Deer Testing Boundaries and New Taxidermy

The first test of the electric fence occurred this week. This is the fence set up. I forgot to take a photo before resetting the rope but both the outside wire and the high wire had been knocked loose.

Here's a curious visitor.

It's hard to make out but there is a deer bolting to the right in this photo.  I think it got zapped and startled into the fenced area instead of out.  I'm not sure where or how it got out but the fence was only disturbed in the one spot.  I hope you learned your lesson Bambi!

Meanwhile, over by the driveway, the power company work has been paused due to equipment troubles.

But they were back this week and finished up.

That machine does some serious chewing.

My New Mexico mule deer arrived this week.  Notice the velvet remaining on the G2.

Anyway, I got him hung this weekend.

Spring is definitely underway.

It's still early but blooms are starting to happen.

The dogwoods are just scattered in the understory.

But they are blooming back there.

Redbuds haven't quite opened yet.

I found this doe in the woods near the pond stand.

It was just off of the Lucy trail and had been extensively fed on.

It seemed to be a pretty small doe. Couldn't tell cause of death. Coyote kill?  Wounded or sick?

The turkeys are becoming active.

Looks like 3 jakes.

And these are 3 jakes (notice difference in feather length in fan).

This makes it obvious.

Bobcat activity.

And coyotes.

This is near the doe carcass.

And fox.

Neighborhood dogs.

Buck pedicles are obvious here.

And here.

March 24 and this buck still has one antler.

Here he is again.

Stampede.

Skunk.

And me frost seeding a couple weeks ago.

Fish Stocking Time

 I took advantage of another warm spell to get a few chores done.  The first stop was at Jones Fish.

I usually stock some fathead minnows and some golden shiners.  This insures good forage for the predators in the pond - bluegill and bass.

I also put a couple grass carp in each year to keep the pond clean.  And this year, I decided to try some perch.  They like colder water and it may not work out.  But I was inspired by my nephew Dave's ice fishing.  He was catching perch and it reminded me how tasty they can be.  I just put 10 in and we'll see if the prosper.

They get packaged in these bags filled with oxygen.  Then I float them for awhile to equalize temperature.  Then I gradually mix in some pond water before releasing them.

I also did some frost seeding in my clover plots. Several of my seed bags arrived leaking seed.  Their top seal was defective.  Whitetail Institute supplied replacement bags for the leaky ones.  This stuff is as valuable as gold so I sure don't want to waste any.

I got some free mineral as a promotion so I'm starting early to give them a taste.

Only a couple weeks until I head to Argentina so I thought I'd better bang some steel plates.

I'll be using their rifle but I practiced a bit with my 30-06 off bags and sticks. Confidence increased.

Daffodils are blooming.  I threw out a few bulbs years ago and they keep coming back.

They survive by the targets for the rifle range.

I had a couple of good walks looking for shed antlers - nada.

Lots of evidence of wind though. This knotty tree has been along my walks for years.

I guess that this is woodpecker damage.

In front of this snag are some green leaves.  The first thing to green up is the multiflora rose.  It would be a good time to fight it with a backpack sprayer.

Another big snag.

I tried to follow rub lines and deer trails to find shed antlers.  No luck.

Evidence of wind - trees snapped off mid trunk.  I think that they are mainly ash that were killed by the borer.

Uprooted pine.

Snapped off pine branches.

The power company tree crew is still not done.  Their machine broke and they are still waiting for a part.

The deer have found the slash from their work.

They are happy to browse on the buds and tips of these downed trees.  Food is scarce until green up progresses.

I usually give them a little corn as a boost at this time of year.

And they descend on it quickly.

One 50 lb bag across three spots.

Sometimes it causes fights.

And it attracts crowds.

3rd spot.

Even the raccoons come in for a taste.

Lots of other deer movement too.

There was quite a bit of rain in addition to the wind.  But no deer breaches of the electric fence.

Arrival.

Fox.

Bobcat.

Turkeys.

Another month until turkey season.