Double A Farm (NE Ohio) Updates

[buckhunter10]

Where does the time go? Geesh! Hope you all are off to a happy and healthy new year. I managed to get up to the farm yesterday. Pretty productive for a one day trip. I was itching to try out the new toy.

That's a nice looking saw. I will be buying myself a sthl 391 with a 25 inch bar in a year or so. I love sthl products. Nice hindge cut. You planning on putting any trees in there? Just natural browse?

 

[Chainsaw]

That's a nice looking saw. I will be buying myself a sthl 391 with a 25 inch bar in a year or so. I love sthl products. Nice hindge cut. You planning on putting any trees in there? Just natural browse?

25 inch bar is a very specialized saw. What are the projects for it?

 

[buckhunter10]

25 inch bar is a very specialized saw. What are the projects for it?

I think that's the stock bar it comes with if you wanna upgrade from an 18,25. I thought that's what I recall.

I cut a lot of fire wood and sell it. I also burn a lot in home. I am sick of leaving some of treee because my 18in bar isn't getting through the thick part that I want it to get through.

 

[Weasel]

Yes sir, the 193 isn't a power house but at only 7 pounds, I can carry that thing around all day and make quick work of all my maples & tupelos. I was a little hesitant to go with a lower horsepower saw but man does that thing cut. There were a few bigger maples I tackled with no problems with my 16 inch bar. Totally worth the tradeoff for the lighter weight IMO.

 

[Weasel]

That's a nice looking saw. I will be buying myself a sthl 391 with a 25 inch bar in a year or so. I love sthl products. Nice hindge cut. You planning on putting any trees in there? Just natural browse?

Mostly I was just making some wildlife openings, getting some of the maple canopy out of the way to thicken up some of the barren forest floor. I did plant a few clumps of pines in areas I plan to make bedding cover. I ran out of light, hoping the deer leave them alone for a few days until I get back up there with cages.

 

[OkieKubota]

Any value in any of that stuff for firewood? I have an MS 250 and 2 MS 170's and I cut as big a tree as I can get the 16" bar through with no problems with the little 170. I have only used the 250 on 2 occasions since I bought it but the MS 170 is so light and starts so easy and cuts right through so what more do I ask for for 90% of anything I would use a chainsaw for... I have about 30 Rick of firewood I have cut with the 170 so far and adding to it every weekend...

Good to see you back!

 

[Weasel]

Any value in any of that stuff for firewood?

Oh yes, if I didn't have a million things going on, one could take the bigger stuff they have marked on the power line for firewood. Or did you mean the stuff I cut? LOL The maple is not great for firewood, burns hot but too fast. I'll let you know about the black tupelo, it seems a little harder. I have some that will be seasoned this year. I agree 100%, can't ask for more than a light saw that starts easy and cuts great.

 

[George]

Good work weasel, I sure enjoyed my new ms362 this year up on the mountain. Is your model controlled by the new computer chip?

G

 

[Weasel]

Good work weasel, I sure enjoyed my new ms362 this year up on the mountain. Is your model controlled by the new computer chip?

G

No, the 193 is not available with the M-Tronic Engine Management System. Sounds cool though!

 

[buckhunter10]

Yes sir, the 193 isn't a power house but at only 7 pounds, I can carry that thing around all day and make quick work of all my maples & tupelos. I was a little hesitant to go with a lower horsepower saw but man does that thing cut. There were a few bigger maples I tackled with no problems with my 16 inch bar. Totally worth the tradeoff for the lighter weight IMO.

I also have a sthl 291 and a husquvarna 16in bar. I agree the lite saw is nice to have sometimes! i love them all equally!

Great stuff buddy!

 

[Weasel]

Took our once a year walk through the sanctuary to look for sheds and replenish a mineral site in there. You guys didn't know we had an elusive European Roe Deer herd in NE Ohio did you? LOL Shame, would have probably grown into a cool looking mature buck.

My buddy Chris with his find:

 

[Weasel]

Didn't find any sheds beyond the dead head but we got the trophy rock out. That thicket is loaded with rubs from one end to the other. We also had the rare encounter with a woodcock.

 

[Weasel]

Can't wait to get back out there and do some more work. Maybe tomorrow, we'll see what the schedule holds. Anyone using Hunterra Maps? It's amazing what they can do on those things now. You can get a color coded layout of your habitat plan and/or existing improvements. And they're 100% waterproof and come in many sizes. Pretty useful tool IMO.

 

[buckhunter10]

Didn't find any sheds beyond the dead head but we got the trophy rock out. That thicket is loaded with rubs from one end to the other. We also had the rare encounter with a woodcock.

Something about finding rubs, and putting out minerals. What a great time of year. The minds racing about what to plant and do every trip I go to the farm.

 

[T-Max]

Didn't find any sheds beyond the dead head but we got the trophy rock out. That thicket is loaded with rubs from one end to the other. We also had the rare encounter with a woodcock.

I have only seen one woodcock ever. I was shocked! Ha! Definitely rare for around here.

 

[Weasel]

Back at it again this weekend, I was fortunate to spend all day Friday & Sunday at the farm. I planned to work on getting an area near one of my hidden food plots opened up for more fruit trees. Not a picture perfect, squared orchard like the one in my back field, just a rough, low growing area with a few closely, randomly scattered apple and pear trees to compliment the nearby hidden food plot.

Looking into the area from the hidden plot:

I want this area to be rough around the edges so the deer feel comfortable but I didn't want the mess of a hinge cut cluttering it up. It was quite a bit of work to drag and cut up everything and get it out of the way but the deer will be able to flow right through here now. Looking back into the plot:

 

[Weasel]

Did I mention lots of work? Mostly maple and some tupelo as usual.

 

[Weasel]

I left the bigger oaks in the opening because I have so few but they are in spots that won't interfere with the soft mast planting. I left the maple stumps because my deer absolutely love hammering maple stump sprouts in the spring. Plus like I said, the stump regrowth will give the area a rough, security feel to the deer and it will be easy for me to come in and maintain them if they start to take over.

I was also lucky to find a half dozen elderberries under the canopy that I also left and this beauty of a 30' crabapple.

 

[Weasel]

I have three of these soft mast "openings" planned throughout the property. Each one will get a variety of soft mast trees. I have Enterprise, Maslin, Nova Spy, Spencer and Granny Smith apples coming from Chris at Turkey Creek Trees soon. I also have Kieffer pears coming and a pair will go in each opening. Thinking Spring! We'll get an extra hour of daylight to work next weekend.

 

[Chainsaw]

That's a lot of work accomplished. I try to avoid those cleanup type cuts but sometimes they just make sense as in your case there. It may turn into one of your favorite spots. That is a good looking crab apple tree you found, a great bonus for your efforts. Will you be putting screen around the trunk before fall just in case? I'm thinking it is just the right size and will stand out now and maybe some buck will see it as a nice rub tree .