Taunting Tom Turkeys

 The cameras were full this week of strutting Toms.  Here's a sample.

But first, I had some chores.  I decided that it was a good time to take a whack at the multiflora rose.  They are nicely greened up and very little else is.  So I loaded up a backpack sprayer and headed out to do battle with it.  Twice - two tanks.

It may be like peeing in the ocean but it was worth the effort (I think).

I also have to try to keep the brush and trees from invading my warm season grass prairie plot.  Burning it would be ideal but I'm gun-shy on that.  Someone at the DNR recommended brush-hogging 1/3 of it each year before green-up.

I did that this weekend and tried to spot mow areas with tree stems showing.  There's 2 or 3 acres total and it seems to be holding up pretty well without burning.

Here I am on the way in.

I also disked this field up for later planting in sunflowers (no pumpkins this year).

I also disked this field which will be a warm season food plot.  I bought a new mix to try this year.

The clover plots look pretty good but I am seeing some thistle coming up in a couple of them. It is invasive and hard to control.  I can't seem to kill it - just stunt it for a season.

So I sprayed (early) with Butyrac for broadleaf weed control.

The redbuds aren't at peak yet.

But they are starting to look pretty interesting.

The worms seemed to like their new home so I gave them a good dose of worm food.

I also did a little shooting with the 30-06.  I learned that I won't we able to travel with the silencer for some crazy bureaucratic reason.  I went to get the Form 4457 and I got exactly the same two agents as two years ago.  They did it in 2024 but now they say only the Commerce Department can license the import of silencers.  I talked to my contact at the Safari Club and she said they are working on a fix for this but it will be months before anything can be done.  So I took the can off and shot with the muzzle brake.

I had to lower it an MOA but it still shoots decent groups.

One more photo from last week.

The pedicles are warming up for action.

The coyotes are still out there.

Turkeys do come in to clean up spillage at the birdfeeders.

And they were all over the property strutting away.

Several years ago I had 3 jakes that always showed up together.  I called them the three amigos.

I think that the three amigos have all grown up.

Beetle-Buster In Town

Spring break allowed a quick visit to the farm for Eric and Tommy.  It was great to have them - especially for beetle control. 

There's something very satisfying about sucking up a hundred or so of these invasive Asian beetles that invade the cabin.  But then, 30 minutes later, a new swarm is back.

Grandma went out and met them on the arrival and gave Tommy a ride in.

We got the worm ranch put into operation.

We'll see how growing our own nightcrawlers works out.

Tommy got some practice in with his bow.

And he also got to try out the challenge target with a 22 cal pistol.

We did some touring to check some of the cameras.

And then we went for a walk to check for shed antlers.

We covered a lot of ground.

And we encountered some blocked trails but Tommy winched the obstacles out of the way.

The eggs, tadpoles and salamanders were very interesting.

We learned about vernal pools.

Grandma has been itching to learn Mah Jong and Tommy helped to get her started.

We also did some rifle work. Trying 308

Like father, like son - shooting buffalo in the horns.

Google says that these are toad eggs.  They look different than the frog eggs that are in bubble sacks.

My 30-06 group.  Less than an MOA - it'll do.

Eric's 308 - it'll do too.

Lamb chops for dinner.

Waffles for breakfast.  With Dave's home-made Michigan maple syrup.

Visitor to the bird feeder.  The hens come in to clean up the spillage.

Giving 200 yards a try.

Trying out the 17 cal lever action.

Dialing in the 308.

First try with the 9mm.

Video action. 9mm First Try

Eric finally spotted a shed antler.  It must have been last year's.  Well nibbled by rodents.

More touring.

Whitetailopoly.  Eric was the big winner.

After three weeks of working at it, I finally got the hung up maple to the ground.

And I sprayed the new orchard with some dormant oil.

We had all kinds of truck traffic this week.  The cable guys were back stringing lines.

I waited for a war in the Middle East before refilling my tanks (duh).

Some chores in process.

I thought that this was a balance summary of the risks of Roundup.  Roundup Health Risks

And this is the tree cocktail that I'll be using in my TSI work. Tree Cocktail

Prior week touring.

Pedicles getting ready to sprout this year's antlers.

Coats looking ready to lose winter hair.

Showdown.

Fox.

Coyote.

Turkey season coming soon.