The Crossbow is Ready

The A/C recharge was hanging in there so we made a trip out.  Ron is planning to replace the unit this week. The gauge was showing 0.8" of rain this week.  We had two 1.5" downpours in Mason over the same period.

Joan just can't resist getting on the mower.

It's hard to find the pumpkin patch under all of the weeds.  The grasses have been especially prominent this year.  It is totally unclear whether I have many pumpkins surviving under all those weeds but I did harvest a few around the edges where the vines had already died for some reason.

I got the crossbow out and settled the sight-in.  I'm not sure what caused me to make a bunch of adjustments last week (and then take them back out).  But it is shooting well again.

These were 30 yard shots. Within an inch or so.

40 yard shots also about an inch.

And this is 50 yards - maybe 2".  The left shot is buried to the nock.

I also shot the Rage tip and I could see no difference in flight.

This was my summer annual foodplot.  I planted it in a wildlife mix from NWTF. It was supposed to have buckwheat, sunflowers, soybean, cowpeas, milo, etc.  I could see evidence of all of them but the grasses just took over.

So I just decided to mow it down - the bunnies weren't happy with me.  If I can get it prepared, I might plant clover yet this fall.

It's about an acre.

In the main field, the brassica and oats are doing pretty well.

But there is competition from pigweed and other summer annual weeds.

Beets and greens in this field. I had 12 deer in this field on Saturday evening.

Once again, lots of weed competition.

There were plenty of butterflies around this weekend.  Especially Monarchs.  I had a couple of pairs frolicking so I just took a few videos.  Monarchs  Monarchs Mating?

We spotted the "three amigo" jake turkeys a couple times this weekend.  So did Violet (our guard dog).

The cameras had a few photos from grandkid visits.

Tommy with his birthday camera.

He had just opened the back and exposed a roll of film.

And this camera hadn't been checked in awhile - this was from Amy's visit early in the month.

Best buds.

Nice beard.

They're always around.

This is the little guy with the deformed rack.

I saw this "low 8" in the field Saturday and he actually looked really wide.

This big 7 has already lost the velvet on his antlers. I suspect that they all will in the next 10 days.

Grandkids In Town Again

We were hoping to have a big family get together in Pittsburgh this weekend but covid caused the cancellation of that event.  Our Chicago contingent had a vacation planned including that event.  They went ahead while travelling in their own bubble (their RV) so we were lucky to get a visit.  Of course the cabin AC died again and Ron bailed us out.  A more permanent fix is in the works.

Elliott is the ranger ride king.

Walkie talkies kept us in touch.

Eric and I both did a little shooting with our new crossbows.  We may have a new huntress.  Jeni hits the mark.

The butterflies were plentiful this weekend.  Butterflies on thistle.

We had lots of ranger rides.

The two new fall plots look good.  This one is beets and greens.  There is a lot of pigweed in there - we'll see if it takes off.

The main field is pure attraction - oats and brassica.

Weeds are ridiculous in the pumpkin patch.

Jeni found this neat moth caterpillar. 

We had issues with the little lonestar tick nymphs in spite of tick gaiters etc.

Probably picked them up on our walk to check cameras.

Running with Violet the dog.

Checking the cameras.

We did lots of fishing.

We did some fishing in pj's in the morning with good results.

Tommy had the biggest bass but not the biggest fish.

Elliott caught the most fish.

We found this pond resident.  Visitor while fishing

Joan somehow caught the huge grass carp - broke the line before landing.

Serious fisherman.

We had a pre-birthday party for Tommy who will be turning 8.

Last week I tried spraying with Imox.  Supposed to do both grass and broadleaf.  Very expensive and so far I'm not impressed.

The fawns are growing.  I accidentally pushed one when mowing this weekend.

Picking apples.  Not many left at the bottom of the trees.

The three amigos.

This little buck has a deformed antler on his right.

High-hat.