Working at the Farm - Took a few I-Phone Pics

Looking good! That buckwheat/wheat plot looks great. I might add some next summer if the clover is thin enough. The new buck is a tank, he wouldn’t get a pass from me.


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Thanks everyone.

Geo, I think 5 or 6 is going to be very close.

Lak, it would be a bad time right now to be nailing up a barn quilt.....

Jason, I had to laugh out loud when I imagined you as a chorus girl!!!

Sam, I love the tall grasses. There is some work involved to maintain them, but it's worth the effort to me. When the leaves fall, there is no better cover around. And, just the beauty of them while hunting is worth a lot.

Weekender, I had never used buckwheat before this year, but now have a love affair with it. As warm as it is here right now, I think we could see deer eating it next weekend. The browsing is as good as any food plot species I have ever seen - except maybe for chicory. It is amazing how fast it came back from seeding itself this year. I doubt we would pass that deer, but need to think about it more. I think we are more likely to get a shot at him during November gun than we are next weekend. He isn't as keen on being out in daylight as some of the other deer are right now.
 
Always expect great results on your place with native grasses and tree fruiting . But buckwheat results is pretty cool, may have to give that a go. With this years moisture, anything I threw down seemed to grow. Big diff from year ago. Good luck on those stud bucks, hope the new smokepole performs well.
 
Weekender, I had never used buckwheat before this year, but now have a love affair with it. As warm as it is here right now, I think we could see deer eating it next weekend. The browsing is as good as any food plot species I have ever seen - except maybe for chicory. It is amazing how fast it came back from seeding itself this year. I doubt we would pass that deer, but need to think about it more. I think we are more likely to get a shot at him during November gun than we are next weekend. He isn't as keen on being out in daylight as some of the other deer are right now.

If that isn't testament to his advanced age, I don't know what is. I like seeing big antlers as much as anyone, but for whatever reason, seeing a deer with the body of a Guernsy milk cow is what really gets me excited! If the 12-pt and the Incredible Bulk were both within range, at the same time, I'd probably faint from the pressure of making that kind of decision. Ironically, my wife once sat in a stand and watched a beautifully symmetrical 10-pt and an old, bruiser of an 8-pt square off and posture at one another. The 10-pt, who wasn't any older than 3.5, decided he had some seriously pressing business in the next woodlot over and quite literally high-tailed out o' there. My wife, not knowing how entranced those critters were during their "walk-up", never moved a muscle for fear of scaring them off.

Buckwheat is a dear friend of mine, because it is willing and able to grow on the absolute worst excuses for soil imaginable. When the first field of it bloomed, on my grandma's property, she excitedly informed me and dad that, "your little barleys are doing great!" :) So, ever since then, dad and I plant barleys just about every year. In addition to the soil benefits (on ground hardly worthy of the moniker), buckwheat is a food plot option that has a remarkably broad appeal to wildlife.

Any more, the value of BW to deer is no more than a tertiary benefit, in my eyes. It is planted, first and foremost, for what it provides to the follow-on crop. You've got good soil there, but you are also more attentive and astute than most; I suspect you will be keenly aware of how well the next thing you plant in that area grows. Given your proclivities, I'm sure you already took note of the bees (and therefore birds) and the rabbits and the turkeys (my gosh, the turkeys!) and the various and sundry predators that have all delighted in the mixed salad of buckwheat and cereal grains. If the current crop of BW gets a chance to harden off seed, and Kentucky has a late turkey season, steel yourself for what is to come. ;)

I have always loved seeing pictures of your place. I know, without a doubt, you and Aldo would have been the very best of friends.
 
Always expect great results on your place with native grasses and tree fruiting . But buckwheat results is pretty cool, may have to give that a go. With this years moisture, anything I threw down seemed to grow. Big diff from year ago. Good luck on those stud bucks, hope the new smokepole performs well.

Dogghr, the muzzleloader had been put up since I sighted it in back in he spring, but we shot it at 200 yds last weekend and it was still driving tacks. I didn't make any scope adjustments at all.

I want you to try some buckwheat next year. I think you would be amazed and love it.
 
If that isn't testament to his advanced age, I don't know what is. I like seeing big antlers as much as anyone, but for whatever reason, seeing a deer with the body of a Guernsy milk cow is what really gets me excited! If the 12-pt and the Incredible Bulk were both within range, at the same time, I'd probably faint from the pressure of making that kind of decision. Ironically, my wife once sat in a stand and watched a beautifully symmetrical 10-pt and an old, bruiser of an 8-pt square off and posture at one another. The 10-pt, who wasn't any older than 3.5, decided he had some seriously pressing business in the next woodlot over and quite literally high-tailed out o' there. My wife, not knowing how entranced those critters were during their "walk-up", never moved a muscle for fear of scaring them off.

Buckwheat is a dear friend of mine, because it is willing and able to grow on the absolute worst excuses for soil imaginable. When the first field of it bloomed, on my grandma's property, she excitedly informed me and dad that, "your little barleys are doing great!" :) So, ever since then, dad and I plant barleys just about every year. In addition to the soil benefits (on ground hardly worthy of the moniker), buckwheat is a food plot option that has a remarkably broad appeal to wildlife.

Any more, the value of BW to deer is no more than a tertiary benefit, in my eyes. It is planted, first and foremost, for what it provides to the follow-on crop. You've got good soil there, but you are also more attentive and astute than most; I suspect you will be keenly aware of how well the next thing you plant in that area grows. Given your proclivities, I'm sure you already took note of the bees (and therefore birds) and the rabbits and the turkeys (my gosh, the turkeys!) and the various and sundry predators that have all delighted in the mixed salad of buckwheat and cereal grains. If the current crop of BW gets a chance to harden off seed, and Kentucky has a late turkey season, steel yourself for what is to come. ;)

I have always loved seeing pictures of your place. I know, without a doubt, you and Aldo would have been the very best of friends.

Jason, I think you were the first person I ever remember talking about buckwheat back around 2012 on the old QDMA forum board. I was just getting into plotting, so at that time the fall and winter plots were my main concern - so I just didn't think about buckwheat much. But I can say that you were spot on about it, and I can see that easily now that I've finally tried it. In fact, you were the most helpful person on the forums back then when it came to plots. I have always though of that as I have continued the habitat work and appreciated all of the great advice you gave me and others.

Yes, I did notice the bees utilizing the flowers. And every time I would walk up to the plot a bunch of doves and other birds would fly off. It is definitely benefiting a lot of creatures like you said.

Thanks for checking in on my thread. I hope to be sending you a harvest picture in a few days, but you know how that goes - once all the 4-wheelers start running and the hundreds of guns start getting sighted in, the old boys have a way of knowing what is going on and disappearing. Best wishes and stay in touch!
 
Native, I'm reading a book called The Boys in the Boat about 9 Americans and their quest for gold metal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Anyways, I ran across this quote that reminded me of you and all your fruit tree trimmings. Don't take this the wrong way.
About one of the early coaches at Washington College of the rowing team who had rethot the rowing technique and with his instruction, led the college team from nothing to be a world competitor, it says,... "Conibear died just a few years later, in 1917, when he climbed too far out on a limb, while reaching for a PLUM in a tree in his backyard, and plunged headfirst to the ground". Caps are mine. I could just see you or myself doing such a thing!!:) Stay safe my friend.
 
Native, I'm reading a book called The Boys in the Boat about 9 Americans and their quest for gold metal in the 1936 Berlin Olympics. Anyways, I ran across this quote that reminded me of you and all your fruit tree trimmings. Don't take this the wrong way.
About one of the early coaches at Washington College of the rowing team who had rethot the rowing technique and with his instruction, led the college team from nothing to be a world competitor, it says,... "Conibear died just a few years later, in 1917, when he climbed too far out on a limb, while reaching for a PLUM in a tree in his backyard, and plunged headfirst to the ground". Caps are mine. I could just see you or myself doing such a thing!!:) Stay safe my friend.

LOL dogghr - guys like you and me spend half of our lives out on a limb. If we are lucky, we hit on our head when we fall....;)

It's funny you mentioned that book. I haven't read it, but was working recently with a very talkative guy who had just read the book. He gave me a very thorough review of the whole story from beginning to end. That was a very uplifting story!
 
I am always envious of your tree plantings and the variety/diversity of your prairie/open ground. My switch is only 5 ft tall.

As a bee keeper - I would add a cautionary statement about buckwheat - I cant give honey away my bees have made from buckwheat. I know a lot of bee keepers have a different experience - but my buckwheat honey is so dark it looks like molasses and not in demand from my customers. Bees will travel up to three miles to forage. As a private landowner - that may be of no concern to you - and that is no concern of mine. Just throwing that out there.;)
 
I am always envious of your tree plantings and the variety/diversity of your prairie/open ground. My switch is only 5 ft tall.

As a bee keeper - I would add a cautionary statement about buckwheat - I cant give honey away my bees have made from buckwheat. I know a lot of bee keepers have a different experience - but my buckwheat honey is so dark it looks like molasses and not in demand from my customers. Bees will travel up to three miles to forage. As a private landowner - that may be of no concern to you - and that is no concern of mine. Just throwing that out there.;)

Thanks, and I will keep that info in mind if I ever decide to get into honey projection.
 
Thanks, and I will keep that info in mind if I ever decide to get into honey projection.

Not at all telling you what to do - it is your property - just for information. I found out the hard way when my across the road neighbor planted about thirty acres of buckwheat for a dove shoot. Didnt know he planted it. Robbed my bees and wondered what the heck happened to the honey - which I ended up not being able to sell. Found out about two weeks later he had planted buckwheat. I always gave him about a gallon of honey every year - but after he tried the buckwheat honey, he decided he would plant something else for the doves. He said he never thought about his planting buckwheat affecting anyone else.
 
See, now I have tried buckwheat flour, mostly in pancakes, as well as the honey made from bees that were collecting nectar from buckwheat flowers. I have to say that I enjoy both of these flavors, although I know my mom tried buckwheat pancakes and said there wasn't enough maple syrup in the world... :)

I do know that some folks value buckwheat honey quite highly, preferring it to the "bland" honey from more plebeian sources of nectar. Then again, some people prefer the flavor of beef over venison, so we know there is no accounting for taste!
 
Not at all telling you what to do - it is your property - just for information. I found out the hard way when my across the road neighbor planted about thirty acres of buckwheat for a dove shoot. Didnt know he planted it. Robbed my bees and wondered what the heck happened to the honey - which I ended up not being able to sell. Found out about two weeks later he had planted buckwheat. I always gave him about a gallon of honey every year - but after he tried the buckwheat honey, he decided he would plant something else for the doves. He said he never thought about his planting buckwheat affecting anyone else.

He sounds like a good neighbor. I would be the same as him if I had anyone nearby into honey production. I would plant something else too.
 
See, now I have tried buckwheat flour, mostly in pancakes, as well as the honey made from bees that were collecting nectar from buckwheat flowers. I have to say that I enjoy both of these flavors, although I know my mom tried buckwheat pancakes and said there wasn't enough maple syrup in the world... :)

I do know that some folks value buckwheat honey quite highly, preferring it to the "bland" honey from more plebeian sources of nectar. Then again, some people prefer the flavor of beef over venison, so we know there is no accounting for taste!

I know one fellow who liked my buckwheat honey - he said it made the best meade. We worked out a little trade.:D
 
I thought it might be a good day to catch up my habitat thread. My son took the big 8 point pictured above during our 2 day ML season. I posted the story and pictures in the Live From the Stand Thread but wanted to post it here to refer back to in the future.

Saturday morning was pretty much uneventful. We did see two young bucks and a few does, but not really much to talk about. We came out mid day for a break and went back in around 2:00 PM. The wind started picking up and we had a constant 15 mph wind with gusts up to 25 mph. I told my son that some wind was good, but those gusts didn't appeal to me much. Finally it settled a little and about an hour or so before dark, deer started coming out at different places.

We saw three young bucks and one of them was really beautiful. He will be a dandy if he makes it two more years. He was working a scrape and licking branch that I didn't even know was there. Finally, about 20 minutes before dark I saw commotion break loose in some tall grass. Two does come busting through running at full speed. Right behind them was the big 8. He looked like a tank busting through the grass. He came by us two times a little past 100 yards in a plot, but was moving so fast we couldn't even get the gun in place to shoot.

Finally everything just died down and all we saw was a few deer feeding at different places in my mini plots that are scattered about. Then suddenly here he came out of the tall grass about 120 yards away, walking the edge of one of my plots toward a mock scrape I made the week before. He was broad side to us and just walking slowly. My son got the new muzzleloader up and made a great shot that dropped him in his tracks.

This was a special hunt for us. His birthday was in 3 days, and the first thing I said when he pulled the trigger was "happy birthday. I'm going to mount that deer for your birthday present this year." Some good father and son bonding right there for sure.

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My food plots look pretty good. The frosts have killed the summer annuals and left the fall goodies nice and green.

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I got a bunch of chinkapins this year. I picked these and set them on the kitchen counter and they were sprouting in just a few days. I went ahead and direct seeded a few and put the rest in the fridge. Many are still hanging. I'm going to watch them and see when they drop, but I can safely say they will go into November sometime.

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Hazelnuts were incredible this year too. I picked and ate a bunch of these.

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Two weeks from today will be our gun opener. Looks like I will be hunting by myself this time since son has already used his buck tag. I'm looking forward to some time off and have a few days of vacation scheduled. I'm really not that interested in shooting anything, but if a big one shows up, watch out.

When the day comes that a big buck (or the possibility of a big buck) doesn't excite a man, he needs help. Good hunting to everyone, and I hope to be posting again in a couple of weeks.
 
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Congratulations to the birthday boy, lovely plot, and I sure do miss my hazel nut bushes.

Nice chunk of meat too, It looks like he might be pushing 200# hanging carcass?

G
 
Congratulations to the birthday boy, lovely plot, and I sure do miss my hazel nut bushes.

Nice chunk of meat too, It looks like he might be pushing 200# hanging carcass?

G

Thanks G. We didn’t get him weighed. But he was a chunk for sure. I’m going to have some scales for the future.
 
Could use some advice here... I’m looking to Frost seed some NWSG into a wet area. Things like cattails and jewelweed grow in there if that helps. It’s a 1/4-1/2 acre swale that I want to convert into a bedding area. Below is the best picture I have of the location. The tree is a hinged yellow birch tree. Thanks!
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Could use some advice here... I’m looking to Frost seed some NWSG into a wet area. Things like cattails and jewelweed grow in there if that helps. It’s a 1/4-1/2 acre swale that I want to convert into a bedding area. Below is the best picture I have of the location. The tree is a hinged yellow birch tree. Thanks!
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Chip, the NWSG that is most tolerant of wet sites is Eastern Gamagrass. I looked on the Internet and see that it does grow in Michigan, but I'm not sure how tall and thick it would get that far north. Lowland varieties of Swithgrass are also fairly tolerant of wet soils.

One of the best things you can do is to find a local ecotype of NWSG for your area. Something that works well here in KY might not work in Northern Michigan. I would recommend going to a farm services agency in your area and asking some questions. They might be able to put you in touch with someone who could really help you make the right choices.

Best wishes, and I hope you get what you are looking for.
 
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