It's Official...

...now a Certified Tree Farm.

The Drought Continues

The pumpkin patch looked pretty sad when we arrived.  Some vines were dead and dying.  All of the plants were wilted.

As the vines die off, the pumpkins ripen early.  I got the sprinkler going and pretty much ran it for about 16 hours.

By the next morning, many of the vines looked healthy again.

This is one of the prizewinner pumkins.  I'm not sure if it's still growing or not.

I harvested a few things from vines that weren't coming back.

The pond is the lowest ever. There was lots of traffic from critters coming in for a drink.

The one sunflower that survives the drought has been eaten by the deer.

Soybeans in the main field are also being eaten inside the plotsaver tape.

This field looks decent - I think the deer left it alone until the drought made them desperate enough to cross the tape.

The plot at the driveway stand is pitiful.

Once again, my watermelon harvest is a disappointment.

The acorn crop looks pretty good.  This is a critical food for the deer.

Chestnut oak acorns.

Black walnuts.

It's time to start getting ready for the elk hunt in October.  This group is from 100 yards.  It looks like the scope is about where I left it - zero'd in at 200 yards.

From 200 yards off a bench & bags.  Need to move it right.

The does and fawns seem to be surviving the drought.  This one had twins.

The poop of the week had some pink nylon cloth in it...

This pigeon paid the price for squatting in the high rise stand.  I hope that the other 20 pigeons got the message.

Trailcam Update

 

Mystery Solved

This bush that I noticed last week is the spicebush - identified by the state forrestry guy.
Spicebush link

He also supplied this link about how some people use it.
Herb Companion Site on Spicebush

Peek-A-Boo!

I see you...and I hope to see you again later.  Looks like a really nice 10 point with great mass on the main beam.  Has a sticker at the base too. The bachelor groups are moving - more buck photos later.

Prizewinner variety pumpkin beside my big sun hat.  I have several developing nicely.

And a few watermelon too.

I think that the white flowered vines are gourds.

The pumpkins all look pretty good at this point.  It was dry this week again so I tried to water the patch.

The soybeans by the orchard are doing surprisingly well.  They got a late start due to the heat & drought.  The plotsaver tape is keeping most of the deer out for now.

There are some weeds and spotty areas but it kind of looks like a real bean field.  The driveway field is not nearly as good.

I took the Kubota down in the valley and mowed the clearing.

The picture doesn't do it justice but I almost didn't get back up the hill.  I went the long way around - by the ridge stand.

I also mowed the clearings up on top - this one is near the hanging stand.

The forrestry guy was out to get me signed up to be a certified tree farm.  He pointed out that I have persimmon fruit.  I was never really sure what they looked like.

I'm not sure what these are - I need to look it up.  Any ideas?

We weren't happy with the corn this week so the rest of it went to the deer.  Also some tough beans from the garden.

The poop of the week is this one that some wiseguy left in the middle of the beans and corn.  Raccoon?

Turkeys and deer in the same frame.

A nice family group.

Mama doe with twins.

Bachelors on the prowl.

The following shots are all from one bachelor party at 6:00pm one night near the valley stand.

Peek-A-Boo again.