Last year we went hunting over Easter weekend, and we had so much fun that we decided to make it a tradition. Then, this year was so cold and wet for so long, that we never did get out. We finally decided to go over fall break (who cares if we are 6 months off schedule. If it is going to be a tradition, we cant miss it!)
When we first got there, we just spent some time hiking around and calling coyotes (I'm not sure this practice really works since Brian has NEVER had a coyote respond) and looking for jack rabbits to shoot. But like usual, We didn't see a single animal. But who needs animals to have fun?
We stopped for lunch at Locomotive springs. After we ate, the kids had fun skipping rocks on the water.
On our way home, we ended up right along the lake bed. It was fun for the kids to see the salt crystals growing on everything. And it was a pretty view.
We climbed a large rock, and took a picture of the lake bed and salt flats. Too bad this picture is too small to see everyone on the end of it.
And the kids thought that this rock looked like a lion's mouth. Zak had to climb in for a picture.
Brian's students brought him this huge carrot from a field trip that they went on. He took it to help lure in a rabbit.
Isn't he a goofball?
As we were headed back to the main road, Brian and I were distracted by a flock of
chuckers when Amber said, "I think that was a dog back there." Brian threw the truck into reverse so fast, I thought we were going to drop the transmission right there on that dirt road in the middle of nowhere. He still wasn't seeing the dog, but Amber and I could both see it just behind a sagebrush. He jumped out, grabbed his rifle from the back of the truck, and fired immediately. The coyote stopped and looked straight at him, and he got off one more shot that dropped him. Come to find out when he skinned the dog, he had hit him in the leg with the first shot, and that is why he stopped.
He decided that he wanted to keep the coyote for the pelt, so he carried it back to the truck.
The kids were so excited. Zak even stayed with him (the coyote-already dead) and talked to him while Brian went back to the truck to see if he had a bag that he could take the dog home in.
It turns out that the only thing that he had was a red emergency poncho. As he threw it over the coyote, we decided that he would make a good "Little Red Riding Hood" and had to take a picture.
We had a good time and Brian was so excited to get his first coyote.
I was a little disturbed that he could kill an animal so fast and enjoy it, but oh well, what can I do? I'm just grateful that the kids didn't have nightmares after killing him and watching Brian skin him.
Brian was very discouraged, although grateful that it wasn't the brand new school.
It is suspected that the fire started because of arson, and he is really concerned that it could turn out to be students that did it.
The damage was almost entirely to the upper floor from what we witnessed and what the news reported.
From what we understand, the school was set to be demolished today, but still a sad way to see it go.
We ended up at the park. These pictures turned out much better. I wish that I knew better how to pose people. 
