Early Summer at Long Ridge Deer Camop

It is now officially summer at LRDC. Not because of calendar dates, but because of weather. Summer plants are bursting forth, some spring plants are past, and the lilacs have gone to seed! That determines summer, not some weatherman's statement! Below is a birch up on the Far Ridge. I was cutting a sun channel for the plot when I spotted this from fifty yards away. It looked and felt a lot like blood, but certainly is not. No idea what this is. Any ideas???...

 A healthy doe on a mineral lick

 This cool hare keeps showing, and showing, and showing, and apparently, he is quite sharp. Sensed pending danger and is OUT OF HERE!

 I know raccoons are good for something. Let me know your ideas!

 Must have been a rainy night when this dude ambled through...

 Bobcats were rare here up til about fifteen years ago...Now, we catch them on cameras quite often. There is no season open on them as of yet, which I like. Though they do take deer, their take is minimal.

 This guy I have shown all spring. This picture was taken May 20, and he still has last year antlers! We expect them to go any day.

 Yesterday (27th) I rode my ATV around the trails. I was in low range just putting along as is my wont, when I crawled up the steep ravine to the East Ridge Plot. There was a doe, eating in the plot, and hardly paid attention to me as I sat on the machine and idled.

 I unbridled my camera, and though she was less than 60 feet away, I ran the zoom up to full, and stood up in the saddle to get some pictures. That got her attention.

 Then back to feeding...

 Then she heard me crack a cold beer...

 What ARE you? She is asking...How beautiful, and how very pregnant...

 On a neighborhood road trip the other day we saw an owl fly across the road. I stopped and was able to get this marvelous picture of a barred owl...

 Here is a dude that will be a six pointer by fall. Not takeable, but handsome none the less.

Looking forward to hearing more of your adventures!

Jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

Late Spring Sowing For Does and Babes

Farming has taken much of my time away from food plots and hunting issues this spring...We have lost two prize ewes (to us) both for unknown issues, and between nursing visits and vet calls, I am behind! I do hope to catch up before summer hits. Below you see a half acre tilled up, done early. I again tilled it about two weeks ago, and limed and fertilized it for clover. Trouble is, it was so rainy out that I am worried I may have puddled the soil. We'll see. 

This is my turkey set-up on the Far Ridge. I have only been out twice, and nothing came in, though I can hear the toms in the distance.

Below are two other shots from my turkey seat.

Could not resist throwing this farm picture in. Nothing to do with hunting, but love that our Shelties hang out with the hens, who ALL hope to gain entrance to the farm kitchen! Open that door, and the hens will march right in and eat the cat food!

On the Far Ridge Stand, I have opened up a fifty yard sun window for the actual plot. I have made brush piles, and placed logs hopefully to influence how wildlife enters the plot.

The BIG moon, several weeks ago...

Our one successful turkey hunter so far...

Everyone is busy in spring! What are you all up too! 

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

Early Turkey Season at LRDC

Below are a couple of turkey hunters during youth weekend, a fellow police officer, and his sons. They come every year, and love the East side. They do get turkeys! Here they are setting up...

Mid-Spring at Long Ridge, 2012

These pictures date from about a week or so ago, but I decided to post another run of them because things will be heating up here in the woods over the next several weeks...fawns will be born, turkey hunting starts in a few days (youth weekend is NOW!) and plowing and seeding of food plots is happening.,..below are some recent shots from the Far Ridge mineral plot...

 The doe below is quite bagged up and looks as if she will fawn out this week or so...getting her protein and minerals at this lick.

 This handsome turkey boy is a taker on the East Plot, and I trust one of our hunters will bag him if I don't.

 This rangy boy is handsome in his own way, and I hope, oh, I hope, one of the hunters take him if they get a chance.

 I guess a grey squirrel...what do you think Wisconsin? Worth a shirt?

 Four feeders at once.

 I am sure the tom above will be in here, for her!

 A lot of arguing goes on here so I am establishing a second mineral lick, see below...

 Check the date, April 20, and his antlers are still on! When they finally pop off, we'll hear it all the way to the farm!

 It looks like a "Hello, what is THIS piece of apparatus?"

 Bunnies like minerals too.

 The other day it was full sun, and raining at the same time. This is all I could get but it is quite pretty I thought.

 While I was on the lower trail establishing a new mineral lick, this nest blew from a tree onto the ground next to me. All birch bark on the outside, and pine needles on the inside. Which of you birders knows who is responsible for this forest littering?

 The new mineral lick. I'll check it in a few weeks to see if it is used, and if it is, then relocate a camera to it.

Today, I tore up another half acre food plot, and I'll show you the details in a week or so! What is going on with you!

 jackzeller@myfairpoint.net