Outdoor

Confessions of a Hunter: Mother Nature Can Be Cruel

Published

6 years ago

January 25, 2019

NTFR

By Andy Anderson

In all her splendor and glory Mother Nature is certainly a majestic
term often used to describe the natural order of nature and/or the
circle life. However, there is a dark side to Mother Nature, one that
is both captivating and scary.

It was a warm afternoon in May as I was out checking fence and
feeders. I was on a ridge line looking down into a valley with a dry
creek bed when I noticed a deer running through the bottom. I stopped
the ATV and glassed the deer with my binoculars for a better look. It
was a whitetail doe, and she was tired, blowing hard. She was clearly
in distress and fatigued. She stopped, looking back, flicking her tail. I
looked back in the same direction she was to see three coyotes trotting
at a steady pace towards her. I reached for my rifle but realized I was
way out of range.

I continued to watch these coyotes working in formation, ducking
in and out of the brush and creek bottom. The doe would run around
in circles, back and forth, up and down the hills. I couldn’t figure out
what she was doing. Just as the coyotes closed the distance on her, she
bolted out of view.

The coyotes circled back around to the creek near a small clearing.
It was clear they were working an odor. Anyone who has ever seen a
dog sniff out a treat knows exactly what I am talking about. It was then
I realized they were looking for a whitetail fawn. After watching for
about 10 minutes, they found it.

To read more pick up a copy of the January 2019 issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

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Parting Shot

Published

3 weeks ago

October 31, 2024

NTFR

By: Jelly Cocanougher

Delicate microbes buried just beneath the surface. We walk by them, unbeknownst to us. Spores, spawn, and sclerotia, each with distinct characteristics. It is said that these fungi are all connected, speaking to one another as they populate the earth. The interconnectedness of all living things and the decaying world, such beauty lies within these otherworldly alien organisms.

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Varietal Honey

Published

4 weeks ago

October 28, 2024

NTFR

By: Landon Moore

Landon Moore is the Wise County 4-H President and a member of the Wise County 4-H County Council. He is involved in beekeeping, as well as raising rabbits and poultry.

This essay was one that he wrote, and it was named the champion for both the Texas and National chapters of the Foundation For The Preservation of Honey Bees.

Varietal honey is honey that comes from a single source.

This honey has a flavor derived from the source flower and can even have a similar scent. In general, lighter colored honeys have a more subtle taste and dark honeys are more intense. Varietal honey has been compared to wine, in that honeys produced in different years can be distinguished, even if they come from the same flower and location.

This phenomenon is called terroir and is responsible for the individual taste of each honey harvest.

To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.

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The Garden Guy: America’s Sweetheart

Published

4 weeks ago

October 27, 2024

NTFR

By: Norman Winter | Horticulturist, Author, Speaker

Early in the summer, I was sent a press release that caused one of those holy wow moments. The headline said it all, “Proven Winners ColorChoice Expands Catalog with the Addition of Hollywood Hibiscus.”

I had already become familiar with the Hollywood Hibiscus series and was thrilled that the Proven Winners was adding this to their lineup.

This flower is nothing short of beautiful and exhibits prolific flower production. The flowers show three distinct colors, deep red in the very center, then the majority which is a rich rose pink with lighter pink to white along the margins.

To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.