Mid-Summer at Long Ridge 2017

Mid-summer has arrived here at Long Ridge, and cameras are starting to show great growth on this year's bucks and fawns' This yearling is doing fine, and I hope he lives to become a trophy some day.

This fawn is on the Far ridge, and has good size. lots of fawn around though I don't see the numbers of twins and triplets I did last year.

This would be it's Mom.

Another little buck.;

Fertilizing and liming the East Ridge.

I am using a very spreadable lime that I get from Agway. It spreads easily with a small fertilizer spreader. It is not pelletized but rather named 'granular' lime.

The next step of course is too rototill about four inches to mix it all in.

I do my math and footage ahead of time just as I do for food plot clients.

Without a lab soil test, the New England rule of thumb is 2-3 tons of lime per acre. Because clients food plots are rarely an acre (most of mine are not either) I put this table together for quick reference.

The BEST method of course is to have a professional soil test done.

The two pictures below are for organizing the fall food plot plantings. I believe in rotating types of planting, so I keep good records of what goes where each year.

Below is a sample of a laboratory lab test.

Caught by a game camera!

Look at who gets caught on camera the next day...

And a week later check out this handsome eight pointer. I had about twenty pictures of this dude...quite a curious guy. Hope he remains so during the hunt!

The doe and fawn shown are a bit blurry because I was on the John Deere and those diesels vibrate!

A different pair and little one racing around for fun...

A big mouthful of Prograze about 2 weeks after planting.

Tons of turkeys every day in the Far Fields but hardly any poults. I think we had a huge wet spring die-off.

Below are East Plot photos. Moms and playful fawns.

A closeup!

Exercise and health!

Can't leave out the Pork. Not a good night picture but far superior to the night pictures my Moultrie cameras give. They are so bad that the company should be embarrassed.

I do have my bow target set up and am practicing daily. My release gave out so I purchased a Cobra 'Serpeant' and like it a lot. All my releases have always been Cobras. Wait, I've only had one. My first release was bought in 1994 and it has served me well for 23 years until the velcro wore out! I figured the company deserved another chance!

Let me know what you are all up too!

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net