growalot

I'd rather see a kid that's twelve bow hunting than gun hunting...in fact I think all gun hunters should have to start out as bow hunters first...JMO...but God it just flips my stomach when I see 5 yr olds with a gun bigger than them standing next to any game...There is a limit to how young kids should be introduced into a killing situation...let them start out killing a few fish first....when I see a 5yr old I'm still looking at a baby

The other thing to remember is when do you really want to draw the deer in ...for all soybeans will dye back after a heavy frost....when do you usually get your heavy frost?...and the eagle brand does produce some beans but not like the forge/ag beans...I say forage because I believe they classify them as such because they are seed producers but also are tall with a bush canopy...as I mentioned research the site....Even if your frosts are early ...you'd still have the beans on the plant that the deer will hit later...and the added benefit of having more light reaching the ground so you could over seed the beans when the lower leafs start to turn yellow...ppl are starting to use the Diakon radish(hog radish)...I believe you can read up on them at that site as well ...it is a great soil builder and weed suppressant that deer will be drawn to...and make it easier to get an early start on your plot next year.....Just gather all availible info and see what would fit your particular needs and wants...Good Luck

We have relatives that built a cabin on their farm all... by hand with their pines and salvaged windows and such from different places...beautiful place any how .....they put in a bank of batteries and a small wind mill...they run lights and a T.V. off the thing with no problem...they live in the hills and there is always wind feeding energy to the battery bank....a place where they gather and have family outings...the whole thing cost around $1000.00...I think that included wiring the two story cabin

hhhmmm....haven't been to camp lately...guess I'll go down next week and take a look around...scout a bit for turkey as well....pigs could hide forever down in those lands...the whole area is sick with buckthorn...ppl would have a heck of a time just getting in to hunt them...Thanks for info update

Well most of my blinds have old boat seats in them but I have a lot of blinds and the bigger ones have plastic lawn chairs...I wanted a comfy seat that I could sling over my shoulder and use where ever and in the shorter blinds.......so I spotted an old beach chair in the garage and there it was....sturdy... arm rests...just a few inches off the ground and it had a short back rest...perfect....took her out...un screwed the webbing ..saved the screws.. washed it up and spray painted it camo with left over paint from hunting ladders....Then went to Wally world and bought brown "vinyl" clothe ....cut out a pattern then doubled the material cut it out sewed the seams and punched holes where the screws go in and screwed the seat to the frame....added a strap and I have a nice seat I swing over my shoulder and carry with me The whole thing cost me around 10.00...did I mention I don't throw things away I've been using it for a few years and gotten a few birds while sitting in it....keeps my knees at just the right height to use as a rest for my elbow

I say this even though it was farmed many years ago...how ...beats me...for the farmer we bought from told me he never limed and didn't rock it...no kidding...the moss covering the field was 8inches thick and the ph was so low it wasn't on the charts...3-4 tons needed to just get it to 6....Base laid So I've talked over the years of planting all plots in buckwheat the first few years while I labored getting the ph up and rocks manageable....This field is a good example...for part of it I didn't do that...I planted corn as a cover from the road....this field is being worked in stages....It's the only way I can get it done alone and by hand...I do use the tractor to disc but all spraying spreading and raking is by hand...I started out spraying...waiting discing..waiting spraying and then put buckwheat in ..fall overlay of turnip/rape and planted corn next to the buckwheat...needless to say limed spring and fall...1st pics... I did this a couple of years extending the turnips into the corn area and the corn into the fallow ground...The corn is always planted late because I have to spray down and wait then till spray wait... plus rake rocks......The area that has the buckwheat/ turnips I have been able to put a perennial planting of Succra seed in on the shady side and this year soybeans will be the summer crop...with a overlay of winter wheat in the fall.. What I really want to show you is how planting the annuals for a few years instead of going straight to perennials has finally cut down the dormant weed seed...I can plant a non rr soybean save on spraying ....besides I really don't like having to spray and the soil is now just small manageable stones...The turnips have been.... not just a fall wonder...for they attracted deer all winter digging bulbs and now deer and turkey because I seed a tad heavy and the young bulbs stayed firm and are growing...rather tasty greens the deer and turkey are hitting right now...not tons but helpful... Notice the amount of dormant weed seed that comes up in the corn after spraying and discing a few times and part of that was done 2yrs in a row.. When I finally rotate this into a perennial area It will have a sustainable ph for alfalfa as well as clover....it will be level and rock free...not full of huge rocks that is ...and the nastiest of weed seeds that laid dormant in the soil will have finally been killed....not to say wind and animals won't carry in more but it will be manageable... The tilth will be much better making what ever grows there more nutrient rich for the wild life using it... So thats my style of plotting

1/2 in this a.m. ...25degrees...the suns been up hours and it is still a dusting ...temps 35....I hope this is the last of it :-\

I think I posted here earlier that I had a baiting verses legal attracting question...I went to several DEC officers and got a different answer from all of them from different regions...one Sergent in reg. 9 was very helpful...but also suggested to contact the officers in the region I was going to be hunting in...interpretation of the law varies amongst them...?.....that is why I've stated there should be one centralized school all these guys go to to learn the laws and their intended purpose. Problem is if your ticketed and the judge doesn't agree with the ECO interpretation of why you where ticketed ...NYS still has a surcharge for the ticket being issued and you having to go to court...Get names and #'s

It is arrogant at the least to determine what others are doing based on what you do..or how you've set up what you do in your own mind....I ..with the exception of this year...spend very little money hunting .....yes I plot but I only started doing that because the land needed to be worked ...flattened ...de-rocked and improved...so why not make it useful while I'm improving it...I don't have a single mount and don't waste a single thing on a deer....the hides are sold ...the scraps supplement the dogs winter feeding...I do all butchering and processing...and I don't know where you shop but meat is damn expensive...Try buying Organic meat in a store ...no antibiotics and hormones and what else the pump into them...The money I save not having to buy meat and fish...because I fish as well in our house helps pay for the other little things one needs like Ohhh heat ..electric and when we put our kids through collage ..books...meal tickets...rent I'm say don't make a wide sweeping statement that super imposes your thoughts and life style over others as if it were fact.

Eddie ...for the price...you know I'm cheap...the whole thing should play and compose it's own music... :D

I've been shooting archery on and off since I was a young kid...In school and summer camp...but no one in the family ever hunted with one ...they were all shot gunners... When we moved out here and started buying land...I noticed the only time I was seeing deer/buck and up close was just before shot gun...then Holy Cow after the first morning ...finding any deer was an all day deal and they were usually running to beat the band...The second year we were here I had a local drive in to show off a buck......he was just driving it around in his pick up showing it to everyone...It was a nice 8pt. He said "Well you have to be a "real hunter" to get a trophy like this and it takes the average guy 7 years to score with a bow...I did it in 3"...So I guess you had to be there ...but it just tweaked me...so I borrowed my Dad in-laws 50 yr old Kodiak recurve and got a new string and arrows...The practiced like mad and Out I went that following Fall...the deer encounters and the shear #'s floored me...I was hooked...the following year I took my first shot on a deer and watched the arrow sail over her shoulder as we stood 15yrds apart...she tipped to the side like her feet were on hinges...That's when I took to the air and shot my first bow buck at 17yrds....I went out and bought my own Hoyt Compound and find that Archery season is really the only time I truly have a relaxing enjoyable time hunting..other than turkey season... There's actually a few ppl around here that owe there archery enjoyment to that guy....including my kids and a few others kids as well...He apparently made a lot of stops that day

I just bought a new Venture Mission bow ...the dealer told me that with the new bows now, you really don't need a stabilizer...but I had the Harmonic stabilizer put on

Last year I made a hunting blind from a shipping crate 5.00 camo tarps and scrap wood...the plexi glass windows cost me the most...total of 43.00 something for the whole thing...Did I mention I don't throw things away Any how heres the update...It didn't blow away..or tip over...It didn't leak and It never bothered the animals....It stayed pretty comfy in the harsh cold and wind...I'm making another...cut the legs from scrap 4x6 post...it will be 8ft to plat form and the whole thing will be 5x10 foot...the house will be 5x6x6ft with the rest out door deck...this one will have a sliding door instead of a swing open

One more thing... Kids "metallic" plastic whirly whigs..... do a great job helping to keep birds away...the wind is aways blowing here...99cents and they are reusable for a few years

Crap ..I knew you'd ask me that...lol...It is a Seedway forage soybean...now you can go to their sight and read up on there soybean seeds they have a lot and even call them and ask what might be new for what you want and best for your area...they won't sell to you, but just go to the nearest feed place that does..I think they have the list... It was just a # to me and I went to my seed guy and asked him to order what we did last year....I won't be out that way until next week..I'll stop and ask......I start in January and read every thing I can on seeds..... actually last year I had a thing going about the EB seed and called them...got some others to do the same and this year they finally opened a source for them, in NYS...Ya never know unless you ask ...This year I'm looking into tall seed sorghum...I want to cut the heads and store the seed to supplement my very hungry chickens

There something we can certainly agree on!

Catskill ...not to discourage you from the Eagle brand...but some things you should know....It doesn't always grow as tall as advertised in the north...Google the Cornell research on vining forage soybeans they did in NYS...also I went with a non RR ready...because it was a well established plot area ...But a RR forage soybean...would cost 40 something...instead of the Eagle brands 90+...Now I did this low cost to.... see how they'd grow before dishing out big$$...I liked them so well I ordered more....The trick is to keep the deer at bay early on...Thus the added scattering of Buckwheat. Our deer are use to it and love it....Then there is ...I'm so cheap...Milorganite...It helps to deter deer but is also a fertilizer and good for PH...Google that as well....Let me know how things go

What I did for both the beans and the corn was go in and make furrows with either the disc or the tiller( you need to wire up the drag plate with tiller) and then I walked the seed over with a push broad caster...I used more seed than required...We have a lot of turkey and grackle here....Then I took the drag tines up or use a chain link section with a 3in log wired to it and drag across the furrows...yes the first time will rattle your teeth ...but all of the corn and beans sprouted...if you have a roller then roll it or as I did ...drove over it with the JD turf tires

Then my entire property would be illegal...because I don't have lrg open areas to put in 3-10 acre food plots....All my plots are nestled in the woods in small openings and long winding trails....with the addition of two more this year I'll have 14 plots that wind and intersect around the place around 3-4 acres total...25 stands and 16 ground blinds...If I'm baiting I'm doing a pretty poor job of it ...because I have no idea what plot or what time of day they'll show up at what plot. I also never know what stand or blind I'll be in ...because I choose by what the weather and wind will be that morning ....My way of keeping it more "fair chase" .....So you think I shouldn't be allowed to hunt my own land by your reasoning?

The feed corn plot and turnips....the corn cost 7.50 for 50#...I used 1/3 bag and mixed the rest in the the goats sweet feed

I was told the same thing by local farmers...they won't grow here...then all the plotting hunters said don't bother with a small area the deer will wipe them out...well I didn't see either happen ...The deer loved them and ate all summer and then the pods in Fall...I did have to cut and redo a lrg section of one plot because it was invaded by deadly night shade....I had a few differant small plots and they were taken down to just stems and that caused them to branch when they regrew...making them thicker...I had a light mixer of buckwheat in another plot and the deer ate the buckwheat ...allowing the beans to get 19in. tall....Not all deer in all areas eat or act the same .....give em a try...mine only cost 26.00 for 50#'s....I have already ordered mine for this year..... Another thing I was told is that planting corn that is sold as "feed"corn wouldn't grow or produce corn...well I only planted it as a visual barrier and it did that..... and the deer not only ate the corn plants them selves but it produced cobs...they were under developed ...but I planted the corn plot in July...I lost alot to turkey and grackle digging it up out of the ground...and pulling the young corn plants out and leaving them lay...but I just over seeded with turnips...My neighbors told me they saw deer and turkey in there every night...and still are...because by over seeding the turnips...a bunch of the seed went under developed and those tiny bulds are now producing tasty green tops...pics in next post

The DEC made a video on living..how to...with bears in NY...the ECO's told us they don't usually relocate habituated bears any longer ...they just shoot them when these problems arise...which is why they are coming down on violators much harder...at least thats what the 3 DEC ppl told our group...They had to shoot one in our area...but found it's problem arose from having a severe injury to it's mouth...making it seek easy food at ppls houses

Nice pics Eddie....use to drive through Mendon on the way to work everyday....Some beautiful spots there...lots of deer

Very cool pics...thanks for sharing

I'm closing out of this now ...I'm just too busy plotting and to be honest...I accomplished what I set out to do...and more with the wording of the original post...G-man you where just a bonus.. thank you. As for your generous offer to have another sportsman investigated ...no thank you... I'm not into turning ppl in unless I have a personal stake in it...I believe that since the article said he started setting up cams in January ...I would hope that this was an over sight and he re thinks how he attracts wild life....So I'll step back and let you have the last word and what ever parting shot you've worked so hard for...Have a Nice Day