landtracdeerhunter

Logged in several more miles the last few days. Came across a nice scope ring, scope covers, and a bolt with a practice tip. Got dangerous close to a coyote den that wasn't their in January. Coyote shot out, turn and looked at me, then ran off. Maybe one reason why sheds are lean this season.

Couple days ago. while shed hunting, I got dangerous close to one, maybe 30'. Stumbled onto it's den. Wasn't defensive, but did stop to take a look at me. Maybe that explains, part of the reason, why I haven't found many sheds.

I got plenty of headroom in the doghouse! LOL.

It is a 20 gauge stainless steel pan about 6" tall. I started, a few years ago with 2 steam table pans, Each pan was about 1 gph, evaporation rate. It was homemade out of 2- 30" range oven units bolted together. Cut a square hole on one end, with a vent below, where I attached an electric fan when more draft was needed. The other end was a 6" stove pipe, for a chimney. Cut holes in the top for the pans to fit in. Cost me the price of the steam table pans and a few bolts, about $60. Nice little starter unit and worked rather well.

Early May is such a great time to get out. The air seems so much fresher, birds are chirping, and the area starts a nice fresh look of green up. Sometimes, I forget the reason being out , getting caught up in natures new beginning. Not until that first gobble in the faintest of light, do I come back to my senses. Oh ya, I'm turkey hunting, LOL.The main thing is to enjoy your time out there. Getting a bird just adds all that much more to a great time already.

The slowest and most time consuming is my evaporator. I'm running a wood fire under a 2' x 5' pan with an evaporation rate of about 6 gph. The seasons over here, already looking for improvements for next season. I know a future sugar shack is in the offing to get out of that cold wind.

Nice. Most advise not plugging the holes. Something to do with bacteria. Let them heal over naturally. Most of mine healed over by deer season. The 5/16" taps holes close even quicker.

Congrats! How cool is that, three seasons of finds, and all lefts! It's just like early Christmas, LOL. Good luck on the rights! There somewhere around.

Nah, we never give up. Went back out early this morning and got caught up in deer movement. Sat and watched 7 for a good hour walking around the edge of the woods eating , I believe to be wild strawberry leaves. One had pretty good velvet antlers showing already. Also found a neighbors bolt with half a broadhead blade still in it.

I still have to frost seed #50 of red clover seed yet. Was going to do it for the last week, but the wind been to strong. Should be on the field already.

Seen a lone hen this morning in a typical nesting area. She saw me and went into a hedge row.

Got a chance to get out for an extended shed hunt this morning, now that the maple syrup season is over. I really enjoyed the time out there. Found shed #2 on a north sloping ditch bank. Last years shed, but we'll take it, LOL. Stuck in the mud and only showing the tips from out of the leaves that covered most of it. My camera refuses to take daylight shots, otherwise would have posted the spot.

Easter dinner yesterday, buttermilk pancakes this morning with farm fresh maple syrup right out of the boiler with left over bacon that wasn't used in the sap, and another Easter dinner with ham and all the trimmings today. Unbuckle the belt one hole.

What a nice piece of gold! Waiting for more snow to go off and hoping more sheds lye under the left over snow pack.

Muck Woody Sport. Purchased at L.L. Bean. Hoping on never buying another pair, LOL.

Happy Birthday!

Forth straight boil down day today. If we're lucky, I'll be done tonight till the next flow. Hopefully we have another after tonight's freeze. This years syrup is some of the best tasting ever!

You know, the turkeys look a lot better than I thought they would.

Might help ya to pick up a candy thermometer. Drop it down outside like WNY said, then bring it on a controlled cooktop. The reduced sap will boiling quite a while around 210 F . When it starts to foam up brown, ( I call this brown boil) it's getting closer. It will sit at 215 F for a while then go up rapidly to 219 F or higher quick. Target temp for syrup is 219F. No higher. Reduce the heat when she starts to brown boil, or it will foam all over the stove. I'm surely no expert, by any means, but this has been working for me. Happy Syrup Making!

Evaporators steaming away right now. Figure on having another sleepless night. About 162 gallons behind right now.

The things one sees while holding the wrong gun, LOL.

Eddie, that didn't come out quite right! LOL.

A lot of people live in this climate because of the four seasons. I only experience two, Winter and Summer, LOL.

Hens at the bird feeder, a few weeks ago. The usual at the home establishment, nothing till mid April ; but the other plantation has a nice group of birds on the wheat. They winter in the hemlocks.

We still do, LOL! I like taking a natural raw product, adding labor, turning into a useful natural product that's so tasty sweet. Some great flavor this season but with a lower sugar content. Taking more sap to make a gallon of syrup.