The Brushpile
- Thread starter Brushpile
- Start date
Choke Berries/ Aronia, is a super berry and deer love to browse them. We canned enough for a shot a day for a year to ward off cancer and what ails you!
http://aroniaberrynews.com/
http://aroniaberrynews.com/
Jack Terpack
Well-Known Member
A friend of mine has the same problem with his pears this year. The limbs are way overloaded. The trees are too tall to reach the upper limbs. So, he came up with a brainstorm. There is a elevated blind in the corner of the plot and it sits one a slight rise. He got two of his grandsons over for the day. They took a couple .22's and a box of 500 hollow points to the stand and spent the day shooting the pears at the tops of the trees. There are no houses or roads for about two miles beyond his property and with the elevation it was safe. The kids had a ball and got pretty danged good at popping the pears. Wish I could have been there. Sounds like fun.
TRADEMARKTEXAN
New Member
Hey Brushy, for some reason today I was looking at some of my Post Oaks and thought about you. How are those post Oaks doing around your house? We built our house in 2012 and we’ve lost 2 really prominent trees that we worked really hard to protect during construction. Plus, we lost our biggest Post Oak from a lighting strike, but that’s life.
I think I sent you those Mexican plums...I remember sending a ton of seeds out to several QDMA members, and I have them planted all over several properties in Texas.
Glad to see you’re still at it, I remember the birth of The Brushpile!
I think I sent you those Mexican plums...I remember sending a ton of seeds out to several QDMA members, and I have them planted all over several properties in Texas.
Glad to see you’re still at it, I remember the birth of The Brushpile!
Yes, my seeds came from you and were started in a Styrofoam cup! Many thanks!
Post Oaks have tiny acorns, and are not much of a draw, but deer will eat them. I live in Post Oak country, so I'm thankful for what they produce, since they tolerate drought and remain disease free.
The Brushpile has become too thick to take pics of most trees. This Winter I need to cut 1000's of volunteers. My neighbor is helping me to create openings and travel ways.
buckvelvet
Active Member
Sure is great you got good moisture this year Brush you deserved it. I hope you have a fantastic hunting season this year!
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
You'll get the best results using 4 oz. per acre of imazethapyr (Thunder) once the weeds are between 3"& 6" high, buy it at Daniel's Farm Store, Leola PA, 717-656-6982 they ship UPS $198.00 for a gallon, or Keystone Pest Solutions online, $319.95The food plot near the river became over run with both Hen Bit and Smart Weed, so neighbor Steve is helping me put in a plot of Jumbo Ladino Clover.
View to the river.
Ideas on how to combat Smart Weed and Hen Bit?
My Post Oaks have taken a real beating from severe weather, but were within 75 feet of home construction. Huge White Oaks are near the house and are being killed by tiny wasps that don't leave galls, but injure the leaves.
Thanks for the Mexican Plums, I have 3 of them; they are 8-10 foot trees now.
The Brushpile was very pleased to welcome Wayne Pruitt for two days, which wasn't long enough. I'm dome planting and it's time to hinge cut and to eliminate over crowding. Wayne recommended cutting down some Chestnut trees; if you can imagine that! Pines need to me thinned too.
Native Hunter
Well-Known Member
You will never make us believe Wayne would cut a chestnut tree.....
I know, I couldn't believe it myself! LOLYou will never make us believe Wayne would cut a chestnut tree.....
wbpdeer
Well-Known Member
My Brushpile Education Update
When I first found the old forum and start reading I read a line - "I like Brush" - so that is why I got hooked and expect I read the Brushpile thread about 3 times - once with notepad and pen in hand. The Brushpile was once a pasture - well Brad and his wife changed that.
I have walked the Brushpile with Brad twice - in 2017 and in 2019. The 5 stages below are my impression of what the stages of land development over time. The #2 Stage was the longest time period thus far (but tree planting is over now).
1. Pasture
2. Tree Planting Phase
3. Brushpile has cover and Thick Stem Count
4. Introduction of Food Plot
5. Time to Release Trees and Eliminate Competition
Brad's depth of knowledge is mind blowing. He also has valuable experience in what works on his ground and want just don't work for his growing zone. The Brushpile is sort of cursed - it is entirely too dry or entirely too wet (feast or famine).
# 5 - Yep it time to cut down some chestnut trees - too many in too small of an area and of those planted too many made it. I got to say I smiled to know some of them came from Portland, TN and my growing of seedlings. Naturally a majority of his chestnuts came from others but I have contributed chestnuts to the Brushpile. On this trip, I donated about 14 or so chestnuts to his friend Steve of who is the neighbor that helped put in the new food plots.
I space my chestnuts 7 good steps apart when I plant. Some of the ones I would cut on the Brushpile were planted much closer and they all survived. In that situation, you have to hold court and determine what stays and what goes.
Now if health is good for Brad and I then we will likely have a chainsaw project where trees get cut or hinged (pine, chestnuts, apples, mulberry, trash, etc) . The number of pines that need to grow is mind blowing.
NativeHunter I wish I could take you to the Brushpile so when Brad asks me, You Know What This Tree is - I could let you give the correct answer. My success rate is much too low on the quiz side.
The deer are using the food plots on the Brushpile. Brad has plans on adding trails to encourage deer to access / use certain sections from specific locations. He has two planned deer stands that will be highly effective setups.
On this trip, I was at the Brushpile to pick up "Fritz" one of his new Teckle pups from Otto / Breeze. While we are at the Brushpile, the new owner of Fritz was planting and working on his Kentucky farm. I shed hunt this friends farm and the process and development of the Brushpile is the same thing I see happening on Suburban Hunter's Kentucky Farm. So I was the delivery man for Suburban Hunter's new puppy.
Would I add any new tree planting to the Brushpile? Yes, I would add some Pear trees in selected locations - especially where Apples were bunched up. The rainfall on the Brushpile prevents apples from bearing fruit. I estimate from what Brad said - out of 5 years the apples were 0 for 5. Nature is in charge!!! We as landowners can't control when it rains and how much it rains.
I would eliminate all of the apple trees and in a few locations add some pear trees because they do great on the Brushpile. The deer love the Pears!
I am thankful for the contributions that Brad Shoemaker has made thru Habitat Threads. I know I would not have ever started my chinese chestnut project without reading the Brushpile thread. Being around the litter of Teckels was super fun.
So this is the update on my Brushpile Education. Thanks Brush for sharing your knowledge and hospitality with me.
Wayne
When I first found the old forum and start reading I read a line - "I like Brush" - so that is why I got hooked and expect I read the Brushpile thread about 3 times - once with notepad and pen in hand. The Brushpile was once a pasture - well Brad and his wife changed that.
I have walked the Brushpile with Brad twice - in 2017 and in 2019. The 5 stages below are my impression of what the stages of land development over time. The #2 Stage was the longest time period thus far (but tree planting is over now).
1. Pasture
2. Tree Planting Phase
3. Brushpile has cover and Thick Stem Count
4. Introduction of Food Plot
5. Time to Release Trees and Eliminate Competition
Brad's depth of knowledge is mind blowing. He also has valuable experience in what works on his ground and want just don't work for his growing zone. The Brushpile is sort of cursed - it is entirely too dry or entirely too wet (feast or famine).
# 5 - Yep it time to cut down some chestnut trees - too many in too small of an area and of those planted too many made it. I got to say I smiled to know some of them came from Portland, TN and my growing of seedlings. Naturally a majority of his chestnuts came from others but I have contributed chestnuts to the Brushpile. On this trip, I donated about 14 or so chestnuts to his friend Steve of who is the neighbor that helped put in the new food plots.
I space my chestnuts 7 good steps apart when I plant. Some of the ones I would cut on the Brushpile were planted much closer and they all survived. In that situation, you have to hold court and determine what stays and what goes.
Now if health is good for Brad and I then we will likely have a chainsaw project where trees get cut or hinged (pine, chestnuts, apples, mulberry, trash, etc) . The number of pines that need to grow is mind blowing.
NativeHunter I wish I could take you to the Brushpile so when Brad asks me, You Know What This Tree is - I could let you give the correct answer. My success rate is much too low on the quiz side.
The deer are using the food plots on the Brushpile. Brad has plans on adding trails to encourage deer to access / use certain sections from specific locations. He has two planned deer stands that will be highly effective setups.
On this trip, I was at the Brushpile to pick up "Fritz" one of his new Teckle pups from Otto / Breeze. While we are at the Brushpile, the new owner of Fritz was planting and working on his Kentucky farm. I shed hunt this friends farm and the process and development of the Brushpile is the same thing I see happening on Suburban Hunter's Kentucky Farm. So I was the delivery man for Suburban Hunter's new puppy.
Would I add any new tree planting to the Brushpile? Yes, I would add some Pear trees in selected locations - especially where Apples were bunched up. The rainfall on the Brushpile prevents apples from bearing fruit. I estimate from what Brad said - out of 5 years the apples were 0 for 5. Nature is in charge!!! We as landowners can't control when it rains and how much it rains.
I would eliminate all of the apple trees and in a few locations add some pear trees because they do great on the Brushpile. The deer love the Pears!
I am thankful for the contributions that Brad Shoemaker has made thru Habitat Threads. I know I would not have ever started my chinese chestnut project without reading the Brushpile thread. Being around the litter of Teckels was super fun.
So this is the update on my Brushpile Education. Thanks Brush for sharing your knowledge and hospitality with me.
Wayne
Last edited:
Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
Choke Berries/ Aronia, is a super berry and deer love to browse them. We canned enough for a shot a day for a year to ward off cancer and what ails you!
What is the procedure/recipe?
http://aroniaberrynews.com/
It was my great pleasure to have you visit and I will act on your recommendations. It will be tough to cut trees I nurtured for years, and it's now time for cages to be removed, and for trees to be thinned. I look forward to having you back for shed hunting.
