Buffalo Dan's Bison

For a long time now I've looked upon thermal imaging devices as something that would be incredibly useful for ranching but far outside my price range.  However, after seeing the reviews and demonstrations online for the FLIR Scout TK handheld monocle, I finally decided to take the plunge. A demonstration of the color pallet options available in the FLIR Scout TK using my tractor.  From left to right and top to bottom: black-hot, white-hot, "inst-alert," graded-fire 1, graded-fire 2, iron, lava, rain, and color wheel.  In each example the engine has been running and is warm. It's always best to use whichever color system works for you, but I typically use black-hot at night and white-hot during the day.  In many instances thermal imaging is confused with night vision devices, but they are quite different.  It's an easy thing to confuse since both devices are often used to "see" things in the dark and both in some way incorporate infrared radiation

Because the temperature in southern Virginia can still get up into the 80's (Fahrenheit) during the day at this time of year, I do most of my work during the cooler evenings and nights.  To see what I'm doing I'll wear a headlamp and if I want to locate the bison without shining a light in their eyes I'll use night vision goggles.   The bat detector. Over the last few summers of working at night I've often seen bats (the small mammal kind of bat) flying through the air collecting insects. Usually they seem to fly among or just above the trees where there's the most insects and, if I'm working in a forested area, they've often flown very close to me.  I've always been impressed by their ability to fly so swiftly through a dense forest without crashing into anything and I once even built myself electronic heterodyning ultrasonic bat detector.  The detector allowed me to hear a bat's echolocation, which sounds like a series of clicks that per

The double bottom blow attached to the tractor.  Last month Jess and I made the decision to invest in a double bottom plow and a subsoiler for use in preparing new pasture for planting and improving the current pasture. I bought both attachments from everythingattachments.com after finding the following video demonstrations on YouTube.  I think that the three things that helped to sell me on their products were: 1) the use of sheer bolts, 2) the use of quality steel, and 3) free shipping (free shipping to a local freight terminal).  Assuming that the order would be loaded onto two separate pallets, I had brought my equipment trailer to the freight terminal for pickup, but both items had been packed onto one pallet so I probably could have just used the truck.  Oh well.  The bison watch in the background as I carefully unload the plows.  They generally like to watch me while I'm working on things.  I think they find me entertaining. The two items unloaded.