So today I took my walk and checked the hard mast. Beech are just starting to drop. Got a cam pic of dozens of grackle on the ground in front of a trail cam, actual trail. In the center of my woods. Baffled me because I didn't realize they'd eat beech nuts. The only food there except a " hatch" as it were of tiny toads or frogs. It could be both actually. Pig nut hichories, and my red oak are dropping now. What are you seeing?
Oh I forgot the chestnuts a few good but beetles hammered my best tree so Zero there. What are you guys seeing in your areas?
I have not noticed anything dropping yet but I will look out for it this weekend on my scouting adventures.
Glad you posted that. On my walk through the oak flat the ground was sick with red acorns. Not small ones either, big fat ones and rather long ones. Deer have been hitting them hard from all the crumbs left. This will make getting to stands a tad harder. No standing farm corn, open clover and now WW fields going in. This will be an all night eating feast with them hitting the woods early and leaving late Every field around here us lined with bow and gun hunters. These deer learn very early when and when not to move. Most are non resident hunting camps / hunters that start the education in Sept.. Watched a group in the field the other night. I spooked a couple of doe closer than I thought to our hedge row. All the deer, many buck took notice but it never phased them ( stomping snorting and running) . Though a car on the road 200 yrds away held all their attention and caused them to head my way. I had to dbl time it back to house not to get caught. Curse or blessing the season time will tell. V
Today I had to finish up clearing trails from last wind event. Went to the oak flat and deer were running everywhere. They were on the oaks big time. This is great THIS year BUT not every year. Today I planted more Dunstan chestnuts. They produce early and every year. I'll have 2 dozen producing chestnuts within the next 3 years. I have 5 producing great now and the rest of 12 planted over the last few years will be dropping next year.
Thanks, though today I feel like my go get, got up and left...lol Note the time of post, The past week my internal clock reset and has given me a 1:30 a.m. wakeup call. That's getting old after a full days work. Weather is trying to beat me this year we have low 30's at night coming tomorrow. Yesterday was mamanic run to harvest garden and batten things down. A bushel or tomato,peppers,carrots,beets, cabbage, swisschard, zucchini,, beans. The cat her fall bath before it gets to cold. Saw work and tree planting, bow shooting, gear gathering and sorting...then you have the daily chores of cleaning and cooking dinner,laundry It's been a few years since we've had an earliy cold snap, I'm honestly caught off guard.
Planted another 4 Dunstan chestuts today. Dry...dry...dry conditions but rain coming tomorrow. Took forever to dig the holes through rock and shale. Went through a whole roll of fencing on the deer guards and two of hardware cloth for the mouse guards. Watered ones I planted 2 week's ago along wirh spring app!e plantings 55 gals. proof! Another 5 years and that field will be a late early bow , early gun hot spot.
Those things look like the china virus! We did not get a good acorn crop this year. That might explain why the deer and turkey are using my soybean plot so early and often this year.
Today I finally planted last chestnut...just couldn't decide where. It's in the upper plot. Snow due in a couple of days but trying right now. I also picked the last of my soft mast. The last of the kiwis. I'm sure they kicked me out if ketosis but we'll worth it. Holy cow they were sweet!. So healthy too,minus fructose, just packed with nutrients. Brought 4 hot peppers in and need to get the fig trees in the house..then that is a wrap on 2020. It was a productive year.
Lol Not to worry John T just put down how they popped in my mind. Remember the doe I shot? Shooting wasn't low on my list...
