Finally got out....

[buck460XVR]

Haven't been down to the hunting land since Christmas. Too cold, too much snow and just not enough time. With the warm temps here lately in Wisconsin, the snow has dropped significantly. Being almost 50 yesterday, I figured I'd open up the driveway and check out the cabin and hopefully the permanent blinds on the hillside. Ended up Frost Seeding a couple acres or so with Clover and Chicory over last year's small fall soybean/winter peas plots. There was Winter Rye planted with it that will work as a good cover crop till the Clover and Chicory take hold. Frost Seeding has worked well for me over the last few years over plots that were previously worked in the fall with annuals mixed with Winter Rye/Winter wheat. You've got to seed a little heavier than normal, but the time and effort saved by not having to work the ground again is huge. Especially on hillsides where erosion can happen with heavy spring rains and bare ground. The Clover/Chicory should last a minimum of three years, if it takes. Three years is generally my rotation anyway. I do several smaller plots in the same field/area. This gives a good all season feeding area, plus the clover adds the nitrogen to the ground that the beans and peas like so much. The oats/rye/wheat used as a cover in the fall plantings gets a good jump in the spring for cover, but needs to be mowed once the clovers and chicory get started, as to not shade them out. While the deer generally eat all the beans/peas off quickly, the cover crop stays green long into the fall and keeps them coming back.

The blinds looked good, the snow didn't bother the roofs at all and there was still a little bit of poison still in the mouse bait stations. Refilled them anyway as the new spring crop of rodents will find those blinds a great place to build a house if left unchecked. A couple of bait stations in each blind makes for less mess and less smell come fall.

Lots of deer sign around, seems the deer have a liking for the grass and the Hazelnut bushes in the backyard. Hopefully they didn't nibble back all the new growth. Snow was deep enough over the Blueberries, that I think them and the rabbits missed them completely. Neighbors said they have been seeing 7 deer on the hillside behind the cabin every night. Saw a few turkey tracks too, but the warm sun and melting snow made it impossible to determine what they were.

Cut up a coupla trees that went down over the fences or trails since last fall. Should spend several weekends cutting up dead and downed, but it seems I always run out of time. Next thing I know it's dead of summer and the ticks/heat/brush make for cutting wood a serious chore. But at least I got out and am looking forward to doing it again next weekend. April/May means turkey and Morel seasons so little gets done then.....but springtime, means new life and new growth. Always great to get out and watch Mother Nature reawaken. Hope the rest of you get the chance too!

 

[Chuck R.]

Cut up a coupla trees that went down over the fences or trails since last fall. Should spend several weekends cutting up dead and downed, but it seems I always run out of time. Next thing I know it's dead of summer and the ticks/heat/brush make for cutting wood a serious chore. But at least I got out and am looking forward to doing it again next weekend. April/May means turkey and Morel seasons so little gets done then.....but springtime, means new life and new growth. Always great to get out and watch Mother Nature reawaken. Hope the rest of you get the chance too!

That's the kind of stuff I'm working on now, BEFORE the poise ivy etc. starts. Just got back in from starting a new trail so I can get to some of the downed stuff before it get's overgrown and is 10Xs the hassle. I've got one hell of a wild grape vine problem in part of my woods where a couple intermittent stream join. That stuff just sucks, kills trees like crazy.

I also disked a couple areas yesterday to encourage some new growth. Another few weeks it's time to plant some trees I started from acorns and a few persimmons. Was going to burn CRP) grass on Friday, had a crew of friends lined up, but now were in a burn ban. We've got some rain forecast this week, so hopefully I can try to burn once it's done. Trying like heck to get as much done as I can before the heat gets here.

Honestly I don't know if I love this time of year or dread it as it usually means work...

 

[buck460XVR]

Honestly I don't know if I love this time of year or dread it as it usually means work...

Yeah, it really is a love/hate relationship. Summer for me down at "the land" means working on other stuff too. Weed-Eatin' and Brush-hoggin'. Remodeling/fixing things on the cabin or bunkhouse. Building a new deck and outside bathroom/shower are in the plans this year. Then comes late summer/early fall plantings for food plots. Just seems working down there is more fun than working around here at our main residence. But come early fall thru November it's all huntin'.......

 

[Chuck R.]

It is very therapeutic!

Just Friday I was explaining to a friend of mine what I was trying to accomplish by creating a "buck bedding area" in a small wooded section that we make a sanctuary in the fall. Kind of using brush piles VS hinge cutting to open a small area and shelter the north edge. As we drove up and walked into the area we jumped 2 does and a yearling. He looked at me and said; "I guess it's working". Wrong sex, but at least there were some deer hanging out in the area.

I don't think I'm going to see a great improvement in my buck ratio on the place, but maybe all the improvements will add up. IF nothing else I'm getting some exercise and staying out from in front of the TV.