Barry Willis

Just a few pics of my two favorite places on the planet. The last Frontier, where I should be living.

I can certainly relate. I sure don't miss the humidity in Ontario. Lying in bed with nothing on and wide awake at two in the morning sweating profusely. We get the heat out hear but over the past twenty years or so, I and many others have noticed an incline in the humidity but no where's near as bad as Ontario. Last summer at the beginning of our record hot spell our air conditioner quit working, $7000 for a new one, that aint going to happen on our old age pensions. My wife and I years ago thought of moving to the Yukon, some where's south of White Horse. More often than not the weather up there, being so close to the ocean is nicer than here in Calgary. I would still love to, but I meant a native (a kinda urbanized Eskimo actually if you will) about twenty five years ago who had his own bush pilot business with six planes He said unless you have some money set aside, as work is scarce, it's very difficult to afford to live there. Just a jug of milk back then was $11:00. I, years ago wanted to move to Alaska. I had a subscription to magazine all about Alaska. Land of the midnight sun. I am very much into gardening and there where pictures of cauliflowers the size of a bushel basket. But the Yukon is very much the same. Incredible hunting and fishing.

Being so fond of winter, I think you are residing in the wrong province bud, Lol. This came night before last and yesterday. little tiny flakes but they added up. Hundreds of car crashes as very few out here know how to drive. I just bought a new (to me) SUV last week so I stayed home so no one ran into me.

Where I grew up on Colpoy Bay the smelt run didn't happen until around the first of May. Kinda funny you posted this as I've had a craving for some the past couple days Lol.

I see falcons everyday out back here and quite often after pigeons. Same thing here Spiel, there is one guy that has several pigeons and a few blocks farther is another. A couple summers ago he lost a pigeon and was going door to door offering three hundred bucks to the person who could find it's location. A little over 20 years ago my neighbor and I jumped in his van for a B.C. bass fishing trip and noticed a falcon after a pigeon near the top of the grain elevators a block away. This carried on for about ten minutes and believe it or not the pigeon won and the falcon left the area.

Thank you Lew, I just wish they were clearer. I have known they are there as I've seen their tracks over the forty plus years I've been frequenting the area for miles around. One of the reasons I always carry bear spray. I would much rather have a grizzly confront me than a cougar sneaking up behind me. A couple months ago on our local news was a guy on there that said he was attacked by a cougar near Canmore , (where there are cougars) while trying to protect his dog. I knew right away it was a crock of sh@&. There is no way in Hell you are going to escape a cougar attack. I don't care if it's Hulk Hogan, they are big and powerful. In a surprise attack a cougar will attack a human very much the same as they would a deer, their main food source, if on the ground they come up from behind and throw their front legs over ones shoulders and dig their claws into your front torso, in most cases you won't even know they are there until it's too late which this guy claimed happened, than grab you by the back of the neck with their powerful jaws and hang on until you quit breathing. Of course Fish And Wildlife and the RCMP were very concerned as it is a popular hiking trail and close to town and investigated the alleged incident, it turns out, as I expected just a false claim. Someone looking for attention I guess. 1st track cougar, 2nd track wolf. Very distinctive difference.

I'm happy you took some interest and looked that up Smitty. It's a very beautiful country out here especially when you in the mountains Yeah I'm not far from the Rockies. My trail cams and hunting grounds are actually north west of Water Valley. If you follow the road west of Water Valley a few miles down there is a road that goes north called Doc Mills Road to the Burnt Timber road, which is a paved and well maintained road. I can't remember the range road numbers, I have my trail cams scattered around that area. Tomorrow I will be bow hunting on the north east corner of the road west of Turner Valley and Doc Mills Road. Lots of white tail there and the rut is in full swing. I've never hunted this parcel of land before so we'll see. One thing I found out while on Google Earth, which is a lot better than it used to be. Out of curiosity I went on maps go and typed in Burnt Timber Shell gas plant which is where the Forestry (crown land begins) where I also used to put trail cams, (but due to logging there isn't a critter to be found) and entered satellite and I couldn't believe the clarity, it was far better than Google Earth. In one area I could actually pick out the pine tree I have a camera on.

Likely farther away than you expect Lol. North west of Water Valley Alberta. My favorite stomping ground for over forty years now.

I hope everyone is celebrating remembrance day for what it is and means. I never had the opportunity to meet or get to know my grand fathers as they lost their lives in the first world war long before I was born. On a lighter note just a few trail cam pics. Finally got some cougar pictures. Some pics of whitetail deer with the forest ground covered in yellow poplar leaves, not near as pretty as the maple leaves you folks have in the eastern provinces but still kinda nice.

Thank you very much for that Rick, I had no idea, having been through identity theft I was afraid to pursue it farther.

I remember very clearly Lew you sent me this picture in the past. Thanks for posting. That is a very nice one. Even though I was still grieving the loss of my Trooper, when I saw Matty here on Kijiji I had to have him. No regrets. I spend most all my time outside alone and sure appreciate and need the company of a four legged companion with me. There's no better.

About 3 or 4 years ago I started receiving emails from a so called company in Africa trying to get me to buy their so called high quality trout flies at a very reasonable price. They sent me very long letters why I should buy from them, but no pictures of course. Eventually I asked how they got my email etc. and they said from a fly shop here in Calgary, so right away I suspected a scam as I do frequent the fly shops but with the exception of one for guiding services they don't have my personal information. Of course they wanted my banking information. Man, what next. So, good on you Brian. Bad news travels fast and good news obviously get's around as well.

That's a very nice picture, true love. Thanks for posting as it brought back some very pleasant memories. I can relate to what you say as I raised my grand daughter Allison. She could do anything with our boys, Harvey and Farley.

Very nice as always misfish, I love the vibrant colors as I am sure the trout and salmon will as well. Congrats on your growing business. You have a very talented and good thing going. To me the biggest part is enjoying what you are doing and able to share it with others . Having said that, thank you for sharing it with us.

Very nice, thanks for posting.

I poor pity the guy that tries to come in our yard. If I let the person in the yard or house he makes a big fuss over them as though it's one of his long lost friends. But until that time he scares the crap out of everyone and anyone, especially with them teeth and he likes to show them. They almost glow in the dark LOL. I'm certainly not complaining with the crime these days. I love him for it, he's doing his job and he takes it very seriously. His senses are so keen (his 6th sense I guess) even when he is in the house, which is most the time he some how knows, day or night when there is a prowler around and goes ballistic. Pretty good for seven months. but it's his breed. Imagine him in a couple years from now when his body is fully developed. There is no better alarm system. Watch out bad guys Haha.

Yeah, I got ya, Spiel, when Matty starts getting carried away I pull away from him, or try to, ( had him out to the Vet yesterday and he weighs almost eighty pounds, seven months old, that is where the King Shepard comes in) I just tell him, and in a gentle voice but with some compassion in it, easy, don't hurt dad and it wasn't long before he understood what I meant. Priceless!

Thank you very much for that Spiel. You are absolutely right. He loves me as much as I do him and he certainly shows it. Of course at seven months old he does love to play and gets pretty wired up and if I'm not bleeding than we aren't playing hard enough. LOL.

Isn't that the truth, I got one a few months ago. Supposed to be King Shepherd and Malinois cross, I love him to death. I don't call him a Malinois I call him a Malingator for obvious reasons as I am sure you can relate.

Speaking of serious mange, and badly sun burnt as a result. check out this poor guy, It's heart breaking. If I got the right picture (computer's acting up as usual) when he looks back over his shoulder the expression on his face tells me he is looking for someone to help him. I wish I could have done something for him. Nope wrong picture and I can't fix it.

Priceless Spiel, as you know I love dogs more than anything else on the planet. I dearly commend you and your daughter for looking after number ONE.

Yes you are right, actual attacks on humans by a coyote is extremely rare, pretty much unheard of. As far as moose moose killing more people than any other critter is a result of vehicle collisions with one.

Out here It's unusual to go for a drive in any direction from the city and not see any no matter what time of day or night.

Same as where I grew up Lew. Very much like wolves you would seldom if ever see one.

They may seem and be harmless there but as you can see by the picks, not the case here. This is just one of many incidents out here. I had another video also on the local news from a door bell camera across the street where a coyote followed a lady out for a walk right up the steps to the front door. The coyote was obviously at a distance behind her as she managed to get her door unlocked and inside.