Rio Grande

[Al Hansen]

As I have done for some time now, is get on the gov't site that tells me about the area that I used to hunt on a daily basis during duck season. This morning, July16, 2022, the Rio Grande is void of water. How can it be with us right in the beginning of our monsoon season? How can it be dry when we had rains this year that began on June 15th? Well, now I at least know what to expect when duck season rolls around if things continue like they are.

The ranch I hunt requires the Rio Grande to be flowing at least with a modest amount of water like 350 cfs. This will fill up the drainage ditch that is about a quarter of a mile or less from the river's bed. What I have found out in past extreme drought years is that once the river begins to flow consistently, it takes a good month for the water in the drainage ditch to get to my pond area that I have been hunting since 2008 when the rancher handed me a key to his locked gate.

Things are looking mighty dry right now. Of course it can change but I do realize it might not. Here is hoping that wherever you live, that you will be blessed with great duck hunting conditions for this coming fall.
Al

Coal is going to be a year old on July 29th. I can remember the time last year in September when I got in our car and began the 1,210 trip up to Glasgow, MT to see Doug and Nancy Bowman, who had this pup already for me. He is a remarkable dog.









Here is Doug ready to hand over Coal, when I arrived at their home in the midst of a gorgeous Montana ranch setting. They are living a dream that came true when they left New Jersey heading for Big Sky country!




I took this shot of Coal about a week after I got home. It happens to be one of my favorites.

 

[greg setter]

Hi Al

Great looking dog Coal is. Hoping you get some water. We are pretty dry in the Northeast from NJ up. All of the weather systems have been tracking about 40-50 miles south of me, so Delaware through Va have been getting plenty, here and north haven't. Also good to see pic's of Doug. Doug lived very near where I hunt and he would stop by the shack once in a while. They made the move at the right time and never looked back.

 

[Al Hansen]

I sure agree with you on the move Doug and Nancy made. They told me all about that. I did enjoy seeing them again. They sure have some wonderful dogs. Love that name they chose for their kennel---Sweetgrass Labradors.

Greg, I wish you all the luck when your season opens. I just checked the Rio Grande and it is dry. The only thing that has kept it going are the rains we are getting now that we are in our monsoon season.. Tuesday was 106 F, Wednesday was at 104 F and today it hung around 100 F. We are at close to 4700 feet of elevation here and the nighttime temps always used to go down into the low 60sF each night. Now we have temps hanging in the 70sF for a low. Not good.
Al

The good news is that the hummers are back heading south towards Mexico and Central America. I always look forward to their visit. i"m glad that they remember where to go get some food when they come here. I have 96 ounces of nectar out for them.

This is a male black-chinned hummingbird. They usually get here on April Fool's Day and will hang around until late September/early October before heading south.


Starting to get a bit crowded at the feeder. It does make for some interesting times, however.


Left to right; adult male rufous. They are very territorial and feisty just like the ruby throated hummers. In the middle is a male black chin and on the right side is a female black chin


I think this is a juvenile male rufous. I happened to see a couple of orange feathers on the other side of his chin.


Here is my house dog, Belize. I put her out in the kennel with Coal recently. She should be coming into her heat cycle in August.