NEWS FLASH: Drought ends at Ponderosa

[BrownDogsCan2]

I can’t remember the last time we had rain like we had over the weekend. I’d guess it’s been two or three years.

 

[westksbowhunter]

2.65 total for the week here. No, run off into Cedar Bluff at all.

 

[M. R. Byrd]

I have been asleep at the wheel, but while I was it was raining at the Ponderosa.
May 19th 0.80"
May 25th 2.50"
May 28th 0.80"
Jun 3rd 2.30"
Jun 5th 1.15"
Jun 6th 2.00"
YTD 12.20" which is way ahead of normal(annual rainfall is 17.50").
Pastures are green, weeds in the waste areas are going like crazy. Several pairs of quail around the farmstead. I can hear roosters crowing in the distance. Seeing a fair number of turkeys. Haven't seen any lesser prairie chicken yet. Whitetail deer numbers are decent. Too many coyotes, coons, skunks and badgers, but the cover is overwhelming so hopefully the cover will help protect the young.
The faucet could turn off without warning, but at the moment there is good subsoil moisture. Praise the Lord for the excellent moisture and I pray for a bountiful year for the critters.

 

[westksbowhunter]

Do you think that the rains with cool temps had any negative effects on early broods and nests? There were a couple of mornings here in the upper 40's with rain.

 

[M. R. Byrd]

Do you think that the rains with cool temps had any negative effects on early broods and nests? There were a couple of mornings here in the upper 40's with rain.

Not sure. I haven't seen any hatches yet of any of the Ponderosa's residents(pheasant, quail, turkey, lesser prairie chicken). Seeing a decent number of quail paired up. I am seeing the most cottontails that I have seen in many years.

 

[Quailnerd]

Saw my first hatch of quail chicks last week, less than a week old and looked like double digits. The country on my route looks fantastic and green, custom harvest crews are chomping at the bit on the turn row looking for dry fields

 

[westksbowhunter]

.90 overnight with more on the way. Hope it slows the wheat harvest to give those chicks a chance to grow. Looks like we might actually avoid emergency haying and grazing for a change.

 

[ctfisher]

Appreciate y'all keeping this thread alive. Hoping this rain means good things for the birds.

 

[westksbowhunter]

Appreciate y'all keeping this thread alive. Hoping this rain means good things for the birds.

Local KDWP biologist told me that those hatching chicks during the cold rain could have suffered loss. But it was a week before peak hatch. I think in the NW corner it dipped below 45. We had 2 mornings in the upper 40's but it stayed in the 50's and low 60's during the day. He did say we had good cover which helped during the cold spell. Just have to wait and see. Drought monitor looks good, except for a few counties in the NW corner.