The Farm - Eastern KY

[HB_Hunter]

This is an orchard I started last winter. I planted pears and persimmons. I plan to keep planting here and get a perineal clover plot going. They are surrounded by fescue now.

 

[HB_Hunter]

That is one of the things I love most about persimmons - they are essentially a climax tree that can compete and fruit in a forest. Other things I love about them are:

• fruit that is an excellent draw for deer as well as being nutritious
• no worries with disease and no special care needed
• long lived and produce a log worth harvesting at some point
• I'm not saying a deer won't rub one, but I have never seen one rubbed, so can at least say unlikely. I did cage a couple of seedlings last year that I planted 12 years ago, but doubt it was really necessary. They started fruiting and looked so good I just felt the need to do cages.

You have some great old trees there.... I also have some old native trees, but mine didn't grow that straight up, because they are in a fence row rather than a woodland setting.

They are definitely straight and tall. I'm anxious to see how the ones do that are in the area that was cut hard. They are straight and tall, but now have plenty of space and sun. I'm afraid they might fill up with fruit and break. I can't get that picture you posted of yours out of my head.

 

[Native Hunter]

They are definitely straight and tall. I'm anxious to see how the ones do that are in the area that was cut hard. They are straight and tall, but now have plenty of space and sun. I'm afraid they might fill up with fruit and break. I can't get that picture you posted of yours out of my head.

Yep, losing that tree still haunts me. It used a big cedar to lean against, and cutting that cedar was a bad, bad idea......

 

[HB_Hunter]

I have one more plot in this area that I have corn and clover in. It is about 4 acres if I plant it all and I hope to get beans in it this summer. It looks pitiful, but actually did really good. The field is surrounded by white oaks so I am not planning any edge feathering here.

 

[HB_Hunter]

One of my big challenges is the abundance of large mast producing trees. They are literally everywhere. It's good for the deer, but makes hunting them very challenging when there are good mast years. I always think I have a slam dunk opening weekend setup then the acorns hit the ground.

This makes things tough

 

[HB_Hunter]

We also have beans

beans

and more beans

These fields don't offer any cover after the beans are gone. I really don't hunt them at all, but they feed the deer.

 

[HB_Hunter]

Alfalfa

 

[HB_Hunter]

And corn

Thankfully, my uncle is a good farmer .

 

[HB_Hunter]

Some other random pictures.

Another one of those problem areas.

 

[HB_Hunter]

More pics

 

[HB_Hunter]

 

[HB_Hunter]

I picked this up last summer.

Pull it around with this

And use an old 5' bushhog, a 6' box blade, 6' bush and bog harrow, and an earthway spreader to do everything.

 

[HB_Hunter]

That's all for now. The hard work begins next Saturday. I am planning to spend the majority of the time in the bowl bush hogging/clearing a ridge that has been overtaken by blackberries and locusts. Should be fun.

 

[Chainsaw]

One of my big challenges is the abundance of large mast producing trees. They are literally everywhere. It's good for the deer, but makes hunting them very challenging when there are good mast years. I always think I have a slam dunk opening weekend setup then the acorns hit the ground.

This makes things tough

It's not too difficult to shoot deer that are hungry but to get a shot in an environment such as you have is much more rewarding! I've experienced both and I'll take your too much mast "problem" every time.

 

[HB_Hunter]

What a great place, HB. Love its locale and you are indeed lucky. And your work plans and efforts look amazing. Congrats.

Thanks dogghr. I am thankful every single day. I have been blessed with far more than I deserve.

 

[HB_Hunter]

It's not too difficult to shoot deer that are hungry but to get a shot in an environment such as you have is much more rewarding! I've experienced both and I'll take your too much mast "problem" every time.

For sure. I just have so much to learn about hunting it. That timber seems to be their main bedding area early in the year. Before the acorns drop, they are in the fields early. After acorn drop it gets really tough. It's really hard to get on them before sunset when the acorns slow them down. It's even more challenging to get close enough without bumping them.

I usually pick at the edges early and hope for the best. I got lucky in 2012 and got my avatar buck.

 

[HB_Hunter]

The weather has been great the past couple weekends and I was able to get lots of work done. It was a cool crisp frosty morning last Saturday and a little warm for February in my opinion yesterday.

 

[HB_Hunter]

I spent almost all my time in the bowl last weekend working on a ridge that was overtaken with briars and locusts. I planted five pear trees here last year and a couple sawtooth oaks. There is also lots of oak regeneration. I used the rotary cutter where I could and the chainsaw to make that a little easier. The before looked something like this.

 

[HB_Hunter]

This picture was taken when I was almost finished. I frost seeded white and red clover here yesterday after picking up most of the bigger debris. Hopefully the warm weather we are having won't mess it up.

 

[HB_Hunter]

This is an old stump close to the end of the ridge that I use for a mineral lick. I just put the block on top and let the rain take care of the rest.