90 Acres Northern New York

[rusty1034]

Thanks Tom.

I did some work on the corn/bean plot earlier this week. The corn is doing well, however the beans have been wiped out by the deer. I’ll have to till and replant with brassicas in a couple of weeks.

Also, the plot got poured on for about 3-5 minutes shortly after I finished spraying roundup. Hopefully it didn’t wash the herbicide away.

I haven’t put cameras out yet, but it’s on the short list.




Rusty

 

[rusty1034]

An amateur video of the corn/bean plot. Virtually nothing left to the beans. I decided to roto till, and plant a brassica blend.

Here’s a link to the video on YouTube.

Rusty

 

[rusty1034]

First card pull of the season.

The vids are from one camera, the pic is from under an Apple tree.

I had a third camera out, but it got spun upside down by a curious raccoon.

I have seven cameras out now. Hopefully I’ll find a big un on the next card pull.

Rusty

 

[rusty1034]

Fall update.

This “Penetrator Radish” remains to be doing well. It’s mixed in with purple top turnips, and rape.



Recently I had the pleasure of having Chainsaw do a property tour at my place.

I learned so much from him during that visit. He is truly a habitat master. His knowledge of plants, from small weeds through large oaks is simply amazing.

On several occasions during his visit, I would turn my back, and he would wander off through the brush like a child. He would inevitably call me to his location, pointing out some browsed undergrowth, a hidden apple tree, or an oak tree that needed to be released.

Here’s one of the soft maple trees that I girdled and sprayed in an effort to release a hidden apple tree.



Some of the apple trees that have been released in the past few years have a tremendous crop this season. One crop is o heavy it is causing branches on the tree to fracture.





The next few visits will be dedicated to “hack and squirt” activities designed to open more apple and oak trees.




Rusty

 

[Chainsaw]

Thank You Rusty for showing me your deer property. It was a most wonderful and enjoyable day. Though your property is currently producing some excellent hunting it can only surely get even better with the many improvements you’ve made and are likely to continue to make. And yikes the apple tree genes there are incredible and apparently perfectly matched to the growing environment. That they had tons of apples and still good leaf color in this super dry year when most apple trees in this area are already losing leaves and have few apples left if any is plain amazing.
And thank you for your very, very kind words. And am glad to see that maple being history already; Can’t wait to see how the apple tree reacts to the releasing.

 

[rusty1034]

A follow up vid showing how the brassica blend came in.

Rusty

 

[Elkaddict]

Brassicas look great!

 

[rusty1034]

Thanks Elk. They had fertilizer at planting, but I didn’t get any Urea in them because the rain never lined up with my days at the property.

The Daikons are there, but I haven’t been able to find turnips. I’m thinking more fertilizer would have helped with the turnips.


Rusty

 

[rusty1034]

Howdy all,

Things are looking promising for November.

Got some decent vids on the Browning cameras, and the brassicas are looking healthy.



This appears to be the big guy on the property. Based on vids, he seems to be pretty nocturnal at this point.



This is a smaller nine.



Some of the daikons have some mass. The greens are knee high in most plots, and are starting to get browsed.


I have a 2 acre plot of corn that I planted as a food plot for deer. Does anyone know if DEC frowns on knocking some of the corn down with the intent of shooting a deer in the downed corn ?

I’ve read the section of the NY DEC that addresses feeding deer, but to me it seems to be rather ambiguous and open to interpretation.

https://govt.westlaw.com/nycrr/Brow...ansitionType=Default&contextData=(sc.Default)

Thanks all, and good luck !




Rusty

 

[Elkaddict]

The language is clearly unclear. I certainly wouldn’t bush hog shooting lanes. Looks like we are dealing with similar genetics antler wise. I grow trophy bucks...if you look at age/body weight....but not necessary antlers. We’ve got 6 year old 275lb bucks that are 115” and will never do better. We do have one good genetic line that is 130+...some years.

 

[rusty1034]

The language is clearly unclear. I certainly wouldn’t bush hog shooting lanes. Looks like we are dealing with similar genetics antler wise. I grow trophy bucks...if you look at age/body weight....but not necessary antlers. We’ve got 6 year old 275lb bucks that are 115” and will never do better. We do have one good genetic line that is 130+...some years.

Thanks Elk. I deal a fair amount with laws , statutes and regulations. In my opinion that section of the EnCon law is open to quite a bit of interpretation. In the event of DEC intervention in a situation in which corn had been knocked down, I think much of the decision would be based simply on how the EnCon officer interpreted the regulation.


Based on today’s walk through of the corn, it appears as if the deer at my place are having no problem in figuring out how to eat the stuff while the stalks are still standing.

A stand in the woods before they get to the plot should work out just fine. Last year the corn didn’t make it until Thanksgiving.

I’ve been hunting this spot for about 40 years. For a couple of years there were some bucks that were 120+. Not so much since a liberal doe harvest was implemented, a couple of hard winters, and plenty of coyotes and neighbors who are satisfied with 1.5- 2.5 yr old 6 points.

Now that the doe harvest has been severely trimmed back we are seeing DPSM increase, resulting in an increase in 3 yr old + deer. Still not seeing any heavy horns, but I still enjoy trying to find some.






Rusty

 

[rusty1034]

I picked up this little gem yesterday. It will stay on the trailer so that it can be moved to different fields as crops are rotated. It will probably be used mostly by the landowner as sitting on the edge of a large crop field is not it my favorite way to hunt. We created a trail through the adjacent woods which allows the hunter to enter and exit without spooking the deer. ( Thanks Chainsaw)

It will probably get a spray coat of waterproofing with a light stain next year after the pine/spruce wood has dried. I think the lumber was cut in the past few weeks. Grass will grow around it also, and hopefully it won’t glow as much as it does currently.




The landowner showed me a trail he created to get to the spot of the coming winter’s logging escapade. I noticed this giant Oak along the way. There are four of them, none of which will be cut.




The bottom of one of the Oaks appears to have what looks like an entrance to a den. I’m guessing porcupine. It’ll be a good place for a camera after deer season.

I’ve been out with the rifle twice. Once I saw a spike in a deep woods food plot, the second I under dressed, got cold and came in prior to the magical hour.





Rusty

 

[Chainsaw]

That is a great old oak. It looks to command the sky view as it should. Looking forward to hearing how the new blind location and access sneak path works. Is it in the location now that it will be hunted from or is an opening being brushogged this season to just inside the tree line to park it?

The game warden in charge of the wardens in our county answered the question of brushogging shooting lanes thru corn with this question; “Is it a normal agricultural practice to brush hog unpicked corn fields?” Further discussion with him on it was it did not meet that “requirement” so was therefore not legal. As you say it could vary by which warden you have in your area.

 

[massey]

I know the Fish and wildlife service considers food plots as a “normal agricultural practice”. Might want to point your game warden towards their definition.


Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum

 

[rusty1034]

Well, just spent a half hour on a post describing the area this shed will be in, only to,loose it somehow to a fat finger mistake on an iPad.

The shed is now in a temporary, far from perfect location, but progress has been made, with hopes for more to come. The new trail allows access to and from the shed without spooking deer.

The Oak is definitely huge. I’ll try and get a circumference after filling a tag. It’s interesting to see the number of ‘young’ oaks that are near it.

After reading the NY regs on baiting, and experience of others, my corn in NY will definitely be left standing.

Sunday is November 1st. The day the fun begins !


Rusty

 

[Chainsaw]

I know the Fish and wildlife service considers food plots as a “normal agricultural practice”. Might want to point your game warden towards their definition.


Sent from my iPhone using Deer Hunter Forum[/
Good point Massey but going against how our area warden has interpreted the cutting corn law would not be in my best interest even if a judge agreed with me. Besides it is not a normal agricultural practice and I would
actually agree with the warden on his interpretation. As to food plots, some are definitely normal agricultural practices like clover, radishes and other ground covers while others would be if we harvested the corn or soy. In the case of food plots we get a lucky ruling on it because mostly it is done as a normal AG practice; however in my case the intended purpose isn’t always looking for a normal AG harvest with the difference being we let the wildlife harvest the crops.

Rusty, I hear you.Tiny steps one at a time will get the job done. And the trail to the new blind is not just a tiny step but rather a possible major turning point in better hunting in that field. Looking forward to hearing reports on the hunting and giant old oak trees once hunting season is over. Good luck out there;I know you will have fun.

 

[Buckly]

Well, just spent a half hour on a post describing the area this shed will be in, only to,loose it somehow to a fat finger mistake on an iPad.

The shed is now in a temporary, far from perfect location, but progress has been made, with hopes for more to come. The new trail allows access to and from the shed without spooking deer.

The Oak is definitely huge. I’ll try and get a circumference after filling a tag. It’s interesting to see the number of ‘young’ oaks that are near it.

After reading the NY regs on baiting, and experience of others, my corn in NY will definitely be left standing.

Sunday is November 1st. The day the fun begins !


Rusty

As far as the corn, I really see no difference in corn cobs being 2-3 ft off the ground or on the ground. So I don’t know what good it would do to knock it down. Anyways in 45 plus years of hunting I’ve never seen or heard of a game warden on my property or ever any reason for them being interested How would they know or care about your property? The chasing phase should be in full swing now for the next 10 days or so before the majority of the breeding and lockdowns happen. Seems a bit late this year but your right, now s the time

 

[rusty1034]

In my opinion, that whole “ normal agricultural practices” description makes food plots against the law, not that I’m thinking about curtailing my plantings.

No one I know who is involved in agriculture will grow crops, and then leave them for deer to eat. “Normal” to me is growing a crop, and then harvesting it to feed to livestock. If the deer get to eat what is spilled or missed by the harvesting practice, then that is normal.

Unfortunately I haven’t been able to locate any case law dealing with the interpretation of this statute. All we are left with is individual interpretation.

Buckley, I agree with your opinion. The crops I plant are there for only one reason- to feed deer. It should not matter if the crops are on the ground, or 3 feet above the ground, they are going to eat it no matter what.

Chainsaw- thanks for the encouragement. I consider the trail through the woods to be a strong improvement, even if it is for someone other than me to use to harvest a deer. He’s a good man.

On a positive note, the land owner told me today that he realizes that his actions of spooking deer and leaving scent this year have probably ruined his chances for harvesting a deer from that field for this year. He told me that he is thinking about dedicating a portion of the field to be used as a permanent food plot.

That shed situation will be much improved for 2021 after I have the opportunity to improve the foliage growing around it, and improve the access/egress trail.

On a lighter note, please enjoy this YouTube vid of a young buck having fun at an annual scrape site.

Happy November all !


Rusty

 

[rusty1034]

Since becoming enlightened about apple trees by Chainsaw, I find myself noticing them in my travels.

This one is about a mile from my house, the pictures were taken on October 30th.





I stopped for an inspection. The apples are about 2” in diameter. There was no tartness to them, and tasted and felt more like a pear than an apple to me.

The scions are very, very thin, and seem rather short. Could be because it is growing about 5’ off the side of a heavily traveled road.

I’ll keep my eye on it to see how long it holds fruit, and re-examine the scions if it ends up being a true late holding variety.


Rusty

 

[Chainsaw]

Since becoming enlightened about apple trees by Chainsaw, I find myself noticing them in my travels.

This one is about a mile from my house, the pictures were taken on October 30th.

View attachment 20376
View attachment 20377
View attachment 20378

I stopped for an inspection. The apples are about 2” in diameter. There was no tartness to them, and tasted and felt more like a pear than an apple to me.

The scions are very, very thin, and seem rather short. Could be because it is growing about 5’ off the side of a heavily traveled road.

I’ll keep my eye on it to see how long it holds fruit, and re-examine the scions if it ends up being a true late holding variety.


Rusty

First Rusty, great video of the happy deer. Watched it a couple of times. Very special video. The location of that deer activity along with other deer you have photographed there is especially interesting in that the woods were so open in that spot I wouldn't have expected so much activity as there is there. It prompted me to put a camera in a similar spot on our property and Voila! A new hot spot was discovered. Will post pictures of it on my property thread when I get to it. Thank you for bringing me to that spot because it was a significant A-HA moment for me.

Now that apple tree you discovered has two huge things going for it. It still has leaves and this year with the drought most apple trees prematurely lost all their leaves. Secondly it is producing a large amount of large apples for such a small tree and likely it is just great genetics. I am finding out that on wild unkept trees poor thin scions are pretty normal. We can fix that easily. Hopefully we can check that tree out someday. Let me know when you get all tagged out and we can go apple tree hunting. It is a lot of fun and there is no limit yet on apple tree discoveries; we are allowed an infinite number!