I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Scott of the Copa de Vino Ranch in Goliad, Texas for the freedom to get inside the fence to take some photos of their longhorn cattle. We were in Goliad seeing the area where Colleen’s mother grew up, which was on the land across the road from the Copa de Vino Ranch.
As we were approaching the family property, I noticed the longhorn ranch and immediately pulled off the road to take some photos. About that time, one of the ranch hands drove in the gate and stopped to invite me inside for some better shots. At first I refused his offer, but after a few moments of consideration, I accepted his south Texas hospitality and we drove inside.
I like the color pattern of the first steer below, but wish he was wearing the horns in the second photo.
There’s something really relaxing about photographing animals like these. Waiting for them to stand at the right angle, hoping for a good background and the natural beauty staring back at me creates the perfect storm of relaxation for me. Knowing that everyone in the car is waiting for me reduces the satisfaction some, but I’m thankful that my family is very patient with me when I drop into photography mode.
You Know it is Hunting Season…
Hunters use this corn to draw deer closer to their stands. While it is sometimes scattered by hand, the corn is most commonly distributed by automated feeders like this one. These feeders are generally located in a clearing that allows the hunter a clear shot at the deer as it munches on the bait.
Some hunters are critical of this method, suggesting, “It isn’t really hunting.” But I don’t have a strong opinion since I have only hunted deer for one (unsuccessful) season.
In my one-season foray into deer hunting, I did use a feeder, but never saw a single deer in about 8 trips to our lease. The reason? Hunters with whom I shared the lease sabotaged my site. They realized early in the season that I had some deer coming to my feeder and none had been to theirs. So before I got the chance to see any deer, my “partners” decided that if they weren’t going to see any deer, then no one would. Nice guys, they were.
In case you are wondering how I responded, for the first time in 20 years, I’ll publicly admit to using all my unused ammo on their stands and feeders. By the time I was finished pulling the trigger, there wasn’t enough of their stands or feeders left to take anything home after the season ended.
After that bad hunting experience, I sold my gun and haven’t been in the woods since.
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