Field Journal

Just before dusk, the big 6x6 bull we've been tracking since August came back through the lower meadow. He was moving slow, grazing along the fence line like he owned the place — which, honestly, he kind of does.

The rut is winding down but he's still got that swagger. Spotted two cows trailing about 200 yards behind him through the aspens. Temperature dropped to 34°F overnight — classic late October on the ranch.

He bedded down near the old stock tank around 7pm. We watched from the porch with binoculars until it got too dark to see.

Third time this month the black bear has hit the compost pile. This time she brought a cub — first time we've seen the cub up close. Maybe 40 lbs, curious as anything.

We've moved the compost inside the fence now. Not worth the confrontation. The sow didn't seem bothered by us watching from 80 yards — she's been around long enough to know we're not a threat.

Trail cam caught them at 11:42pm. The cub spent a good 20 minutes investigating an old boot someone left by the woodpile.

Counted 14 mule deer does moving through the upper pasture this morning, with one small spike buck trailing the group. They were heading toward the national forest boundary.

This is the largest single group we've seen this season. They moved through quickly — maybe 20 minutes from first sighting to disappearing into the treeline.

The spike was limping slightly on his front left. Hard to say if it's an injury or just the terrain. We'll keep an eye out for him.

Heard them before we saw them — two great horned owls calling back and forth in the big cottonwoods along the creek. They've been here before but this is the first confirmed pair sighting this fall.

One was perched about 30 feet up, the other kept moving branch to branch. They were active from about 6pm until well after dark.

Great horned owls start courtship in late fall, so this timing makes sense. Hoping they nest in the cottonwoods again this winter like they did two years ago.