Bullfrogs, to croak is to croak
Hello friends, After I hit send on this column I am getting in my truck, which is hooked to a trailer with my ATV in it, and heading to Salmon, Idaho for the start of a 14-day adventure. First, I am going to meet with my daughter Selina and spend four days with Selina and her coworkers as they do research on trout and salmon. Next, it is off to the Montana mountains where we are going to camp and scout for elk.
This week I am writing about a unique change in my life that may happen each summer as long as I have my pond. I am also going to add in some of my hobby farming way of life that is really keeping me busy these days.
Sunday, July 13 High 82, Low 55
For the last three weeks, when I am home, I have been sleeping in my 14-foot 2017 Stealth trailer that is rigged for camping and hauling a UTV. It is next to my pond. Last night I had a problem. There were so many bullfrogs in my pond croaking that I simply could not sleep. Until last night I thought there was only one and that was OK as bullfrogs are an extremely destructive type of frog that will eat anything in sight, including other bullfrogs.
Selina had told me from day one, “no bullfrogs dad” and starting on this day I realized I had a problem. Now it was how to get rid of them and, in reality, I did not want to kill them.
After Googling bullfrogs, I realized what a threat they are and today I sighted in my Crossman pump BB gun. This afternoon I was hanging out at my beach with a friend, and I saw the enemy and seriously did not want to take its life. One shot between the eyes and it was game on. That evening until 2 a.m., I sat by a campfire and when I heard the tell-tale croaking and went hunting with my headlamp and the Crossman. By the time I hit the rack my total was four and I was confident that I had eliminated the enemy.
As soon as I laid down, the croaking began and until last night, 12 days later, it would not stop after dark.
To the garden, I have four crops of sweet corn planted and the freezing process will begin when I get home from this trip. Each winter I put my cattle in the garden, and I honestly feel that this summer is the best-looking crop I have ever had. The night before I left for this trip I had a friend take a picture of me in my tomato patch and most of the plants are as tall as me.
I am addicted to gardening, putting up food and feasting on my independent way of living until the next garden.
Speaking of cattle, this may be my last group. I buy 200- to 300-pound calves. Not long ago I was paying $350 to $500 apiece. Fast forward 20 months and they are $1,000 to $1,500 each. I use the lump sum to invest in my Roth IRA, but will not be able to continue doing that as I would lose at least $500 an animal at the present calf price.
Back to the frogs. Seven days after the night that I wrote about I had harvested 14. It is literally amazing. They are very intelligent once they know they are being hunted. I whack about one a night and every time I get one, I am confident I just ended the problem. I miss often. Sometimes I forget to put a BB in the chamber. There has not been a night that I went to bed that another bullfrog hasn’t started croaking.
Good news on the pond, which is my favorite escape in the world. Last October I planted 230 3-to 5-inch perch. Yesterday I fished it and caught two 3-inch perch in a minute and that is the size that this year’s young would be at 90 days.
I wrote a while back about an old red hen named Red that was being tortured by my rooster as she did not find him attractive anymore. Red the hen is as much of a pet now as my dog Red. She always wants a treat, to be pet, and she sleeps next to the front door.
The frogs have become so intelligent to my sneak attacks in the dark that when I hear them croak, they dive under water when I am trying to find them. I changed my arsenal to a .22 with bird shot and last night I whacked number 24. Since then when going to bed and I have not heard a single croak.
On that same subject, I do not have a single other type of frog anymore. No peepers to listen to.
When I get home, I will only be 28 days from bear hunting. Today was the 100th day of running baits. The deer flies are as bad as they can get, but all I can think of is cooler weather, sitting in a tree with a 300 and, just like the bullfrogs, whacking me a black bear. The roasts are as good as any beef roast and my freezer is getting low.
In a year or two I can start harvesting perch and bluegills. My garden, pond and woodstove are all parts of how I live independently along with bear, deer, elk, turkey, duck, goose and the eggs my hens provide.
Be active, do something nice for someone and I will keep doing what I do!
Sunset
