Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
Because this topic potentially covers so many different forums, I thought I’d park it here in the General section. What lessons did you learn this season?
Food-plots: Even with a weed infestation in my brassicas, on balance, this was our best year by far for plot production as far as quantity and quality. We are now seeing the benefits of spreading nearly 60 tons of lime on our 17 acres of plots. Corn ears were larger/more developed, and the turnips/rutabagas produced great tubers. Clover varieties all produced well, and our grain plantings (rye/triticale/oats) were an amazing draw until late November when deep snows covered them. Lessons? I have way too many turkeys (I counted one flock of 67), and too many does. Turkeys are relentless knocking down stalks to get to the grain. Interestingly, deer were far more focused on brassicas and grain mix than they were the corn this year. Also, we’ve now learned how hard the beavers are on the corn. They made multiple trails into the plots within 100yds of the pond and would take multiple stalks every evening. What can I do? We can do a better job on does, but I doubt we’ll be able to take more than 4 or 5 (I won’t let outsiders hunt unchaperoned). It’s a problem when you see 20-30 deer in a 6 acre plot every evening.....
. Turkeys? I’m not sure what can be done. I left the coyotes alone this winter hoping they’d help as the handful we might take during hunting season will never be enough. I’m actually contemplating cutting out the 4-5 acres of corn.... Beavers? I could probably trap a few, but I’m entirely dependent upon them to keep my boys fishing hole adequately damned up. I’ve got to change things up, or I’m headed to inevitably hurting natural browse levels and an eventual population crash given our harsh weather. Other big lesson? It is impossible to plan for the impact of bumper acorn crops (or the lack thereof).
Natural Habitat: We are 51/2 years into 24 acres of hinge cuts. The benefits have been far greater than I’d hoped. Our browse outside of the cuts is in phenomenal shape, and there still tons of browse available in the cuts, which have become a sanctuary. I continue to be surprised at how many of the cuts are still alive. I’m already looking for additional areas to cut....several years from now.
Hunting: This was one of my most enjoyable seasons I’ve had since buying the property....and I never punched a tag. I had the best bowhunting evening in my life passing 11 different bucks that were 8 or more points, as well a huge bodied 61/2 year old 2x3. During the rifle season, I had 2 encounters with my target buck but never had a perfect shot. The big lesson? In a year with a bumper acorn crop, traditional plans and practices based upon food-plot patterns are not conducive to frequent encounters with old bucks. With our swirling mountain winds, treestand, pop up blinds and hunting from the ground can really educate the deer in a hurry. I am giving some thought to locating a redneck blind or two to a couple of our best oak ridges/flats.
What lessons did you learn that the rest of us can benefit from?
Food-plots: Even with a weed infestation in my brassicas, on balance, this was our best year by far for plot production as far as quantity and quality. We are now seeing the benefits of spreading nearly 60 tons of lime on our 17 acres of plots. Corn ears were larger/more developed, and the turnips/rutabagas produced great tubers. Clover varieties all produced well, and our grain plantings (rye/triticale/oats) were an amazing draw until late November when deep snows covered them. Lessons? I have way too many turkeys (I counted one flock of 67), and too many does. Turkeys are relentless knocking down stalks to get to the grain. Interestingly, deer were far more focused on brassicas and grain mix than they were the corn this year. Also, we’ve now learned how hard the beavers are on the corn. They made multiple trails into the plots within 100yds of the pond and would take multiple stalks every evening. What can I do? We can do a better job on does, but I doubt we’ll be able to take more than 4 or 5 (I won’t let outsiders hunt unchaperoned). It’s a problem when you see 20-30 deer in a 6 acre plot every evening.....
. Turkeys? I’m not sure what can be done. I left the coyotes alone this winter hoping they’d help as the handful we might take during hunting season will never be enough. I’m actually contemplating cutting out the 4-5 acres of corn.... Beavers? I could probably trap a few, but I’m entirely dependent upon them to keep my boys fishing hole adequately damned up. I’ve got to change things up, or I’m headed to inevitably hurting natural browse levels and an eventual population crash given our harsh weather. Other big lesson? It is impossible to plan for the impact of bumper acorn crops (or the lack thereof).Natural Habitat: We are 51/2 years into 24 acres of hinge cuts. The benefits have been far greater than I’d hoped. Our browse outside of the cuts is in phenomenal shape, and there still tons of browse available in the cuts, which have become a sanctuary. I continue to be surprised at how many of the cuts are still alive. I’m already looking for additional areas to cut....several years from now.
Hunting: This was one of my most enjoyable seasons I’ve had since buying the property....and I never punched a tag. I had the best bowhunting evening in my life passing 11 different bucks that were 8 or more points, as well a huge bodied 61/2 year old 2x3. During the rifle season, I had 2 encounters with my target buck but never had a perfect shot. The big lesson? In a year with a bumper acorn crop, traditional plans and practices based upon food-plot patterns are not conducive to frequent encounters with old bucks. With our swirling mountain winds, treestand, pop up blinds and hunting from the ground can really educate the deer in a hurry. I am giving some thought to locating a redneck blind or two to a couple of our best oak ridges/flats.
What lessons did you learn that the rest of us can benefit from?
