Spent the last few days of work summarizing all the field checks I made last fall, and then forwarding the data on to the appropriate people.

Thought the fall was kind of quiet and slow, and the numbers support that:

189 pronghorn

145 mule deer

1 white-tailed deer

29 elk

1 moose

1 bighorn sheep

Low deer and antelope checks are a result of low herd numbers, and our therefore conservative hunting seasons. When populations were high and the seasons more open, I had several times when I checked more than 200 deer in one day. Now I wasn't that busy all fall.

Elk herds are still at near-record highs, but the dry, warm fall slowed down harvest. I have had days when the weather was right when I checked more than a dozen in a day. I think my best day this year was three elk.

Makes for a more enjoyable fall season, but when I look at all the hours and miles spent, this doesn't seem like much data.

On a less boring note, I made a new discovery while spending so much time at the dining room table adding up all those numbers...

I chug several mugs of what I call poor man's cappuccino (rounded spoon of Folger's instant coffee with two heaping spoonfuls of Nestle's Rich Chocolate cocoa mix) every morning and afternoon. I have now found a wonderful way of flavoring that mix.

Add two Creme Savers.

Strawberry, orange and raspberry are all good. Haven't bothered with the Caramel-Chocolate yet. Going to start trying to mix flavors soon.