Fossil hunt with dogs and gunfire

Exciting title, no?

My friends MM, AC, and JB have taken up fossil hunting. They have already found some amazing things and try and head to area creeks when they can. And these creeks are particularly rich in fossils, if you know where to look (and if you have sharp eyes).

We talked about a joint hunt this long holiday weekend and settled on midday today. They were already hunting when I arrived with the rowdy puppies.

Actually the dogs were pretty good. They wandered a bit, but came back when called. I am actually quite proud of their behavior. And they didn't even fuss when I had to leash them early.

We walked an area of the creek where the pile of rocks and gravel catches silt. Weed seeds sprout and there is high grass most of the year. We do not generally venture into this part of the creek. But now the weeds have died down, the rains have cleared  much of the dried vegetation, and the fossils almost sing to you. Or at least the fossils sang to my friends. They found nautiloids one after another. JB started this little adventure with her spectacular find. MM found an amazing conglomerate that broke in 3 pieces (sorry that the photos do not do the fossils justice).

We walked and talked (and they found fossils) called dogs when Paddy and Scruffy  wandered too far.

We heard the shotguns when we were still at the creek. We approached the park gate (where most target shooting occurs as evidenced by the broken clay skeet and assorted targets strewn around the area - plywood, plastic bottles and other junk) cautiously. I leashed the dogs long before we saw the shooters. There was no point in getting anyone excited. My dogs are so friendly that they might run up to someone and frighten them.

We all spoke in a friendly manner. We, after all, were not the scofflaws. At least they stopped shooting until we exited the park.

An apology before the photos. All photographers will tell you, "DON'T TAKE PICTURES OUTSIDE AT MIDDAY!" The light is too bright and will washout the details of your photos. So, these are not my best pictures. But some were taken in the shade. And some are here anyway.  My friends will share more and I will add them.

See how bright the sun is?

Scruffy took off into the field.

Two paths diverged in the dry prairie. The dogs took the right path...

...and impatiently came running back to get the plodding walker...

They were impatient to get to the creek.

We had just gotten to our friends when I saw this rock, full of fossils

Scruffy is wading, but he doesn't care if he finds a fossil.

Paddy came running back too.

This may have been the find of the day.

Open it up and there is a nautiloid and other fossils as well.

Where's the fossil?

Right in the middle. [I plan to stop putting the fossil in the middle - to make it a little more challenging.]

Another large conglomeration of fossils.

OK. Do you see it?

Another nice specimen.

My friends even brought a ruler to document the finds.

We aren't sure what these are, but find them frequently.

Here is a closeup.

Here is JB's initial find - it was a sign of things to come. Another nice specimen.

Even the bluebonnets love these piles of rocks!