Problems up here.

pitw · November 17, 2009, 05:29:05 PM

There are no pictures of a big anything on this thread but I thought I might show some new problems that arise every now and then. We have had the driest year in a long time so water is an issue for animals. The other day while out moose hunting I heard a large Thunk and a bit later again with the thunk. I sneaked towards the sound[like a D9 on a runaway] and saw a moose at this hole[no camera that day].

The moose would strike the ice with a forefoot trying to get at water.[there is no snow or it wouldn't be a problem]
They go around striking until they get through.

I went to the next good dugout a mile away and same story.

I have found deer drowned in these things but never a moose or elk but as far out as that moose was it must happen. We also have cows that go through the ice every year and in fact two years ago one fellow lost 160+ head in one dugout.

golfertrout · November 17, 2009, 06:06:54 PM

wow that is wild and man it looks cold

pitw · November 17, 2009, 06:41:54 PM

Quote from: golfertrout on November 17, 2009, 06:06:54 PM
wow that is wild and man it looks cold

Anything but cold Dave. It has been nice since the end of October and just cool enough at night to freeze water.

alscalls · November 17, 2009, 09:42:02 PM

Seems ya need to figure out how to keep the water open .....then you would have a honey hole to hunt.....

Around here the dead timber that falls in the water keeps it warm enough to be thin where the rotting trees are that they can get water if need be but most of the time they dont need to as there is enough running water in the creeks to provide.
Yall aint got no trees around the water holes.....

I cant help but wonder why?

pitw · November 17, 2009, 09:55:57 PM

Quote from: alscalls on November 17, 2009, 09:42:02 PM
Yall aint got no trees around the water holes..... I cant help but wonder why?

Elementary my good man. When the holes are dug the trees are uprooted and put in the piles. Any new ones don't have a chance as the cows mill about and kill them.[I think]

alscalls · November 18, 2009, 07:01:50 AM

Why would ya want rid of all the trees? I know certain ones can be bad for the cows like cherry but....I cant see why remove them all...

pitw · November 18, 2009, 07:16:43 AM

Al there ain't a tree around me that is worth 1$ and especially near water. We have no hardwoods at all. To take the trees away from the water also helps keep the beaver from cutting and filling the hole.

alscalls · November 18, 2009, 07:19:40 AM

well I guess that makes sense..... Aint ya got any running water? I am just curious.....things sure are different here.

pitw · November 18, 2009, 07:35:09 AM

We have a couple creeks but they are dry. Very few springs that flow water year round.

FinsnFur · November 19, 2009, 08:23:50 PM

160 head in one hole? How the heck deep are these things?

alscalls · November 19, 2009, 08:29:18 PM

I wondered about that too.....Musta been a big hole...

pitw · November 20, 2009, 08:09:42 AM

That hole was 25 yds wide by about 60 long. The farmer hadn't got out to cut a hole for them to drink and the herd was on the ice when it broke. I've seen where one was in the water and after chasing the rest away then going for help that six more were in before we got back

. The above story with the 160 ows made national news here and in many other country's and there were charity auctions [amongst other things] to help the fellow out. I didn't donate cause it was basically his fault. The local government went in with large machines to clear the dugout and bury the herd. Cows are stupid.

pitw · November 20, 2009, 08:53:20 AM

I finally found something with google

. I guess my memory isn't very good either

.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/edmonton/story/2006/12/12/cattle-ice.html

golfertrout · November 20, 2009, 12:10:39 PM

that would be a heckuve a site wouldnt it

alscalls · November 20, 2009, 03:45:42 PM

Holy cow!

pitw · November 20, 2009, 04:19:51 PM

Quote from: alscalls on November 20, 2009, 03:45:42 PM
Holy cow!

Nope

those would be the ones the road hunters shoot.

. These were cowsicles

alscalls · November 20, 2009, 04:27:22 PM

FinsnFur · November 20, 2009, 10:27:37 PM

You would think you could set some type of pipe cage in the middle of the water, so nothing could get to the middle of it, but yet the livestock could drink from the edges.

Heck it'd even keep the trees from falling into it, and therefore the place wouldnt have to be cleared of them.

pitw · November 21, 2009, 06:57:44 PM

The problem is that when the dugouts first freeze they are flat. After drinking and the water naturally soaking away the ice becomes dished. With a dugout on every 1/4 section it would take a lot of pipe and with fluctuating water levels how would we keep it the right height? Many fence the dugout off and pump the water to a tank off site but freezing temps kinda/sorta screw this plan.

FinsnFur · November 21, 2009, 07:10:08 PM

Ok........

How about one of these? http://www.innovationalberta.com/article.php?articleid=374