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.