The 65 Project

[hickslawns]

While we were there I empties 25gal on weed killer on my future food plot area. Mom and Dad watched the kids ride their motorcycles while I sprayed. Then Mom had the kids gathering apples that were ready while my dad and I cut up the oak.

Below are pics of my future food plot area. Good news is the deer are entering and exiting the woods by my minerals which is exactly where I am putting the plot. Deer can leave a finger of woods, cross the corn field, enter by the minerals and food plot and I will kill them from the tree house! You might be able to see a little bit of the tree house in these pics.

I had a good kill on July 27 application. Gave me a good idea of what else i needed to spray today. I will be taking out any trees smaller than my thigh as well. Two reasons: 1 is to remove competition for oaks and hickory in the immediate area, and 2 is to allow a bit more sunlight in. I fear changing too much this close to the season but I don't care. Have to do it sometime. If I screw up one yearI of hunting then it will be worth it for the long haul. I will be running a generator and cutting siding for the tree house in the next couple weeks anyway. I suspect things will need to settle before I hunt it. Then again, I am getting a ton of does and fawns here. This spot will be a rut spot for cruising bucks anyway.

 

[xbowguy]

Looking good Hicks! Glad to see you're still at it.

 

[hickslawns]

Updates. Not cleaned up, but I have the huge oak on the ground that blew over in the early July storms. It was wedged in some other trees which made it tricky. Big oak took out 3 or 4 smaller trees on its way down.
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Last picture is Dad with Graci covering her ears. Lol. I was taking a break. Up until this point, Dad would stand back analyze and point to where I should cut, then I would cut. He has a brilliant analytical mind. 43 years teaching geometry and building houses, cutting firewood, etc is enough for me to trust his judgement on where to cut. Hahaha

Just for some size perspective: I am 6' tall. In the picture it looks like the big oak is just off the ground. In reality, I had the MS361 out with a 25" bar and was cutting at eye level. I just looked at these a little closer after posting from the phone last night. These pictures are a bit deceiving.

 

[Boone]

Thats a big tree!

How big is that plot? Its hard to get a size perspective from the photos.

 

[hickslawns]

Thats a big tree!

How big is that plot? Its hard to get a size perspective from the photos.

Fairly small. I would say less than 1/4 acre for sure.

 

[Boone]

We have some good luck with smaller "kill" plots. The deer seem to feel more secure and close to cover. I could have shot a nice 8 point last year at the end of bow, but he had two busted tines. Hurry up and seed that thing:smiley_crocodile:

 

[hickslawns]

Alright Boone, I have some pictures for you. I didn't get it seeded but I got it worked up while the kids were at soccer and football practice tonight. Not bad for 10-15min drive, time picking apples, get the bobcat out, work it up, and drive back to get the boys. All under 2 hours! First pictures are what it looks like from the ground.

 

[hickslawns]

Here is the view from the treehouse. Only one picture of the small plot. It is NE of the treehouse. The views with the bobcat in the pics are due west. Just beyond wood line is a narrow cornfield bordered on 3 sides. There is a bean field to the south. Hopefully my small plot will give them a stopping place on their way. Last picture is the smaller section to the NE. The ground picture it shows a tree down. This is the view from the air. I will cut the tree up soon and be able to double the size of that plot. Not sure of I will need to or not but might simply because I need to get the tree out of there anyway for firewood.

 

[jeremy44230]

That is going to be sweet! Good luck there!

 

[Fluteman]

Looks great Phil!

 

[hickslawns]

Thanks guys. I appreciate it. Don't say "I hope your hard work pays off" please. I was honestly having fun. Sitting in the A/C of the Bobcat with some tennis shoes on eliminating the weeds, saplings, and poison ivy was much better than doing this crap by hand. I have done enough rototilling by hand and turning dirt by hand in the past. I spent less than an hour on the skid loader doing this. Sure does make me appreciate how I started in business. Looking back, I don't know how I did it. I have been blessed. I am just hoping this turns into a place I can take the kids to, spend the night in the tree house, and wake up killing deer. Hopefully my disturbances don't alter their movements. I need to finish the siding SOON! I figure if I get this seeded this week, and knock out the siding next week, then stay out until hunting season I might be okay. Currently there are several does with fawns entering/exiting the woods daily (both mornings and evenings) just beyond where the Bobcat is parked in the photos!

 

[hickslawns]

Just remembered I swapped the card since I was in there. I was there Sunday and sprayed for the second time. Worked the ground today. Between Monday morning and this afternoon the camera had been triggered 62 times for a total of 124 pictures. Curious how many skirted the camera or entered/exited just left or right of the camera? Deer are definitely bedding and using this area heavily.

Here are the action shots. First is the quad in there spraying. Next is the skid steer working it up! Last picture is the "mint" I left on their pillow after I finished taking out the trash and fluffing up their pillows! lol

 

[hickslawns]

I went thru the pictures and from what I can tell there is one young buck that stays in the area. He seems to run with another yearling. Probably his twin sister or something.


Outside of the one buck I am seeing what appears to be 3 does with 1 or 2 fawns each and 2 does that do not appear to have any fawns. Ironically, one of them looks to be more mature than any of the ones with fawns. Not sure why she is a loner.

Here are some pictures showing usage. Nearly every morning and every evening. Yesterday they were in/out of there all day long. 7am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 1pm, 3pm, and then in the evening several groups of doe/fawns moved thru between 6-9pm. Good stuff! More fawns on this property than I have seen on the 69acre property I hunt 4-5 miles away with much better habitat. I don't get it, but I will take it!

 

[Boone]

Great series of updates. I agree, it is a lot of work, but having the right equipment makes it more fun. Tell the truth, how many trees did you run into? haha There are a lot of trees you had to work around. With the traffic through there already and the plot I'd be excited to try it out if I were you.

 

[hickslawns]

Great series of updates. I agree, it is a lot of work, but having the right equipment makes it more fun. Tell the truth, how many trees did you run into? haha There are a lot of trees you had to work around. With the traffic through there already and the plot I'd be excited to try it out if I were you.

Truth? Son of a gun Boone, you are killing me here. I am an honest man. I backed into 2 of them. :smiley_blackeye:

Glad you didn't ask how many I ran over on purpose. I can't count that high. :smiley_crocodile:

We need a lawn mower or chainsaw icon!!!!

 

[hickslawns]

Looked like rain. Took the boys over to put seed down. Saw fresh tracks since last night in the newly turned dirt. Not a real surprise. The deer seem to love fresh turned dirt!

Seeded around tree house. Decided since I was there with the boys I might as well let them roam a bit and work up another area I had in mind. This is on the east end of the woods at the end of my open field. Basically in front of my shooting backstop. How convenient!!! First pics are the boys on tree house deck and foot prints.



Next is the area east of the woods.


Not a huge area but this test is to see if something can be done on small properties to help your hunting. I know it would be some effort, but this could be accomplished by the average guy with a rototiller as an afternoon project.

This pic is the tree I think I will hang a stand in. Just to the left of the pine tree. Easy in, easy out. Not bumping out of woods as I walk thru woods to tree house. First let's see if it pulls any deer out during the daylight!

One last picture. This is the row I will be planting trees in shortly. Mostly white pine. Everything else died for the biggest part due to the dry summer. Despite potting them and keeping watered, they just couldn't withstand the summer heat.

Edit for one last picture. Downloaded the SD card which was swapped last night. Figured since I was there, what the heck? 3 different does last night, one of them with a fawn for a total of 4 deer in the last 24hrs. Check out the size of the one doe. Looks like she is losing her fur already. Kind of weird looking.

 

[Boone]

You're a busy beaver. I hope you got some rain down there cuz we didn't get sheet up here.

 

[hickslawns]

You're a busy beaver. I hope you got some rain down there cuz we didn't get sheet up here.

Not really. Still trying to juggle three kids and my wife has worked the last 2 days. Working on getting a new (to me) sweeper truck from Texas to Ohio today along with the regular job duties. However, not as busy on the 65 Project as you might think. I have 3-4hrs involved in working the ground and seeding the plots. Worked up the ground by the tree house in under an hour on Wed night. Spent under 3 hrs there yesterday to work up the other area and seed all areas. Helps that the skiddy was already there and attachment hooked up.

 

[hickslawns]

Has been a busy Monday. Stopped to get a couple tasks accomplished. One task included measuring dimensions again to verify materials list for siding on tree house. Got caught in the rain. Parked the quad and trailer under tree house and enjoying a moment of peacefulness in the cabin. I will try to attach views of the plot from inside. Another view of the interior (ignore the filthy floor) and one of the loft. I will.enjoy the first rain on my plot back here since I seeded it. Might as well change camera card too. As I click to submit the rain is stopping and the sun os coming out. Sure has been an enjoyable 10min!

 

[hickslawns]

Here are some of the necessities of a home: deadbolt, toilet paper, air mattress, breaker box for hooking to generator. Lol

While posting I snapped this picture as well. Didn't capture pics of the 2 fawns but got Momma in bow range!