Silt Happens!

[jc7622]

When I was a kid we used to "count coup" on armadillos by sneaking up on them and slapping them over. They are nearly blind. They will occasionally lift up from grubbing around to take a look and a sniff. If you freeze motionless they will usually look right at you and not even know you are there. Once they continue grubbing around you can continue your stalk. They sure can run fast after being rolled over.

We used to also count coup on skunks, but that is another story.

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( They sure can run fast after being rolled over.
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They also jump really high when you shoot 'em. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif I don't usually do that unless they are digging in my yard.

I've found that many wild animals are not afraid of me if I'm on my tractor, but once I get off and walk, they instinctively identify me as a threat and run away. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( By the way, the guy three farms up decided to use a dozer to clean out his pond this year. It broke through the crust and sank. I was told that it took another 2 dozers and a lot of huffing and puffing to get it out. I wish that I'd seen it and taken some photos. All I saw was the quagmire that was left after they had got it out. So, be careful out there.
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That's what I want to prevent by knowing how deep the sludge is and make sure we can work from solid ground. The dozer operator is also coming out to see if it's safe before he begins. This guy makes his living primarily by digging farm ponds, so he has plenty of experience. He has done great work for many people and I'm lucky he's so close to me. He also said he would leave a little mess in the bottom for me to clean up or he could come back with a dozer later on. Personally, for fish, I think an irregular bottom might actually be best. Once it's covered in water, who knows anyhow? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[2nstonge]

Ditto on the animals not being afraid of the tractor. I have a beautiful fox in my yard that will come within 40-50ft of me when I'm on the tractor, he'll root around for mice and voles, the minute I turn off the tractor his ears will prick up and he gets twitchy. If I get off the tractor he scoots -- won't come within a 100yds.

-Norm

 

[jinman]

Dang! It turns out that silt (or something that sounds like it) really does happen. My dozer guy called to say he would not be able to clean out my pond last weekend. The two or three days of bad weather last week (icy roads) put him behind on an oil patch job. His operator had to finish that job this weekend. The dozer guy had to go out of town to a relative's funeral, so he couldn't do the job himself. It's been rescheduled until next weekend. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

As badly as we need rain, if it happens it will be a reason to celebrate even if the pond has to wait. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Louisiana_John]

Good luck it is nice to have dry wether like you said. I have been getting alot done. But my pond could use about 3.5 feet of water.
John

 

[EddieWalker]

Looks like wer'e getting rain tonight, but like the last dozen or so storms that were supposed to dump some water on us, I'll believe it when I actually see the water on the ground.

I'm looking forward to seeing the picks and hearing about the project. Are you still moving dirt yourself in the meantime?

Eddie

 

[jinman]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Looks like wer'e getting rain tonight, but like the last dozen or so storms that were supposed to dump some water on us, I'll believe it when I actually see the water on the ground.

I'm looking forward to seeing the picks and hearing about the project. Are you still moving dirt yourself in the meantime?

Eddie
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I don't know about you, Eddie, but we only got enough rain to settle the dust and wet the porch. This was another non-event for us.

I haven't really had time to continue the dirt digging. Since my dozer guy didn't show up last weekend, I spent time doing a little work on Kathy's old IH424, boxbladed my road, and put up more Christmas decorations. I've spent way too much time with my tractor trying to clean out the pond and I just had to spend a little more time doing other things.

On Monday, a guy came and made us a good offer for Kathy's tractor and put a cash down payment on it. If I had not gotten the brakes working, we'd probably still have the tractor. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif This morning the guy is scheduled to bring the rest of the purchase price (in cash) and pick up the tractor. Getting it sold is our first "Christmas present." /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I did take time to clear the brush around the pond and cut the trees down to stumps so the track loader could easily dig them out. Here is a photo of the last tree just as it is falling. Timberrr! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[jinman]

After getting the tree cut up some, I used my rock bucket/grapple to move the big pieces easily out of the area.

 

[jinman]

More limbs. This sure is better than chaining and dragging. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif