Varied Wildlife viewing yesterday

[Engorgeous George 2,137]

I got up early to drive to Steamboat Springs to raft the Yampa. Along the roadway and along the river I saw antelope, bison, bighorn sheep, elk, a black bear, a moose, eagles, a mink, beaver.  Not a bad day.

 

I must say, unless we get suibstantial late season snow it is going to be a dry year for the west.  Maybe tuesday's projected weather will help.  All the rivers and reservoirs are running unusually low and the snow pack seems very light.

[SaintsInDome2006 382]

32 minutes ago, Engorgeous George said:

I got up early to drive to Steamboat Springs to raft the Yampa. Along the roadway and along the river I saw antelope, bison, bighorn sheep, elk, a black bear, a moose, eagles, a mink, beaver.  Not a bad day.

 

I must say, unless we get suibstantial late season snow it is going to be a dry year for the west.  Maybe tuesday's projected weather will help.  All the rivers and reservoirs are running unusually low and the snow pack seems very light.

This is living. Cheers.

I was just thinking earlier this am it might be nice to move to Colorado if I could swing it. Sounds lovely.

[Strike 5,203]

That's awesome EG.  It's one of the things I love about living here and especially the mountains.

[5-Points 3,391]

Nice!

I usually just see tweakers and homeless people. 

[gas 137]

1 hour ago, Engorgeous George said:

I got up early to drive to Steamboat Springs to raft the Yampa. Along the roadway and along the river I saw antelope, bison, bighorn sheep, elk, a black bear, a moose, eagles, a mink, beaver.  Not a bad day.

 

I must say, unless we get suibstantial late season snow it is going to be a dry year for the west.  Maybe tuesday's projected weather will help.  All the rivers and reservoirs are running unusually low and the snow pack seems very light.

That would be an excellent day in my book, as I’ve never seen a mink in the wild.  
 

Cascades have a low snowpack as well, and that means increased likelihood of forest fires.

[Engorgeous George 2,137]

23 hours ago, 5-Points said:

Nice!

I usually just see tweakers and homeless people. 

Ahh yes, driving under the bridges in Denver and Colorado Springs, no doubt.  They aproach cars stopped in traffic like the Yellowstone bears approach vehicles, hoping for a handout.  You should keep a bag of marshmallows in your car.  It is now inappropriate to toss them to bears in Yellowstone, but the homeless gobble them up like crazy.

[Engorgeous George 2,137]

I seem to have messed up my elbow on the Yampa.  Still hurting today.  At my age some of the stuff I do is foolish.  My brotheer, niece and i were going to run Gore Canyon this coming weekend as she just got a new kayak she wants to try out but if i am not 100% or pretty darn close that would be an ill-advised run for me.

 

 

[Engorgeous George 2,137]

Seems every year there is a death in the canyon.  I should probably bow down to age and bow out of such things now.  Maybe its like Dirty Harry said, a man has got to know his limitations.  I can just run my raft and fish lower down from Pumphouse to State Line Bridge.  That is more appropriate for old farts like me.

[gas 137]

51 minutes ago, Engorgeous George said:

Seems every year there is a death in the canyon.  I should probably bow down to age and bow out of such things now.  Maybe its like Dirty Harry said, a man has got to know his limitations.  I can just run my raft and fish lower down from Pumphouse to State Line Bridge.  That is more appropriate for old farts like me.

Being an old fart means you survived your reckless youth.   That whitewater looks a bit much.  

[Hawkeye21 2,382]

I woke up early Saturday morning and couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to go fishing.  On my way to the dam I saw some deer, one that crossed the road right in front of me and then I saw a rooster pheasant walking along the shoulder.  I always love seeing pheasants.  While I was wading in the river there were some deer that came down to the riverside.  Always see plenty of eagles and hawks while fishing too.  The fishing was a little slow but I caught a nice variety.  Caught 2 smallmouth, a largemouth and 3 walleye.  Two of the walleye were pretty big.

[Engorgeous George 2,137]

53 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I woke up early Saturday morning and couldn't get back to sleep so I decided to go fishing.  On my way to the dam I saw some deer, one that crossed the road right in front of me and then I saw a rooster pheasant walking along the shoulder.  I always love seeing pheasants.  While I was wading in the river there were some deer that came down to the riverside.  Always see plenty of eagles and hawks while fishing too.  The fishing was a little slow but I caught a nice variety.  Caught 2 smallmouth, a largemouth and 3 walleye.  Two of the walleye were pretty big.

The walleye spawn is just starting up here in Colorado.

[Engorgeous George 2,137]

54 minutes ago, gas said:

Being an old fart means you survived your reckless youth.   That whitewater looks a bit much.  

I sort of survived.  I have my scars.

[Hawkeye21 2,382]

35 minutes ago, Engorgeous George said:

The walleye spawn is just starting up here in Colorado.

I was trying to catch smallmouth but caught more walleye.  Figures.

[Engorgeous George 2,137]

3 minutes ago, Hawkeye21 said:

I was trying to catch smallmouth but caught more walleye.  Figures.

Maybe i should plan a fish fry for friday night.  I am pretty confident i can catch my limit for walleye that morning.  I like mine better broiled or grilled, but most folks seem to like a good Friday night fish fry.  Maybe I'll whip up a cherry cobbler or two for dessert.

[Hawkeye21 2,382]

2 hours ago, Engorgeous George said:

Maybe i should plan a fish fry for friday night.  I am pretty confident i can catch my limit for walleye that morning.  I like mine better broiled or grilled, but most folks seem to like a good Friday night fish fry.  Maybe I'll whip up a cherry cobbler or two for dessert.

My father-in-law loves a good fish fry and I always enjoy helping.  Hard to beat being outside drinking a few beers and frying up a bunch of food for everyone.

[Tebok 315]

On 5/4/2025 at 1:44 PM, gas said:

That would be an excellent day in my book, as I’ve never seen a mink in the wild.  
 

Cascades have a low snowpack as well, and that means increased likelihood of forest fires.

I saw one scampering around in the snow while I was on a ski lift in Colorado.