September 2006 Updates page 2
13 September
Deer Scouting
By courtesy of Steven M some pictures from his deer camera.
Steve writes:
John,
Thought you'd enjoy some close-up game camera pictures of a few deer from MAHA property. The deer are in several stages of development...shedding summer coats and velvet. This is my first year using these cameras and they have provided some enjoyment. However, they CANNOT be replaced by "boots on the ground" scouting. If I relied on just the camera footage, I'd be clueless. I do however believe they will be useful tools during the season.
Steve
11 Sep
Upland Bird Dog
Broken rear leg bone of a pointer. The leg broke while playing in the yard with a retriever.
A quick note about the accident today (a year ago)...
Triton and Jayzie were wrestling in the yard and Jayzie broke her left rear leg. It was a fluke accident (it is not how FAR you fall, it is HOW you fall)...the pups were playing in the yard. Jayzie started to cry and was holding her leg up. Karen got her settled down and confirmed the break of the tibula and fibula (she should be a vet).
They took her to the Vet that did Westie's three surgeries. The tibula was in three pieces and the fibula was in two pieces. The surgery was no big deal and 100% successful. I tried to make the full surgery but only got in the OR when he was sewing her up. I stayed until she was basically awake and recognized me.
The details...
The plate has 9 holes and 9 screws as you can see. It is stainless steel and will stay in forever unless when she hunts in very, very cold weather it becomes a problem. This most likely won't happen because we can always wrap the leg to keep it warm and dry if we need to. She is virtually full grown according to the Vet, only a couple more millimeters left to grow in the vertical. The growth plates in her legs are 95%+ complete and the injury will cause no harm to the leg or growth. The fibula shattered a bit (we have a piece of the bone to make a necklace) the reason for the different length screws. The tibula might connect, but it is not weight bearing at all and serves its purpose even if it doesn't reconnect. The x-rays show it may reconnect, but it does not matter. She will be immobile for 4 weeks and then x-rays taken to see if she has fully healed. If she has fully healed then we are done, if not we wait a couple more weeks. It doesn't take long to heal in a pup. She is only in a wrap, not a cast.
The wrap stays on for 10 days, then comes off and the stitches are removed. The incision was about 10 inches long. Again, the Vet said the bones are healthy and it was a fluke accident, so expect 100% recovery.
Later, Kenneth and Triton (I didn't mean to do it...ha!)
The same dog the showed no noticeable effects of the injury.
Thank you Kenneth for a greater insight into dogs.
Rio Grande Turkey
The quote with the picture was: "Snakes in the grass." referring to how Rios will sneak around a hunter keeping their eye on the hunter all the time.
Dove & Bucks
John,
Enclosed a picture of some doves taken on MAHA land on Labor Day...these dove were taken just scouting some property. Close up gunning as they bust out of roost trees. Had some good gunning on Saturday and Sunday in two different locations...took two limits. There are not a lot of doves...period; however the diversity of habitat within a map unit allowed some fun shooting. I haven't limited on doves in 14 years and truly enjoyed hunting a couple hours each morning, prior to scouting and all was done in some lousy weather.
I can report that I have never seen such a good survival rate of turkey poults in a lot of years. Most hens are averaging 6+ poults in various stages of development, which is outstanding. I also saw good numbers of young roosters, ALL either entering or leaving MAHA property.
Received our deer back form the taxidermist two weeks ago. Kyle's [location deleted] rifle buck on the left and my [location deleted] bow buck on the right. Looking forward to another fun, safe, and successful year hunting MAHA land.
Thanks again. Steve
