Spying on the wildlife

Noticed a partially-eaten chicken breast in the pasture today; which is odd.  If a coyote takes a chicken, the whole thing is gone.  I don't know what killed this particular bird, but I'm a bit curious.  So I set up a game camera to watch the area, and we'll see what shows up.

Game cameras start at about $150, and allow you to have a record, either still photo or video, of anything that triggers then.  I use a tripod for mine so that I don't have to fuss too much about placement, but you can use a fence or tree or post. 
  On the outside of this particular camera there's a display that shows the number of photos taken so you can determine if a particular camera has been triggered, but this particular model doesn't have any way to view the photos -- I take it home and hook it up to the computer with a usb cable to view the contents. 

It's got an infrared flash and this particular one has a range of about 50'.  They're simple and easy to use.  If you have a remote area that you'd like to have some records on you can place them on gates and take pictures of people entering your property.  I'm curious to see what the predator is.  I'm thinking something smaller than a coyote.  Maybe a weasel. 

Orphan piglet update

I wrote about a piglet that I was bottle feeding at home -- you'll find that entry here.    Today is the day she gets re-introduced to the herd at the farm. 

Here's patch looking out the door of her shelter at the dog.  She's not at all afraid of the dogs after having been in the house for the last few weeks. 

  Pigs prefer to sleep in piles and groups.  Given the choice between a nice shelter that's bedded with dry wood chips and the cold ground they choose...

to sleep on the cold ground.  I cannot figure that out.  If it's raining they'll move into the shelters, but they'll lay out in the open in a light rain, too.  Here they're jostling a little for best position.  You can see patch on the left bottom, facing us. 

Underneath this little pig is stripe, her mom.  Stripe is very patient with the piglets and has proven to be a capable mother.  Patch likes stripe and will probably end up adopted by her. 

Patch is still pretty fond of me though.  When she sees me she gives the piglet-greeting -- high-pitched rapid oinking.  Piglets are the only ones who make that particular sound -- it seems to mean that they're happy to see you, or that they recognize you, or "I want ot be friends".  They make it when they approach a larger pig, but never maket it when they're greeing piglets their own size.

Kinda sad to see you rejoin the herd, but you'll be happy here for the next few years. 

The farm gun

I ran across a farmer who was talking about buying a gun for use on the farm, and I wrote a reply to him.  Here it is: 

I'd suggest two guns for your farm use. A .22 rifle, either bolt action or semi-auto, and a larger gun for shooting at a distance.


I use a .22 semi-auto for slaughter on my farm because I like the ability to have a second shot instantly available. I don't like it because it's a loaded weapon in the often-chaotic slaughter scene. A bolt action rifle fed off a clip or tube requires positive action before it can be fired again ,which means that you can set it down (or drop it) without too much concern. Semi-autos are harder to clean than bolt-action, and this also figures into it.  I spent most of a summer working as a rifle instructor one year, and I've shot tens of thousands of rounds, so I'll choose the less-safe semi-auto, but I did think about it.

For coyotes and other varmits, I'd suggest a rifle in one of the following calibres: .223, .22-250, .243, .25-06, .260 or .270. All of these rounds are very high velocity (read: flat trajectory) low-recoil rounds that will allow you to make accurate, lethal shots. A .22 long rifle cartridge is not big enough to ensure a quick, humane end to coyotes unless you are a very good shot and although I've shot my distinguished expert rating, I'm not that good. 

On the 2nd rifle, a 6x to 10x telescopic sight is what I'd suggest. You can get more magnification, but when you're actually using it in the field it's like trying to read a book through a straw. A lower magnification will allow a wider field of view, and less "hunting" with the scope for the target.

While you are considering a larger rifle, consider that military rifles are designed for the kind of life that a farm gun lives -- in a dirty environment, with a need for reliability. That said, an ak-47 type gun (sometimes sold as AKM) or an SKS clip-fed rifle may be a relatively cheap and good choice for a pickup truck gun if you can get over the way it looks.

If you plan on hunting deer or other big game (moose? elk?) you might want to consider your local game regulations when choosing your 2nd rifle calibre. There is often a minimum calibre allowed for deer hunting, for instance. Check your local game regulations. My 2nd rifle is a .308 calibre with a 10x scope for this reason.  It's a legal calibre to take big game with, and the .308 round is a common, available ammunition. You can see a picture of my rifle in this blog entry.

Finally, practice with your rifles. Buy 500 rounds of .22 and set up a 50' range with a target and a safe backstop for the bullets, and make sure you can put several shots into a circle the size of a half-dollar. Talk to your local gun shop about classes. With the larger calibre rifle you will typically have one shot at a varmit, and if you miss, you might have to wait weeks for a second shot. It's worth spending $100 on extra rounds and practicing until you are reasonably proficient.

Practicing at a distance means that your closer shots will be more accurate, and shot placement, especially when putting an animal down, is very important.   with your larger rifle, measure out a 600 foot range and practice on that.  200 yards is a good working range for a typical farm varmit shot for me.  Longer than that and I aim a little higher.  Shorter, a little lower.