Today's experience at the refuge..

I got there just after day break. Not ten feet past the front gate I see a buck to my left.



After a little conversation with some people that got there just before I did, I drove a few yards and found this one just watching me pass by.





I got to the 1st trail, grabbed my gear and headed off. The trail was a good one. Sandy bottom made for a really quiet walk. Walked a pretty good ways and could hear something ahead of me moving around. I crept up slowly and saw the BIGGEST FREAKIN HOG I'd ever seen! I stood there frozen and thinking "should I take a pic or just walk away quietly." I chose to walk away quietly. sorry no pic. Part of it was still in the brush and I didn't want to wait for it to come out.



After changing my pants, I walked the road to another trail and saw this little guy along the way.



Worked my way to the tower and saw a group of I think turkey buzzards perched up there. Scared one off and tried to take a pic.





While I was on a trail that lead to an overlook, the sun finally came out.





"Guesstimating" that the reptiles would soon be out for a sun bath I took another trail to find them and took these pics along the way.










Just before reaching the spot where the gators might be I hear some leaves getting moved around to my right. I freeze, get the camera ready and kinda hope its not a another big hog. Turns out to be this little guy.







Got to the spot and sure enough, the gators were there.



and a few of these.





Before calling it a day I decided to have a little fun a take some pics of myself. Right after I took the pics, I see a couple of little pigs about twenty yards away crossing my path.








Worried that momma hog might be near I took another trail to the jeep and headed for home. Last pic I took was of this pretty doe watching me leave.

Those are some awesome pics.

Freakin GREAT pix! It is amazing what you will see if you slow down enough to look around. I gotta get in the woods.

wow - great pics! gators!!!!

great pics! I loved the gators!

Saw your pics on jko as well, great photos, I enjoy capturing jeepin action shots & vids with my lil Casio Youtube 12.1 mp camera, I really enjoy catching everyone conquering the same obstacle on something hard, it's something each jeeper can show their grandkids one day. My camera's not all that great or anything but it's still fun.

Oh hey that was a Dung Beetle right? Were those baby Dung Beetles on it's back?

SASQUATCH wrote:

Oh hey that was a Dung Beetle right? Were those baby Dung Beetles on it's back?

I think it was. It was rolling that piece pretty quick. I'm guessing babies too.

those are some awesome pics. they are so clear. like what you'd see in NG.

where is this refuge?

jkx0778 wrote:

those are some awesome pics. they are so clear. like what you'd see in NG.

where is this refuge?

its called the aransas wildlife refuge.

they looked like gnat' hitchin aride on the beetle