vehicle and house damage.

Our little valley is at 145% of normal for this time of year for snowpack. Bald Mtn (the Sun Valley ski resort hill) has to-date 329" of snowfall on top, with 17" of new wet accumulation in one overnight storm last week. Still 1 1/2 months away from peak runoff.

What is your corner of the world like?

Started raining last night about midnight. Was a steady drizzle all the way to work @ 0630. It quit about 0830 but sprinkled on and off all day. Wind blowing about 15-30 mph all day. Our snowpack is way above normal too. The spring that runs into our cystern is running for the first time in 3 1/2 years. That means I might not have to haul much water this year. The pump in the well hasn't run in three days!! It's on a amp drop switch so when it runs out of water it shuts off (it recycles every 20 mins and usually pumps water for 10 to 15 seconds) and on a float so when the tank is full it shut's off too. It hasn't shut off in over a year.

I'm sure with temps in the 70's peak runoff isn't far off. The Yampa river can get pretty high sometimes. In the spring 97 when I was driving back and forth to Steamboat the railroad bed along Highway 40 between Craig and Hayden kept the river from getting to the highway for about a week. I'll bet it will be close to that this year. The Seamboat Ski area says this is their 5th highest snowfall on record. Last year we had a bad wind come thru that ripped part of the tin off the chicken coop. I was laying on the hottub cover at the time to keep it from blowing away!!

It's been way too windy to work on load developement lately that's for sure.

It's going to be a good (depending on your perspective!) water year here rj. I just heard today that our local little reservoir out in the desert (Magic) is full already (it's been about 3-4 years since it got full, and usually not full until June), going over the spillway. Camas creek, which drains the Camas Prairie (Fairfield area) was at 2500 cfs, and there's a lot of snow yet to go. Flood warnings were issued downstream since they have the hydro going, and the cone valve, and with it going over the spillway, no control anymore. And that's with the two higher elevation drainages still not contributing much yet. There should be big fat trout, and some high-end furniture pickin' off the bridges with grappling hooks this year! :D

Kind of a wet weekend here. Took the dogs for a walk and the half-rain-half snow hit us with a vengance. Now it's snowing, and sticking....more water to come down when the warm weather finally hits. Good day to.....reload! Made up 40 rounds of 17 Rem, 100 rounds of 44 Mag, and 40 rounds of 416 Taylor, to be used at a later date of rockchucking, or "recoil therapy" day.

Was going to go shoot this am bofore I headed to work. WRONG!!! The darn wind started to BLOW before 8 so I'll have to put it off again. I get to go on a buissness trip over to Denver Tues and Wed, so I won't get in any trigger time then either. We're supposed to get more weather by this afternoon. Snow likely with more snow tomorrow but clearing up by Wed.

I'll get a full release from the Doc tomorrow so I will be able to shoot any thing again. I hope.

The weather channel tells me that most of the nation is warmer than normal. Two weeks ago much of Idaho set some record high temps. This morning I woke up and it was snowing! Tomorrow night, Sun Valley is supposed to get down to 26F. I hope it doesn't get that low here and kill my apple, pear, apricot and cherry blooms! Glad I didn't plant those tomatos yet! I think there's some chilly Memorial weekend campers here.

What's the weather like where you're at? Hope your Memorial Day goes well all.

The weather channel tells me that most of the nation is warmer than normal. Two weeks ago much of Idaho set some record high temps. This morning I woke up and it was snowing! Tomorrow night, Sun Valley is supposed to get down to 26F. I hope it doesn't get that low here and kill my apple, pear, apricot and cherry blooms! Glad I didn't plant those tomatos yet! I think there's some chilly Memorial weekend campers here.

What's the weather like where you're at? Hope your Memorial Day goes well all.

Upper 80's and lower 90's during the day, and upper 60's and lower 70's at night. Now I can see why we had so many campers, the weather up north is too bad/cold for them to migrate. No rain during the weekend, but some scheduled for tonight. Little Rock/North Little Rock had their River Fest this week end, and the Fireworks could be seen from the campground last night.

Lee L.

Pretty dern cold yesterday. I had to build a fire last night to take the chill off. Woke up this morning to 28 degrees and frost on the car windowa but by 11:00 it was pushing 70 and by 2:00 pm it was 80+. Turned out to be a good day to be shooting pdogs. I got a little more added to the farmer tan :D

And the pdog hunting wasn't bad either.

RJ

Anybody get any of the rain we got in NW Colorado? We only got about 1/2 inch but it sure was needed. Hopefully it will perk up the alfalfa patch to help bring the deer in this fall.

RJ

Nope - all we get is the incessant heat. 112 yesterday and 114 forecast for tomorrow. So dry, the lizards are carrying canteens! :p

RJ..

This is the first day in a week with out rainin the forecast her in "the city"

Man I got to get out o here!! Working hard to move back to the contry!!

Mostly sunny and in the mid-80's here lately. Lots of thunderstorms moving through south of us around Twin Falls, actually all around us. Just getting wind and rumbling here mostly. Hillsides are in good shape though from the higher-than-normal snowpack.

kdub, I feel for ya......

kdub, that makes me sweat just reading it. :eek:

It's trying to rain again tonight but mostly going around us. Lot's of lightning to the west and north on the way home from work @ 2300 hrs.

A lizard with a canteen. That would be something to see alright :D

The Yampa River is so low that the fish are carrying buckets of water so they can stop and take a breath between waterholes. :rolleyes:

RJ

Been having pretty strabge weather up here in Kelowna - about 3 weeks ago - just as me and dad were buildin a rock retaining wall - we had temps of about 100 - a week later was warm days and a strong thundershower every evening - this is coming from someone who lived in the rain capital of portland oregon.
As a result the creeks have been almost dry (walked up one with our mutt a couple days ago to flooding. A difference of something like 6'
Made a couple of time lapse videos (experimenting a bit wiith a new camera) - they are pretty high resolution ;)
http://vehiclehitech.com/1/2006-07-04%20-%20Storm.avi
Cool video (I think) of a rain cloud moving up a mountain.
http://vehiclehitech.com/1/2006-07-06%20-%20Weather%20Big%20divx%206%202k%20bitrate.avi

If you can't play them, you might need divx 6 - get it from
http://download.divx.com/divx/DivXInstaller.exe
A week ago, us idiots got caught (i.e. stranded) in a hail/thunderstorm in the middle of the lake here. Great way to put the fear of God in ya. The storm swept up the lake and hit us about 3 min after that pic was taken.
http://vehiclehitech.com/pictures/boating%20for%20dummies.jpg

What a difference a few days makes.
<img src="http://vehiclehitech.com/pictures/Crazy%20Creek.jpg">

Well, we finally got a break in our 100 degree days. 38 in a row.
Saturday evening, my wife and I went to the hunting lease and were met by a north wind that was blowing in our first cool front and RAIN. About 2.5 " fell on the ranch, this was significant.
We saw animals all week-end with this front.
Its suppose to be cool all week and then another coolfront with rain next week-end.

Just about when you don't think you can take anymore, the Good Lord comes through!

I get excited about two things in the fall.
The first Norther that blows in cold weather, and the first sightings of the geese and sandhill crane flying south.
Football isn't bad either!
A&M might just have a team this year-

Did you make it out for the NM antelope hunt, tpv?

Been moping all week, cussing this bum leg and wishing I was out there putting a sneak on one. Well, guess I'll just have to lay plans for next year.

We're still bumping around in the 100+ days, however, the last couple mornings had just a twinge of cool to them. Got down to 75 deg yesterday morning before the sun came up.

Dove season opens this weekend, so the hunting season is underway.

Our weather has been strange due to the smoke that you darn Americans keep sending over the border... We've had a blood red sun on and off for the last 2 weeks.
Great sunsets though
http://vehiclehitech.com/pictures/2006-08-28%20-%20Sunset.jpg
http://vehiclehitech.com/pictures/2006-08-28%20-%20After%20Sunset.jpg
http://vehiclehitech.com/pictures/Smoky%20Sun%201.jpg

Comforably warm, which is nice. I dragged the mutt in the lake yesterday after the sun set (he's part chow, part black lab, but doesn't like the water even though he has webbed feet...) and it was quite warm.

Did you make it out for the NM antelope hunt, tpv?

Been moping all week, cussing this bum leg and wishing I was out there putting a sneak on one. Well, guess I'll just have to lay plans for next year.

We're still bumping around in the 100+ days, however, the last couple mornings had just a twinge of cool to them. Got down to 75 deg yesterday morning before the sun came up.

Dove season opens this weekend, so the hunting season is underway.
Gave my tags to a couple of customers. As I just didn't have the time to go this year. My buddy went and got his leg banged up.
I'm saving all my time for that big buck I missed last year.

My wife and I saw five real nice bucks Saturday evening. All in full velvet but horns were totally grown. The tyrips still open if you can make it.
Good Luck

Our weather has been strange due to the smoke that you darn Americans keep sending over the border... We've had a blood red sun on and off for the last 2 weeks.
Great sunsets though
http://vehiclehitech.com/pictures/2006-08-28%20-%20Sunset.jpg
http://vehiclehitech.com/pictures/2006-08-28%20-%20After%20Sunset.jpg
http://vehiclehitech.com/pictures/Smoky%20Sun%201.jpg

Comforably warm, which is nice. I dragged the mutt in the lake yesterday after the sun set (he's part chow, part black lab, but doesn't like the water even though he has webbed feet...) and it was quite warm.
The Chow must have been his mother, and the Lab was his father.
Was it?

A 2.5" rain is a good one, anywhere, and especially there. We've had a long hot dry summer, but lately we've been in the lower 40's in the morning; the early morning hikes with shorts are about gone.

Went on a scouting hike two weeks ago. Didn't see an elk, but jumped up three muley bucks, and one was a nice even shooter 4-point, guessed at 26" wide. They sure were spooky, and jumped over 300 yards out, then went over a 10,000 ft razor back ridge. Never seen deer that spooky that time of year. Maybe the wolves have them running early.

None of us drew elk tags in the first draw this year, but unclaimed tags go into a second draw pool, and three of us (not me) drew cow tags. So I think we'll set up "elk camp" this year and many of us will be hunting muley bucks. We're going to really try to not burn a tent down this year. :eek:

A 2.5" rain is a good one, anywhere, and especially there. We've had a long hot dry summer, but lately we've been in the lower 40's in the morning; the early morning hikes with shorts are about gone.

Went on a scouting hike two weeks ago. Didn't see an elk, but jumped up three muley bucks, and one was a nice even shooter 4-point, guessed at 26" wide. They sure were spooky, and jumped over 300 yards out, then went over a 10,000 ft razor back ridge. Never seen deer that spooky that time of year. Maybe the wolves have them running early.

None of us drew elk tags in the first draw this year, but unclaimed tags go into a second draw pool, and three of us (not me) drew cow tags. So I think we'll set up "elk camp" this year and many of us will be hunting muley bucks. We're going to really try to not burn a tent down this year. :eek:

Boy that was some bad luck last year. I'm sitting here at the computer watching the rain come down and hoping it will drop enough than any lightening strikes will die out, but boy is everything dry.

Had a couger next door in the yard a few days ago. Got deer up the kazoo. Nice six point whitetail in the apple orchard behind the house every morning.

I drove up Orofino creek past the O'mill almost to Pierce a couple of days ago. Usually you'll see a few elk back of the O'mill and lots of deer. Saw two does on the whole 65 mile loop and not one turkey. That's unusual for this time of year.

Think I'll hunt the breaks of Big Canyon here where I live and not put up the elk camp. My hunting partner is in the hospital with infection in one of his legs that won't clear up and he's not going to be in for any walking this year.

Was checking out the friends of the wolf site at Boise, ID a while ago and here's there Idea of what the wolf is like.

Don't you just want to go up and rub it bellie and throw a stick for it to bring back?

Nice six point whitetail in the apple orchard behind the house every morning.

Was checking out the friends of the wolf site at Boise, ID a while ago and here's there Idea of what the wolf is like.

Don't you just want to go up and rub it bellie and throw a stick for it to bring back?

I hope you didn't convert to eastern count on that whitetail Bob!

Awwww, isn't that wolf cute and cudley?!!

I wish you could send some of that rain down here. Good luck hunting this fall, but when you start seeing cougars in town, there's way too many of them. Could be in for some further hard big-game times in the coming years. But the wolves could have everything out of balance there too, affecting cougars, bears, everything.

I hope you didn't convert to eastern count on that whitetail Bob!

Awwww, isn't that wolf cute and cudley?!!

I wish you could send some of that rain down here. Good luck hunting this fall, but when you start seeing cougars in town, there's way too many of them. Could be in for some further hard big-game times in the coming years. But the wolves could have everything out of balance there too, affecting cougars, bears, everything.

No that's a western count. He's got all the fluff gone and looks like a good one. Our rain is still coming down, hope it last thru the night. Thunder has been rolling pretty good, but havn't seen any lightening flashes.

I just can't emagine "cute and cudley", but like everything else you gotta have a sales pitch. Look on the Ultra-mag rifle side where they seem to be encouraging folks shooting way past most hunters accuracy limits. It goes on everywhere.

The Chow must have been his mother, and the Lab was his father.
Was it?

I'm actually not sure. There is a little bit of other dogs in him too. Shepard and rottie and there may even be some rhodesian ridgeback. He's afraid of everything, so if it's still water he doesn't mind, but add a tiny wave (or a duck, lol) and he's running away. He'd be useless as a hunting dog ;)

A picture of him
http://vehiclehitech.com/pictures/miszu,%20natsuki.jpg

No that's a western count. He's got all the fluff gone and looks like a good one.

I hope you get that 6-point, Bob!

loraksus,
Good looking dog, and he'll probably be a healthy one with all that mixed blood. Seems the purebreds are so overbred these days, they are plagued with health problems. We have a mixed lab/shepard something that is the healthiest dog we've ever had. Yours definitely has the chow in him with that odd black tongue!

So dry here you can't fart out of your vehicle :eek:

The Bitterbrush Fire 3 miles south of Maybell (west of Craig) scorched over 2000 acres in 48 hours last week. The shop clerk's husband works for the USFS and sent some pictures of a well done speed goat (awww :D ) that got caught in the fire.

I'm glad my horse hay is inside the barn, because the feed is going to be real short this year. It won't be tempting the deer and elk this winter. Winter forage is going to be short this year although we've have had some good rains (.3" last weekend) it's too little too late.

Some of the local wheat farmers are leaving crops because it would cost more than the crop is worth to harvest it. Maybe the elk and deer can eat that. I heard that some guys are only getting 12 bushels to the acre.

RJ

12 bu/ac is mighty slim pickin's, RJ - sorry to hear it. My sister's family live out near Ft Morgan and my nephew has an agriculture spraying business. Been so dry out there that even the weeds havent' been growing - his business has been suffering.

We've gotten around 2.75" in the past 3 weeks or so. Doesn't take much for the ol' desert to start greening up - sure looks pretty right now. The Rim Country, where I'm going to be hunting, has been getting some rain most of the summer, so the hunting should be fairly good this year.

My season opens on the 20th of Oct and runs through Nov 5 for elk and deer. Was out at the range yesterday tweaking loads for the 6.5-06, 7mm Dakota, 375 Win and 45-70. Intend on taking them all - will have a "rifle of the day" during season. Hope to drop the hammer on the elk with either the .375 W or the 45-70.

Aaarrrrgggghhh! It froze here last night and the tomatos got whacked! The plants are dying, but I don't think the tomatos themselves got harmed. I wasn't paying attention to the weather. Think I'm going to have to cover them the next few nights

Bone dry here, but the high country is in good shape from timely thunderstorms and a very good snowpack.

12 bu/acre - yikes! Might as well go for the volunteer crop for next year.

JUst looked in the rain gauge and we got 3 inches since yesterday after noon and more on the way. Maybe some snow too!!!!!!!!!!! I'm realy glad I got the driveway fixed back in July.

RJ

That's a good soaking RJ! Woke up Friday morning here to white peaks down to about 7500 ft, and a good hard horizontal rain below that. I was up in the Sawtooth valley this weekend and all the peaks are dusted, and there's more than a dusting on the Boulder Mtns (sort of between Ketchum and Stanley). We usually get a storm this time of year every year like this, then we have 2-3 weeks of Indian summer, then winter really sets in. Our air is fairly clear now; must have doused all the fires.

Finally got a peek at Bear's Ears and Black Mountain to the NE this afternoon. Looks like they got more than a dusting. Hunter's vehicles coming off the mountain had a good 6 inches on them. Don't know what the snow level got down to but our house wasn't far below it. The aspens and scrub oaks are already starting to turn. The hills are going to be a palate of color soon.

Went out and got a big load of coal this afternoon and put it in the shed. Another couple tons and I should be set for winter. Had a wood fire night before last and a coal fire last night. Sure feels good. The sky has cleared off and I'm sure there will be a heavy frost tonight. Glad we don't have to worry about garden stuff.

RJ

We're sure getting some rain here tonight. I looked at the radar and we should be getting it into the morning hours; glad I have my 6 cords all tarped! Been freezing at night here, but not hard enought yet to turn the trees, but the higher country aspens and cottonwoods are turning. Sure like these first fall rains and freezes as it really kills the sagebrush pollen and other devil weed blooms!

I've never burned coal RJ, but it sure has a lot more BTU's per volume than wood. I imagine you have to have a good tight stove to control the air to it.

Nice thing about living in Idaho at 1300 feet is it's still summer. We've been getting rain for the last two days. Finally cleared all the smoke out of the valleys. It was 38 degrees night before last, but in comes the rain and it warms up.

I didn't get to go turkey hunting monday, my old hunting partner snagged out on me and I didn't feel like going by myself. Grandbabies are both in school so perhaps later in the week.

I burn oil (got a toyo stove) and am not looking forward to this winter's heating season. Used 300 gallons last winter and hope we have a light one this year. House has electric heat also, but boy that makes the meter spin.

When I replace my appliances the range, water heater and clothes dryer are all going to propane.

Nice thing about living in Idaho at 1300 feet is it's still summer. We've been getting rain for the last two days. Finally cleared all the smoke out of the valleys. It was 38 degrees night before last, but in comes the rain and it warms up.

I didn't get to go turkey hunting monday, my old hunting partner snagged out on me and I didn't feel like going by myself. Grandbabies are both in school so perhaps later in the week.

I burn oil (got a toyo stove) and am not looking forward to this winter's heating season. Used 300 gallons last winter and hope we have a light one this year. House has electric heat also, but boy that makes the meter spin.

When I replace my appliances the range, water heater and clothes dryer are all going to propane.We have friends in pennsylvania who sell a wood fired furnace that also heats their water .last year they didn't burn any fuel oil,they have 300 acres of forest behind their home plus another 2000 acres of timber and make their living as hardwood loggers.

We have friends in pennsylvania who sell a wood fired furnace that also heats their water .last year they didn't burn any fuel oil,they have 300 acres of forest behind their home plus another 2000 acres of timber and make their living as hardwood loggers.

My wifes dad logged all his life, the last few years before he retired he did nothing but firewood and made darn good from doing it.

I've seen those wood fired furnaces, nice units. I'm just to old to do the wood thing anymore. Growing up here in Northern Idaho it's the way we heated our homes til I came up to crippled to get wood. The price of buying firewood has gone thru the roof the last few years. The hot setup for wood stoves here is the pellet stove.

I've been using a toyo oil stove for the last few years and have been very happy with it's economy, but with the price of oil I'm not sure about changing over to a pellet stove this winter. Problem is there about three grand now, but the pellets seem to be a bargain compared to other heating fuels.

Hay Shawn

It's been raining for the last three days here and rained cats and dogs today. This ought to stifle the fires we've had going.

I havn't gotten out with the new 204 since the last trip to the range. Probably get up on the praire this weekend if it stops raining.

Just beautiful here today - low of 64* and a high of 89*.

Next few days are supposed to be moderate, then back up bumping 100*.

Glad to hear of the rain up there Bob. We have crystal clear air here now, better for viewing those far-away bucks that take 3 hours to get to. Forecast was that we were supposed to get rain all week, but we haven't gotten any since Tuesday night. It's been gusty winds all day today, so we probably have something blowing in tonight.

There's a guy here in town that "supplements" his income by cutting firewood. He cuts about 300 cords per year. He has a dodge diesel with racks, and a tandem axle trailer that between the two, he gets 5 cords per trip. It's easy wood too, beetle-kill lodgepole, drive right up to it in the Sawtooth valley. 60 trips; that's still a lot of cutting and work, and sure kills a summer! A cord of split and delivered wood here goes for about $225-$250, and a friend says his cost (not including his time, or equipment depreciation I'm sure) is about $5 per cord. Do the math, and that's a lot of "supplemental" income!

About 15 years ago, I cut about 10 cords extra of big douglas fir for sale. Rolled a 44" diameter 6 ft long section into the side of my pickup - $4,000. Jumped the chainsaw into my foot arch - 7 stitches and $500. Burned up my little McCullough. I paid for that fun. Now I just cut for my own use and fun! :rolleyes:

Got a fella lives on the corner down a house from me sells wood all summer. Last I heard he was getting a hundred and fifty a pickup load. No racks just a standard 3/4 ton stacked full and rounded a bit. I'm pretty sure he's stealing it from the forest service, but he keeps busy and seems to sell all he can haul.

I used to keep an old 2 and 1/2 ton farm truck with a hoist on it just for wood. bought it from a farmer up by Ferdinand. With racks I could just haul 5 cords on it. Three trips a year would run me thru the winter. I can't emagine doing that much work anymore, just to crippled up.

With the weather starting to turn I'm getting all my coyote calling stuff togather. If we get a cold snowy winter this year the yote hunting should be great. I've seen more up on the praire this summer than any summer I can remember. My granddaughter has confiscated my 243 Ruger #1 so that leaves me with the 204 or my sons Rem 700 VLS. The VLS is a very accurate gun, but I don't like lugging the 11 or 12 pounds of it around, so I'm going to see how the 204 works with 39 grain Sierra's.

We got another load of coal hauled in over the weekend so we're set for the winter in that respect. Looking over towards Black Mountain and Bears Ears there's lots of new snow. I guess there was 18" at Sawmill campground.

Had the mule out over the weekend to make sure I wouldn't get bucked off. She was in fine fettle. :D

RJ

Getting a good soaking here this week. Tonight, rain, hail, thunder & lightning, straight up from the south; unusual weather for this time of year. Radar looks like we'll get more throughout tomorrow.

Spent the week in "Hotlanta", and flying up over OK, CO, and Utah, looks as though there's been a good soaking. I have fairly good drainage around the basement, but some of these good soakings, I get a little dampness in the basement. May have to caress the guns with an oil rag.

Dumped another inch out of the rain gauge on Sunday. Haven't looked yet today but it's raining right now. Had a very close call at the mine on Saturday partly due to all the moisture we've had. According to the engineers, 120-150 acres of the mountain slid and possibly covered or destroyed up to 9 million tons of coal. :( Of course rumors a flying as to what this means to the life of the mine.

RJ

Snow forecast for here tomorrow.

Drove through some of that rain from Brush into Denver yesterday moring, RJ - Thankfully, the temp's stayed in the upper 30's to low 40's, so the roads were clear and the plane back home was only 30 minutes late.

Sure made a mess of your Bronco/Ravens game last night, though. 'Course, would guess you weren't too unhappy with the outcome! :D

Drove through some of that rain from Brush into Denver yesterday moring, RJ - Thankfully, the temp's stayed in the upper 30's to low 40's, so the roads were clear and the plane back home was only 30 minutes late.

Sure made a mess of your Bronco/Ravens game last night, though. 'Course, would guess you weren't too unhappy with the outcome! :D

Don't know if anyone got up early enough to notice the full moon Saturday morning, but while driving to our stands with no head lights, we spotted a big boar that thought he was hidden about 50 yards away. from us.
My friend Steve shot him with his 270.
Typically, on a full moon, we didn't see much once it got light enough to see.
It is actually raining today, but still not enough to get any run off.

Looks like down in MikeG's and Ranch Dog's area, you'll need an Ark! :eek:

It tried to snow here this morning. The radar shows it's sliding off to Jackfish's neck-of-the-woods. We had a month of good harvest weather and got finished the day before the weather broke.

Bye
Jack

Was supposed to start the sugar beet harvest in Colorado yesterday, when the rains came.

My BIL was moaning about it. Since he's a retired farmer, told him he sounded like the typical farmer - too wet or too dry, too hot or too cold.

Dumped another inch out of the rain gauge on Sunday. Haven't looked yet today but it's raining right now. Had a very close call at the mine on Saturday partly due to all the moisture we've had. According to the engineers, 120-150 acres of the mountain slid and possibly covered or destroyed up to 9 million tons of coal. :( Of course rumors a flying as to what this means to the life of the mine.

RJ

Holy cow, rj, take picture, I want to see that slide!!

Yeah the Broncos pulled another one out their hat. Phew, it was a close one.

Shawn I'll take the camera and get some pictures, hopefully this weekend. The estimated acerage is up to 200 now. They've shut down hunting for the time being so I'm not sure if I'll get to go on mine property or not. Hopefully they'll let us take the Hunting Buddies this weekend. We should have an airial photo tomorrow, I'll try to get a copy of that. It's hard to realize the extent of the slide without knowing what the country looked like before.

Thank God there was no one hurt in the slide. The only piece of equipment damaged was a small genset that was powering a dewatering pump.

RJ

I'm gonna give this thread an eastern perspective today. Long post coming. Buffalo, NY has been all over the national news Friday night and yesterday because of the lake effect snow event they had Thursday evening. I grew up in Buffalo but moved down the I-90 a little bit a few years ago. My new community was right at the eastern edge of that nice little lake snow event.

They worst hit areas recieved 20-24" of snow in about a 10 hr period. That doesn't sound like a huge amount of snow to all of you mountain dwellers but this isn't the dry fluffy snow you guys get out west. Weather Channel was estimating that the water content of the snow may have been as much as 10x the amount of water a typical snowfall would have. On top of that, most of the trees still had all of their leaves. The wet, dense snow stuck to all of the limbs and leaves. Even the healthiest of trees cannot withstand that kind of weight. The Buffalo area is known for being "green". By that I mean, they are communities with lots of trees. Most of which are big old trees. Very, very few of these trees escaped damage. Naturally, powerlines are down in most areas. Many areas are expected to be without power for upwards of a week. The worst part is that the water authority for Erie County is without power. Noone has water pressure and what water trickles out must be boiled before consuming.

This event is on par with the infamous "Blizzard of '77" and the New England ice storm from 7-8 years ago.

My immediate family is lucky, our power came back on around 10pm last night. We were without power for about 24 hrs. Not bad at all, considering the destruction around here. A minor inconvenience really. Most of the areas around us may not be so lucky.

I just spoke with my inlaws back in Buffalo. They are starting to experience some problems. Beyond inconvenience, really. They have no power and are sheltering an elderly couple. The elderly lady just came home from hip surgery. They cannot get to relatives. Fortunately, inlaws have a fireplace but they have an electric stove so hot meals are out of the question. Additionally, their basement has begun filling with water. Water is up past the first stair now. They need help.

As soon as my wife is out of the shower, we are headed in to Buffalo to bail out the basement. I may have a line on a generator too. I am waiting for a return telephone call on that. Fortunately, the roads are passable today.

Gonna go now. I think I have another long day ahead of me. I suspect more family members will be investing in generators in the coming months.

MikeW

ps.. glad I took down that walnut tree last month !!!

The area certainly looks a mess from the TV broadcasts. Those heavy wet snows can wreak all sorts of havoc with plant life and power lines. Used to get them back in Indiana right off Lake Michigan - the "Snowbelt", it was called.

Think those in western Michigan caught a bunch of this stuff, too. A friend in Mancelona, just east of Grand Rapids, reported 10" - 12" of the wet stuff on the level. His snow removal equipment was still in the back of the barn behind the boats and grass cutting equipment. Will be shuffling tractors, mowers, boats and blowers trying to get at the plow and such. Caught him with his pants down, I'd say! :p

TV reports indicate one of the problems experienced in Buffalo is being blamed on the timing.....earlier than usual and many of the trees hadn't shed their leaves, thus the snow accumulation on the leaves caused much more sever tree breakage than usual, kinda a double wammy!

Also, the pictures we saw looked like pretty wet snow. Hope all works out well.


Dan

DOK, Do you use a red or yellow golf ball in that situation?

On a more serious side, I hope there is no loss of life during this bad situation, It wouldn't hurt to pray for those in that weather, I know I will.

Just back in from Buffalo. We managed to get our mitts on a generator. Boy a fella sure can make freinds easy when he shows up in a disater area with a generator!!! :p

I managed to travel through a cross section of Buffalo suburbs today. In many neighborhoods, not a single tree escaped damage. It looks like a tornado hit the entire county but left the roofs alone. Wish I would've brought a camera along.

We pumped out a bunch of flooded basements before we got my inlaws set up and comfortable. Cleared limbs and debris out of a few driveways and yards too. We even managed to track down enough gas to get them through for a couple days. Finding gas is a problem. Most stations in their area have no power yet and many of the ones with power have no phone lines. Which means cash only please. All in all, we got in a good days work.

kdub, Michigan got hit too. I guess the lake effect wasn't so bad there this time. Buffalo gets its reputation because it is at the Eastern end of Lake Erie, which is essentially west-to-east in orientation. A typical westerly prevailing wind gets to collect moisture over the entire length of the lake and then Buffalo sits at the end of the lake like a big bullseye to recieve all that moisture. BTW- we have a "snowbelt" too. It starts about 20 miles south of Buffalo. When the news says "Buffalo" got snow, they usually mean the snowbelt got it. Not this time though.

DOK, timing is everything with lake effect snow. Once the lake cools and freezes, the snow machine turns off. Lake Erie is still about 62 degrees so the lake is quite warm. That cold air mass sucked all the warm moisture up and dropped it as snow on all those trees that still had leaves on them. Amazingly, many of the trees STILL have their leaves even after this.

M1894, there were a couple lives lost in this storm. One fellow had a tree branch drop on him while shoveling his driveway, a couple others were in car accidents. I am sure your prayers are welcomed by all. I know I said my share over the last couple days.

Earlier in this thread, someone mentioned thunder during a snow storm. They had that in this event. The updraft over the lake created storm clouds just like thunderstorm clouds. And plenty of rumbling was heard while the snow fell.

Buffalo folks are a proud and hardy bunch. Lots of neighbors are out helping each other clear debris and get everyone as comfortable as possible. The most common phrase heard in Buffalo is "I'll take the lake effect snow over earthquakes and hurricanes any day". And I concur. :)

Now I am gonna turn the PC off, sit in front of the Sabres game and watch until my eyelids are too heavy to keep open. I bet I don't last the period.

MikeW

Mike, Thx for the report. The stories like this are exactly the reason I started this thread; interesting stuff what mother nature can do.

All quite calm here, and in the low 60's. Supposed to get some snow showers on Tuesday, but sunny the rest of the week, although freezing at night. I'm glad we're setting up our elk camp a week later this year.

Looks like So Cal, AZ, TX, So UT, and CO gotten, getting, or soon-to-be-getting rain, and lots of it.

NW CO has been getting DUMPED on. Poured another 1 1/2 out of the rain gauge on Monday. Snowed this morning and we're supposed to get more. Hopefully it will clear up by Friday like they say, so I can get out and do some hunting. If it's too wet the roads into my spot will be inaccessable. Not that I'm above hiking a ways.

RJ

So much or clearing up. kdub, here's that cold and wet you were talking about.

http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h191/recoil_junky/IMG_1843.jpg

It is supposed to clear up starting tomorrow. Looking at the satellite map, it might last thru the weekend. A guy can get his hopes up right?

RJ

Hey - good tracking stuff, right? :D

It's not cold enough for it to stick yet. Just makes gumbo mud in this NW CO clay. Your boots are twice as big in 2 steps. Not to mention what the little Mrs. thinks when you track it in the house :eek:

RJ

Got a good 8" or so of snow last night and this morning, and supposed to get a trough of cold down from Canada in the next few days, and plunging temps to -4F at night. Guess winter is here. Let the winter projects begin!

In this part of Idaho everything is elevation driven. Down here in the vally were the last to get snow and the first for it to melt when we do get some. I can look around the tops of the canyons and see feet deep when we've only got a few inches.

Got about two inchs in the front yard right now and expecting more. I plan on getting the little CZ out tomarrow morning and hitting a few early morning coyote calling spots if the little suzuki four wheel drive will get me up the grade in the morning.

Brrrrrrrr........................!

We dropped down to the low 50's this morning and supposed to be in the upper 30's tonight. No higher than 60 tomorrow. Gonna have to search out the long wooly undies! :p

Wife has been gone for several weeks visiting kids, so I've got to spend the rest of the day cleaning and scrubbing house, laundry and watering neglected plants- she gets home tonight! :eek:

No play for me until chores are done. :(

Wow, here in western NY, land of the lake effect snow machine, it has been in the upper 50's, low 60's since Thanksgiving Day. Forecast says it'll stay this warm until Friday.

Boy, I don't remember a stretch this warm for this long in the middle of deer season. It's been nice up in the deer stand not having to get all bundled up. Who's complaining about global warming anyhow? :D

Of course we are gonna pay for it later. Lake Erie is all nice and warm. The next blast of cold air to cross that lake is gonna bury some poor soul in snow. Buffalo may be on the national news again. ;)

MikeW

Left Twin Falls yesterday one jump ahead of the snow. We hit a bit going across the boarder into Wyo. but then it was clear sailing to Creston junction then south to Craig. Not 2 hours after we got the car unloaded it started to snow and now we have 4-5 inches on the ground.

Had a good time in Twin with the inlaws. Got to go to Sportsman's Wharehouse and buy some reloading stuff. Whilst I was there I ran into a feller I could have sworn was Shawn Crea by his talk about reloading and such. Even had on some well worn Whites boots. He even mentioned having a 458 (no it's a Winchester).

Yep, now it's time for those long awaited winter projects. :mad: Most of them do not invole things in the gun room.

RJ

That wasn't me RJ, but I do have a twin, so who knows?!! But the twin wears Danners, not Whites, so must be someone else with good taste. :D

The wood stove is working overtime - it was 10F here last night - and the gas-forced-air is clicking on way to much for my frugal nature. Had to get up at 3:00 a.m. and stoke the wood again. Supposed to be 0F tonight, but warming up more by weekend.

That cold may miss you kdub, but TX & OK are gonna get it. Brace yourself weave, it's headed your way!

They're forcasting snow mixed with rain in the High Country (above 6,000'). All we're supposed to get is high clouds and wind with the lower temps.

We could sure use some moisture down here.

Here in Southeastern New York,it's been the warmist November that I can remember.
After Opening Day in the upper 40's and forecast for warmer weather,I bought a "Summer"hunting coat.It's just soft fleece;nice and comfortable.Today,it rained,but yesterday it was in the 60's.
Tomorrow's forecast is in the 50's.
Frank

-25 C here, about a foot and a half of snow on the ground...
We took the dog sledding yesterday, he pulled ;)
We are freezing our butts off, but our mutt is loving it...

We have had a pretty warm November...until today. Yesterday got up around 72 or 73 F and tonight it is supposed to get down around 15 F before factoring in the windchill! Burr Humbug! We had freezing rain and sleet off and on since about 11 am.

We actually had ice in the bird baths this morning!! :eek:

Were any of them skating? :D Did Snoopy have out his zamboni? :eek:

We just got what Shawn had. -25 F last night when I got home from work last night at 2330. Cold enough the garage door didn't want to go up so I had to get out the penetrating oil and lube up the wheels etc. so Mrs RJ could get her car out in the am.

Everybody throw another log on the fire.

RJ

We had snow falling this morning. I've been taking the kids down to the school bus stop for the last few mornings because of the snow and cold. Took them up to Orofino this morning as I had to put some of that low priced gas in the little suzuki. $2.48 per gal here now.

Here's a pix of the river road this morning. I havn't been able to get up to the praire the last two days. I hope they will have the grades plowed out. It was drifting so bad on top that you couldn't get thru the farm roads at all. I suspect the graders are all out today.

They're forcasting snow mixed with rain in the High Country (above 6,000'). All we're supposed to get is high clouds and wind with the lower temps.

We could sure use some moisture down here.
Ken, I'll save some of this weather for next week-end.
Its 28 degrees with mixed rain, sleet and snow. It will be about 15 to 20 degrees at the ranch in the morning.
Thx God for enclosed blinds with heaters, ( Senior Citizen Blinds)

Yep - I hear ya! Threw a couple extra packs of paper matches in the field pack to light those heaters!

Check your PM box, will ya? :D

Wow, quite the far-reaching cold trough...ice in Mesa, AZ, and -25F in CO. Our Stanley, ID (approx. 70 miles north of me in the Sawtooths, and often the cold spot in the lower 48) was at -25f two nights ago. loraksus, your -25C is a chiller! If I remember right, the F and C scales cross at -40F/C. Bob, that amount of snow down on the river is unusual, isn't it? How much snow did the Prairie get since Sunday?

Our office in St Louis closed early today due to "inclement weather". Don't know if that was just cold, or snow along with it. Look out jb, Kragman, & weave, should be in your woods tonight/tomorrow!

This doesn't bode well for duck and goose hunting here, but the coyote hunting should pick up. The 17 Rem has only bloodied a pigeon so far, so I'm hoping it will see some more significant action this weekend.

Wow, quite the far-reaching cold trough...ice in Mesa, AZ, and -25F in CO. Our Stanley, ID (approx. 70 miles north of me in the Sawtooths, and often the cold spot in the lower 48) was at -25f two nights ago. loraksus, your -25C is a chiller! If I remember right, the F and C scales cross at -40F/C. Bob, that amount of snow down on the river is unusual, isn't it? How much snow did the Prairie get since Sunday?

Our office in St Louis closed early today due to "inclement weather". Don't know if that was just cold, or snow along with it. Look out jb, Kragman, & weave, should be in your woods tonight/tomorrow!

This doesn't bode well for duck and goose hunting here, but the coyote hunting should pick up. The 17 Rem has only bloodied a pigeon so far, so I'm hoping it will see some more significant action this weekend.


Your'e right;the forecasters are warning us now.
The initial plan is for it to hit Western NY more the us,in the East. Keep tuned.
Frank

Its raining cats and dogs here in WNY now. Forecasters say it is going to turn to mixed snow tonite. Right now they are not calling for the big snowfalls you guys in the midwest got. But that could change !! ;)

Not sure what I am going to do about hunting tomorrow. If the lake effect snow starts to fall I will probably avoid my usual spot as the roads get downright treacherous. But plan B may be out too. I don't own 4 wheel drive and it is dirt roads to plan B. With all this rain, I don't think dirt roads are a good idea. Sounds like I'm looking for a plan C. Plan D is the honey-do jar and I'm avoiding that at all costs. :D

MikeW

Go with plan C - even if you have to strap on snowshoes! :p

The ground was bare here last Saturday. I will dig out the snowshoes if it snows as much next week as it did this week.

Bye
Jack

It finally got down to freezing here the last couple of nights, but odds are I'll still have to mow the lawn one more time this year, at least.

Was colder'n a welldigger's butt out at the gunrange about daylight this morning - strong north wind blowing. Warmed up nicely around noon and finished the day in shirtsleeves. Supposed to bounch back up into the mid-70's by Sunday.

Was colder'n a welldigger's butt out at the gunrange about daylight this morning - strong north wind blowing. Warmed up nicely around noon and finished the day in shirtsleeves. Supposed to bounch back up into the mid-70's by Sunday.

I saw the weather report where that nasty cold spell was heading your way, went clear down to the middle of Texas. Were starting to warm up to the mid 30's here in the daytime, but looks like more snow on the way.

It just isn't warming up here. Was 2F last night, and supposed to be zero tonight. Took a noontime walk with the dogs today and lots of coyote tracks out in the snow, but no coyotes in them. Think I'll go out at daylight tomorrow and make their, and my life, more interesting!

I finally got up on the praire this evening. Saw two yotes at high speed around 600-700 yards. Saved them for another day. We've got about four inchs of snow down here in the valley and probably 8 to 10 inches on top.

I got up there just before dusk and here are some pix.

Nice pics Bob. I made it out at daylight this morning, but no yotes. There was plenty of cold though! Good day to watch a western! Speaking of which, do any of you know the name of the main actor in "My Name is Nobody"? And, the same actor had another western movie (or two?) with his character "Nobody" in it....any help for me? :confused:

Did you notice the almost full moon and the headlights on in the last pix. I left down here in the canyon at about 4:10 PM and at 4:45 it was to dark to shoot. Plus at about 4:30 the fog popped. This is a strange thing that happens in the evenings most of the time up on the praire in the winter. When the temp hits just right it takes about five minutes to go from clear to foggy everywhere.

I did notice that moon...it's been awfully bright the last week down here too (well OK, I guess probably pretty much everywhere in the US!). I sure remember that fog up there...it ruined many a morning coyote hunt. Seems that Prairie had the right temp and humidity conditions more often than most places.

Nice pics Bob. I made it out at daylight this morning, but no yotes. There was plenty of cold though! Good day to watch a western! Speaking of which, do any of you know the name of the main actor in "My Name is Nobody"? And, the same actor had another western movie (or two?) with his character "Nobody" in it....any help for me? :confused:
Those were the Terence Hill movies, weren't they? The Trinity movies?

Those were the Terence Hill movies, weren't they? The Trinity movies?

alyeska,
Thanks! I just looked that up, and you're right. Looks like Henry Fonda was in them too - the three are "My Name is Nobody", "They Call Me Trinity", and "My Name is Still Trinity". I think I'll order the set for these cold weekends! So.....what order did they come out? :rolleyes:

I don't recall, but I thought Fonda was just in the first one? Wasn't he a famous outlaw on his way out and Hill was just getting started. Seems they were robbing a train together at the end of the movie.

One thing for certain, I don't think I ever saw anyone as fast on the draw has Hill. That boy could handle a sixgun!

Well here it is Monday morning and I'm sitting here in the dark comtemplating putting the varmit rifle in the little Suzuki and heading up on the Camas praire to see if I might whistle up a couple of yotes.

It's 22 degrees outside and probably five to ten degrees colder at 2500 feet on the prarie. I sit at 1300 feet down here in the canyon (read banana belt) at Peck.

I just let the dog out and she did her stuff and hurried back in the house. She's 65 pounds of black lab and chow mix and though she loves to be outside she's happy to be a house dog in this kind of weather.

Geeze I wonder if my camo coveralls are still out in the camper? I think I'm going to need them if I venture out. Looking at the weather report on Yahoo it says that it's supposed to be 32 degrees and give some rain, boy did they miss that one this morning.

Well I've still got over an hour til daylight so I've time. The grade going up on the praire is still snow covered and thank goodness for the four wheel drive on the little Suzuki. Of course the dog is ready to go right now.

Never procrastinate when it comes to hunting, Bob! :D

Good luck on you dog hunt.

I'm assemblying all the gear I need to take to Texas in a couple of days to hunt deer/turkey/pig/coyote with TPV for a few days. Might even have MikeG and Ranch Dog show up.

I just got back from my trip up on the praire, lot of coyote tracks and deer tracks, but cold as the dickens.

I blew the call at a couple of favorite places and not a sign of anything that seemed hungry. There's about a foot of snow and must have been four or five places where yotes were digging for field mice.

Usually when it gets this cold and this much snow they'll be out along the edges of the fields mousing during the day, but not today.

Boy kdub glad to see you getting out. I've never hunted pigs and our deer season is over here. I did see a bunch of turkeys coming down the grade back to home this morning.

I hope you and MikeG and Ranch Dog have a good time. Are you getting healed up from that fella Tboning you?

Fairly well, Bob - Still have a very pronounced limp and the knee will swell up if on it for a prolonged period. All the surgeries are apparently over (go to the doc's for evaluation tomorrow) and now just the long healing process.

I'm reallly looking forward to the hunt, although the 1,000 mile one-way road trip isn't too appealing. After having to eat my deer and elk tags here, that Texas style hunting (and possibly fishing) is something to anticipate.

How's the ticker and system holding up?

"My Name is Nobody'
"My Name is Trinity"
and "Trinity is Still My Name" All 3 are funny as heck. NAnd yes he's pretty darn quick.

kdub, I hope your knee is healing well. My Pop-in-law had both of his replaced about 2 ears ago and boy can the old feller hike. This fat boy can hardly keep up :o

A little trivia question: of all the TV and movie actors who was the fastest in real life?

RJ

Fairly well, Bob - Still have a very pronounced limp and the knee will swell up if on it for a prolonged period. All the surgeries are apparently over (go to the doc's for evaluation tomorrow) and now just the long healing process.

I'm reallly looking forward to the hunt, although the 1,000 mile one-way road trip isn't too appealing. After having to eat my deer and elk tags here, that Texas style hunting (and possibly fishing) is something to anticipate.

How's the ticker and system holding up?

They shoot a lot of deer from stands down in that Texas country, that ought not to be so hard on your knee if you can do it that way.

Glad your healing up, wish it was quicker, I know how that is. Docs put one more stint in my heart, I've got four in one place to make a total of 14. They told me when this one plugs, and it will, there going to do another bypass and get rid of a bunch of those stints. Luck will have it it'll happen just before hunting season like this year.

I got out deer hunting three times and also ate a deer tag. I'm to the point that I didn't even buy an elk tag this year. The last four years I've put my camper out and had an elk camp for the whole hunting season.

At least I'm coming along enough that I'm getting out and driving some of the back roads for coyotes every other day or so. I've yet to kill something with that new 204. I did almost get a crow to stand still this morning, just got the dot on him and he left.

Anyway I keep looking at the bright side, if I croak it will be quick and my son will have to clean up my six month neglected workshop. There's no downside to this.

Heck Bob, make them do it now!! Then you'll be all healed up by hunting season :D I'd rather not take you out with the Hunting Buddies ;)

kdub? just what all kind of cruelties did they do to your knee?

RJ

Another cold spell hitting us the past few days, and for a few more coming. Supposed to be -13F tonight and tomorrow night, and very little insulating snow on the ground. Our pipes are 6 ft under here, but we usually have a lot more snow to protect them by now.

The neighbor and two of his friends went duck hunting saturday morning and one of the fellas stepped in a hole in the stream and went up to his chin, filling the waders and all. It was 8F out and cut the duck hunt a bit short!

My better half got a strong hint that the Trinity movies series would make a swell Christmas present. :D

We got 12-14" of snow startng Sat afternoon and ending late Sunday afternoon. All FLUFF!! I was supposed to go snowmobiling Sunday but it got cancelled due to too much snow. Reports from people that went said there was 18-24" of powder on Black Mountain and Bears Ears and the weather and visibility were miserable. I took a short ride up the road east from the house and got into a white out and turned around and followed my tracks back for about 2 miles. Was a bit spooky for awhile. I was hoping to see some elk and take pictures, but only saw 2 bald eagles and a hawk sitting on fence posts beside the road.

What it looked like about 11 am. There was 9" of new snow on the trailer. It and the Expedition were all cleaned off at about 7pm Sat. evening.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h191/recoil_junky/IMG_1906.jpg

WHITE OUT!!! Those are sagebrush sticking out of the snow about 300 yards in front of me. this is where I turned around.
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h191/recoil_junky/IMG_1908.jpg.

A self portrait :rolleyes: Nice and warm in there too!!
http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h191/recoil_junky/IMG_1909.jpg

THINK SNOW!!! :D We're supposed to get more the next 2-3 days. Hopefully it will clear up and I can get 1 good day of riding in this weekend. Then it will be honey do's. :(

RJ

I had to run the hedge trimmer a few days ago, before I strung Christmas lights on them.... :D

Hey RJ, you have a nice smile. :D And that tandem axle trailer looks a bit robust for one snowmobile....but I sure wish I had one of those for woodcutting. Wish we were getting some of that snow you have; plenty of cold, but we may be looking at just a semi-white Christmas by the forecasts.

Hedgetrimmers! Sheesh, I thought everything green had to go dormant for at least a little while. :p

Had a nice snow here today. We are kinda hurting for it. Was one of the colder Novembers that I can remember without a whit of snow. Would suit me just fine to get 3 or 4 feet of snow over the next few days...

It's getting deep here for this time of year. I had to shovel a trail to the bird feeder yesterday and the lane got plowed again this morning. I have to keep the Chickadees, Redpolls and Pine Grosbeaks happy.

Bye
Jack

Shawn, that trailer was originally built for wood hauling. I'd put 2 1/2 cords on it in 6 foot lengths and head home. That's when we lived in Ennis MT. now I put sides on it and haul 3 tons of coal or hay or whatever. I can get 4 sleds on it if I need to.

Mrs. RJ puts the bird seed on the deck railing so we can watch the little blighters out the dining room window. I'll have to remind her. How much snow have you got now Jack? alyeska?

RJ

I haven't been deep enough in a bush to find snow that isn't wind blown, but probably about a foot. The wind has a mile plus shot at my yard from several directions and some drifts are over 2 feet deep. It warmed up to freezing today. The roads are a mess up around Saskatoon tonight. A warm sunny day plus drifting snow means icy roads after dark.

Bye
Jack

I heard our Denver office closed down at noon today with 1-2 feet expected. You getting any of that RJ?

YUP!!! Most of the storm is going around us but we are