Catching Up at LRDC

We have so many game pictures at Long Ridge that I am deleting most of them. Early on in the summer the fawns and does were non-existent, and I figured fawn recruitment was very low. Then in August, twins, and singles began appearing everywhere.

 

 The raccoons are helpful during early September stands, because they will tell you where the first acorns are. Hence, deer!

 A nice running shot over a mineral lick...

 This is a healthy fawn!

 And a few more...

 Night shot...

 This buck is eating apples about twenty feet from our deer camp porch!

 Unwelcome visitor...but look! The coyote is eating apples, and in the background is a deer waiting her turn! I have never seen a coyote and deer at ease together before...

 These big bears are all over the place. My hunt starts tomorrow...

In The Heat of Summer at LRDC

Like most of the country, here at Long Ridge we are sweltering in high humidity and temps in the 90's. Little other than mowing and trimming can get done in such heat. Usually by mid July I am cutting, chopping, sowing etc. to get plots ready for August planting. This year I haven't accomplished a thing. We have barely a third of the hay we need, and hoping for a good August cut! I find that I have up to two thirds less animal pictures over the last few months, and am hoping that it is simply the heat. Only one fawn so far (a big fat healthy one) and that is highly unusual. Below are two different does on the East plot.

Here I am ATVing past my newest clover patch. While it has been browsed some, other years would have seen it chewed to half this height. It worries me.

At least one doe likes it.

Here is my sheltie 'Kalie' catching up to me on the ATV..

My only night shot on this plot in a week!

A broken turkey egg I happened on in the woods. I don't know if it hatched or was scavenged.

The doe below is watching me mow with a Bush Hog. She is 170 yards away.

In the road shot, I am standing next to my mail box with two yapping Shelties. The doe in the road is about 300 yards away and I am zoomed at 10X. She stood there a good ten minutes drinking water out of a pothole! There is a clear running stream thirty feet to the left. Go figure!

The three deer below are on the East Ridge plot.

 

 

 

I hope you are all managing to stay somewhat cool. Can't practice bow in this heat!

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net



July Arrives at Long Ridge

It has been a hot wet June here at LR, and I am totally bored with mowing lawns and typical farm maintenance chores. Just aching to get back to the woods, as are the pups for their walks. From early May through mid-July I don't let the dogs go beyond the camp parking lot. They will invariably happen upon a fawn carefully hidden by Mom close to human habitat. (fewer coyotes and bears) This has cost us dearly in vet bills in the past. The only wood trekking I do is ATV out to change camera cards. I use to clear trees, mow food plots and that sort of thing all summer but no longer. Every tree cut in May or June has an occupied nest, or lands on a turkey nest or near a fawn. Come mid July, I'll be out there.

This doe below looks to have given birth.

Hard to tell in the next few pictures what this rack will look like by August. He IS taking his mineral supplement though.

A gorgeous bobcat but check his mouth. He is panting in this heat.

Hard to imagine a prettier face!

I suspect that both coyote pictures are the same leggy dude..

A happy raccoon taking minerals. Apparently there is some distemper going around with these guys, some have been seen staggering and foaming at the mouth.

A Far Ridge resident cruising through.

Below I call this guy the 'Night Stalker'

A red fox camera curious?

Not absolutely sure what this visitor is, but guessing a raccoon - anyone else want to guess?

As we hit July it is time for you archers to get your bows tuned, and targets set up. Season here in NH starts in ten weeks! My bow needed a new draw adjustment modular, and tubing on the peep. It was completely shot and it is never pretty when those let go unexpectedly. I use a Whisker Biscuit rest, and replaced the innards on that, so I think I am ready to practice. In the next week or so I will repeat my "How do you start a deer camp?" (with no money, maybe no land etc.) It's easy to do, and was the original basis for this blog years ago. I had a query wondering if I mind people contacting me via email. I don't mind at all, and that is why I sign with my address.

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net



Spring Blooming At long Rindge

Mid June it may be, but I have a few left over early spring pictures, and wanted to get them out. The first doe below is 10 feet in front of one of our turkey blinds where we call the East plot. Very hungry, and very, very pregnant. 

The next doe is quite a ways from the East Plot, at a mineral lick far up on some ridges. Very pregnant and due any minute if you check her bagged up udder.

Below is mom and last years surviver! She is clearly signaling another deer to stay away from the lick - not sure if her babe, or a deer out of the shot is meant to receive it.

Below I have named these 'molcanos'!Not sure why they are so high except it was below freezing, and perhaps the dirt froze in place as the mole kicked it up. The highest one was about nine inches tall. Never seen them like this before.

Someone tried to hide this acorn in the fall and apparently forgot where they put it.

Heaving bales down from the loft, I found this ermine weasel in prime winter coat dead deep in the hay. They go up there after chipmunks and squirrels, but hard to know what killed this guy. Perhaps another ermine?

These little bear tracks are in the lane, twenty feet from deer camp. 

The bear track below is in a run-off puddle in the lane and is almost five inches across. Mom and last years cub?

I have gotten several plots tilled but it has been too wet to plant yet, so still waiting. I like to get clover in by the middle of May, but just haven't had the opportunity. Hopefully this week will clear the moisture, and I can go to work. What are your plans for fall?

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net



Critters at Long Ridge Deer Camp

These two look like twins from last year, but the further one looks a lot bigger. Plus, he appears more style conscious with the Mohawk haircut...

 

Still in antlers May 16th! What will it take for him to decide to grow new and bigger ones?

Busy bear below,...we are over run by bears, and the fawn recruitment will suffer...

Another shot of May antlers! Rare in the North...

I love the little porks. They all but disappeared for some years as the Fisher wiped them out. Now the trappers have the Fisher under control, we are starting to see them again.

Another bear shot...

He didn't like having his picture taken.

He has hit the camera and bent it to the ground where it takes a picture of his foot...

The camera was alright once I up righted it and re-set it. Check the balloon that landed here. When I went up to change camera cards,  I did not see it and have not seen it since. Did a bear eat it?

Camps for fall are well covered as far as firewood goes!

Nice beard here, I'd guess 11 inches.

Same tom and fully fanned. Never got him and neither did other LRDC hunters!

 

 

What is on your summer schedule for fall prep. Anyone thinking about starting a deer camp? Need help? Call me!

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net