wolc123

I finished my spring plowing yesterday, and hope to get the first pass disking done Tomorrow afternoon. That one is always the roughest on plowed ground. The soil conditions were almost perfect for plowing (not too wet, not too dry). It was amazing how fast that hot, windy, sunny day dried that ground. My dad picked up fertilizer and I have plenty of seed. Hopefully, I can get about 4 acres of corn in on two plots by mid June. With a 12 acre soybean field, I hope you have plenty of good fawning cover nearby. Otherwise, that will be a happy hunting ground for the coyotes.

The only spring plot I have had great success with is field corn. As a meat-hunter, I judge the success of a foodplot by calculating the cost of boneless venison produced in and around the plots, after subtracting input costs. With lots of family and friends in the dairy business, I can usually score plenty of free RR corn seed. My costs are mostly in fertilizer, fuel, and herbicide. Last season was our best ever, with 6 deer taken in and around 4 acres of corn (two 2-1/2 yr bucks, one 1-1/2 yr buck, two mature does, and one BB). That brought the meat in at under $1.00 per pound, which is cheaper than we have been able to produce beef in more than 50 years, without even accounting for inflation. We had the worst drought in recorded history here last year. In spite of that, by cultivating the corn and putting down roundup at just the right time, and by aggressively trapping most of the coons in the area, I was able to make that corn last thru ML season. Trapping coons is a big key to making smaller corn plots work. They are extremely non-efficient users of corn, usually knocking down many stalks, just for a nibble of the tender stuff at the ends of each ear. Deer, on the other hand, are very efficient users of corn. They eat it right off the stalks, and finish one ear before starting on the next. A row planter with fertilizer applicators is another key to minimizing input costs for corn. That lets you apply fertilizer and herbicide only on the rows - putting it only where it is needed. Also, if you are paying for your seed, it will let you use less than half of what you would by broadcasting. Shallow plowing (4-6 in depth), and using a modern 4wd turbocharged diesel tractor for disking reduces fuel costs for tillage. Finally, nitrogen fertilizer application can be minimized by putting the corn on old clover plots. If you are going to plant clover, you would be best off waiting until mid August, and put it in with a mix of wheat or cerial rye as a nurse crop. Clover will not out-compete weeds thru the early summer. Since you already have the ground worked up, my suggestion would be buckwheat in another couple weeks. That will control the weeds until mid-August, when you can disk it up and put in the wheat clover mix. I also throw some soybeans in with that later summer mix. Those draw deer to the spot like candy when they starts to spout. Don't make the mistake I did a couple years ago and plant soybeans in the spring. When I did that, it brought in the does, at fawning time. That brought in the coyotes. It would not have been a big deal, if NY state would let us shoot them in the summer. As it was, all I could do was watch, as the little pile of fawn skulls got higher, next to the dens, on the edge of my soybean plots.

His actions are more important to me than his words. His VP pick and Supreme court picks were great, from a Christian perspective. Hopefully, he gets a few more like that over the next 7 years. All we are seeing from the Libs now are words. If they expect to get back into power nationally, they are going to need to get God, and the 75% of Americans who identify themselves as Christians, back on their side. I don't see that happening any time soon. Certainly not as long as the left-leaning press keeps leading them astray.

What is the source of your info? Why are you not counting that televised service that he attended on inauguration day ?

I especially liked the part where he talked about Buffalo Bills hall of fame quarterback Jim Kelly and his daughter Erin, who is part of the graduating class. Kelly may not have won a Superbowl, but he led his team there 4 consecutive times and won even bigger battles against cancer twice. He will also be the first to tell you (maybe the second after his wife Jill), that those battles were won with the help of God. It is very encouraging to see this nations leadership back on the right track. As far as the critics go, I won't say F'em, but I will recommend that they take a step back, regroup, and join in the Religious revival that is clearly taking shape. United, with God on our side, we truly can "make America great again".

I just watched this on Youtube. President Trump really hit it out of the park yesterday morning. The University president said this morning that it was the best speech in that school's 44 year history, and maybe the best ever for any university. It is hard to overstate the importance of having a President who is unashamed of his Christianity. In just over 100 days, he has demonstrated that more than our last one did in two full terms. He is clearly smart enough to realize that with God on his side, he can not loose. It is too bad that so few democrats, main stream media, or California and downstate NY elite realize that. They have had enough time for pouting. It is time to work together to get stuff done, including fixing health care, this Country's infrastructure and killing ISIS. Borrowing a couple words from President Trump's speech: that would be a bit less "Pathetic" for these "critics".

Save your beer until after you have caught your limit of fish. Otherwise, it will inhibit your ability to detect a strike. I agree with wooly, that Genny is the best afterwords, along with the fish, for a shore dinner. They don't call it "the great outdoors in a glass" for nothing, and "pure Hemlock lake water" really does "make it best".

Panther martin spinner, No, Deet, 30 minutes, creek slow currrent / stream fast current, morning, silver. Where are the 93 ?

I can think of a better place or two: Rowing a boat onto a small Adirondack lake before sunrise with a fishing rod and a shotgun. Bugs and ticks are not a problem out on the fish-infested water at this time of year. If the gobble is heard, I can row to shore and deal with it and the bugs for a while. Otherwise, I will stay out on the water until the sun is up a ways, enjoying the fish and the beavers until my mother in law has breakfast ready. I started using the oars in the morning before breakfast so that the noisy outboard would not wake up the family back at the house (or the neighbors). I have never seen any other people out on the lake before sunrise, or even until it was up a bit. I had not noticed the turkeys or beavers when I went out later or used the outboard. It seems that the fish also cooperate better when I use the oars. It will be difficult for me to leave hungry fish to deal with turkeys. That is how I will be spending my Memorial day weekend mornings. The last time I did that (2 years ago), there were gobblers on every hill-top around the lake, but I did not have tags. This year will be different, and there should be even more around after two consecutive non-winters. I could get motivated to head out into the woods on foot if I liked eating turkey, but I like fish a lot better, and I don't like bugs. My wife , kids, and in-laws do like turkey though, so I will do it for them if I hear any.

Nice gun. It should carry real good with that short barrel and light weight. I have not heard anything bad about how those Ruger American's work, but being a little "old-school", I am not sold on their looks. I almost bought one recently (in .243), but got a Marlin 336 BL 30/30 instead, mostly due to the looks. It is about the same size as the compact Ruger American, but weighs a heafty 7.5 pounds. I don't notice it at all, slung on my shoulder, but I can definitely feel where 2 pounds lighter would make the compact Ruger American better for hand carrying and shooting. I will probably end up buying a couple Ruger American anyhow, assuming my oldest daughter gets on the the high school rifle team next year. She says she wants to try out for it. Our town has had one of the top teams in the state for as long as I can remember. I will probably get her an American in 22 LR and another compact one in .243, both with 3 or 4X scopes. That way she can practice a little at home and maybe even take up squirrel and deer hunting. It sure would be nice to have a little help filling the freezer instead of just emptying it. Man those kids can eat when they get older and they love venison tacos. I let her handle the Marlin 336 BL a little bit, but she complained that it was way too heavy compared to here sister's Daisy Red Ryder BB gun. The Ruger American weight would fall right between those two. She will appreciate that weight when and if she gets to shoot the 30/30. At 5.5 pounds, the recoil of a .243 would probably still be pretty tame on the Ruger American. In 450, it has got to hammer your shoulder pretty good.

Is it too late for full inclusion this season? If not, what would be the latest date the bill could pass and still get it this fall? Back in 2014, we found out in April that the crossbows got the last 2 weeks of archery season in the southern zone and 3 days in the northern zone (ML was open the last 7 up there).

He would be in the minority on this site. Remember that poll, in the bowhunting section, that was showing support for full inclusion by a margin greater than 2:1, up until the time it "disappeared". This bill has something for everyone, even those bowhunters, who don't want to share their time with folks who are not as strong or dedicated as themselves. It will classify a crossbow as archery equipment, rather than a muzzleloader, as it was the last three seasons That means that the archery safety course will be required. For the last three seasons, the crossbow has been allowed for two weeks in the peak of the rut, with only a gun safety course. I hope it gets passed before this season because I live in a zone where the deer population is well above optimum. I have struggled filling DMP's with a vertical bow, because there is so many deer that catching antlerless ones alone is rare. Fooling multiple sets of eyes in close while making the draw is no easy task. The crossbow eliminates the need for that, yet retains the quiet stealth of the vertical bow. That adds up to a lethal combination for killing does. That ability has been squandered the last three years, by holding it off until the last two weeks of archery. By that time, the antlerless deer have gone mostly nocturnal after detecting the early archery hunting pressure. Early deployment of the crossbow is the key to getting doe numbers under control. That is particularly important after two non-winters, and increases in tick-born illnesses. The quietness of the crossbow is even more important than the elimination of the need to draw. Letting firearms in early would backfire. Those loud bangs would force the deer nocturnal even faster. Full inclusion of the crossbow starting October 1 would finally give the DEC and hunters the tools they need to better control the deer numbers across the state. That works to everyone's advantage.

It says in Exodus, to "not cook a young goat in it's mother's milk". I am not sure if that also pertains to deer, but they are very similar (each has cloven hoofs and chew its cud) so I suppose it may. We do have a BB, and what is very likely his momma, down in the basement freezer right now. I did not save any of her milk. I am glad to hear that you like milk. Our dairy farmers need all the support they can get right now.

This is way more entertaining than sitting out in the cold rain and snow and chasing after those "feathered rats" that taste like cardboard. Thanks for helping to keep it going, even though you have not been able to answer any of my questions. I may or may not shoot a BB this fall. I usually go for the largest antlerless deer first, when filling DMP's, and that has averaged 75% mature does, and 25% BB's, thru the years. It has been 5 years since I actually pulled the trigger on one, although I did finish off one with my knife that an auto hit at the end of our driveway, 3 years ago. A friend from work also blessed us with one that he shot here last fall. It don't matter who kills them or how, they all taste the same, and are significantly better than older deer (especially the livers). Besides the exceptional flavor, another advantage of the 6-month old deer is that they do not require as much aging as older ones, for rigor mortis to break down. I have processed them the same day they were killed and all of the cuts were extremely tender. The exceptional taste and tenderness goes a long way towards making up for what they lack in quantity. With careful trimming, a corn-fed BB from around here might yield 40 pounds of that "fit-for-a-king" boneless meat. Oddly enough, I have never killed a 6 month old doe, but I did get to taste one once. A friend killed one during a drive on our farm about 25 years ago. It was so small that it would almost fit in the game bag on the back of a pheasant hunting jacket. I helped him cut it up later, and the meat tasted identical to the BB's, although the yield was only about 10 pounds. I suppose that on the several occasions, when I killed the largest antlerless deer from a pair and it turned out to be a BB, the smaller one that got away was probably a sister. You are right about one thing for sure. Some times, I think that I may have died and went to heaven after I sink my teeth into one of them BB livers, tenderloins, or backstraps, cooked medium rare. If you are ever heartbroken after killing one by mistake, feel free to shoot me a pm and I will gladly take your "problem" off your hands for you.

Are you ok with folks killing does that are carrying unborn baby bucks ? After they are born, do protruding antlers like those on the first post make killing a little buck ok ? It sounds like killing a baby buck is a cardinal sin for you. Have you ever tasted one ? Would you consider yourself a trophy hunter ? If you are a trophy hunter, that is ok, and most of us meat hunters really appreciate you and your passing of them little bucks. I don't expect to see you answer any of these questions, and you will probably respond with another personal attack on me, but that is ok too. There is plenty of room for all on this site no matter how scared of the truth they are. There will always be hope for you, thanks to Our God. Someday you might be blessed with the opportunity of sinking your teeth into one of those "fatted-calves". Good luck on getting the big one this fall (or the small one). They are all ok with me, but the baby bucks certainly are the tastiest (especially their livers).

You don't sound too happy with folks killing little bucks. Are you ok with them killing pregnant does that turn out to be carrying two bucks? If so, please explain why. Have you ever heard of anyone else delivering a perfect Texas heart shot with a clean gut job and very little destroyed meat ? As far as directing that bullet, I think I can take most of the credit for that part. Striking a 1/4" diameter bull at 50 yards with a rifle that has always held less than 1" group at 100 yards is no big deal. Positioning that buck at the right time, place, and alignment is where God came in. The "dumb luck" argument might hold some water had it been an isolated case.

What about the poor defenseless vegetables? Who is looking out for them? They have no chance to get away and often are struck down for consumption before they reach maturity. Anyone interested in forming a vegetable rights group?

1.) Plant 3-4 acres of corn at home, if the fields dry out enough to get it in before the end of June. Right now, much of the ground is submerged, so it will be a long time before I can start plowing. 2.) Hang a new stand over at my folks place. It has been a few years since I killed a deer over there but I think I located the right spot. 3.) Lots of practice with my daughter's Red-Ryder, set up with a "big loop", and full-sized stock to match my new Marlin 336 BL 30/30. That 30/30 will be my rainy/snowy weather still-hunting gun up in the Adirondacks this fall. I would love to break it in on a nice buck up there this year. 4.) Enough range time at home with the deer guns to get them all hitting the right spot. I skimped on that a bit last year with my rifled slug gun. That ended up costing me a few chops and an extra slug (finishing shot) on a big doe last season when my first shot hit about 6" high.

I never smoked while hunting but the first antlered buck that I killed came in from downwind and stuck his nose right in the brown spot in the snow under my stand where I had been spitting my tobacco (wintergreen Hawken).

Lets try some science: If I had taken a DNA sample from an embryo in the doe that I killed last SZ opening day, a week or two after she was bred, would the sample match her or the buck that got her pregnant? I believe science would show that it would match neither, proving that "NEW" life does indeed "begin at conception". I assume that last quoted statement was what you were referring to when you said that I brought religion onto this thread. If that is true, then you really can use science to prove religion. That also gets us back on topic. Why do folks get down on people for killing little bucks, but don't mind killing pregnant does that are often carrying two? If you can't answer that one, maybe Four Seasons will take a shot at it.

"Simple" is a pretty good descriptor, but "child-like" might better describe the complete faith that I have now. Any doubts have been erased by all of the proof that He has, and continues to pile up. Do you really think I could have perfectly placed a bullet up a buck's poop shoot without any help? You and your Butt-out suggestion helped me prove that shot was indeed perfect (clean gut-job and very little meat destroyed). On rifle team in high school, I did ok but never placed first in a match. My biggest buck last season came on the only day I took my Bible in the stand. I could list many more examples of where He helped me fill the freezer both afield or afloat. It is easier to use math and science to prove God made earth than to prove he did not. Look up in the sky on a clear night. What is beyond those stars? Nothing, or Everything ? You may not believe now, but there will always be hope for you.

Probably closer to 6-1/2. He finished that work and rested on the seventh day.

Thanks for bringing Him up again. You just can't have too much of Jesus on a hunting website. I can't think of many other pastimes (maybe fishing) that position someone better to absorb His grace. The crock-pot, venison stroganoff that we just had for dinner was awesome. I ate so much, I don't think there would be room for the antifreeze. I hope you have a great dinner. Stay away from the green juice. I had a Genny light with dinner

Profanity in print is a pretty good indicator that things are not going so well. Repent

Prayers sent