Some other habitat work done recently was my first attempt at "hack n squirt"
I experimented in four separate areas (stand locations).
Two areas I used 41% glyphosate undiluted. The other spots I mixed it to 50/50 water/glyphosate.
I targeted the many maple trees in my woods, most in the 2"-12" diameter range.
I also sprayed a little on the foliage of maples that I cut down over the winter that are stump sprouting back up.
It was a good way for me to 1. Kill some undesirable trees to improve the habitat and 2. Survey browsing on different species of tree leaves in different areas of the property.
I don't know all the species of small trees I took out in these areas other than know I took out every maple, sweet gum, poplar and non mast producing tree I could if they were under drip line of any big white oak.
The deer seem to prefer browsing on poplar leaves the most with nearly all of them I found had signs of browsing. About 1 in 5 maples had evidence of deer browseing. Some areas had more browsing than others but overall I feel like the place is not anywhere near overbrowsed. There is a lot of food for deer around the roads and openings. Briars, honey suckle and native grass is pretty abundant and So I don't feel the need to take out a bunch of does this season although I don't feel like it would hurt if we reduced the herd by a few.
I'll be curious to see the outcome of my hack n squirt work. Hopefully it will let more sunlight in, helping native browse and to give more nutrients and water to mast producing oaks.
A couple weeks ago I took John down and we camped a night. 
Wow, I can’t believe it’s been 8 months since I’ve updated. 
I upgraded my tractor last summer to a 4wd 40hp Kubota. We planted about 2acres in winter wheat, oats, cereal rye and red clover. 
Just like the previous year, the mature bucks stayed away all spring/summer. We had lots of doe pictures and a couple small bucks. 
Peak of the rut was early November. I took a nice 3 1/2 yr old 10 point. I was by myself that weekend and I forgot to get a good picture of him until after I had skinned him out. 
After deer season closed I was exited to see what deer made it. One deer in particular! And two days after season ended, the big 10 pointer showed up on camera. I’ve got several pictures of him since deer season ended and he looks to be in great health. I’ll be looking forward to seeing him again next October
A couple weeks ago I built an old style wooden deer stand. It was tough by myself. I used a climbing stand to climb tree and lag bolt the rafters one at a time. 
