Vintage Post–Mr. Ralph, Nature Journalist

Mr. Ralph added so much to our Corps of Discovery studies on Lewis and Clark by sharing his own nature journaling with us.

Here is a sample from his hunting journal . . . . .

Bow Season 1993

October 2

Got up at 5:00 and left house at 5:30.  In my tree stand at bottom of hill by white rock at 6:00 a.m.  Calm and very dark with moon in and out of clouds.  43 degrees.  At 6:20 a coyote started howling one hundred yards or so up the bank.  A flying squirrel landed on the back side of the tree I was in about two feet away from me.  At 6:45 motion caught my eye to the right.  A fisher ran along a log and then back out of sight.  Wind starting to pick up a little.  At 8:05 two deer ran in from the ledges way.  One went up the sag.  The other came in front of me and stopped twenty-five yards away.  It was facing toward me and looking back on where it came.  I drew back, but no shot.  It ran straight toward me and under my tree, but no shot.  At 8:20 a partridge walked under the apple tree behind me.  At 8:30 I read Proverbs 1-3 about wisdom and how we should strive to gain more to pass it to others–children especially.  Climbed out of my stand at 9:00.  Went down to beaver pond and watched five beavers climb up over the dam about thirty seconds apart and about twenty feet away.  9:45 I walked along the swamp and watched eighteen ducks take off.  Walked into Foreman’s field and watched three coyotes mulling around for about ten minutes.  Seventy-five yards away.  Back at the truck 10:25.