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November 18, 2009
Saturday 11/14 was my day. I hunted in the am and had a hell of a buck come through at
7:30 am. He gave me a 35 yard shot. My arrow was perfect with the exception of a 1 inch
sapling which I Robin Hooded just 10 feet from the buck. He was un alarmed, turned around
and cautiously walked back where he came from. He even stopped to make a scrape. That
afternoon I relocated to a stand 125 yards west of me and at 4pm I witnessed the most
incredible fight I had ever seen. Two full blown mature bucks going at it like they wanted to kill
one another, literally. There were several other good bucks and does in the field while the
fight was going on and after it was over, the winner escorted every one of the bucks off the
field. 15 minutes later, one of those bucks came by me at 12 yards and it turned out to be the
buck I had missed earlier that morning! I double lunged him, he hopped 3 times,
stopped----and it was over. Solid 4.5 year old Maryland Shore Buck!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 14, 2009
Returned from Illinois with my tag. Countless acres of corn still standing!! Couple that with full
moon and temperatures ranging from 78-80 every single day spells TUFF HUNT!! I have a
gun tag for Illinois but I may wait till second gun, as a LOT of rain and warm temperatures are
yet again moving into that area. Now gonna givem hell here in MD!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 23, 2009
Catching up on a long overdue blog update. It has been a longer than average summer for
me. My father has been battling health issues for quite some time and passed away
peacefully on October 12, 2009. We were all by his side. All though his passing was not
sudden, you can never prepare for it. I have kind of been in a mental daze since he passed
but every day is getting a little better. He was an incredible man and we were very close.
On the Land Management & Hunting front, everything looks good going into fall. Some of the
late planted plots we got in are moving slowly while the earlier planted plots are doing
extremely well. Fall is the ideal time to establish clover an no matter what your fall planted
clover plot looks like right now, it will look 10 times better after winter dormancy and it comes
back to life in spring...........always does!
I have not had the time to hunt much at all so far but I can assure you, I will be beating the
timber starting next week(near Halloween). There are a lot of 1 and 2 year old bucks out and
about showing themselves but the more mature bucks simply are not consistently on their feet
just yet(at least, not during the daytime). So rather than booger things up for the big show
just around the corner, I like to sit back and wait till as close to the end of October as possible
before making some moves. Plus, trail cameras are showing support of my strategy.
I am leaving for Illinois the first week of November..........can't wait!!
Good luck to everyone and please, wear your safety harness and be safe!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 18, 2009
Had John Brown jr from BOSS Outdoor Productions in town the last 3 days trying to get a
good buck down on film. Saw lots of deer and several good shooter bucks but nothing in our
wheel house. We did a makeshift ground blind one afternoon trying to intercept deer as they
came out of the timber and into the corn. Although it looked good, the deer would not commit.
In all, a great time but no tags were used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 20, 2009
We finally had a nice cell come through and soak down the majority of my area with just over
half an inch of rain. It came pretty hard and fast but honestly, that was better than nothing at
all. In fact, lots of my corn had already started to wilt and after a quick visit around today, the
corn looks very healthy. Prior to typing this entry I logged onto the weather site and there is a
good soaking front easing up from the southwest and it is supposed to rain late tonight and
into tomorrow. This could pull a LOT of farmers out of the hole right now, as late beans need
the boost and corn is beginning to Make.
On another note, my 80 year old father is battling some health issues lately and I have been
spending quite a bit of valuable time with him. He has been my hero of 41 years and I am
going to help him through it the best I can. Mom & Dad only live 2 properties over and I take
the kids over every day to hang out with their grandfather. I don't know who is happier to see
who.
until next time...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 14, 2009
Well, I never thought I would ever complain about the sun, heat and dry temperatures after
the wet and cold spring we just had! But man has it dried up here in the last 2 weeks. Our
area of the Shore has excellent soils but they are on the light side, which translates to
leaching. Not a good scenario after nearly 3 weeks and no rain. Take all that good rain &
moist soils from the last few months and we are back to dry. Last night we had a very small
thunderstorm cell roll through the area and it missed me by about a mile or a little more. Just
south of me over a mile they got 1/4 inch rain. The rain band was only about 3-4 miles wide
moving nw/se.
All selective spraying and mowing has come to a halt due to the dry weather as well. Right
now we are in a mid summer holding pattern with our eyes on the radar. Mowing or selective
spraying in this dry heat is not recommended till some storms roll through.
In the meantime, it is also mid July and time to start planning for the fall plots. Seriously, here
in my region, mid August is prime time to get things in the ground provided moisture is good.
If you have areas that you want to plant in fall, now is the time to start a good non-selective
spray & till regiment to prepare the soil.
until next time....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 2, 2009
Meteorologists are calling this the year without a summer, as this has been one of the
wettest/coolest springs on record. The rain started in March and really never quit until the
end of June and for established perennial plots like clover, alfalfa and chicory, this wet spring
has been most advantageous. If your clover plots are not shining like gold right now, then
there is most definitely a ph or lack of fertility issue. All of my established nicer. But for warm
season annual planting, it has been a nightmare!
The downside for Outdoor Essentials in this super wet spring has been extremely wet-soggy
fields. The problem has been a particular pattern of rain, rain, rain, dry day, dry day, rain,
rain, rain, dry day, rain, rain, rain, rain, dry day, rain, rain, rain, dry day, dry day, dry day,
rain............. Almost to a T!! Essentially, there were not enough dry days in between the rains
and when the rain falls, Outdoor Essentials tractors don't run. Multiply this with many anxious
clients on the books watching the same weather report and hoping an Outdoor Essentials
truck is rolling up their lane with the sun.............makes for some tuff days!!
Another downside of this wet spring has been our Impoundment Pond planting for waterfowl.
We plant all of our Impoundments in corn and again, it is tuff to plant corn in the mud.
Thankfully there were a few dry breaks in the beginning of June that allowed us to get in and
work some of the dirt. But the challenge there was that in order to plant, the ground had to be
disced 2 or 3 times per day to help expedite drying......that extra discing was not included in
the proposals!! :)
The good news is that 85% of our on books jobs were completed and the remainder had to be
shifted towards fall planting. Spraying season is here and now we have heat to contend with.
But low and behold, the antlers should grow very nicely this year along with all the rains. Trail
cameras are deployed and we are getting some outstanding pictures of all deer, not just
bucks.
So, if the rain kept you from getting that new plot in the ground this spring, keep a close eye
out for your fall planting window of opportunity. Here in the north there tends to be a sweet
spot in mid to late August that has a history of thunderstorm activity. Find that window and get
that plot in the ground!
If you get a chance, stop by my new Land Management Forum. There you can post up any
Food Plot and Land Management questions you might have.
until next time..............
Saturday 11/14 was my day. I hunted in the am and had a hell of a buck come through at
7:30 am. He gave me a 35 yard shot. My arrow was perfect with the exception of a 1 inch
sapling which I Robin Hooded just 10 feet from the buck. He was un alarmed, turned around
and cautiously walked back where he came from. He even stopped to make a scrape. That
afternoon I relocated to a stand 125 yards west of me and at 4pm I witnessed the most
incredible fight I had ever seen. Two full blown mature bucks going at it like they wanted to kill
one another, literally. There were several other good bucks and does in the field while the
fight was going on and after it was over, the winner escorted every one of the bucks off the
field. 15 minutes later, one of those bucks came by me at 12 yards and it turned out to be the
buck I had missed earlier that morning! I double lunged him, he hopped 3 times,
stopped----and it was over. Solid 4.5 year old Maryland Shore Buck!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
November 14, 2009
Returned from Illinois with my tag. Countless acres of corn still standing!! Couple that with full
moon and temperatures ranging from 78-80 every single day spells TUFF HUNT!! I have a
gun tag for Illinois but I may wait till second gun, as a LOT of rain and warm temperatures are
yet again moving into that area. Now gonna givem hell here in MD!!
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
October 23, 2009
Catching up on a long overdue blog update. It has been a longer than average summer for
me. My father has been battling health issues for quite some time and passed away
peacefully on October 12, 2009. We were all by his side. All though his passing was not
sudden, you can never prepare for it. I have kind of been in a mental daze since he passed
but every day is getting a little better. He was an incredible man and we were very close.
On the Land Management & Hunting front, everything looks good going into fall. Some of the
late planted plots we got in are moving slowly while the earlier planted plots are doing
extremely well. Fall is the ideal time to establish clover an no matter what your fall planted
clover plot looks like right now, it will look 10 times better after winter dormancy and it comes
back to life in spring...........always does!
I have not had the time to hunt much at all so far but I can assure you, I will be beating the
timber starting next week(near Halloween). There are a lot of 1 and 2 year old bucks out and
about showing themselves but the more mature bucks simply are not consistently on their feet
just yet(at least, not during the daytime). So rather than booger things up for the big show
just around the corner, I like to sit back and wait till as close to the end of October as possible
before making some moves. Plus, trail cameras are showing support of my strategy.
I am leaving for Illinois the first week of November..........can't wait!!
Good luck to everyone and please, wear your safety harness and be safe!!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
September 18, 2009
Had John Brown jr from BOSS Outdoor Productions in town the last 3 days trying to get a
good buck down on film. Saw lots of deer and several good shooter bucks but nothing in our
wheel house. We did a makeshift ground blind one afternoon trying to intercept deer as they
came out of the timber and into the corn. Although it looked good, the deer would not commit.
In all, a great time but no tags were used.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 20, 2009
We finally had a nice cell come through and soak down the majority of my area with just over
half an inch of rain. It came pretty hard and fast but honestly, that was better than nothing at
all. In fact, lots of my corn had already started to wilt and after a quick visit around today, the
corn looks very healthy. Prior to typing this entry I logged onto the weather site and there is a
good soaking front easing up from the southwest and it is supposed to rain late tonight and
into tomorrow. This could pull a LOT of farmers out of the hole right now, as late beans need
the boost and corn is beginning to Make.
On another note, my 80 year old father is battling some health issues lately and I have been
spending quite a bit of valuable time with him. He has been my hero of 41 years and I am
going to help him through it the best I can. Mom & Dad only live 2 properties over and I take
the kids over every day to hang out with their grandfather. I don't know who is happier to see
who.
until next time...
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 14, 2009
Well, I never thought I would ever complain about the sun, heat and dry temperatures after
the wet and cold spring we just had! But man has it dried up here in the last 2 weeks. Our
area of the Shore has excellent soils but they are on the light side, which translates to
leaching. Not a good scenario after nearly 3 weeks and no rain. Take all that good rain &
moist soils from the last few months and we are back to dry. Last night we had a very small
thunderstorm cell roll through the area and it missed me by about a mile or a little more. Just
south of me over a mile they got 1/4 inch rain. The rain band was only about 3-4 miles wide
moving nw/se.
All selective spraying and mowing has come to a halt due to the dry weather as well. Right
now we are in a mid summer holding pattern with our eyes on the radar. Mowing or selective
spraying in this dry heat is not recommended till some storms roll through.
In the meantime, it is also mid July and time to start planning for the fall plots. Seriously, here
in my region, mid August is prime time to get things in the ground provided moisture is good.
If you have areas that you want to plant in fall, now is the time to start a good non-selective
spray & till regiment to prepare the soil.
until next time....
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
July 2, 2009
Meteorologists are calling this the year without a summer, as this has been one of the
wettest/coolest springs on record. The rain started in March and really never quit until the
end of June and for established perennial plots like clover, alfalfa and chicory, this wet spring
has been most advantageous. If your clover plots are not shining like gold right now, then
there is most definitely a ph or lack of fertility issue. All of my established nicer. But for warm
season annual planting, it has been a nightmare!
The downside for Outdoor Essentials in this super wet spring has been extremely wet-soggy
fields. The problem has been a particular pattern of rain, rain, rain, dry day, dry day, rain,
rain, rain, dry day, rain, rain, rain, rain, dry day, rain, rain, rain, dry day, dry day, dry day,
rain............. Almost to a T!! Essentially, there were not enough dry days in between the rains
and when the rain falls, Outdoor Essentials tractors don't run. Multiply this with many anxious
clients on the books watching the same weather report and hoping an Outdoor Essentials
truck is rolling up their lane with the sun.............makes for some tuff days!!
Another downside of this wet spring has been our Impoundment Pond planting for waterfowl.
We plant all of our Impoundments in corn and again, it is tuff to plant corn in the mud.
Thankfully there were a few dry breaks in the beginning of June that allowed us to get in and
work some of the dirt. But the challenge there was that in order to plant, the ground had to be
disced 2 or 3 times per day to help expedite drying......that extra discing was not included in
the proposals!! :)
The good news is that 85% of our on books jobs were completed and the remainder had to be
shifted towards fall planting. Spraying season is here and now we have heat to contend with.
But low and behold, the antlers should grow very nicely this year along with all the rains. Trail
cameras are deployed and we are getting some outstanding pictures of all deer, not just
bucks.
So, if the rain kept you from getting that new plot in the ground this spring, keep a close eye
out for your fall planting window of opportunity. Here in the north there tends to be a sweet
spot in mid to late August that has a history of thunderstorm activity. Find that window and get
that plot in the ground!
If you get a chance, stop by my new Land Management Forum. There you can post up any
Food Plot and Land Management questions you might have.
until next time..............
