Mountain Wildlife – February 2014

circle_ranch_pronghorn_feature

The Circle Ranch contains the southeast corner of the Sierra Diablo Mountains. These rise 2,500-feet from the floor of the Chihuahuan Desert to an elevation of 6,500-feet. Here are photos of pronghorn, bighorn and mule deer in the high elevations.  These were taken in February, 2014.

circle_ranch_wildlife_february_2014_1
A buck pronghorn at 6,000-feet. Most people think pronghorn do not like these elevations, terrain and cover. We see ours in the high mountains all the time.  

The dead trees and yucca are remnants of a range fire that burned through 20-years ago.  Our deserts are so dry that dead plants – grass included – will stand, unrotted for decades: a physiological reality that has broad implications in proper range management.

circle_ranch_wildlife_february_2014_2
Three pronghorn does in the pinyon-juniper woodlands.

circle_ranch_wildlife_february_2014_3
Pronghorn bucks, does running with mule deer at 6,000-feet.

circle_ranch_wildlife_february_2014_4
Mule deer buck and doe.

circle_ranch_wildlife_february_2014_5
Young mule deer buck.

 

IMG_2436

Here we see a group of pronghorn on open grassland. This is where pronghorn are usually seen in far-West Texas. The tree chollas are an important source of pronghorn food.

IMG_2471

 This is an old buck.

 

IMG_2484

Young buck, probably 4-1/2 years old. He is using a pinyon pine for cover. 

IMG_2491

Another young buck using pinyon pine for cover. 

IMG_2496

Pronghorn in high mountains. 

 

IMG_2503

 Mule deer does and bucks in pinyon-juniper mountain woodlands.

IMG_2530

 Desert bighorn sheep – using pinyon and juniper –  at 6,400-feet.

 

 

Author:
Ranching, wildlife management, finance, oil & gas, real estate development and management.
Comments

Leave a Reply to sega circolare Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *