Growing Future Outdoor Sportsmen and Sportswomen

What a weekend!  First we got snow, then we had the opportunity to go to our local Wildlife Management Area to look for sheds, rubs, tracks, scat, skeletal remains... or anything else we could find out there in the woods.  My husband and I enjoy getting the kids outdoors so they can experience nature first hand.  Our initial intent was to look for sheds.  Although we didn't find any sheds, we enjoyed what we did find, and the time we spent together, as a family.

  Just as we entered the woods, I told my children to watch for dogs.  People are constantly dropping dogs off in these woods.  They toss pups they've killed, and often times dump them in nearby streams and watersheds.  I've even discovered whole litters of starving pups with an empty bag of torn open dog feed that had been left with them.  It's really sad.  It's also dangerous to people entering the WMA because the dogs are starving, wild, and afraid.

Dog remains... dog still had collar on when it died.

Minutes into our walk, a beautiful white, almost glowing, female dog bounded from the trees.  My husband not quite sure what it was, had his gun readily drawn.  When we realized she was friendly, we gave her a few rubs, and allowed her to follow us deeper into the woods.  She was extremely friendly, hopping from person to person, whining and eager for affection.  Her pink nose and beautiful green eyes popped against her soft, downy white coat.  My kids fell in love, instantaneously.

Into our trek, we came across what appeared to be the remnants of an old building.  The only remains being the brick steps, and concrete walk.  The area was tightly wrapped in a mass of bent trees, and vines.  My family and I wove our way in and out of the vines to get a closer look at what we had discovered.  If you can imagine a family of five weaving their way through this mess... it was crazy.  It was if the vines had reached out and took hold of my youngest daughter's long hair and pigtails.  I had to work my way back to where she was, several times, to untangle her.  The vines wrapped around our legs, arms, body and in some cases were almost impenetrable.  I told my kids to imagine being in a movie, and we were trying to escape from being captured.  They all said, "Or we could pretend we're on "The Walking Dead" and trying to escape zombies.  I had to laugh... "Ok, then... we're trying to escape zombies."

Sitting on the brick stairs w/ Peppermint

After we finally escaped the encapsulation vines, I came across a magnificent tree.  I love trees.  This tree had to have been standing for hundreds of years, because it was massive.  One of the largest trees I have seen in quite some time.

See my family only few ft. away from massive tree it makes them look small.

BEAUTIFUL!

We also came across some scat, skeletal remains of a squirrel, deer, and dog, rubs, and various animal tracks; coyote, deer, etc.

Looked like it may have been coyote scat w/ hair, etc... GROSS!

My husband said Rabbit  I thought maybe Deer.  What do you think?

Acorns

Deer Skull

Deer Tracks

Overall, it was a wonderful evening, and great opportunity to get the children outdoors.  As the air chilled, we made our way out to the dirt road, and back to the truck.  My children, and their new found friend ran ahead of us.  When my husband returned to the truck, we realized we had an added passenger in the backseat.... a beautiful, white, friendly, female dog.  Needless to say, she came home with us... and we named her PEPPERMINT.

Sun setting against the trees on the dirt road

Peppermint

I look forward to hearing about some of your adventures while out enjoying the outdoors with family or friends!  It's the only life you'll get... so make the most of it!
God bless!