Every thing looks great! Deer and brassicas are awesome!
Upstate Obsession
- Thread starter Elkaddict
- Start date
farmhunter
Well-Known Member
WOW your brassica plot is far along! Hope you get a lot of winter use - I'm interested in hearing how the rutabagas work out for you -
Any hard antler deer yet your way?
Any hard antler deer yet your way?
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
I thought Id follow up on this plot's progress. Although there was no visible grass in the lush red clover when we disced it under, we had an explosion of grass growth along with the LC brassica mix. My best guess is the brassicas will canopy in the next week and start to choke out the grass. The competing grass does appear to have slowed down growth. The lesson? Short cuts have consequences--in this case, I had no ability to prep the plot properly so my choice was to try a short cut or not plant. The good news is the deer are already using the plot.
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farmhunter
Well-Known Member
Nice 9 point! He'd be on my list -
Grasses can choke too - that leafy growth is promising - Is it a grass like orchard grass or timothy do you know?
Grasses can choke too - that leafy growth is promising - Is it a grass like orchard grass or timothy do you know?
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
So I've been trying to pattern this buck for 2 years. With the exception of last falls daytime pic, the pics have all been nocturnal and on the edges of my camera views. Because of health challenges, I never cleaned up this clover/grain planting from last fall. I recently put a camera on to catch trespassers. I was stunned at the use the plot is seeing when far better growing clover is 75 yards away. Interestingly, I believe the deer feel more hidden amidst the rye stalks. By far and away, he is the largest bodied deer on the property. I've named him Beamer. Any thoughts on his age?
Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
Hi Tom, I'm finding the same thing with the clover with the rye still standing although the deer have knocked most of it down. In those fields the clover has stayed dark green even through the drought. As for that deer he looks to be a real beauty. As you noted he is a very heavy deer; he looks to be 4 1/2 or better ( adding a year to the rut picture). My computer screen is going and shows the pictures to be too dark to see the full detail of that deer. He looks to be one of the over 200lbs. dressed deer we run into now and then if taken early in the rut. Spending one day on his rub line early to figure him out once his rubs show within fifty yards of that field might be worth the intrusion. I like to follow the lines cautiously between 10 am and 2pm and only far enough in to figure out where to catch him very early on the first extra cold morning of the season.
Figuring out a path to get close to his bed area without jumping him is great if it can be done. Good luck with him. he looks to be a really special deer for our areas.
Figuring out a path to get close to his bed area without jumping him is great if it can be done. Good luck with him. he looks to be a really special deer for our areas.
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Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
Dave, I think he'll have to have pretty distinctive rubs to pick out his. I've regularly got 15 racked bucks throughout our place. I'm hoping his will be particularly focused on on large trees. The photo from last fall was the 24th of November so he'd been rutting for awhile. I thought he was 51/2 last year but I could be wrong. I've got other deer I know are of that age class and he has at least 75lbs on them. I hope we can get an up close and personal look.
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Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
Lot's of racked bucks making lots of rubs is a great "problem" to have. I've not experienced so many rub lines that it was hard to figure them out yet but I could see how it could be a problem. On the second buck of note that is another nice older deer also. It has great mass and is a bull for sure. Your property must be doing it's share to keep those bucks alive in such a heavily hunted area. After further thought with all those older bucks maybe it is best to leave intrusive rub line unraveling until the end of the season. It took too many seasons to get those deer to this age to be messing around in their areas just before the season.
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
Assuming I feel well enough to bowhunt, I've got several spots set up to catch bucks scent checking plots and bedding areas. Absent that, I figure my best chance this year will like be sitting on plots in December (assuming we get an average winter). After last year's bumper crop of acorns/mild weather, I'm hoping to see some late season MZ action from the comfort of my redneck blinds overlooking corn and brassicas..
farmhunter
Well-Known Member
Hope you are well enough to bowhunt - your property is shaping up so well and the plots and goal bucks are icing on the cake. The cool days and frosty nights will be therapeutic - I guarantee you can relate to that fall feeling - Its like no other time of year -especially around hunting camp.
Hope you get to feeling better so you can chase those deer...
When is first frost in your area?
When is first frost in your area?
Elkaddict
Well-Known Member
Gents, thanks for the kind words. Our first frost is historically 9/27-10/5. I'm truly surprised at this year's crop of bucks. There are 5 or 6 I'd be happy to tag. I always assumed it would take 5 years of great nutrition to see the potential of the property. It's a couple years earlier than I'd hoped. A couple will wonder off mid-October, never to be seen again. Some new shooters will show up. Giving 3 or 4 another year to mature would be interesting... I remain convinced that 23 acres of hinge cuts has been the single most important improvement--year round food and cover.
