Mike, Joe & Stan mentioned the Sand Burr affliction.
This is what we ran around this morning just north of the valley; a Cholla (Cylindropuntia) tubercle. It's sticking straight up from the glove, and leaves the entire spine imbedded when pulled. Fortunately, rare above 4000 feet, and only a brain damaged pointer would run through a bunch twice
Cholla infro
http://www.desertusa.com/mag99/may/papr/chollas.html
Drew, I am not sure what we ran into in the sand hills of Neb. , maybe 3 decades ago. I know the dog could not walk and when I had a "burr" in my boot I tried to knock it off with my gun stock. The burr stuck in the gun stock. As I remember, it looked a lot like the one you picture. Not sure if they really have those in Neb. sand hills, though.
Lots of cholla variants Daryl. Dr Jim would know as the U. of Neb. has a research station out in the Sand Hills.
The tubercle and spines are about 3" X 2.5" and these SOBs (and the prickly pear) explain the tall snake boots.
You will note the foot on the check chord
and the handgun on the hip
We have a nasty little devil simular to that in North Dakota only smaller spines and tubercle. The devils stick to tires and drop off all over to start new patches of them. We call them "jumpers". I had one "jump" up my crotch once. Don't even ask for the particulars of that incident.
Tordon 22K herbicide does a nice "scorched earth" number on them.
I still have some spines embedded in my leg from an encounter with a cactus several years ago. The only way to remove them is with microsurgery and I keep putting this off.
Best advice I believe is wear cactus proof leather boots as high as you can get them.
If and when I start actively bird hunting again I'll probably go with those Rattlesnake guards and kill two birds with one stone.
Jim
J.R.B. The SOB on the left? The snowbirds musta brung 'em to AZ
On Cholla, had a close friend take a mature thorn through a heavy leather M/C riding boot w/a 7/16" thick plastic shin protector straight into the bone. Admittedly he was probably going faster than Chuck's dog when he made contact. We had to break it off when the boot was removed & extracted the remainder w/a pair of needle nose pliers, all that was readily available at the time; he went on to win the Baja 1000 that year. Bruce O., as fine a guy as you'd ever meet. I always preferred the older metal shielded boots when desert ridng for just that reason. It was a while ago.
To keep this double gun related, no one would believe the numbers of birds in coveys sometimes surprised on M/C's and hunted at other times as the guest of friend(s) made south of the border, whose properties we rode through and across doing those SCORE races. I still retain a Carte Blanche 'pass' from the Gov. of the state at that time as a momento of those days & fond memories of coveys in numbers that most people would not even dream about in country that remains both remote & not readily accessible .. unless you are a guest or just passing through as a pre-runner, pit operator or competitor. The birds there had not been subjected to over grazing, inscecticides, population density or people calling 20 acres a 'ranch'. In parts of W.Texas, twelve sections is sometimes considered a 'trap'. In Baja, it can be larger.
Lots of cholla variants Daryl. Dr Jim would know as the U. of Neb. has a research station out in the Sand Hills.
The tubercle and spines are about 3" X 2.5" and these SOBs (and the prickly pear) explain the tall snake boots.
You will note the foot on the check chord
and the handgun on the hip
Chords are played on musical instruments- cords, well that's a whole 'nother ballgame. Fine lookin' birdy dawg!!
J.R.B. The SOB on the left? The snowbirds musta brung 'em to AZ
Yep, the SOB on the left.
I'll take a prickly pear anyday to those devils.
Cholla is the most fearsome cactus I've had the pleasure of running into.
Ever watch deer eating the fruit of cholla? Very carefully and they still have thorns sticking all over their face. Talk about a sweet tooth!
Gambel's and Blue quail love them too. When AZ Game & Fish took over Ben Avery, part of the property was 'moonscaped' for a pipeline, then planted with cholla and brittlebush.
Pics of cholla fruit
http://www.saguaro-juniper.com/i_and_i/cacti/opuntias/cylindropuntia/cylindropuntia.html
I have run into a particularly vicious cactus here in the Panhandle. It is tubular and by the time I get to it the broken off core is about a half inch in diameter and three inches long with the spines sticking out in all directions. It is usually in three pieces on my dog. One or two pieces where it made initial contact (usually a leg or foot) and one three inch piece on or in his mouth.
It has the only forked needles I have every seen on a cactus. Usually two on opposite sides of the main needle.
I am very nervous when removing them from the dog because I know either the cactus or the dog is going to get me.
Best,
Mike
Reminds me of my horse riding days. I get off my horse to pull some cholla outta my horse and everyone else pulls up along side like some kinda drive thru horse cholla removing service. "...while you're off your horse..."
