Catching Up at Long Ridge Deer Camp.

It is the tail end of August as I write this, having been absent since March. I appreciate the inquiries I received from readers. Family and health issues precluded any meaningful blog until now. I did manage to till and seed food plots before surgery, and they have been coming along fine with the recent rain we have had. We did have a work day here at camp, and eight of us cleared trails, tightened tree stands, and reset two of them. Shooting lanes were reopened, and a fun day for sure. 

Anticipating surgery on my right arm, I did purchase a crossbow. It has been sighted in, and is unbelievably accurate and powerful. There is probably no reason to go back to my compound equipment, so I will sell all of that. I will miss it though. 

This summer we have been in a moderate drought, and there is much less mast and many fewer apples in our wild trees. W hat we do have is falling already as you will see below. Not too many exotic pictures as I could not maintain camera cards for most of the summer. Below are some recents though with a few late winter census shots thrown in. 

First you see the ant hill I posed last year. It is a full foot higher now with a brother/sister smaller mounds on each side of it. On a major highway near here.

 Below is a shot of a forty acre piece we logged this winter. It was a dark piney piece completely dead at ground level. In a year it will be lush and green, and we'll see grouse, woodcock and other game flooding it. 

Below is the 'eyeball' on you from the census station.  

A few more winter shots...

1.5 yr. buck

Mom and babe below in the Far Field.

A handsome bobcat on the East Plot.

Below are some earlier shots of spring babies.

Turkeys are always in the equation. Love abounds.

Nice spread on this guy so far, but we'll see if he amounts to much this fall.

We have more squirrels than mosquitos here on the farm.

Nice fawn up on the Far Ridge...

Same place, different camera for this large Tom...

More logging pictures. All done best practices. No whole tree chipping. Give back to the Earth!

Below is a piece of black cherry I split this winter. Quite plainly an ant colony was wintering here. I hate dislocating happy ecosystems like this. I did take some of the ants and warm them to room temperature, but they never showed signs of life. Oh well... 

Winters onset and the stables are ready.

I love this shot below. It is a 40 year old Christmas tree plantation. It is right behind these trees that I conduct the yearly deer census.

So, it is good to be back, and I will try to keep up with news here at Long Ridge. Bow season opens in two weeks, and bear season in a few days. Camera or gun, you takes your choice!

Comments a critical thoughts welcome as always.

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net