Upstate Obsession

[Triple C]

Elk...Plots look great. We've finally got moisture in the ground down here and plots are just now greening up. Better late than never. Hope you get some resolution on the trespassing front.

 

[Rickey]

How about one of the cell cams where the trespassers are? That might give you a chance to lay the smack down.

Place looks awesome. I wish I had a place like that.

 

[Elkaddict]

No cell coverage in the area of most frequent trespass. Already checked into it. I know one of the days someone will show up with bolt cutters to steal the cameras or steal the SD cards. I've thought about the Buckeyes but theft would be too easy and quite costly.

 

[dogdoc]

Man I hate trespassers. Hope you can lay the law on them one day. Plots look great. Hope your health gets better.
Todd

 

[Elkaddict]

I've got 5 new perps to try to identify with video. One cameras was stolen, and the
SD cards from two others sprouted legs. I had 6 of 20 plus cameras in lock boxes--that clearly wasn't enough. I'm hoping the long term weather forecasts prove true and the deer have a mild winter with plentiful food. I got out for one final sit--not hunting because I'm not really capable of it. Fortunately, the weather gods smiled upon me (calm winds in advance of a big storm front). I had 24 deer move into our big meadow plot (Including 4 shooter bucks). I remain astonished at the draw clovers/chicory/LC grain mix has in 10" of snow in single digit temperatures. While the deer moved down the buffet line, the majority of time was spent on the hardest to get to forage. It's got to be a vitamin thing driving the effort.. I really enjoyed watching the undisturbed deer trying to bank some calories-it was my best evening sit on the property since acquiring it in 2013. As a difficult year comes to an end, it was a great reminder of my blessings and priorities--something I really needed to be reminded of.

 

[George]

That was a very nice buffet that you put out this year Tom, happy Holidays.

G

 

[Elkaddict]

Thanks George--can only claim credit for implementing what others have taught..... Happy Holidays to all!

 

[Elkaddict]

Now that the season has ended, I pulled cams out of the woods. Looks like our #1, 2 and 3 survived. I also count 3 additional 3 year olds tha were borderline shooters. Interesting thing about our number 1 buck is we haven't seen him in months. I've got a dozen pics since the season ended. Smart bugger.

 

[Elkaddict]

Here is our number 2:

 

[Elkaddict]

Here our number 3. He looks like our number 1 (son perhaps) but is 75+lbs lighter. Interestingly, he's still checking scrapes.

 

[Elkaddict]

I've got my eye on this guy for next year. Looks like he's wanting to grow a cheater.

 

[Elkaddict]

I walked through the corn and bean plots. You can't find a bean left. We have about 1/2 of our corn still. I'm really surprized at the number of cobs on the stalks that have had all the grain stripped. I'm assuming it's bird damage. Anyone see this before? One of our Winfred/rutabaga plots has been eaten to the stalks. We still have a two acre Winfred/rutabaga plot with significant forage left. Tubers have largely been left alone. As I was checking cams today, an acorn fell and hit me in the head---so there's still hard mast to be found. I'm hoping the current weather forecasts hold true and we have another mild winter--can't wait to see what my bucks do

 

[Chainsaw]

View attachment 5268 Here our number 3. He looks like our number 1 (son perhaps) but is 75+lbs lighter. Interestingly, he's still checking scrapes.

Son perhaps or same Momma. Maybe you have an old doe throwing bucks with extra survival skills and nice NY racks. In any event, great deer and glad you have been out and about.The number 3 buck scenting the overhanging branch is a real beauty. There used to be a scrape here that stayed active late and would be worked again heavily at spring thaw in March and April presumably by many different deer.

 

[Elkaddict]

Time for an update. We've had a bit of a thaw and I can see the ground for the first time in a couple months. I thought I'd share some pics of the rutabaga/Winfred brassicas plot. As you can see, there is still quite a bit of forage and the deer have been busy.

 

[Elkaddict]

Some of the tubers are pumpkin size (this is a size 12 boot). As you can see, the deer have found the rutabaga palatable (far more than turnips/radishes). Remember, these were planted a month late (mid July). As I've previously noted, these can be planted in June. While I'll continue to use LC's brassica mix, I intend to use this mix substantially (perhaps with some beets thrown in for variety).

 

[Elkaddict]

The bucks are back in their bachelor groups. I can't wait to see what another years worth of extra nutrition and age does.

 

[Elkaddict]

I've read before that as long as there's ample food, Bears will not hibernate. They're apparently relying on the corn.

 

[Elkaddict]

Other predators are calling the property home as well. I've failed to reduce the coyote numbers as I'd hoped.

 

[Bowhunter]

Awesome pictures! Looks like you have some great bucks to look forward to next year. Love the looks of that orange coyote as well.

 

[dogghr]

I can smell that brassica buffet all the way down here. Those will be smelling ripe in another month. Great buck pics you have. Looks great and glad you found some native apple trees. I'm envious. And that red coated yote would make a great hide. Very nice..