Working at the Farm - Took a few I-Phone Pics

[Native Hunter]

Native....maybe you have done it recently and I missed it, but can you provide an update on the pear trees you planted from Wildlife Group (or others)? I need to plant about 6-10 pears and an on a hunt for varieties.

Yes, see below for an update:

Kieffer - They have a true Kieffer that makes great pears.
Hunter's Choice - Good crops of late pears. I have seen fireblight on this tree, but WG warns in their advertising that this cultivar can get it. However, the FB has not been severe for me.
Becton: Growing very clean but has not been planted for very long. Had just a couple of pears last year, and I'm expecting a good crop this year.
Galloway: Nice crop of medium sized Asian Pears. No disease noted.
Gate: My Gate was planted in a frost pocket and that has kept it from fruiting so far. Tree grows clean.
Ms Lanene: Was planted in a frost pocket and no fruit so far. Clean growing.
Senator Clark: Nice late pears and clean growing. This tree grows wider and more open than most pear trees.

Pears from Other Places:

Moonglow: Extra clean and very productive. Big pears that drop late. Not the best taste for humans but fine for deer.
Ayers: Outstanding DR summer pear that has an excellent taste.
Korean Giant: Nice big Asian Pears. Mine still young but so far no diseases. Just a tad earlier than Kieffer.

Note: I have just planted some Pears from Blue Hill Nursery. Check with me down the road on these.

 

[CAS_HNTR]

Thanks for the update. I do have a few of those verities planted and so far the Keiffer (I purchased from Turkey Creek) has been the best performing for me at their young age. The others are coming on though.

Moonglows have been a disaster for me. I am going to yank 2 out of the ground this spring and replant with something else. They are just not liking out property.....almost no growth in 5 years where other planted literally minutes apart are 20+ ft tall.

Goes to show what works for some wont work for all.

 

[Native Hunter]

Thanks for the update. I do have a few of those verities planted and so far the Keiffer (I purchased from Turkey Creek) has been the best performing for me at their young age. The others are coming on though.

Moonglows have been a disaster for me. I am going to yank 2 out of the ground this spring and replant with something else. They are just not liking out property.....almost no growth in 5 years where other planted literally minutes apart are 20+ ft tall.

Goes to show what works for some wont work for all.

Sometimes it's the rootstock that causes problems. I'm not sure where your Moonglows came from, but that could be your issue.

 

[Native Hunter]

I've been out doing some work recently and checking the collateral damage for the year. This type of conifer damage is never ending:

Doing some hinge cutting just in time for the current snow. The deer will enjoy the tree tops.

Food plots eaten down more than normal this winter.

Doing some mowing with DR an Bushhog too. Bushhogging is to partially open up for spring turkeys

I have three bobcats and two coyotes now. Trapper will be in as soon as the snow goes off. Cleaning out the predators should help the turkeys. Here are a few recent wildlife pics:

Thanks for checking it out. Hope you enjoy.

 

[George]

Nice rubs. Are you hinge cutting hickories? Can I hack that maple behind your second rub?

G

 

[Native Hunter]

Nice rubs. Are you hinge cutting hickories? Can I hack that maple behind your second rub?

G

Yes, you can hack that maple, but I would prefer you to hinge it so that honeysuckle will cover the top. The browse line on my honeysuckle is pretty obvious this year. I will hinge cut a few hickory, even though I realize they are not that great. In fact, I have got to where I hinge about everything except for sweetgum. They get cut completely off and get a good dose of straight Gly.

I'm getting almost as good as you with a chainsaw. I just wish I was still as young as you.

 

[cutman]

Do you like that DR mower? Which model do you have? I’m in the market for something like that and would love to hear your thoughts on it.

 

[Native Hunter]

Do you like that DR mower? Which model do you have? I’m in the market for something like that and would love to hear your thoughts on it.

Cutman, I absolutely love my DR. It is perfect for getting into tight places and around trees where you can't get a tractor and bushhog. You can also mow down saplings, etc. that you can't mow with a lawn mower. It has a special place in habitat management that other mowers can't fill. You can use it around edges to mow down briers or rose bushes to get tender new growth started or make new trails where you want them. I find myself using mine all the time.

Mine is several years old, so my model would not be available anymore. I just looked and think I would go with the Pro Max 30. The thing I don't like about the Pro Max 34 is that it looks like it would be easy to hang up if you were backing up. Look at the pictures and I think you will see what I mean relative to the design at the bottom of the deck.

 

[cutman]

Perfect. Thank you. This is the model I’ve been looking at:

https://www.drpower.com/Power-Equip...-Behind/DR-Field-and-Brush-Mower/p/AT47330BEN

And I would use if for the exact reasons you mentioned - primarily mowing under trees that I can’t reach otherwise.

 

[Native Hunter]

Perfect. Thank you. This is the model I’ve been looking at:

https://www.drpower.com/Power-Equipment/Field-&-Brush-Mowers-/Walk-Behind/DR-Field-and-Brush-Mower/p/AT47330BEN

And I would use if for the exact reasons you mentioned - primarily mowing under trees that I can’t reach otherwise.

I might also mention that it is great exercise, and there is something therapeutic about watching big sweetgums ground into a million pieces right before your eyes.

 

[dogghr]

You been doing some serious hinge cutting Native. Don't remember you doing that as much in the past but maybe I forget. Loved the pic of you working your butt off with the DR. That thing is a beast for sure.
Where did you shoot your most bucks this year, the old stand or the newer condo stand? Place Looks great.

 

[Native Hunter]

You been doing some serious hinge cutting Native. Don't remember you doing that as much in the past but maybe I forget. Loved the pic of you working your butt off with the DR. That thing is a beast for sure.
Where did you shoot your most bucks this year, the old stand or the newer condo stand? Place Looks great.

Thanks dogghr. I ended up passing on several bucks at both places this year, but my son took his buck at the old place that you and Pete visited. We still had lots of deer meat in the freezer from both of us killing bucks last year, so my trigger finger was not too itchy this time. The good news is that nearly every buck I passed has survived (very unusual), so we could possibly have a lot of options next year.

At the new place I have been doing quite a bit of cutting. My goal is to create some shooting lanes but at the same time to hinge to the side to create food and bedding. At the old place I have been making some of your random clusters. I'm looking forward to getting out in the near future and working at both places.

PS - I brought the trapper back this year. If you will remember, we just skipped last year because he had done such a good job the year before. In three days this time he has already caught the two coyotes I have been seeing on camera and one of the two bobcats. He said the fur was really good on the big male yote, which is unusual for males this time of year.

 

[buckdeer1]

With all those pears,have you tried any other asian pears besides the korean giant?I don't have those but do have several others.They are the best eating for sure and I don't let many of them hit the ground

 

[Native Hunter]

With all those pears,have you tried any other asian pears besides the korean giant?I don't have those but do have several others.They are the best eating for sure and I don't let many of them hit the ground

Yes, I have Galloway from the WG, which is an Asian Pear. It has a very good taste and drops late. It is resistant to FB as well. Just recently I have planted several new pears from Blue Hill, along with some of their crabapples. I’m really excited to see how those do over the next few years.

 

[Native Hunter]

Glad to see this buck I passed still alive and hanging around despite the recent mowing, hinge cutting and trapping going on. I hope he stays a homebody....

 

[TreeDaddy]

You been doing some serious hinge cutting Native. Don't remember you doing that as much in the past but maybe I forget. Loved the pic of you working your butt off with the DR. That thing is a beast for sure.
Where did you shoot your most bucks this year, the old stand or the newer condo stand? Place Looks great.

No need for gym membership if you run a DR

bill

 

[Native Hunter]

A big goal of mine this spring is to get all of my property line fences back in good shape. Alot of this will be driving new steel post and tying them in, but there is a little wire to string too. My dad has cabin fever and he told me he was busting to help - and he is good help. I will also be doing some chainsaw work near the property lines to block the view. I like for my property line fences to be up. There can be no excuse for anyone being where they shouldn't be that way.

The trapper is pulling out Monday. He has done a good job - catching two bobcats and four coyotes this year.

I like how this is progressing:

I have run most all of my mature bucks off with all of the chainsaw work and other things going on. But, I've done this before in the spring and they always come back soon.

It had been a while since I had seen my stocking fawn. Thought it was dead, but it is back again.

Juvenile bobcats at both of my farms. They are multiplying faster these days. It will keep the trapper busy.

That's about it. I'm going part time soon and retiring before the end of the year. If I stay healthy and the Good Lord is willing, watch out for some serious habitat work in the future.

 

[Cedar Ridge]

Congrats on the upcoming retirement, Native. Can’t wait to see what all you get into!

 

[Native Hunter]

3-12-22 Update:
I've been spending quite a bit of time recently doing the following things:

• Cutting some firewood for my mom
• Transplanting a bunch of different shrubs to various locations (mostly red osier dogwood, arrowwood viburnum, hazelnuts and a few other miscellaneous)
• Planting some sandbar willow sticks at the edge of a swampy place where I want some screening
• Continuing to work a little on repairing property line fences
• Direct seeding chinkapin nuts

I've hauled her two big loads and have two more stacked and ready to haul

When you get a root ball like this and plant when dormant, your shrubs will live.

I'm getting some good sized chinkapins now:

I got my scions cut this year just in time. It's already too late to gather pear scions. They have already broken buds here.

This is my first attempt at willow growing. We will see how it works. I need some screening at this spot, but it's too wet for most other stuff to grow.

I can now plant a lot of bigger shrubs without protecting them, because they have become so numerous on my land. Many will be browsed, but it won't be enough to hurt them.

At the places where I mowed down the native grass strips earlier this year, I now have turkeys coming in. I plan on doing some hunting if all goes as planned.

My 87 year old dad gave me a gift the other day. He said he bought a used vehicle when he was a teenager, and this hatchet was under the seat. It's a Montgomery Ward. Cool old piece.

That's about it for now guys. I will be part time working by the end of April and gradually retiring soon after that. Take Care.

 

[George]

Good stuff. How does that sycamore work for you for firewood? I'm cutting some up from the big tree that I dropped in the cabin plot.

G