3-D practice...be carefull out there.

[b.glass]

Pics of swarm of bees encountered while practicing.
 
   :eek:      :eek:      :eek:

[b.glass]

I have a small 3-D course set up on the neighbors property. (They are the best neighbors in the entire world!!). While shooting recently I had walked past these guys twice and didn't notice them. I was about to walk past them again when I heard buzzing! There were about a zillion of them swarmming above this mass of them in a small tree just feet from the trail I was walking. I backed away slooowwwly... Got pics later. This mass is about the size of a football.

[joe c.]

They look like honey bee's the queen is probally in the middle.

[Gatekeeper]

Originally posted by joe c.:
They look like honey bee's the queen is probally in the middle.

Yep I agree.

I saw the same thing a couple of years ago. It’s pretty cool to see.

They will be there a few days and then take off for the place that they will use for a hive. Sometimes beekeepers will collect a swarm like this and put them in a manmade beehive. The hard work is done they found the queen. The rest is honey.

[TexMex]

All you gotta do is find the queen and put her in the hive and the rest will follow.

[frassettor]

Boy I wouldnt want to mess with those  

[Curtis Haden]

I'm no bee-keeper, but my father-in-law (who is) tells me they're easiest to work with when they're swarming like that.  I still wouldn't throw stones --or arrows-- at em!    

[b.glass]

I was just play'n around and originally said they were killer bees and my post was edited. I didn't think about it causing a panic. Sorry Terry! I'm assuming that is why it was edited. Terry didn't have time to explain. I have called a beekeeper and they are now in a nice cozy beehive home. I hear they are on the decline and didn't want them just exterminated but didn't think it was safe for the kids to use the trails. Some people have really bad reactions from the stings.

[Gatekeeper]

Good for you! The beekeeper got a sweet deal!  

[Stumpknocker]

Bee's are super cool..we have a hive this year and have just harvested a ton of honey.  I plan to use the wax on my bowstring.   :p   Tge

[Daddy Bear]

My wife, kids, and I were hiking in a remote area in the south eastern part of my state a couple weeks ago. We stopped in a large field that borders a shallow marshy creek bottom, so I could shoot some aerials (my daughter was throwing a frisbee straight up). I overshot one of her high throws and my flu-flu sailed into the creek bottom. My kid ran down into the creek to fetch it when he about did a back flip out of the bottom. I ran down to see what all the yelling was about and saw that my arrow was within ten feet of a full mature "fat" cotton mouth that was standing its ground. He was hell bent for leather to put on a show like he was mad as a hornet!! My wife was shocked because she was down in the same creek bottom earlier that day taking pictures.

Mother nature has a tendancy to show you her fangs every now and then to make sure we show our respect and stay on our toes:)

later,
Daddy Bear

[Bear]

Seems to me she shows them more in the Summer. I guess I'm opposite most folk in that this is the time of year I'd just as soon pull the shades and watch a movie!  :(  If the d$#ned heat doesn't get you theres always always some poisonous plant or animal waiting to. Just can't stay out of the woods though. The first and last hour of daylight are getting to be the only options around here.

Sorry... It's already getting to me. Just walked in from a ten minute peek at the 'mater plants. Wanted to shoot a few arrows but didn't feel like changing sweaty clothes for the second time today. How long till Fall?

[snakewood3]

 

[Steve Kendrot]

I have a honey bee hive in my chimney right near my back door. They've been there for five years since I've owned the house. I've been stung only once in that time. I also found my first swarm this spring. Took some macro pics from about 1-2 inches an didn't get stung. Honey bees are pretty docile and are suffering from pretty dramatic population declines due to Colony Collapse Disorder. They are also increadibly important pollinators. Glad you found yours a good home and didn't call the exterminator.

[b.glass]

Awsome pic snakewood3. At the risk of sounding stupid, it looks like that thing has an arrow in his mouth and is rattling! Or is it shot in the head?
  :cool:

[DW]

COOL PIC, Charles......

[snakewood3]

I was shooting the bale target in the background when I saw the rattlesnake. I moved up to about 10 yards and shot it...the arrow piercing the jaw hinge / venom sacs. It continued rattling and maintaing the strike posture for like half an hour till I pinned it down and dispatched it. I sure don't like having these around the kids !!!!

[Chris Surtees]

Neither one of those would be fun to have a run in with. Nice Pic's though!

[Red Beastmaster]

I saw my first swarm a couple weeks ago. It was about 18" long and 9" across. It had a sapling bent over almost to the ground. It was there two days then dissapeared. Then I found fresh bear dung only feet away. Perhaps the bear was messin' with them or they found a new hive site.

Sure was cool to finally see a swarm like that.

[Wudstix]

They'll buzz for a bit after the hit.