Long Ridge Deer camp Is Back! 2025 Pics

 Google has not been kind to LRDC on blogspot, but for now we are back and at it. For most of a year we cold not post photos, so quite a backlog to go. We did have very successful camps last fall, topped out by a magnificent ten pointer and a 183 lb. doe! Above is a red fox with what appears to be a squirrel. Below is a late fall buck that escaped the scopes of fall!.

                                                Turkey under the apple tree this spring.

  This doe is in on the census station, and arguing with another doe for space. Quite comical on video.

                                                 Young spring buck behind the compound.

                                             An older spring buck in the same field corner!

           Lots of bears as usual though always on the move and unpredictable. Plenty of cubs.

                   We lose some turkeys during the winters here but this early spring flock looks good.

I like the picture below because we often see red and gray foxes co-mingling with deer.

                                                                     Fox with squirrel?

                                                      Bulbus at this point, so we'll see...

                                                 These two will be hunted this fall for sure!

                                                  A handsome cat at the census station.

I am now hoping to make this a monthly blog again, and if Google allows. If not we'll go to substack. 

Lots more pictures to come, and remember, don't bother with the dates on the pictures. These are all current, I simply cannot bother to se-set all the cameras each time I change batteries. In the meantime, enjoy a walk in the woods. It is healthful. Comments and criticisms welcomed!

                                               Jack at jcottonzeller@gmail.com

Spring Breaks at Long Ridge Deer Camp

 Here are a few earlier spring pics I forgot to post. And a picture of my buddy and best friend Chris who passed away a year ago. Deer camp misses him...As do I.

2023 in Review at Longridge Deer camp

We had two great camps this year, a muzzle loader and the a rifle weekend. It was wonderful to see some hunters we hadn't seen for some years (things ARE returning to normal?) and to catch up on family, work, retirement as well as meet some newcomers. As usual, after Friday afternoon's hunt we gather for cocktails and treats around camp and the fire. Main supper will not be served until 8PM after the worlds best chicken wings are prepared and eaten!. 

Meal prep below and a finished plate!

Typically venison, with a particularly proprietary wild game sauce, baked potato with butter and sour cream, and a big salad. Healthy, unprocessed, and from the land.

We seat ten at a time.

A mix of fall pictures below. I am fond of the flying bird pictures, and of course of the big bucks.

This is the biggest white oak on the farm, and a great hunting spot. Two adults cannot even get their hands close. I should measure this one...

Full, and relaxing.

No deer camp would ever be complete without this.

Some of the bunks are full at 

8:30, others at 11PM!

I particularly love this photo. It reminds me of a silly painting I saw somewhere, though I cannot remember what it was.

Pitch black out and a drone chasing this deer!. Flying squirrel?

This immature Gray up behind the house. A game crossing right there!

No decent fall would be complete without wild apples!

We had some several pictures of this buck below. Somehow he lost one. Not uncommon, as every year I have one or two with a severely broken of malformed antler. 

Almost time to wrap it up for an early morning hunt to come!.

 Not much to post this winter (we haven't had one) and because of the lack of snow and so much browse, I have not set up a census station. There is no point in these conditions as deer can and will travel miles for corn. It would surely be a flawed number. In any case, I will be posting more often this year and hope you all enjoy! Comments and critique welcomed! 

Jack Zeller

jcottonzeller@gmail.com