April Fool's at Long Ridge Deer Camp

Fox Bait!

Just kidding...these chicks are splayed out in a hot spring sun just soaking up the rays! April Fool's!

The next six pictures show two deer on the East Ridge plot..They look winter worn, and not all that healthy...definitely not part of the Far Ridge group that follows...there are only two deer in this group of pictures.

The next set of pictures are all on the Far Ridge, either a plot or the mineral lick. These animals all look sleek and shiny.

No idea where THIS picture came from. We have no snow, and I suspect it is from back in Feb/March. See the chicken feather in his mouth, and the chicken remains beneath the tree/ That was several posts ago. Silly camera!

This guy still has antlers as of April 4th! Imagine that!.

This buck, clearly much bigger than the little guy, has already dropped his antlers and the bulbs have already started to grow!

Subservience...

There will be a nice set there by fall, we hope.

Two cameras out of batteries, and one camera to be repaired..I'll keep posting pictures and hopefully have all three cameras out again soon! In the meantime, I have rototilled the Tall Tine Tubers plot ( that was a useless endeavor, more on that later) and clover goes there  during the next few weeks. Out comes the lime spreader etc!

Stay in touch and let me know how your spring is going..

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

Early Spring Game Pictures from Long Ridge

Here are some early wildlife pictures...As I said, with the temps above freezing the cameras are out early this spring, and some interesting takes...

I always love the Snowshoe Hare...

Below is the first photo ever of two hare in the same picture...must be mating season! Looks like a pretty contented guy in the foreground..

Handsome spots---all about to go!

And tons of deer...

If you closely at this little guy you can see he just shed his spikes...Following, you see another spike horn who has not yet given them up!

The sign of a fantastically easy winter...

These deer are sleek, and in great health...

Hey you! Yeah, you! You lookin' at me? I call her 'Scarface" Check the healed scar tissue and injury out on the left cheek of this doe. Wonder what grabbed her!

Ever seen a bigger rump on a rabbit?

Greening up nicely, and this plot is covered with tracks.

Early mineral licks make a big difference.

With no snow, and early frost thaws, we will start having camp work days in April...What else to do! 

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

Late March at Long Ridge

Quiet here in New Hampshire. March is usually such a nasty month, but it has been like May or June. The snow you see in the few wildlife pictures below left about four days ago. It is all gone now, and nearly all the frost is out of the ground. Maple syrup season ended abruptly because of the warmth.

Raccoon with a purpose!

Fuzzy little guy on the Far Ridge.

The next two pictures are in the Near Field, in sight of camp. This particular spot lost it's last snow yesterday. Here are two scenes of fox after mice. I suspect the fox won.

Below you see a Savage model 11 FHNS (floorplate mag) in .223. I know I have been saying that I love to carry my Colt M4 and I do. But I wanted to scope it for better accuracy, as it now is equipped with an Armco red dot combat sight. Perfect for operator work, but not so good for 200 yard coyotes. Then, I thought it ought to remain dedicated to it's original purpose - protection. So I'll leave it be. I had read all kinds of things about the out of the box accuracy from Savage, so picked this up to try it. I will wring it out, see what it does, and then sell it at my cost (I am an FFL) .

Scoped it with a Leupold 3.5x10, my go to scope for accuracy. Burris mounts and rings are excellent buys, and bring the eye piece right where it should be...

Fist time at range with the Savage. 60 degrees, sunny, no wind factor...

I always seem to end up with so much gear at the range. I even had cleaning stuff with me which I did not use. (the break in the barrel stuff, you know, fire one shot, clean, fire another, clean, for ten shots etc is bunk in my opinion)

Can't find where I measured this group, but it was not bad, definitely moa!

Five shots to sight in scope at 100 yards, and we are off.

The group below was fired using Hornady's 60 grain TAP (tactical action police) rounds. This was the second day at the range and it was in the 70's but with an 8mph cross wind.

This rifle, with a 1 in 9 twist seems to shoot the 55 grain reloaded Ultramax rounds as accurately as the TAP rounds.

Looking at the TAP group below however, I like to think I threw the third shot! Remember, this is a 6 1/2 pound rifle with a whippy little barrel you can carry all day!

The tightest group I have shot with this gun was with Federal 55 grain FMJ cheap stuff. Half inch groups are nothing to complain about. If I reloaded for this caliber and let the barrel cool between groups, this little gun would be a less than 1/2 inch shooter every time!

I'll continue to shoot this rifle for a hundred rounds, really dial it in, and let you know!

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net