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| Getting started with my first plot | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 20 2012, 09:49 AM (7,804 Views) | |
| Ikantski | Mar 20 2012, 09:49 AM Post #1 |
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This is in WMU 58, far from any ag fields. This year, the clearing will be about 1/3 acre with room to grow every year. It's at the towards edge of our sanctuary, not really designed to be hunted but possible to slip in for a late season hunt. The idea is to add a spring/summer/fall destination field to the property to give the deer a bit of a pattern. They do stick around for the winter but I'd think the snow would be too deep in any open areas for them to get to anything below it. I don't have an ATV or any other heavy equipment so that should be more than enough to handle on my own. As you can see, there is plenty of thick cover all around it. The plan is to use a garden tiller to control the weeds (mostly bracken fern) and loosen the soil, lime, fertilize and plant buckwheat as a green manure/weed suppressor. Maybe with the warm weather, I can do it twice then either all winter rye or winter rye and brassicas on half and half, depending on soil test. Any recommendations would of course be appreciated. Before ![]() So far ![]() There was already a decent trail running through there and lots of fresh tracks with the cutting so I put out a trail cam and corn/oats to see who was about, it didn't take long! I think the fawns are actually starting to follow me around. ![]()
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baydog
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Mar 20 2012, 12:32 PM Post #2 |
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Do you have access to roundup? |
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| Ikantski | Mar 20 2012, 01:05 PM Post #3 |
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No, I don't think it would be legal to use in this context in Ontario. |
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bigr
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Mar 20 2012, 06:25 PM Post #4 |
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Looks great so far I like the plan as well. It will be a win if not this year. Every other year if you get the work done. I have confidence. Can't wait to see the next round of pictures !!!! I see a nice pine for a treestand ! |
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baydog
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Mar 24 2012, 02:20 PM Post #5 |
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Looks like an awesome spot. |
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| Ikantski | Mar 26 2012, 11:16 AM Post #6 |
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Yep, it's coming together now, one more weekend should have it cleaned out. Got some soil for a soil test as well.
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barr creek acres
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Mar 26 2012, 11:58 AM Post #7 |
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Good job on the future food plot. Lots of hard work although Iam sure you will be rewarded and your deer herd will love it. |
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| Friggs | Mar 27 2012, 08:08 AM Post #8 |
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Plot looks real nice, what size is this plot ? I'm waiting for my soil test to arrive. Its for a new 1 acre plot I'm putting in also. Friggs |
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| Ikantski | Mar 27 2012, 08:14 AM Post #9 |
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It's 1/3 acre, 60 yards by 25. I was careful where I stacked the brushpiles so there'll be room to expand it a bit each year. |
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baydog
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Mar 27 2012, 05:18 PM Post #10 |
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Guys, if you don't mind, I'd like to hear what your soil tests come back like and if modifications are going to happen, how you'll do it.
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| Friggs | Mar 27 2012, 08:26 PM Post #11 |
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Here is my soil sample for a 1/4 acre kill plot which is in clover now. A little history on this plot....it was cleared in early spring of 2009 on the west edge of a thick wooded area and its a funnel or "V" shaped plot into this wooded area with a six foot trail into the bush. Lots of various wildlife traffic through this plot, had a trail cam to prove it. It was limed with about 800-900 lbs. or 3-45 gal. drums of hydrated lime in mid 2009 which contained calcium, potassium and a little sulfur and no magnesium. I got the 3 drums for free and wanted to try it and didn't know what was in it until the following soil test. The PH was 5.9 and went up to 6.7. I planted rye grain the first fall and brassica the following spring and in early 2011 I frost seeded clover and its still in clover now. I also fertilized with each planting and they all grew well. So here is the complete soil test. ![]() As you can see the Calcium and Mag. are low and this plot needs at least 1000 lbs. dolomite lime to get the PH back up there again. All the macro-nutrients (NPK) look OK and some of the micros could need adding. The CEC went from 6.7 to 9.4 and OM hasn't really changed much. So in a week or two I'll add 2 bags of K-mag (0-0-22,11mag,10S) and in the fall add 8-10 bags of dolomite lime. With sandy soils the lime and nutrients leach out and need to be replaced so I fertilize my clover in the spring and fall. I would love to add some manure to increase the OM. Like I said earlier I'm clearing a 1 acre plot and got a soil sample last spring |
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bigr
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Mar 27 2012, 08:55 PM Post #12 |
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Nice post ! I think it kinda shows that rule of thumb of 1 ton of lime per acre to bring up your ph 1 point. 1/4 acre and adding almost a ton to bring it up 2 points. Well done. |
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| Ikantski | Apr 2 2012, 12:34 PM Post #13 |
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Well, I took samples from 4 spots, mixed them together, sent them in and this is what I got back. I'm happy, it's certainly better than I was expecting. Time to start hauling lime.
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| Friggs | Apr 2 2012, 02:22 PM Post #14 |
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(1) First off your plot is going to need 3000 lbs. of lime to get your PH up there (7PH). You can spread half now and spread the other half in early fall. By liming it will bring down your aluminum level and some of your micro-nutrients such as Fe, Mn, S. (2) Your going to need 94 lbs. of Potassium for your plot, 3 bags of 0-0-60 or more won't hurt it. Your phosphorus is great due to all the composting matter and indicated by your organic matter, mine is 2.1, anything over 2 is good. (3) Most of your micro-nutrients are on the high side due to the acidic nature of your soil, evergreen trees also. For boron I use Twenty Mule Team Borax laundry detergent which contains 10% boron, I buy it at No-Frills grocery store. A 2kg. box is .44lbs of boron and you'll need a box and half for your plot. It's a fine powder and can be tossed around by hand (make sure no strong winds)or mixed in a sprayer with warm water. Overall, your not in bad shape... If I were you, I would add lime and fertilizer mentioned above, plant some buckwheat say in early June along with a bag of Urea 46-0-0. Buckwheat will do wonders for your soil and the deer will eat some also. When the buckwheat crop has 10-20% flowers about 40-50 days after planting mow it down and disk it in a few days later. Then about mid to late August add the rest of your lime and plant winter rye grain (NOT rye grass) along with some various white and red clovers. I would add another bag of Potash 0-0-60 also. You'll have green sprouts in a week or two and should feed your deer through the fall and winter and if the snow stays shallow. Come Spring the rye and clover will green up and deer will eat the nice tender green sprouts. Once the rye starts to show grain heads around May mow/cut it down to just above the clover. The rye will vanish in a few weeks and you'll have a nice green clover patch. Then come August again plant the rye mixture again or try brassica or leave it in clover for a while. I would also do some research on your soil test results at http://www.alcanada.com/index_htm_files/So...lysis_Guide.pdf this will help you understand what your soil is doing, especially the CEC. Also, visit and read this forum and read as much about your situation and what I mentioned above. http://www.qdma.com/forums/ Keep us informed with your progress and lots of photos. Good luck and if anything....have fun. Friggs |
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| Friggs | Apr 2 2012, 02:40 PM Post #15 |
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Forgot to mention... Try to get Dolomite or Dolomitic lime aka horticulture lime which has both calcium and magnesium which you need both. I like my PH around 6.5 which will grow about anything. So you might not need as much as 3000lbs of lime. It will take about 6 months for the lime to work in but the buckwheat and rye will grow in low PH and low nutrients. Also forgot to mention adding another bag of urea with the planting of the winter rye. Always make sure you disc in the urea or spread it before a good rain because urea will dissipate in a few days if not covered or watered in. I would also do another soil test next Spring. Friggs |
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| Ikantski | Apr 2 2012, 04:19 PM Post #16 |
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Thanks for the tips Friggs. I agree, the qdma forums are pretty useful, I post under the same name there. The Michigan forums are pretty good for finding info on planting sandy soils as well. https://www.google.ca/search?sourceid=chrom...sandy+buckwheat I went through that AL explanation about 10 times while I was waiting for the results! I actually used them through your recommendation here, they were great, had the results emailed to me 3.5 days after receiving the sample. Do places usually sell the dolomitic lime in bulk? I called 3 co-ops around here and the best I could find was $8 for a 20kg bag, does that sound right? I actually planted rye grain in a small 10x10 yard test plot last year. Not surprisingly, they weren't too crazy about it in the fall/winter as there wasn't very much but they've clipped it down to the ground this spring. Got my first turkey picture there too.
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| Friggs | Apr 2 2012, 07:10 PM Post #17 |
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Thanks for the link to Michigan Sportsman it's been awhile since I visited. I found this story which I found interesting regarding liming. http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=505 Last Friday I bought a 20kg. bag of dolomite lime from my co-op for $6.00 which I used to plant 2 apple and 4 pear which I grafted last year. Try a TSC store and ask for a price for 10-15 bags and see what they say, last year my local TSC had them on sale for $5.65 a bag, so I bought five bags which I got a better price. It would be nice to get your PH up to at least 6.0 if not, your phosphorus can't be utilized by your crop. Nice looking hen must be some Toms close by or I'm wondering if she's nesting near by. Friggs |
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| Ikantski | Apr 2 2012, 07:49 PM Post #18 |
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Good idea, I always forget about TSC. We have a few quarries and a few more co-ops close by to check out. Found this but none are that close, http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/crops/...ce/limeston.htm It's definitely not turkey country. A turkey could nest just about anywhere but there aren't any open areas. The one I made is about as open as it gets there so I'm always surprised to get a pic. In 18 months of owning the property, I've had 3 trail cam pics, never heard a gobble or spooked one so hopefully the little plot will help bring them around too. The good part about that is that I don't have to compete against corn or beans. I figure if I can get a year round set of foods going (clover, brassicas, winter rye) I'll be doing well, it doesn't have to be alfalfa, sugar beets or peas! I've read a bunch of North Jeff's stuff too and am also going to gradually keep expanding this plot every year until it's about 300-400 yards long by 25-30. It should be about 2 acres and wind through the property to get the deer moving. This is the article, http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/forum/blog.php?b=225 |
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| Ikantski | Jun 9 2012, 09:39 PM Post #19 |
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Well she's coming along pretty well, spread 1200 lbs of pelletized dolomitic lime today with a shoulder spreader. Planted some buckwheat as a test a few weeks ago and it's coming up pretty well. Should be able to get rid of those ferns and spread potassium and boron then get a real crop of buckwheat in there.![]()
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bigr
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Jun 9 2012, 10:27 PM Post #20 |
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Looks like your getting the sun you need from the time of day ! Awesome ! |
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baydog
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Jun 10 2012, 08:02 AM Post #21 |
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Looks like your going to have a hotspot!
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| Partikle | Jun 10 2012, 08:32 AM Post #22 |
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Looking good. Keep us posted, I enjoy seeing how these projects progress. |
![]() Population Control Specialist 00 Buck - Licensed to kill | |
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| deerfarmer | Jun 10 2012, 09:29 PM Post #23 |
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that's going to be a dynamite spot. the reward of turning it from forest to plot will be well worth your efforts alone i think. |
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| Friggs | Jun 13 2012, 07:02 AM Post #24 |
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WOW...i'm impressed, over 25 bags of lime spread with a shoulder spreader. I could never do that. Did you find Dolomitric lime and how much did you pay for a bag ? Your off to a good start and It looks good so far. Are you planning to plant something this fall after the buckwheat ? Friggs |
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| Ikantski | Jun 13 2012, 08:02 AM Post #25 |
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It was dolomitic for the mag and 6.95 a bag. After the first 5 bags, I just put the bags evenly around the plot and then would spread in a circle around them. After the buckwheat, I think I'm going to do the winter rye/red clover/forage radish thing, my local co-op has the radish so may as well mix a bit in. The problem so far is that the deer are murdering the buckwheat, not letting it get very tall. Going to put a browse enclosure next weekend. |
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| Ikantski | Jul 17 2012, 12:39 PM Post #26 |
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Well, this whole experiment has been a bit of a disaster so far. - Buckwheat was planted a bit late and the deer never let it get over 6" tall - Poplar stumps are sprouting like mad. The deer nip some of them off but nowhere near enough - I was finally able to find some potash and then almost killed myself trying to apply it with a shoulder spreader, that stuff is nasty. Finally got it spread with a dust mask, goggles etc - Hardly any rain since then, all the crystals are still sitting on the surface - Found a bunch of poison ivy growing in there now, that got sprayed I'm going to start pulling those small stumps out so I can till a bit before planting winter rye. I wish I levered them out when they were a few feet tall, got a little ahead of myself. At least my doe and fawn are still hanging around. ![]()
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Cervus_stalker
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Jul 17 2012, 01:23 PM Post #27 |
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It looks like you have put in a huge amount of work on this plot! Good job. Even if what you have planted isn't growing to your expectations, you've still done the critters a deed with this plot. Suckers from poplar and ash will be pretty nutritious for your deer, especially after your fertilizer applications. Also, deer do eat poison ivy and many other 'weeds' that will take up residence there. I bet that by next year you will have a nice plot established there. Hopefully next spring and summer offers up some better weather conditions for your planting. Even this fall, I can see this being an attractive spot in the sea of forest. |
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warningshot
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Jul 17 2012, 01:44 PM Post #28 |
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hard to hit a home run on the first swing ...looks like the deer like it .... |
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bigr
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Jul 17 2012, 08:35 PM Post #29 |
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Your mot the only one haveing problems. I blew up a plot today because of the bad weather conditions ! |
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| Ikantski | Jul 17 2012, 08:39 PM Post #30 |
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Haha yes that's true, I am lucky that I'm only trying to grow 1/3 acre of buckwheat instead of 300 acres of corn! |
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| Ikantski | Aug 8 2012, 03:52 PM Post #31 |
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FINALLY! Thursday looks nice so I'm going to whack some weeds and then spread 50# of rye, 2# of forage radish and 3-4# of Alice clover. The radish and clover probably won't grow much but I expect the rye will. I'm overseeding a bit because the surface is still mostly leaf litter, I haven't tilled it up or anything. ![]() |
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Mattones
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Aug 8 2012, 06:00 PM Post #32 |
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Wow! What a great post! Cant believe i missed this before now! Ill be watching this thread close! |
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| young hunter | Aug 8 2012, 07:28 PM Post #33 |
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nice pics i helped my dad do the same thing when we has our property its alot of work but rewarding to. i hope it works out |
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THEIRAN MOORE I LIVE TO HUNT | |
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| Ikantski | Aug 20 2012, 05:41 PM Post #34 |
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Here it is now, a lot of the weeds have been whacked but some remain. Broadcasted 45# of winter rye/2# of forage radish and 5# white clover 11 days ago. I was going to do a final whippersnipping before planting but found some poison ivy. I'd rather have a few weeds than that oil splashed all over me so I called it good enough and went ahead. Greening up nicely with all the rain we've had in the last 2 weeks. ![]() Winter rye is coming in very quickly with all the rain we've had! ![]() Winter rye seems to grow anywhere and everywhere it lands. In a stump... ![]() In thick pine needles... ![]() The smaller, old plot attached to the big one, with the same winter rye mix. ![]() A nearby local low area, always muddy. Put 2# of alsike clover (way too much) down 2 weeks ago.
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barr creek acres
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Aug 21 2012, 08:34 AM Post #35 |
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Good choice with the fall rye I planted winter wheat on one of my lots last year good draw for my deer herd although fall rye will leave your soil full of nitrogen as it decomposes in your layers of soil next spring and the deer love it as much as winter wheat. |
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| Ikantski | Sep 5 2012, 06:56 PM Post #36 |
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The plot is looking a lot better now. With the exception of a few poplar stumps, all the high stuff has been whacked back and the winter rye is coming in thick. Spread a 25kg of 46-0-0 (75#/acre of N) to give the plot a little boost.![]() I don't think I can shoot this doe anymore, I spend so much time there she's practically domesticated. Note the time, 20 minutes after I tromped through the plot spreading nitrogen. They're nibbling the rye a bit but she's there for the apples I put in front of the camera. ![]() The hazard of putting out apples in this neighborhood, this bear found them in 3 days. ![]() He's also going to the clearing where I'm trying to do a population survey except he's hitting that one during daylight hours. Going to try a mini-hunt for him this weekend.
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| Friggs | Sep 6 2012, 12:53 PM Post #37 |
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Your plot looks nice and I can't believe that doe coming out less than 20 minutes after you left. I think this doe is there to stay and might lure in a nice buck this fall. Maybe next spring she'll have a fawn or two. What are in the bags next to the bear ? fertilizer? Friggs |
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| Ikantski | Sep 6 2012, 01:11 PM Post #38 |
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Yep, that doe is definitely off limits. Her fawn is a buck so he'll probably get run out but hopefully he'll remember the area and come back in 5 years :) The white bags are corn. I'm trying to do a 3-week population survey to see who's around but it's not going so well. I've only got the doe and fawn and this black bear by the looks of it. Last year, in early December, I had 6 different does and 7 different bucks so I think I'll do my surveys post-season from now on. I think the explanation is in the topography. My land is fairly low and thick, regenerated forest. There's a ridge 1km away that is wide open and covered in old oak trees, I imagine a lot of deer are over there right now. In retrospect, it was kind of hopeless to do a survey while the acorns were dropping early and the deer weren't moving very much. |
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| Friggs | Sep 7 2012, 07:26 AM Post #39 |
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Your starting to sound like a deer manager Our doe's are off-limits too. Our numbers are down because we have a neighbor and his 4 friends that shoot anything brown mostly does and get as many tags as possible and hunt from Oct 1st - Dec 31st. I'm just jealous because they're all retired. I did a survey this summer and we had two does, one with twin fawns and the other no fawns, two nice bucks one 8 point and one 10 point and two spike bucks. Two moose and 4 bears. I tried the trophy rock next to the red salt block from co-op and they all liked the TR better than the salt block. It was $20.00 (ouch!) compared to the salt block. Its amazing that the young bear didn't rip those bags of corn open and have a free lunch, he is definitely guarding those bags. I once tried feeding deer with corn in a elevated timed feeder mostly all bears and coons. The bears kept the deer away because they slept under or near by the feeder and waited for the next application of corn, they even messed with the trail cameras. I'm working on posting a new plot i finished and seeded, I'm heading up this weekend and take a few photographs and post the results in a few days. Friggs |
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| Ikantski | Sep 7 2012, 07:36 AM Post #40 |
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Awesome, can't wait to see it! The bags are already pretty open, I do H-cuts in the top. It keeps it from getting mushy when it rains and then when the top bags is done, they can knock it off to get to the next one. |
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Our doe's are off-limits too. Our numbers are down because we have a neighbor and his 4 friends that shoot anything brown mostly does and get as many tags as possible and hunt from Oct 1st - Dec 31st. I'm just jealous because they're all retired.
2:31 PM Jul 11