Henry Rifle Forums

Princess Fiona is about eight months old, and spends most of her day "on duty." For her, that means posted at one of her window perches watching for critters to dare to set foot in her yard. Mostly this would be the numerous deer or hated squirrels. When they do, she leaps to her feet, vibrates, bounces around like those chattering novelty windup dentures, and growls and barks. The squirrels and deer glance up, laugh at her, and... Go back to eating acorns.

The system works, everyone is happy.

Today, Miss T had the Princess out for a stroll around the yard to TCB, and one of the stupider squirrels, wandered into the open. Now... Westies are cute, but they were bred to hunt and kill rats and underground rodents and they are quick. She was after that squirrel in an instant and he just did make the tree. She was standing at the base barking at him and he tossed a large walnut down and clunked her in the head.

She looked at Miss Tina as if to say, "Oh No He Didn't!"

Then she proceeded to renew her convo with the squirrel.
I think she was telling him all the things that would happen if he EVER left the tree.

Tina died telling me about it. That dog has personality.

My friend has a Pit/Boxer mix that loves charging at the fence in my back yard and barking at the goats. Leia backs off a bit but Luke stands right at the fence and puts his head down like he would head-butt him. I think it's just a big game to them but Luke might be a match for him, he's at least twice as big as Banjo and has grown some pretty good sized horns. Also Banjo is a bit of a big baby, he chases the outside cats but Leroy (my inside cat) doesn't like him at all. First time he came in the house Leroy got him on the nose so now he's afraid of him. The few times he's come in since then Leroy stalks him and Banjo wants nothing to do with him. It's funny watching him try to keep Karen or I between him and Leroy.

Was out in the backyard this morning and heard Buster barking and then a big rukus going on. I looked over and saw a cat hauling out
from under my shed with Buster on his tail. He picked up the scent of a cat under the shed and went in after it...brave soul he is!
Same deal with squirrels as he will sit under a tree just looking up and wait.

I love the attitude and optimism of a dog on a squirrel. My ex wife's Gordon won on occasion.

Fiona was fired up this morning before we left on our errands...
Miss Tina called and told me to check it out.... there WERE about eight of them. A buck and the rest. I missed the buck, but caught a few of the gang.
I shot a few thru the storm door, then unlatched the door and when they were all looking down, gave it a light push....

Thru the door:


The door swung slowly open on oiled hinges, but they are attuned for movement.


A goodbye wave...


Fiona wanted to chase them something bad, but Miss T was holding her tight.

A few shots off the game cam over the last couple weeks.

This guy was in the back yard fifteen yards from Tina's shop a couple days ago. Nice rack but Tina says she thinks the poor fella has the wasting disease.


These two are as big as the Hartford Guy... they are down in the lower pasture near a small shallow creek, we see everything down there.


Ugly dog down by the creek, but a big fella. Crossing in the exact same spot at the deer above. It's an active game trail. Fox, possums, coons... they all use it. Stop for a drink and head up and back on the trail.


This HERD was in the lower pasture this spring, and hung around a couple days. That pasture used to be pristine and well maintained when we still had horses, but we got tired of keeping it up for the neighbors to view from their upstairs windows. We are letting it go back to nature for the deer and other wildlife to enjoy, a buffer so to speak. The creek runs thru the middle and loops around the back of the acreage. The creek crossing is 200 yards down to your left. The house is 800 yards up a double dogleg path the opposite direction.


This deer pretty much ignored the strike behind her. She continued to eat the small apples off the tree behind the house.


I love the surprises the game cams turn up. We also track UPS, stray dogs, trespassers, and folks who stop by but don't let us know.
We have four right now but will add a few more next month. Cheap insurance.

A very nice piece of heaven you have there Marine!
Last year my woods around the range property was full of turkey and deer. Right now things are kind of slow with maybe a fox or two on my
trail camera. Now we have had an extended dry period but have gotten some good rain over the last weekend.
However there was a good bit of tree cutting going on around my area and that could have caused the wildlife to venture off to other places.
I hate to see the clearing cutting going on.

Was down there today getting some work done on a lean to shed project and the weather was Fall perfect for enjoying the woods.
Hated to pack up and leave on the trip back to the city. I DID ring the gong a few times with the .44 Henry Carbine before I left!