When Do Bears Hibernate?

It's been a cold week, with temperatures dipping to -8F, but this bear isn't hibernating yet.

Checking out my "bone yard" to see what's on the menu ...

This looks good ...

Good taste ...

Time for a full rack of ribs.

Cabin Electric Project

When the small cabin on our "Cabin Property" was built by the prior owner it was built as a hunting cabin, off the power grid and powered by a small generator. Over time we upgraded to a larger generator, but it is now time to connect to the power grid and start using the cabin as a guest house.

In a break from the December rain and snow, the installation of the first power pole started on a 50F day.

Only 3 more poles to install.

On day number 2, as the power company worked to install our section of new power line, they discovered their power pole, that we needed to connect to, had a rotten top and needed to be replaced.

As the power company replaces a rotten power pole on their distribution line, a crew is pulling the cable on our new section of power line.

Connecting the new power lines to the transformer at the cabin.

After two days of work by the power crew, the cabin is now on the power grid.

Barred Owl

The day started out with the temperatures in the lower teens. I went for a drive around the cabin property in the heated ATV and found this barred owl. The owl was in a swampy area about 50 yards from where we placed an owl nesting box earlier this year.

Deer Hunting With Reed

Grandson Reed went for his first deer hunt with his dad on the first day of rifle hunting season. Within a couple of hours his dad completed filling his deer tags. Reed then wanted to help grandpa get a deer, so on the second day of the season he was up at 5:00AM and ready to go hunting.

The temperature was 18F and after a short ride to our deer stand the first job was starting the propane heater.

With the deer stand warming up it was time to sit back, drink some hot tea and wait for the deer.

No deer yet, but a flock of 2 dozen turkeys came in to the deer stand.

The turkeys got within 30 feet before walking back into the woods.

Still no deer and Reed just happened to bring a deck of cards. Reed suggested we play "Go Fish" with the loser would gut the deer (if we get one). Reed lost the first game and grandpa lost the second game. Time to quit the cards. Reed's dad stopped by around noon so Reed could pick out a Christmas tree. At around 4:00PM grandpa shot a 6-point buck.