Kaleo Hills-Property tour

[weekender21]

I scrambled up the hill Friday morning to get a round of cereal grain in ahead of what remained of the hurricane. The forecast was predicting at least 2 inches so I made a 2:30 AM departure and headed west.

The leaves are turning fast above 2k feet. We had a family camping trip planned this weekend but the storm delayed that good idea.

I put a camera on two deer carcasses a few weeks ago. The usual characters participated (bobcat, coyote, possum) but by far vultures did the most work with Ravens taking second place. Almost everything consumed in just 48 hours. Quite the impressive cleanup crew.

Plots were in good shape but the only cereal grain I planted in September were oats. On this trip I added winter rye at roughly 100 pounds/acre.

This is what the plots looked like when I added the rye.

Several rubs popping up already. No confirmation of giant bucks but there are a few 2-3 year olds around.

I scooped up acorns from a few of the deer’s favorite trees. Hoping to get a few seedlings started with the kids.

If we make it up this weekend it will likely be a family camping trip. The cold front definitely makes it temping time bring my bow though. Looking forward to November!

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[weekender21]

We did a little family camping this weekend. Chilly fall mornings 32F/34F but the kids survived, I think they enjoyed something new. The main purpose of our trip was to show momma the fall leaves, she’s missed the seasons. It was a beautiful weekend.

The little ones helped out checking cameras and spreading a little corn on our plots.

A bear adjusted my camera, that’s one reasons most of them are 10-12’ up.

Leaving their mark on trees too.

Wildlife

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[weekender21]

Just returned from eight days on the mountain, no better place in the fall! I did some last minute scouting and hunted a few low impact spots until the weather was right.

21F and high pressure on the 18th so I hunted over a scrape in one of my best spots.

At 6:50 a mature buck charged into the scrape no doubt hoping to come across a hot doe. The shot was 7.8 yards. Liver paunch and a long recovery followed.

A few days later I “missed” a doe. I could see a few hairs missing when she rapidly exited. 36 hours later a few hundred yards away the same doe gave me a 12 yard broadside shot. She only made it 20 yards and tipped over in sight. That’s the way it’s supposed to happen!

A very large mountain doe!

My igloo

Habitat updates:

Planted this Dunstan October 2017. The bigger trees are probably 12’ now. This was a good growing year.

Warm season grasses are everywhere on this logging road. I’m still planning to burn some of my south facing slopes to add diversity. Native warm season grass would be welcome.

This 2015 cut is filling in quickly.

A few corns still dropping late. Black oak I think.

Mountain scenery:

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[weekender21]

Multi-use property in action.

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[weekender21]

I found a really active community scrape just above camp back in November. Most of the buck activity there is at night but it was visited several times by the biggest buck I’m aware of this year. A nice short tined ten that has been about as nocturnal as they come. I only have a few daytime pictures all fall. He’s only ~50 yards uphill from camp here.

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[weekender21]

Turns out the ten point pictured above was killed December 26th. Congrats to the neighbor.


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[weekender21]

I kicked off habitat season January 2nd with a full days work reclaiming a small apple orchard. I’m a year behind with this chore thanks to COVID travel restrictions but better late than never. It’s hard to tell in this picture but I ran through four tanks on my MS180 and two tanks on my trimmer cutting stump sprouts, saplings and briars that are or would be shading out the fruit trees. Most stumps were treated with 41% GLY (no water).

I have much more to accomplish this winter but it was a good start to 2021.

The exclusion cage doesn’t lie. This is my main plot and it’s “lip level”. The entire plot looked like the exclusion cage in late November but has been browsed heavily recently.

I’d like to add more food but I really don’t have many areas that are flat enough or in an area that makes sense.

I’m looking forward to the rest of winter 2021!


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[weekender21]

Almost forgot. I think the bears are going to be a problem.

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[massey]

They will. Never leave anything plastic laying around in bear habitat. They’re chew toys. I’ve probably purchased 10 diesel or gas cans the last 20 years.


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[weekender21]

They will. Never leave anything plastic laying around in bear habitat. They’re chew toys. I’ve probably purchased 10 diesel or gas cans the last 20 years.


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Good to know. I never thought they might be after the buckets, this is one of several cages in that area that have been messed with. I could easily remove the buckets, the trees have been in the ground for a few years.


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[massey]

They’re super curious. Anything out of the ordinary, they’ll chew on it. Trail cameras, marine batteries, children’s swings, tires. Etc But especially brightly colored buckets and gas cans!!

Did you ever plant those sawtooth? The bears will Love those and you’ll have a guaranteed bear killin spot when you have a poor wild mast year.


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[weekender21]

They’re super curious. Anything out of the ordinary, they’ll chew on it. Trail cameras, marine batteries, children’s swings, tires. Etc But especially brightly colored buckets and gas cans!!

Did you ever plant those sawtooth? The bears will Love those and you’ll have a guaranteed bear killin spot when you have a poor wild mast year.


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I bet 50% of my tree tubes have been destroyed by bears.

All acorns (hundreds) are in the refrigerator at the moment. A bear killing spot would be welcome. They’re very inconsistent on our place and tend to disappear before or right after our October opener.


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[massey]

Sawtooths will change that. One poor mast year and all your buddies and you will be killing bears. They will also pretty much destroy them (if you’re not there to protect them )


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[weekender21]

I made it up to the property this weekend. It’s been a few months, the wet weather has prevented a few earlier trips. It rained a little Friday evening but was otherwise a mild beautiful weekend.

A friend joined me on this trip, we were able to accomplish quite a bit. Two chainsaws are definitely better than one. We cut and trimmed our way through a 2018 apple tree planting and connected two portions of a plot.

We made a solid attempt at burning the remaining brush between these apples and the main plot but conditions made it tough.

We also removed this poplar from the middle of my plot.

I can’t wait to return, there’s more work to do!


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[lakngolf]

Good job. I imagine you two slept well after that chainsaw work!

 

[weekender21]

Good job. I imagine you two slept well after that chainsaw work!

I would have slept better if the forecast had been more accurate. I don’t recommend a sleeping bag rated to 45F when it’s 31F!


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[dogghr]

You sure getting a lot done in short order these last couple years. I’ve still got RC and WC riding in my jeep to be frost planted. One day.
Place looks great. Funny I don’t have a single poplar on my place even tho they are common here. Reds and whites mostly. Logging planned for next year so hope the prices continue rebound!


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[weekender21]

You sure getting a lot done in short order these last couple years. I’ve still got RC and WC riding in my jeep to be frost planted. One day.
Place looks great. Funny I don’t have a single poplar on my place even tho they are common here. Reds and whites mostly. Logging planned for next year so hope the prices continue rebound!


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Sure wish we could trade some poplar for oak. I’d bet our stand is 50%+ poplar. Maybe 5% oak on average but a little better in a few spots. This land was likely high graded several times in the last century.

I need to hire a forester to cruise our place. Timber prices have made a good rebound on the east coast.


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[Native Hunter]

You and your friend got a lot accomplished. Congratulations on getting so much done.

 

[weekender21]

You and your friend got a lot accomplished. Congratulations on getting so much done.

Thanks, it was a short trip with a never ending list of projects. I’m beginning to realize my projects will never be 100% completed but that’s part of the fun.

We took advantage of the sparse vegetation and found two iron pin corner markers I’ve been looking for and cleared a path for easy creek access at camp. Even had time to listen to the grouse drumming!


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