What stuff did you find most interesting?
One thing that was discussed that really has me wondering is the discussion on soil tests. I have always skipped them thinking our IL dirt is pretty darn good. I also see good growth, but now I am curious. I've never taken a soil sample so I was always a bit intimidated on what it entails.
The second half of Jake's episode opened my eyes up to paying attention the moon more. I have gone back on forth on caring about the moon, but he shot his buck this year at 11:30am with an 11am setting moon. Like he said, with me not checking these times, I could have been back at the cabin and frustrated with the lack of movement by 10:30 and missed all the action. His philosophy in general is just really interested with this funneling of deer.
Brian, (who I haven't "met" on the forums yet, Hi Weasel), you have me sold on trying some Dunstan Chestnuts.
Albert, honestly, it was just great to hear you talk and relay your passion that I've seen on the forums for years. Don't take this the wrong way because I mean it as a compliment but I was really impressed with your knowledge on the podcast. Really cool!
Anything off the wall?
Anything stand out?
I think what I have found most interesting are the guys from areas I cannot really relate to, and hearing what they deal with as it relates to deer. I also really enjoyed hearing Brian's habitat plan - I could relate to his the most as he is also in Ohio, I enjoyed the foodplot layout, low pressure, etc.
Full disclosure, I also subscribed to the Drop Tine Habitat Podcast that I came across. I am only 1.5 episodes in, but I already get the feeling that although the host is a hot shot deer biologist, that he is very full of himself. He even said he met his co-host because he was shaming him for legally shooting one of his 2 year old bucks. Not exactly the message I think we should be sending as a hunting community.
Hinge cutting is one that is still tough for me so I thought Jake E had a GREAT podcast, just hard for me to wrap my head around heavy hinge cutting but that is why I found it so fascinating!
3 years ago, my hunting buddy and I spent a whole day hinge cutting about 3/4 acre ridge top that we thought would be pretty perfect for a bedding area with a logging road running right through it leading to our tree stand. It was a LOT of work as we were very green at this. I feel like it was really effective.
Fast forward to the first evening we hunted on a great cold front and my buddy killed a beautiful 136" 4 yr old that evening. It came from the back of our hinge cut area and walked right down the logging road to 22 steps. The rest is history. You would think we would have tried more hinge cutting but honestly, we havent had much time to get back out there. We each got married, bought houses, and I had my daughter last February. Life is making it tough to get out for long weekends "just to chainsaw" haha. That's what my wife thinks anyways.
My hinge cutting take away, it works great and I need to dedicate myself back to it. I had my farm select cut last offseason so I am hoping that really sparks some thicker cover.
