UpStateRedNeck

Couple more bear pics

I'm thinking we planted the oats too early. Soil temperature must have been too low, I don't see any oat seedlings coming along in the plot. Lots of clover.

On the nose. We're at about the same elevation, both in the helderbergs. This is why I have digging hatred. I know how many rocks I'll hit on my way down to 40" depth. Think a skid steer with the post hole digger would get it done? I'm a little torn on what to put up. Realistically I'd like to have about 2 tractors worth of room in it, so I can put my quad, the plotting machine, seed spreader, roller in one bay, and the old tractor (eventually with a new-er tractor) in the other. There's a nicely drained grassy spot about 30 feet from the cabin that would work. Maybe something like the picture, and use some of the hemlock off my property thats supposed to be coming off soon.

I hate, hate, hate digging. Done it too many times, not hand digging unless I don't have any other choice. Going to need 6 holes for a small pole barn this year. What's the easiest way to get this nonsense done? Rent something?

Sorry, gents, this is in my shed now. Thread can be closed.

I'm curious as well, looking at my rye which is over my head in spots, what I should do with that plot

Jealous of everyone able to get out this weekend, congratulations to Virgil on his late season bird! I had some great hunts this season, learned some lessons.

Happy birthday, Dave, sounds like a good day

Frontline only works 2 weeks of the month for ticks. Nexguard is the only thing I've ever had be effective for my pooch.

Thanks guys. Was a good day, only thing missing was an old man nap. And a big old gobbler answering calls.

No gobbles, been here since 445. Hens were still breeding last weekend, guess it's time to start trolling the hardwood.

That's to and from my way to the farm, don't tell us these things.

Found out where the sneaky old sob is roosting. Heard a couple puts, but there were 2 gobblers. Got a live decoy calling 50 yards away. she's looking for love.

Be out again in the morning. Be nice if he'd gobble on the roost so I could plan.

Was parked by the cabin at 440, already light enough to see. Not a gobble to heard. Set up in the lower trefoil field, no customers. After a bit of wandering set up in the field with the food plot around 845. Setup by a pine blowdown in the shadows in the leaf suit, pretty well tucked in. Around..... 930? 945? Heard a gobble just at the edge of hearing as I was thinking about packing it in. Got a bit closer, gobble, then go quiet for 5 to 10 minutes, so by the time we as actually close, call it 1030? Ass was asleep, back ached, hands were cold from being in the ready position for that long. He started hammering just out of sight by the stream on the wood road (squiggles below), and wouldn't budge. So I clammed up, and after 10 or so he worked his way up threw a thick hedge row/stream bottom, towards the gap to the next field, which was maybe 50 yards away. Eventually got behind me in the pines and started putting, even though I hadn't moved a muscle. Never once did I actually see him. I know he saw that Jake and hen decoy, but he was wary of them. Maybe he associates them with busting me last weekend while the Jakes were beating on the deek. Maybe he saw my outline from the side? Had a freshly blown down pine screening me from behind, which made a great back drop for the leafy suit. He was definitely not buying that hen was calling from the field, he was looking exactly at where I was parked 20 yards away. Maybe I can catch him henned up and piss the hens off tomorrow. If I get him gobbling again from a ways off again I'm going to make a move closer along what route I think he'll take and just clam up, and try and ambush him. Love wary old birds like this.

This bird is spooky. 2 hours to bring him in 800 yards, hangs up at 100 in a little hollow out of sight, then walks up a stream bed along a hedge row, out of sight, sneaks into the pines behind me, then starts putting. I know he didn't see me, maybe the decoy has him spooked?

Not a gobble so far. They don't seem to be roost gobbling here this spring, coyotes probably. Haven't called yet, just listening.

Going out tomorrow morning, time to break out the leafy suit and hide real well. Tempting to drive up and see if I can tree call one tonight but I doubt I'll have time.

Last one the electrical system started cutting out, my local garage said they couldn't tell what it was. Felt like a money pit so I traded her in, 2 months after I finished payments on it. This one the tranny blew last year during the rut, but it was covered under warranty. Now the check engine light is on. Reminds me I need to make an appointment at my local garage and hope they can fix it without taking it to the dealer again.

If anything else goes wrong with this Silverado it's going to be my last Chevy. I'd give a Tundra a turn next probably.

Doesn't look like the same thing as this picture, does it? This came from at least a 4 year old Tom, with 1 7/8" Spurs.

Entertaining hour of this. Then the boss showed up, heard him come in from 800 yards away. Got to watch the last 400 or so. That one aggressive Jake was gobbling back at him, shame I didn't get to see him get his ass whipped.

Helluva morning, even though it started at 9. Did everything but choot. Got picked off at 50 by a huge gobbler even though there were 3 jakes beating the crap out of my deek. Gonna have to hide better for that old boy. He was totally gonna take all 3 of them.