stubborn1VT

I don't recall all this backlash when Trump abandoned our allies the Kurds. Literally a million people running for their lives. The double standard is amazing. Trump gave the Taliban legitimacy by negotiating a "peace treaty" with them and tried to invite them to Camp David. He allowed the release of hundreds of Taliban from Afghani jails. He wanted us out of Afghanistan and "endless wars". You think he had a better plan? Like he's some kind of military mastermind? You think he listened to military advisors? He constantly insulted them. Trump is some kind of diplomatic genius? I don't get it. He was a fake tough guy, like so many other people today who can't grasp facts or reality. You love his BS so much that you can't see the situation for what it is. Of course it could have been handled better. Of course it's sad and terrible. But it's FAKE to act like you care for the people of Afghanistan when you don't care about the Capitol police. And if any of you think you personally would do a great job as president, then you're fooling yourself. It's an awful, thankless gig. At the very least, I am convinced that Biden is actually trying to be a president, not build up his brand name and profit from the position.

Yeah he does. His son actually served, which is more than any Trump ever did. Biden doesn't go around calling them suckers and losers either.

I bought a cheap Gamo with a scope at a box store and killed a number of greys with it. It is a single pump that shoots around 1100 fps. It's way quieter than a .22, but has less effective range. It's accurate, but has a lousy trigger. Then again, I think I paid about $100 for it.

That's the truth. Some don't seem to have a grasp of history (or facts). This was going to end the same way, no matter who was in charge. It's convenient to point fingers, but it doesn't change the facts. A homegrown attack on our own capitol is no big deal, but the downfall of an unstable government on the other side of the world is somehow more outrageous. Okay. Here's to hoping that there's some hunting related stuff on this site at some point.

Looking good! Lots of positive stuff in that pic. Good germination, a buck, a fawn in the background and a temperature in the low 50s. I waited a bit too long and then the rains came. Things are good now, but I didn't get plots in until the 15th. Can't wait to see some growth. It's a real treat to watch the herd in that winter feed.

I always add pelletized lime when I spread small seed. It didn't help me at all as far as seeing where I had been, but it did keep me from overseeding and emptying my spreader on the first pass.

I actually ordered some Balansa to mix with Ladino and Medium red for next year. Depending on how it turns out, some of that ground may go to grain sorghum. I have two small strips planted now and they're doing ok. Interested to see what they produce for seed heads and how the deer like them. I got my brassica blend in yesterday. I went very light on seed, as mentioned in this thread or a similar one. It makes me nervous because it seems like barely any seed at all. We'll see. Everything will get switched around next year. Got some 4 year old clover that will get tilled under to feed corn, some grass/clover will become brassicas, and the corn ground will go back into clover.

I have never tried sugar beets. It was my understanding that they took way more days to mature than the rest of the brassica family. I tried winter peas last year in my mix and wasn't impressed. It's possible I didn't seed them heavily enough, or that they didn't like the dry weather. I am curious about brassica alternatives because I will need to rotate crops next year. Right now I have clover, corn and a couple small test strips of grain sorghum. The brassicas will go in soon. I can always rotate to clover, but I don't think it feeds many deer over the winter months. I enjoy the puzzle though.

We've used Ivermectin to treat cows and horses for many years. Not sure that it's a step up from injecting bleach. There sure is alot of "medical" information on the interwebs. I'm not sure I'd bet the ranch on some of these Covid treatment cocktails, but I understand that some will reach out for any alternative to an (Trump's) emergency vaccine.

Trees here in the Champlain Valley are loaded, but not in Central Vermont. I imagine it's a result of cold/snow, as you suggested. The few apples I did find over there are also tiny, probably from lack of moisture early on.

I like the Guide Gear ladder stands from Sportsman's Warehouse. They make a double rail ladder that is ultra sturdy. For all day sits, I like one with a big platform. I find that most of the shooting rails are too low on ladder stands period. I have had some luck raising them up with wooden shims. The Guide Gear ladders are also reasonably priced compared to a bigger name brand.

I have bought various straight clovers from them and been happy with them.

I'm mixing purple top turnip, rape, daikon radish, and another forage brassica. They all play a role. I'm a big fan of the tillage radishes because I have seen such positive results in drainage and increased organic matter. The deer here have learned to eat the bulbs on purple top turnips, which seem to stand up pretty well to cold and snow. Dwarf essex rape is kind of a filler. I mostly use it because it establishes quickly, which keeps weeds down. I added the forage brassica because it is a hybrid made to withstand grazing pressure. I'm hoping to have an outstanding brassica plot this year. Last year we were really short on moisture, so I am looking forward to a lot more tonnage this season. Last year's plot lasted until about February.

I haven't started tilling. The temps and breeze are drying things out nicely, but I didn't want to till it up just to get dumped on by a thunderstorm. I also didn't really want to creep along with the tiller in this heat, or spread lime-ash, fertilizer and seed by hand when it's pushing 90 degrees. Thanks to global warming I can delay planting until next week and still easily have 60 frost free days for it to grow.

You'll have some dandy bucks NEXT YEAR.

I clipped a couple strips of clover and then scalped off 3/4 of an acre of grass. I'll start tilling tomorrow. That ground will all be in a brassica mix. I'm hoping we don't get more thunderstorms. It's just starting to really dry out.

I'm seeing numerous hens without poults here in the Champlain Valley. This is not a normal occurrence. When I visited family in Central Vermont, I saw several groups of hens with lots of poults of varying sizes. If I had to guess, I would say the difference is the number of coons and fox that we have. I could be wrong.

There are both bowfin and ling (burbot) in Champlain. Kinda similar looking, but bowfin live in the swampy shallows and ling live in the deep water. Bowfin have nasty teeth and ling don't. Rumor had it that the Chinese restaurant would trade you free food for fresh bowfin. I never tried it myself. People I know who have tried them say they aren't great and the meat is kind of mushy.

Mixes are good. Red will establish MUCH faster than white, but white can last for years and years with minimal maintenance. I will be seeding a little strip with Ladino, medium Red and Balansa clovers with Winter Wheat as a nurse crop. Pretty much what Phade said.

I brush-hog acres of the stuff every summer, both with the tractor and the walk-behind. I rarely get a spot here and there. I know a number of people who have ended up in the hospital because of it with serious burns. It's rugged stuff, but I prefer it to poison ivy.

Cool project. I hope it turns out as awesome as you envisioned it Zeek.

Some good advice in this thread. I now wait until August to plant brassicas. I'm trying to cut back my seeding rate as well. I just go back and hit the bare spots with winter rye or wheat. Giving them a shot of nitrogen once the plants are 4+" tall will give them a heck of a growth spurt (as long as there is enough moisture). As for adding a little clover, it can be done. I would suggest cutting your seeding rate even further on the brassicas, as they will just shade the clover out. I gave up on this method and now frost/snow seed to get clover going for the spring/summer. This may not be an option for you since you don't live close by. Trying different things is part of the fun and how we learn. I'm interested in no-till methods, but even more interested in no spray methods. I guess I need to find someone to fabricate a crimper for me.

If that deer is 2.5 then he's extremely well fed. Antlers don't indicate much to me, but body weight does. In my area that would have to be at least a 3.5yo, but deer do vary from area to area based on habitat.

Happy birthday youse two. Hope the day holds nothing but the best for you.

Heck, from what I've seen that green paint alone should be worth two grand!!!