End of Winter at Long ridge

Things are really thawing out here at Long Ridge and the deer are roaming widely again. I put out one camera March 1st, up behind an overgrown Christmas tree plantation and got some decent shots.

 

 Turkeys have left their tracks on this snow covered food plot.

My Trackometer tells me this deer would dress out at about 120 pounds. I will measure the hooves of the next deer I take and see how good this thing is. It's inventor sounds plausible.

I couldn't resist the beauty of this snow covered golden rod...

Not much bark scraping on young hemlocks going on this winter. It has been a light snow year and the deer have plenty of browse.

Next three shots are of deer digging down to clover and grass in a field and in the East plot.

 

On this day I hiked up a snowmobile trail toward the ridges in hopes of calling in a coyoye. No luck. Only saw one coyote track. A farm neighbor who slaughters cows has lured them his way, and really thinned out the pack. Bummer! 

More game camera shots below...

A gorgeous gray above...

 

Same fox I think... 

This maple has been savaged by deer. I cut it and left it at the edge of the Far Ridge plot so they could get the buds.

 

 



 It's back down to 18 degrees, but spring is only weeks away! In this part of the country, we'll lose the rest of our snow, get an 18 inch blizzard, lose it again, go to 60 degrees, then shear the sheep in April and watch the temperature drop to 5 degrees. Happens every time!

Let me know what you are all doing!

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

 

 

Deer Camp Chores Mid-Winter

Not all are chores mind you, most of the things we do here at Long Ridge are fun, such as acheiving and measuring this .223 group I shot at the range a few weeks ago. Somewhere around a third of an inch, and I believe I have found the pet factory load for this rifle. It is a TC Venture Predator and for a 6+ pound rifle, it is a keeper for varmint hunting in rough country!

 Um...I guess burning brush piles from pasture or food plot forgings are not really chores either. Tons of fun, and warm work on a cold day!

 Below the three pictures show a twenty foot ladder stand I am dismantling to move to a new location. This used to be fun, but really IS a chore unless I'm doing it with pals. This day I was alone, and it was freezing. It was over a turnip plot (which the deer never glanced at) then once turned to clover, were all over it. But the stand is needed elsewhere...

Below you see the least chore-like work we do at LRDC, improving food plots and habitat (and filling the wood stove)...This is a 16 inch black birch that I completely girdled three years ago but it refused to stop growing. I also cut some big maples, but left them on the ground until the deer have finished off the buds (almost done).

 

 This was a stocking gift I received for Christmas. It came with a book of knowledge about deer tracks (I had thought I knew everything) and directions for use. Measuring the width of front or rear hooves (thus the two scales) will give you an estimated weight of the deer when dressed. Invented by a Vermont F&G commissioner and wildlife biologist, this trackometer will keep you busy in the woods! By sheer coincidence I met the inventor last week at a gun show in Barre Vermont, which I attended with a deer camp hunter pal.

 Below you can see the trails before snow. The freezing cold temperatures form deep (up to 15 inches) crystals of ice which are dangerous to walk on, so ATV's are necessary when traversing them. On this day, I arrived at the Far Ridge only to discover a flat tire caused by a 3/4 inch gash in the tread. Not sure what caused it, but made it back to camp on the flat!

 It's eleven degrees out, and this roof snow just gave up.

 Below is a trail that turned into a stream which froze solid (I know, moving water never freezes).
The ice, dusted with snow, is over a foot thick.

 Below is the same place in the trail after a bit of snow.

 

This last picture is the trail today. There is a foot of snow on top of the ice, and it is now serving as a snowmobile trail! Kalie and Luna love the easy job of hiking on firm snow!

 Let me know what is keeping you all occupied this winter!

 

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net 

 



Long Ridge Camp Scenes 2012

Three great camps were held at Long Ridge this year, all during firearms season. In all, eight hunters took deer (not all here), moose, grouse,turkeys and pheasant. No luck on elk for our lone western hunter this year. Below hunters chat and have cocktails before dinner.

 Gear stowed and bunks ready below...

 Many of these hunters only link up once a year at camp. There is much catching up to do and plans to make.

Below you see the grill packed to the edges with moose steaks. Grilled with a delicious coating, and then covered with sauce when served, they were delicious! Add baked potatoes, and a big salad, and it was four star. Don't forget a perfect red made this even better!

 After supper stories.

 This fire burns non-stop from Friday noon until Sunday dark each weekend. 

 Below is the current bulletin board in camp of most (not all) deer, moose and other successful hunts this fall. It has been a great season.

 A picture I took of the full moon from camp.

 Below is the last day this hunter and I could hunt this season. Joe took this doe at 30 yards while still hunting with his bow. Down below Walker's field, in stuff so thick we had to cut a path in and out to drag her to the rigs. I had no luck this day, and finished the season with one deer.

 Another evening's repast.

Three weeks now it has been over, and I can hardly believe it!

I'll follow up with some more of the seasons pictures!

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net

Long Ridge 2012 Fall Catch Up!

It's been about two months since I last posted...a busy fall with tons of fun hunting and camps giving me the chance to self sabbatical I guess.. Let's take a look at some animals about during hunting season. Eight of us took deer, plus a turkey, plus a grouse, plus a moose, and probably more! The buck below and the doe below him is 130 yards from deer camp at a tree rub. This seven pointer was taken by a Vermont camp member. He was chasing a doe, and it was a running shot. Nice.

 This young man was not taken, and for that I am glad. I still like adhering to QDMA standards.

 Nice fat doe, and this is my first IR camera. Not terribly impressed with IR night shots, and I note that the bucks are aware of it anyway. 

 Turks on my favorite stand.

 Another decent guy!

 Never took this guy either..

 I took this doe with a muzzle loader at 35 yards. Dressed out at 125, smallish for these woods.

 I was alone, so glad that daylight, a sled, and ATV were handy. We were about 3/4 miles out.

 Hanging at camp.

Nice rub for a ten inch diameter tree. This was visited by multiple bucks just above camp.

Stayed tuned for posts of the three camps this season.

jackzeller@myfairpoint.net