First Hunts of the Season

Ohio archery season opened September 27 but I just got in my first couple of sits. It was beautiful weather. At least 10 minutes of practice seemed prudent before actually starting to hunt.

This was the result at 20 yards.

And this was at 50 yards.  I did make a scope adjustment to move it a bit left.

Upon arrival at the top platform, I was greeted by this gift (coon I assume).

The view from the pond stand.

First visitors.

More visitors.

Sunset over the oat field.

With more visitors.  I saw 11 out at one time with multiple groups of two or three moving in and out of view.  They may or may not have been the same ones that I saw when I saw eleven.

Still about 9 in the field when I lost light - no bucks.  I didn't disturb them too much when getting down.

The next morning I went for a walk and found these cool black acorns.

And orange mushrooms.

The pond was down a couple inches.

An I keep finding more of this invasive - sericea lespedeza. I think that I have a battle on my hands.

I started cleaning up some of the mess that I made by cutting down a dying ash tree by the barn.

I cut this persimmon branch a week ago and left it in front of the camera. It was loaded with ripe fruit.  I didn't see much evidence that the deer were eating it. 

This is the barn field clover.

The pond field.

And the main field.

I hunted that stand in the main field the next night.

Lots of does bled in from multiple directions.

Another gorgeous night.

Two yearling bucks sparring.

I was invisible up there.

But no mature bucks and I was surrounded when it was time to get down.

Last week Creigh and I decided to take down a camera mounted in this dying tree.

It was up there a bit.

And then I took down the tree (without hitting the barn).

Touring last week with Joan and Creigh.  Here's a couple video snippets. Discussing Old Ladder Stand  Noticing the cheapo Amazon camera.

Some predator shots.

A Pair of Coyotes on the Move

A few bucks.

The does are plentiful and I intend to work on it this year.  More Evidence Of Population

Turkey parades.

When they go on alert.  Turkey Alert

It's Fall!

We have returned from our western drive and the seasons are starting to turn.  There's lots to be done to prepare for hunting season and then winter.

Creigh was out for a visit so we got the new elk mount unloaded and hung in its temporary spot.  Violet introduced herself.

She is also coming to terms with the other new residents.

There has obviously been a lot of rain in our absence - the pond is full.

My roundup attack did recover possession of the shooting shed.

Creigh noticed a visitor having a drink in the pond.

We went out to spruce up the hunting stands and found this one occupied by turkey vultures.

Creigh went in to do battle with the wasps.  I got hit twice by yellow jackets on the ground.

The enemy.

We also identified a couple of structural issues.  We made some basic, rookie repairs but left the weigh-bearing repairs for the craftsmen (Van mostly)

There is some rot (dry in some places and wet in others).

Line of sight also needed some work in some places.

I decided to take down an ash tree that was losing the battle to the emerald ash borers.  It also cleared a low hanging wire.  More cleanup required and there is an apple tree that needs to come down too.

Mixed results on the plots. I was disappointed in the brassica in the pumpkin patch.

The oats in the upper pond field were surprisingly robust.

Existing lower pond field clover.

Newly planted clover section of that pond field.

Main stand clover is pretty good.

The driveway clover has a smartweed issue.

The big main field also has some smartweed.

The orchard has milkweeds and other stuff.

The MSM treatment of the serecea lespidosa doesn't seem to have had great effect.

The orchard is having some attrition but there are survivors.

For those who have been requesting buck photos.

Ok, here's another.

Does this satisfy?

Does with twins.  Night Moves

Looking at you.

Coyotes. Here's some on the prowl. Coyote  Coyote 2

Foxes.  The bobcat photo was too poor quality.

The turkey vultures tried the mineral lick.

And the regular turkeys.

I see you.