Foodplotting In The Mountains...The Sequel
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
Any that follow me know I make several treks a year into the highlands of the state. It is my sedative, my therapist, my need. Rode motorcycles until rains moved in early week so parked them and headed to backpack and hike a couple of my favorite wilderness areas. Sorry for digression from foodplotting, but this is food plotting by nature. Observe it and you will learn how she does it without your help. Do you focus your habitat work only on the deer? That's narrowminded, for without all the intricacies of what nature offers, the monovision of only one animal, or plant will never achieve its fullest potential. You wonder your frustration of what you deem the trophy animal? Maybe the frustration originates from failure to recognize our real purpose in management. Again I ramble. I'll show these then we will return to traditional deer/plot management that we have been led to believe is so important.
The rhododendron had already had its day, but the white and pink Mountain Laurel were doing their stuff. Bees were so busy you could hardly hear yourself think. These thickets, called Laurel Hells in writings of the early explorers were once so thick they walked on top 20 feet off the ground. Interesting reading of our early landscape if you choose to wade thru their early English. Trust me, even in todays growth, there is no walking thru this crap without blade. Deer and bear love hiding in these thickets.
You think you know what everything should be? Do you know what a Oak Heath forest is? Do you accept that nature abhores no variety and each of her plantings perform a service to the soils, plants , and animals? I watched deer wade into these" useless" ferns and browse on them despite plenty of "excellent" browse within sight. What do they know that you don't? Are you willing to let Her teach you?
Can she give you thick growth? You bet.
Anyways....
The rhododendron had already had its day, but the white and pink Mountain Laurel were doing their stuff. Bees were so busy you could hardly hear yourself think. These thickets, called Laurel Hells in writings of the early explorers were once so thick they walked on top 20 feet off the ground. Interesting reading of our early landscape if you choose to wade thru their early English. Trust me, even in todays growth, there is no walking thru this crap without blade. Deer and bear love hiding in these thickets.
You think you know what everything should be? Do you know what a Oak Heath forest is? Do you accept that nature abhores no variety and each of her plantings perform a service to the soils, plants , and animals? I watched deer wade into these" useless" ferns and browse on them despite plenty of "excellent" browse within sight. What do they know that you don't? Are you willing to let Her teach you?
Can she give you thick growth? You bet.
Anyways....
dogghr
Well-Known Member
We started our backpacking adventure w some eats at a rather eclectic resturant. Houses in an 1800s building that routed Irish, Polish, Italians and others to jobs mining and logging. People coming to America in hopes of bettering themselves.
Always prefer these off the wall places. Pics and history are worth it.
But the real humbling was from a mentally handicapped kid that we interacted with. He was so awesome. Lucky to have his grandparents bringing him out to this place. Or I should say we were lucky. I quit whining about the rains and realized to take life just as this 10 yo did. Enjoying each day as it is. Sometimes we forget our luck in life.
Always like the different stuff one finds on the walls
Kinda a combination of people from so called tree huggers to hunters to hikers to mountain bikers to motorcyclists to kayakers all crammed together. Certainly good portion the younger crowd but I like that. Good people. All of them.
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Always prefer these off the wall places. Pics and history are worth it.
But the real humbling was from a mentally handicapped kid that we interacted with. He was so awesome. Lucky to have his grandparents bringing him out to this place. Or I should say we were lucky. I quit whining about the rains and realized to take life just as this 10 yo did. Enjoying each day as it is. Sometimes we forget our luck in life.
Always like the different stuff one finds on the walls
Kinda a combination of people from so called tree huggers to hunters to hikers to mountain bikers to motorcyclists to kayakers all crammed together. Certainly good portion the younger crowd but I like that. Good people. All of them.
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
Good news, plenty of water in the streams. Bad news, plenty of water in the streams. Fly fishing was pretty poor to say the least, but still had fun. Hard climb down some cliffs to get to this area. Caught one small brookie and that was it. And sweated a lot. Nice thing about isolation, no problem about a skinny dip to cool off and wash. Don't tell OSHA.
How do you think nature manages these waters? Do they just wash out to sea with no affect? Do you think the forests exists without the smallest of helpers? Do the largest of predator not depend on the tiniest of organisms for life? Do you think the cycle?
I know you guys think I lie when I say I've walked for a week in these mountains during hunting season and not seen a soul. It can be done, and probably for longer than that. I once spent part of a hunt season traveling thru these hills for 6 days and 70 miles. Not sure I can still do that today. I've have kayaked the river below and I can tell you it is awesome, and lonely.
Always helps to have inspiration ,even if she didn't carry a pack on this excursion. But do you think I really care?
Take time to get away from your place. Take time to see how nature does it without your intervention. Watch. Look at the small stuff. Learn. Let her teach. You will be amazed. Listen to the silence. Thanks for reading of this displaced hippie mountain man. Maybe you can take something away from his ramblings.
"Peace is seeing a sunset, and knowing who to thank."
How do you think nature manages these waters? Do they just wash out to sea with no affect? Do you think the forests exists without the smallest of helpers? Do the largest of predator not depend on the tiniest of organisms for life? Do you think the cycle?
I know you guys think I lie when I say I've walked for a week in these mountains during hunting season and not seen a soul. It can be done, and probably for longer than that. I once spent part of a hunt season traveling thru these hills for 6 days and 70 miles. Not sure I can still do that today. I've have kayaked the river below and I can tell you it is awesome, and lonely.
Always helps to have inspiration ,even if she didn't carry a pack on this excursion. But do you think I really care?
Take time to get away from your place. Take time to see how nature does it without your intervention. Watch. Look at the small stuff. Learn. Let her teach. You will be amazed. Listen to the silence. Thanks for reading of this displaced hippie mountain man. Maybe you can take something away from his ramblings.
"Peace is seeing a sunset, and knowing who to thank."
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
Awesome pics dogghr.
I was working due west of you today on the other side of the mountain range where the foothills begin on the west side - at the home of KY 31 Fescue. I can mail you some seed........
I was working due west of you today on the other side of the mountain range where the foothills begin on the west side - at the home of KY 31 Fescue. I can mail you some seed........
Merle Hawggard
Well-Known Member
Beautiful pics as always!
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
I appreciate you thoughtfullness, but I've spent a lot of time and sweat getting rid of that stuff. Was cursing it just a couple weeks ago as I dug a hole for fruit tree. Not sure how 200# on a pointed shovel can't make a dent in the soil. That stuff has some amazing root mass. Guess it serves a purpose. And to think I used to admire a field of it more than native grass. Learning is good.Awesome pics dogghr.
I was working due west of you today on the other side of the mountain range where the foothills begin on the west side - at the home of KY 31 Fescue. I can mail you some seed........
I think you have no problem with that. Philosophy has changed to some degree here the last 15 years. Natives are managed more, getting away to some degree form typical stockings of raised trout. Requires good canopy over streams to keep them cool as well as streamside growth entrapping sediments. Severe floods of mid 80s and 90s messed with many of the trout streams , especially as army corp of engineers channeled those streams removing many of the eddy causing boulders.
The other problem, just as the West deals with mine drainage from their silver, coal, and uranium mines, so do we here deal with that from old abandoned mines. Also many of the waters head up in meadows with conifers that produce tannic acid in the streams which can ruin trout stability.
Funny about mine drainage tho, just down the road from me is a stream with self sustaining reproducing population of trout in the 20-30 inch range whose main water source is from an abandoned mine. Many a study done why it is able to achieve such good growth in what many would want to think not possible.
dogghr
Well-Known Member
LMAO. You're damn right Pilgrim!
Some deep stuff there dogghr...spend what little free time I have finding HP for my GTO...located another 150 RWHP this week 
Wife has a little trip planned for us and the grandchillens a little later this summer...I foresee lots of hiking on concrete but I also foresee us bringing a bunch of trout home!
Wife has a little trip planned for us and the grandchillens a little later this summer...I foresee lots of hiking on concrete but I also foresee us bringing a bunch of trout home!
dogghr
Well-Known Member
Well that's cool. With a county pop of about 5000, I'd say the Cogar family makes up half of it. LOL. Never fished that river but know it as an excellent one. I've fished its headwaters for natives up at Slatyfork but that's hard to do these days with all the posted land.
Wow that should put you at 1000 HP if I remember correctly. Pretty impressive of course. Hiking on concrete not all that fun but we must all pay our dues especially when it comes the those little ones. Show your car upgrade when you get a chance.Some deep stuff there dogghr...spend what little free time I have finding HP for my GTO...located another 150 RWHP this week
Wife has a little trip planned for us and the grandchillens a little later this summer...I foresee lots of hiking on concrete but I also foresee us bringing a bunch of trout home!
dogghr
Well-Known Member
As always deer had the WW and WR tore up with beds and trampling. They love this stuff as always more beds in it than fallow growth. Will broadcast and roll fall plots mid Aug into them.
And the winner is..... these Silky Dogwoods planted this spring have grown 1-2 ft. Granted they are in my more moist soils. But I see more of these in the future. Last years Hazelnuts have done well also but on dryer soils and slower growth.
.
Went after work to mow weeds and grasses in clover and alfalfa before monsoon comes again. Lost a lot of my pines from excessive rain this year. And I've not been able to spray weeds or grasses due to weather. In background is fallow field sprayed with gly 2 yrs ago. Pleased with thick growth of everything. You can see 4 ft tubes of Hazelnuts buried in thicket.
Always good to see your deer thanking you as you leave the farm. Have good weekend people
.
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And the winner is..... these Silky Dogwoods planted this spring have grown 1-2 ft. Granted they are in my more moist soils. But I see more of these in the future. Last years Hazelnuts have done well also but on dryer soils and slower growth.
.
Went after work to mow weeds and grasses in clover and alfalfa before monsoon comes again. Lost a lot of my pines from excessive rain this year. And I've not been able to spray weeds or grasses due to weather. In background is fallow field sprayed with gly 2 yrs ago. Pleased with thick growth of everything. You can see 4 ft tubes of Hazelnuts buried in thicket.
Always good to see your deer thanking you as you leave the farm. Have good weekend people
.
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
I agree Doc, easy decision now as fawns have been dropping as to not to mow. But probably I will this weekend to release clovers that are 2 feet tall and reduce amount of litter when I plant in late Aug with throw and mow.
Take note, this plot failed on the right last fall thanks to the drought. Was a weedy mess that didn't get planted on time. Late fall I overseeded just broadcasting with clovers and WW and WR and it covered well. Don't leave your ground bare, at least make it so it will be covered the next year. I hope to extend the alfalfa on the left into this field if weather cooperates.
Mowed the alfalfa/clover/ chicory plot of weeds. Deer had it groomed so never touched the anything but weeds and grasses with mower. Exclusion cage in back had been moved, so in accurate. Say it again. Don't fear alfalfa, This is 5 years old and a great mixture that deer love. My favorite plot. Maybe.
Interesting ride to farm as to when I was ready to turn in, the guy in front had to lock up his brakes as a big ass boar bear crossed the road in front of him. Glad it was him as that would not have been pretty. Can't afford another repair. I guess a bear was rolling around in this stuff. Had a 10 yd area compacted in one of my fallow fields. Hazelnuts in background in tubes. Almost all are making it into their 2nd year.
How did I know it was a boar he almost hit? Fur was worn off its side wher it had been marking his territory rubbing against trees. Don't worry much about them, but I did keep eye over my shoulder and pistol on my belt just in case he mistook me for a sow!!
Large variety of plants in this field sprayed with Gly last summer and let go. One of my favorites.
Now this may be my favorite plot. Sprayed Gly in fall 2 years ago and spread red and white clovers. Now follow me here. White clovers especially spread by stolons, so their blooms are not as necessary to spread as some other clovers. Think about how your grass grew in your new yard, same thing. In addition, clovers spread quite well with little help. What is missing on my land? The buffalo herd that once roamed here. As with Gallows cattle, they browsed and trampled fields at one time affecting their growth. So how do I copy that?? Every 45-90 days I turn loose my buffalo/tractor and let it browse/bushhog close, and trample with its 6000# feet/tires the flora beneath it. And what do I get after about 2 years? More and more clovers, especially whites self promoting themselves into a perennial clover plot. So easy. Lazy? Yes. I never told the deer and they have never complained. Clover likes S & M! Who wouldv'e thot?
Random Cluster #1 is doing great. Cut last year. This was just a canopy with leaves covering the forest floor. Some hing cutting on this point and all kinds of native food now growing. I'm probably going to cuss the GB when I have to wade thru it for a deer maybe.
My five year buddy. Know his route better than he does probably. Getting a little grey haired.
Have a good day. Think outside the box, always. Peace.
dogghr
Well-Known Member
Not much happening mid summer. I don't do specialty summer plots in part because it gives me family and me time.
Took a day ride of 350 miles on the Harley. Just my lonesome self. Always good to have time to think and thank. Stopped at an old diner that I've been to many a time with my Dad since I was a kid. Great breakfast.
Got some hingecutting done in this open area of Ramdom Cluster 2. It is slowly becoming one with Cluster 3 as I work them thru the years. Only began to number them as I've added new Clusters. TreeStand is left center.
Deer browsed leaves that day. The adjacent area has exploded with plant growth chest high and this should do the same. I leave my mature acorn producing trees which produce even better as competition is removed.
Do what you will but this pigweed/goldenrod that is head high makes great screen with no effort that survives the weather into late Dec. I've tried the EW trick and it performs poorly with ice wind and snow. Give me this. If you want to control goldenrod, simply mow late Aug and it will not return for years.
Momma feasting on apples dropping behind house. These trees never fail her or myself for more than 2 decades now. How to grow? Put them in ground and tell them to survive or die. No babying past first year. I'll put the closer Golden up against anyone's in numbers and taste. Doe must've had young hid in brush over the hill as her teats looked ready to unload. She just looked at my dog and kept munching.
Took a day ride of 350 miles on the Harley. Just my lonesome self. Always good to have time to think and thank. Stopped at an old diner that I've been to many a time with my Dad since I was a kid. Great breakfast.
Got some hingecutting done in this open area of Ramdom Cluster 2. It is slowly becoming one with Cluster 3 as I work them thru the years. Only began to number them as I've added new Clusters. TreeStand is left center.
Deer browsed leaves that day. The adjacent area has exploded with plant growth chest high and this should do the same. I leave my mature acorn producing trees which produce even better as competition is removed.
Do what you will but this pigweed/goldenrod that is head high makes great screen with no effort that survives the weather into late Dec. I've tried the EW trick and it performs poorly with ice wind and snow. Give me this. If you want to control goldenrod, simply mow late Aug and it will not return for years.
Momma feasting on apples dropping behind house. These trees never fail her or myself for more than 2 decades now. How to grow? Put them in ground and tell them to survive or die. No babying past first year. I'll put the closer Golden up against anyone's in numbers and taste. Doe must've had young hid in brush over the hill as her teats looked ready to unload. She just looked at my dog and kept munching.
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dogghr
Well-Known Member
Couple trophy rocks out and deer have been all over them as usual including the bucks and fawns. Buck crowd looks a bit better this year after 2 rough winters and poor mast really set back our selection. Could be an interesting fall as others move in early Nov as they usually do.
First is an ugly old wrinkled ass buck caught off guard. Needs to be put down.
Have a great week. Peace.
"Success is on the same road as failure; success is just a little further down the road." -- Hyles
First is an ugly old wrinkled ass buck caught off guard. Needs to be put down.
Have a great week. Peace.
"Success is on the same road as failure; success is just a little further down the road." -- Hyles
