There are other signs as green leaves now golden and red cling to the branches of the trees as to say summer is over, winter is coming. Many of the birds have flown south; the little
squirrels are gathering winter food at an outstanding rate. We place seed on the bank behind our campsite and watch as they fill their cheeks. The many boats that use the lake are gone and the lake is now silent and quiet. The campsites sit empty and bare, as campers are now only travelers.
Fall and winter brings out the
coats
and
jackets Leather, suede and faux fur all look nice for evening or day wear. The suede jackets with hoods and ¾ length coats with faux fur are a big hit here in the snow.
The silence is abruptly broken with loud gun shots! It is the beginning of duck hunting; the marshes are full of ducks which draws the hunters to the lake. Their
boats are small and dressed in reeds and camouflage to hide the hunters.
Camouflage is very important to any kind of hunting.
Mallards and teals are the types that are hunted here at the lake. Hunters set up duck blinds in the marshes to hide and place decoys out to entice the ducks to land.
Duck calls are very successful to call in
flocks of ducks if you know how to use them. Heaters and a good stiff drink to warm the hunter's cold bodies are at the top of their hunting list.
The ducks that live here in Utah State park are safe from the hunters; there is no hunting around the park. This I am very happy about since I feed all the ducks during my stay each year. I think the birds know they are
safe here.
I have pheasants that come and eat the seed on the dike and there is a large flock that lives in the growth behind our trailer. The geese and quail also seek refuge here along with many other types of birds.
As we say goodbye to the last
surfer, to our
four-footed friends, feed to them the leftover
nuts, almonds, crackers, weave goodbye to all the
birds and we take home many memories with us about this year.
We will be
back next April for another season as Utah Lake Volunteers.
