1023's 2024-2025 Journal

[bowhunter1023]

I did deer things yesterday, so you could say it's getting serious...

I've been chipping away at things here and there, mainly babying the nicest clover plot I've ever grown. It's not in a great spot for hunting, but it's getting a ton of traffic.

I gave up on our back field. It's just too much for me to keep up with, so dad agreed to let it go from the year and we're exploring native prairie restoration for this 3.5 acres. I'm blown away by the deer sign all through and around it. Plant some soft mast, some pines, and a native prairie seed mix and let it go seems like a good idea.

Life's been ridiculous of late, so I needed some tractor therapy to unwind. Spent 3.5 hours hogging on Sunday and 2 more last night. My plots are all mowed and ready to spray. I had an "Oh shit!" moment last week when I realized I had to get started on plots this week or I'd be behind schedule. Where does the time go?!?

Looking forward to another year in the Corner Pocket.

Oh, and this guy. He's cool. Needs 3 years, but you know how that goes

 

[bowhunter1023]

Spent some time doing deer chores while the girls went to the pool. Added urea to my plot screen, which is now planted N/S instead of E/W since my neighbors have taken full advantage (and then some) of having land next to a manage farm. Their new blind won't have the same view this year

Here's an unsolicited ad for Domain Seed, specifically their Comeback Kid clover mix. This plot has dog shit soil and I didn't add a thing to it. Tilled it for the first time last fall, seeded and finally mowed it 2 weeks ago. It's a nice little clover patch with a great scrape tree. It makes this stand just a touch better!

Picked up my supervisor for a cruise around the block to see what crops are in rotation around the neighborhood. Caught her sleeping on the job!

 

[finelyshedded]

Great update Jesse! Looking great so far.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Life got in the way of deer season most of the summer, but I made good progress behind the house yesterday. We set a post for the new Boss Buck feeder, and 4 posts for a new permanent base for the Redneck. Made the move with no issues thankfully. I'll get the decking done this week, so more pics to come. I'm taking a "mental health" day tomorrow so I can clear trails and till plots at the farm. Fingers crossed the forecast holds and we get rain Friday! I may be way behind, but I'm going to do my best to get caught up in the next 4 weeks.

 

[bowhunter1023]

Made good use of a "mental health day" today. Spent the morning with Kaydence, who brought her new woodworking skills to the project thanks to 4H. She was a big help today and it was a pleasure having competent roustabout with me!

We set these posts behind our house on Saturday in a spot roughly 100 yards from where the blind used to be. With the way the pressure has increased back here and the need to be the best baiter in the neighborhood if we're going to win the bait wars, I wanted to adjust our feeder location to a more secluded location. Bucks can safely view this from a higher elevation and approach it using the terrain to stay hidden from the ridge lines. I have neighbors with stands/feeders 150 yards N and S of here, but I've got the upper hand on seclusion.

Sis can even handle a 2x6x8 now!

I gambled on padding and carpet, and need some more, but she's in place. I'll add some brush to it after I finish the floor (added cheap anti-fatigue floor mats under the carpet to dampen the sound). Miss Kenna Grace says she wants to make her hunting debut this fall, so we'll likely be here on opening day. One good thing about the new location is on low wind, good thermal days, we can hunt this on practically any wind and be relatively safe.

Made it to the farm and put another 6 hours on the tractor. Tilled 2 plots and opened up the Pond Holler road after being shut off for 3 years. The bridge washed out and high walled the creek. I'm no @giles with the equipment, but not bad for 20 minutes and a 23hp tractor. The bank was 4' on the far side and 2' closest to me. It's been a pain in the ass not having this crossing in because it forces me to climb the big hill on the other side of the property every time. This is a much safer route on a quad or tractor, and less steep for the e-bike.

If the forecast holds, all the plots will be in and rained on by Fri/Sat. If only I can get that lucky!

 

[giles]

Did a fine job!

 

[Sgt Fury]

Nice work Jesse. What are you feeding those kids? They are growing up super fast. They gonna be in college before you know it.