Farmhunter's Deer Management and Property Improvements

[farmhunter]

Buckwheat plot has come to bloom. Should get viable seed - still 3-4 weeks before normal frost date. Will be watching to see.

The pipeline guys are here to do a little digging - so far seems like they are just accessing their destination through our property - just hope they are gone before hunting season in 3 weeks.

One farmer neighbor planted nothing in his 40 acres this spring/summer. Looks like they are doing a fall planting now - but its too late to alleviate the heavy browsing on some of the soybean plots. Most weren't able to canopy this year. 6 acres beans has been the minimum for us to get some pods for winter - and we are testing that this summer/fall for sure .

this bean plot has fared a bit better - but isn't what we are used to either. The picture above is a stand alone 1.5 acre bean plot with corn and buckwheat close by, the picture below has clover and 4 acres beans around - so has held up a bit better. Still its only 18" tall at best. Good years - its 3 ft tall. Lots of deer in these beans every night. Its trying to canopy

8-13

8/25

 

[farmhunter]

got the last plot in - a 3/4 acre pure rye plot - will probably leave it grow all next year an rest this section of field that borders our access road,. I had extra rye so I seeded it into 1/4 acre of standing soybeans too that border this plot. This time I spend a couple hours and picked rock - more than usual with the thought that I may process this plot portion of the 5 acre field in the next couple years without tilling - we'll see.

two looks at the same plot from opposite ends of the field

used the 444 and broadcast the rye - disked it in - no fertilized - heavy rye - no clover this time.

 

[farmhunter]

Rye is up - picture from 9/15

got a warm rain a day after planting - came on quickly since it was disked in -
Hoping the tender rye will attract a couple of the goal bucks that are addicted to the neighbors alfalfa once the weather turns!!

today spent a little time expanding my deer pond since its way down. Had a hose leak had to cut it short for today

 

[farmhunter]

Rye is coming in thick - 20 days after planting

 

[Heart shot]

Wow your rye looks great! That should provide some great mulch for next year.

 

[Drycreek]

Looking good farmhunter ! That’s a clean looking International also.....

 

[farmhunter]

Bow hunting season has begun - on the 1st night I was able to take a doe. I saw two shooter bucks on the fist weekend - and my father took one of them -a nice 2.5 year old 8 point we called Rollie Fingerz. We've cataloged 13 2.5+ year old bucks heading into fall - some are scarce and others are regulars. Three of them are at least 3.5 years old - the best being BUDDY8 nice 8 with tines longer than we are used to. So he's the top goal buck - but I won't be that picky.

 

[lakngolf]

Enjoy your updates, even though I do not post a response each time. You have things looking great. I wish I would take the time and effort to produce a six acre bean plot, but I am not sure I could get it more than six inches above ground without some protective fence. And these days I seem to be in favor of projects with less effort> ha

 

[farmhunter]

Enjoy your updates, even though I do not post a response each time. You have things looking great. I wish I would take the time and effort to produce a six acre bean plot, but I am not sure I could get it more than six inches above ground without some protective fence. And these days I seem to be in favor of projects with less effort> ha

Thanks! I appreciate the response - and with my work schedule I can appreciate more for less effort!!

For my dad and my uncle especially - I like to make it look as good for them as it is attractive to the deer. We don't get these years back - the older I get the more mindful I am of this fact. This was their family land, and they grew up farming it, for them.... I want it to be more impressive than the last for them. My cousin feels the same way - especially with his hunting camp for his dad. I ask for their input on the plots and my hunting partner and I make every effort to for them to have plots and tree stands/boxes to hunt out of that are special for them.

For my dad - he didn't care about hunting at all until I was old enough to hunt Now that I'm in my 50s he loves the time we spend hunting more than ever. He's never cared about the size of a buck he's taken - and I can count how many he's probably ever passed for a chance at a bigger one. I try hard not to seem critical while at the same time trying to lead the others by example on passing the young ones. Since some neighbors have joined on - we've really seen a shift in the average age of our bucks - and Dad has noticed as well.

This year - he took his first 8 point buck, not the heaviest buck he's shot before - but I can't help but notice how excited he is to take one of our goal bucks! Doesn't mean he wont shoot a 6 point next year - LOL!

He was actually hunting a weeknight solo - and was given a 10 yd opportunity at a buck we knew well - Rollie. So when he called me, I couldn't wait to make the 40 minute drive to help him recover it. Dad is 76 years old - I hope we get many more years to hunt together! He made a perfect shot with his bow - and we had an easy short tracking job.

 

[lakngolf]

Fantastic story. Congrats Dad and farmhunter for setting the backdrop for success.
I did not hunt until my son was 11 or so and wanted to go to the family farm to hunt. Precious time we spent together all the way thru school, college and on. He lives in NC now so only about one hunt a year, but now I am spending the hunt trips with my daughter's sons. Again time WELL spent

 

[farmhunter]

I also wanted to share a look at our fall cabins. I probably mentioned it before - My cousin and myself each have about 90 adjoining acres that our dad's have handed down to us. We are lucky that they are still hunting and enjoying the property - maybe more then ever. My cabin was on a field edge and the trees around it are apple trees - which I love - but the fall pictures are not all that impressive. In the "field" behind my cabin - the pine/larch/Spruce are already about 20ft tall. Seems like just yesterday I planted bare root seedlings!

My Cousin's camp is about the same age - but we built his in the in a little clearing in an overgrown field on the top of a hill. The fall colors at his camp are impressive!! I have two pictures of his - and they don't really do the view justice.

My uncle comes up from Florida November 3rd - and I'm looking forward to my 36th year of hunting with my Dad, Uncle, Cousin and our family and friends.

 

[farmhunter]

Fantastic story. Congrats Dad and farmhunter for setting the backdrop for success.
I did not hunt until my son was 11 or so and wanted to go to the family farm to hunt. Precious time we spent together all the way thru school, college and on. He lives in NC now so only about one hunt a year, but now I am spending the hunt trips with my daughter's sons. Again time WELL spent

exactly!! I would not trade it for anything, I know you and others here feel the same way, we need to make the most of our time when we can!!

 

[farmhunter]

My last update of the night. We are keeping track of our #1 goal buck (Buddy8) as best we can. All summer he was seen on the neighbor's 400 acres. We never had a trail cam picture of him until September when he came out of velvet. He enjoyed the neighbor's Alfalfa all summer. But in the last month - we are getting multiple weekly pictures on ours - but mostly at night. Though last week I saw him in the beans after a heavy frost just stuffing his face. He's become a nightly regular at least - and we are seeing his outsized Rubs and Scrapes showing up.
Here's a couple close ups - one on a year round Scrape we know of and another in one of the bean fields - he was shadowing a doe group - Our piebald doe was part of.

We've had one buck bigger - two years ago - but not a lot bigger. We hope that one of us or one of our like-minded neighbors gets a chance at Buddy8 - he's a great buck for our area.

 

[Buckly]

That’s a nice deer. He’s been eating well. Hopefully he shows up in daylight for you. He’s probably not too far away so be careful

 

[Chainsaw]

That is a very nice looking deer. He is showing quite a large neck for this calendar date. Should give you some good hunting. Also Congratulations to your Dad on his eight point buck. That deer may be just enough to have him holding off on the younger bucks and if not it's OK also.

 

[farmhunter]

Pipeline project is finishing up - they seeded rye in on 10/24 and left me some clover to frost seed in with it. Will be interesting to see if the rye comes on OK so late.

 

[farmhunter]

After dad took his 8 point - we passed a couple small bucks - but noticed like happens so often that day time sightings dropped off. John and I made the decision to take a break - so works out to 2 weeks of almost no hunting. Still lots happening on the property with the pipeline guys finishing up this week - will get out again this Saturday - and then not again till last week of Bow before gun - and may take a couple days off there to give it a good try,

 

[Buckly]

You’re going to miss the best week of the season. Next week!

 

[Triple C]

Just catching up on your thread farmhunter and glad I did. Congrats to your dad! He's got a few years on me but good Lord willing, I plan on my boys saying the same about me when I reach your dad's age. Pretty special place you've got there with all the family history and the joy of continuing to hunt with family.

 

[farmhunter]

You’re going to miss the best week of the season. Next week!

will get out this Saturday and see how it is. Cooler weather might be right on time.