Curmudgeon

When I start finding wildlife sent through farm machinery funny, I'll change my user name.

You would have us believe you are unbiased, and certainly not arrogant regarding the "purposes" wildife must serve to justify its existence. However, this post speaks louder than any words you have written to support those claims. The fox was probably catching mice exposed by the harvest.

Lefty, The question was incomplete. What rattler really wants to know is "what purpose does it serves TO HIM". None obviously. It's an arrogant attitude. We might ask what purpose an eagle serves, or a hellbender, or the Grand Canyon for that matter. What good is a national park unless you can drill or mine it. It's all about serving OUR needs and desires. What good is a deer except for food? They're an ecological disaster in many places, including right here. Why value them? Coyotes bring me joy. I watch them whenever I can. Knowing there is something wild, something that we cannot "manage" is a wonderful thing in a world where wildness is a rare thing. And, anyone who believes they can be managed must choose to ignore a century and a half of failures. I do have a healthy respect for them. I suffer no illusions about how serious and deadly they can be. Having kept sheep for 40 years, I am very aware of large predators. I wish it were not so but the He-man Coyote Haters Club has more influence on the minds of the average hunter around here than you or I.

Frost here TODAY! 50' in elevation above the garden.

It's good to hear from some folks who aren't knee jerk predator haters. Some of the threads around here................................

This is interesting. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/30/science/moose-wolves-caribou.html?mabReward=ACTM7&recid=602d653c-3a6e-44d3-512c-38cdff78c593&recp=7

Thanks.

I'm shopping for a crossbow. If the reviews are to be believed, finding an adequate broadhead target will be difficult. What do you use?

Coyotes kill deer just not enough of them.

The quality of the end product is not part of this cost equation.

This has not been my experience. I generally use dmaps but when I have had nuisance tags, I was allowed a few deer for myself. All others had to be donated.

I don't see any. Dmaps are only used where the is a documented problem, like here.

Last week there was a big possum in the road, dead. I dragged it about 30 yards off the road and put a camera on it. Vultures, a young bald eagle and a red-tailed hawk showed up. All these photos were from that day. Another possum showed up at night but it wasn't a good photo so I didn't include it.

That is certainly true about subdividing. However, plots like this exist. The lack of access is probably a contributing factor to the tax sale. You can freely cross the state land on foot.

Rattler is right about the boarding neighbor. It has more value to them because they can access it. If they don't want it, they might be willing to sell a ROW. They are not local residingredients in NJ.

It won't go for market value. I bought 5 acres with a derelict house for $2000 last year. That was on a state highway. The lack of road access is a problem if someone wants to build. If you just want a place to hunt, you could post it and walk in. It doesn't look far.

This might interest someone here. 20 acres, state land on 3 sides. No road frontage. It looks like you need to cross the state land to get to it. https://www.nysauctions.com/servlet/Search.do?auctionId=2102&itemId=6847

http://greatlakestoday.org/post/bald-eagles-face-deadly-threat-lead-poisoning I found this interesting.

Except, those genes have already been passed on.

The guy who tried to become an Internet sensation by having his girlfriend shoot him in the chest - with a .50 Desert Eagle - while he held a book in front of him will not be eligible for a Darwin Award. To be eligible for the award you need to remove yourself from the gene pool before reproducing. Unfortunately, the girlfriend is pregnant http://www.cnn.com/2017/06/29/us/fatal-youtube-stunt/index.html https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwin_Awards

What are they for?

Killdeer are dumb. They don't realize their babies, once hatched, will not be able to find food on the roof. If they can't get off, they starve. Birds like nighthawks use roofs but they bring food to their young until they can fly.

Just before my size 10 boot hit the ground, a woodcock lifted off brushing the inside of my leg. My foot hit the ground simultaneously with a sickening feeling in my gut. Carefully, without moving my feet, I easily spotted the nest about 6 inches behind my heel. One chick had already hatched and had been flipped on its back by mom's hasty exit. It seemed otherwise unharmed. There was one egg in the nest that had not yet hatched. Weeks ago we flushed a family group of woodcock not too far from there. The mother did a great distraction display while the young flew off. I suspect this bird renested.

Releasing anything in a private pond - even native fish - requires a license. There are legitimate concerns about disease. That's why there are regs on moving baitfish. I don't know what an algae eater is but probably not native.

Pete, I don't watch videos due to data limits but this is a great idea. I hope you included some invasive species. People aren't always familiar with them, and they can easily get out of control.