Darton & Stan R Were Right!!!!! Pic Heavy

[DUKFVR]

You will be surprised how lanes really help the animals too. Place is looking great!

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by DUKFVR

You will be surprised how lanes really help the animals too. Place is looking great!

Thanks. Hoping to set things up to benefit the wildlife for the long term.


Now I just have to figure out how to get my cabin to be as pretty as yours!

[Booner Sooner]

Took a three day weekend with the family and headed up to the land. Took a load of furniture along with the refurbished feeder.

Got the feeder set up and by all accounts it is running like new.

I give the herds of does 48 hours before they find the golden nuggets.

Stopped off by the used hunting emporium again on Saturday and picked up a blind that I’ve had my eye on for a while now.


This one will overlook the main food plot.

Close to the cabin, warm, and roomy = kid friendly.



Still have some work to do on the door and a couple of windows but overall she is solid.


Loaded up my next project to bring it back to the house for refurbishment. This is feeder #1’s twin brother.


I’ll have to get by Home Depot this week to get another couple of jugs of the elbow grease.

[Darton]

Judging by your rehab skills on the first feeder I am anxious to see the finished product of the new hotel and twin feeder

[Iamhooked]

Looking good. Post some pics from the trail cams.

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[monsterspike]

you okies like to work i know that. daggone! im gonna need a manager i recon!

[Matt_C]

Micah, looking good brother...

[Heath]

Blinds by camp usually produce!

[perow]

Looking great—let me know if you find any more deals on blinds

[KactusKiller]

I’m liking that blind and food plot combo!

[ELKAHOLIC]

Looking good man! I love it up there, my brother bought a big place that is awesome!

[wingnut]

Can't wait to see the food plot around the new blind! Looking good!

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Iamhooked

Looking good. Post some pics from the trail cams.

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My trail cams are currently set to “fat doe and fawn only” mode so they are pretty boring right now. (You can tell Huggybear that my cams are pretty advanced.)



Interesting though that I got pics of the equipment that the seismic company used to clear the lanes I posted about a few weeks ago.




Seeing this take out an oak tree like it was nothing is pretty impressive!

I walked out most of the lanes that were cut and I’m very pleased with the result. There are a couple of spots that are going to be excellent. Overall, I’ve probably got three more bow stand set locations and one blind location.

One of my early favorites of the new spots is in my far NE corner. When Darton and I initially walked part of the property on New Year’s day this area was littered with rubs and was near some of the thickest on the property.



Some mature trees in this area are ideal for a bow set. It may take a year or two to get the ground right but I’d like to plant clover or some other shade tolerant plots back here. Already put some mineral out in front of a cam so it will be interesting to see what we have in this area. There is pasture within 50 yards and a small pond within 400 so all the elements (cover being the third) are there. From what I can tell this area has never been hunted. You hear that allot but based on the work it would have taken to hunt it before this lane was cut I’m pretty certain that this is the case.

Here some other “new” areas I like:





An existing area closer to the main food plot and adjacent to a 30 acre pasture should be an ideal staging area in the evenings.

They just widened an existing trail which helped with the tree cover/shade. Will open up more that will grow here.

I’m looking forward to planting but not looking forward to all the work of picking up rocks that comes with it. I figure the major rock clearing will be done in the first two seasons.

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Matt_C

Micah, looking good brother...

Thanks. One step at a time. Lord willing, this will be a lifetime project.

Originally Posted by ELKAHOLIC

Looking good man! I love it up there, my brother bought a big place that is awesome!

Terry!!! What’s up my friend?! Long time no see. Yep, I heard about you brother’s spread. Just a few acres bigger’n mine
Should be something special.

Originally Posted by monsterspike

you okies like to work i know that. daggone! im gonna need a manager i recon!

No work here. A labor of love.

[Dusty Britches]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

A few weeks ago I was contacted by a company hired by the petroleum company to perform 3D seismic mapping of the subsurface deposits. With my place being 90% solid timber they were going to have to use large, industrial munchers to cut lanes through the timber to make room for the shot holes to be drilled. Once the lanes are in they essentially drill 30’ deep coffee can size holes before setting off small charges and record/map the subsurface.

Here is a map. The proposed lanes are yellow.

The interesting thing is that I have been saving my pennies, nickels, and dimes to go toward hiring a dozer service to clear some lanes and make small kill plots. Now I have someone asking if they can pay me to to do the same thing.

....

That is God's grace for sure! Congrats on the land and the work. It looks perfect!

[bowsticker]

Congratulations sir...Beautiful place

[Darton]

The new lanes have changed the game!

[HDWRENCH]

Used hunting gear ?? not following,


You brought up food plots , In the past Pheasants forever ( does for sure as I did this)_ and whitetail unlimited ( I think) would offer free seed and fertilizer. This may not be 100% the best food plot however you could use much of their product and add in some clover millet etc

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by KactusKiller

I’m liking that blind and food plot combo!

That’s for my kids. One is shooting a x-bow and the other is hoping to connect with a .223 for his first deer. I’ve got to get the windows and doors repaired but that should not be a problem.

Originally Posted by Heath

Blinds by camp usually produce!

Funny how that is. Hoping it’s true. I’m keeping as much ch brush between the cabin and this blind for that very reason.

Originally Posted by perow

Looking great—let me know if you find any more deals on blinds

I think I’ve picked the shelves pretty bare by now but I’ll keep my eyes open, Brother.

[Booner Sooner]

Here is a view of part of the new lane leading to what will be a new bow set.
https://youtu.be/KflKqhJ4KfQ

Will probably not use a feeder her, but rather just use hand corn. Also, may have to do a little chainsaw work to get more light in. Wondering if I can get some clover to grow in this area.

Any thoughts?

[kruppa24]

Congrats

[monsterspike]

im not sure about that new area booner. there is so many mast producing tress, and the area is so thick, and hidden away, that deer might avoid it.

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by monsterspike

im not sure about that new area booner. there is so many mast producing tress, and the area is so thick, and hidden away, that deer might avoid it.

Yep. Probably a low odds area.....longshot, for sure.


That say, you can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a dozen oak trees on this place.

[monsterspike]

ideal situation mate. it came at an ideal time, considering the age of your kids as well. Glory to The Most High God for this opportunity! this idea was likely too good to be your own haha.

then people show up wanting to pay you to clear trees! you had to be like "wellll yeah, i recon we can work something out".

i recognize this work!

[Rwc]

Those new lanes sure look good. Those right-of-way kings can make short work of clearing brush. I really like your food plot blind set up.

Appreciate you letting us follow along.

Rwc

[wingnut]

Micah, the new trails look awesome!

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Rwc

Those new lanes sure look good. Those right-of-way kings can make short work of clearing brush. I really like your food plot blind set up.

Appreciate you letting us follow along.

Rwc

I’d never seen those before they showed up on camera. They are very impressive.

Originally Posted by wingnut

Micah, the new trails look awesome!

I’m still grinning.

Looking forward to your report on how well they did for you on your new road!

Originally Posted by monsterspike

ideal situation mate. it came at an ideal time, considering the age of your kids as well. Glory to The Most High God for this opportunity! this idea was likely too good to be your own haha.

then people show up wanting to pay you to clear trees! you had to be like "wellll yeah, i recon we can work something out".

i recognize this work!

God is certainly great.

[Booner Sooner]

The soil samples I sent off to OSU should be back any day. Looking forward to seeing what the soil needs.


The Twin Feeder refurbishing project is humming along.



Had to do a little body work on this one.

[SFAbowhunter]

Booner, are you planning to plant multiple plots?

Feeders looking good! I’m planning on heading up to my place on Sunday to mow, move a feeder, check cams, and spray for my plot. I think I’m just going to do one main plot and two feeders. Haven’t really figured that out yet.


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[Darton]

You could get you a second career by opening a Metal Fabrication shop!

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by SFAbowhunter

Booner, are you planning to plant multiple plots?

Feeders looking good! I’m planning on heading up to my place on Sunday to mow, move a feeder, check cams, and spray for my plot. I think I’m just going to do one main plot and two feeders. Haven’t really figured that out yet.


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I’ll be planting around an acre and a half for the main plot but have two other “Micro-plots” or kill plots that I want to plant. Going to try my hand at some clover in some of these. This may be a multi-year experiment to see what grows well and the locals like to eat!

Hoping that the feeders help them through the tougher months and working to introduce the local herd to the golden nuggets.

Sounds like the weekend will be incredibly productive! What product will you be spraying? Also, is this a pull behind sprayer, backpack sprayer, other?

[Iamhooked]

You have me motivated to restore the old feeders I have behind the shop.

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Darton

You could get you a second career by opening a Metal Fabrication shop!

HA! At my pace I guarantee I’d go broke! This is strictly a labor of love.

Originally Posted by Iamhooked

You have me motivated to restore the old feeders I have behind the shop.

You strike me as the kind of guy that is perpetually motivated! From the looks of your projects on the new place you’ve got that in spades! Glad I can be of some sort of assistance.

Got a few more steps along in the process.



Used a different primer on the twin feeder. This is for clean metal. It’s not as thick as the rusted metal version. We will see how they do over the years.


Will be putting the first coat of paint on and turning my attention to the winch this weekend.

[SFAbowhunter]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

I’ll be planting around an acre and a half for the main plot but have two other “Micro-plots” or kill plots that I want to plant. Going to try my hand at some clover in some of these. This may be a multi-year experiment to see what grows well and the locals like to eat!

Hoping that the feeders help them through the tougher months and working to introduce the local herd to the golden nuggets.

Sounds like the weekend will be incredibly productive! What product will you be spraying? Also, is this a pull behind sprayer, backpack sprayer, other?

Awesome! I'm trying to decide if I should do a couple of kill plots. I have one spot across the creek that I have to put waders on to get to that would be perfect for a small <1/4 ac plot. I'll be spraying my plots with a small 2 gallon pump sprayer unless I buy a backpack sprayer tomorrow at TSC. I plan to spay them with GroundWork Super weed and grass killer. My thinking is if I spray now with the small sprayer and need to hit the missed spots in September I'll be okay with that. I'm hoping that I can spray then throw without mowing. I'm planning to plant elbon rye and mbs seed plot booster. All of those seeds are small, so if I can throw before a good rain in September I think it'll give me something green and give the deer options. I don't think my deer have ever seen a feeder. I was out there around July 4th and watched a deer come out into the opening, see the feeder, look confused, then took off running and blowing. Ha Sunday I have a customer of mine bringing his tractor up to mow for me. Going to hopefully get some trails through some of the thick woods to have other spots to hunt. My place is super thick since they did a cut/replant about 10 years ago. I'll post some pics on my thread when we finish up.

Keep up the great work! Can't wait to see the progress!

[J.B.]

looks great, congrats!

[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by SFAbowhunter

Awesome! I'm trying to decide if I should do a couple of kill plots. I have one spot across the creek that I have to put waders on to get to that would be perfect for a small <1/4 ac plot. I'll be spraying my plots with a small 2 gallon pump sprayer unless I buy a backpack sprayer tomorrow at TSC. I plan to spay them with GroundWork Super weed and grass killer. My thinking is if I spray now with the small sprayer and need to hit the missed spots in September I'll be okay with that. I'm hoping that I can spray then throw without mowing. I'm planning to plant elbon rye and mbs seed plot booster. All of those seeds are small, so if I can throw before a good rain in September I think it'll give me something green and give the deer options. I don't think my deer have ever seen a feeder. I was out there around July 4th and watched a deer come out into the opening, see the feeder, look confused, then took off running and blowing. Ha Sunday I have a customer of mine bringing his tractor up to mow for me. Going to hopefully get some trails through some of the thick woods to have other spots to hunt. My place is super thick since they did a cut/replant about 10 years ago. I'll post some pics on my thread when we finish up.



Keep up the great work! Can't wait to see the progress!

Waders! Now that should make for an interesting Fall if the cold, November rain comes down! I like it!

1/4 acre plot should be a good attractant and big enough to draw them. That is allot of work when we are talking about a poor man plot. That said, if you can get some timely rain it should be a good payoff.

Funny about the feeders, we’ve got remote areas on our lease East of Nashoba that hold deer that are the same way. I’m pretty sure that some have never seen a human or been hunted.

Where are you planning to get your seen from? Will you plant and fertilize at the same time?

[SFAbowhunter]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

Waders! Now that should make for an interesting Fall if the cold, November rain comes down! I like it!

1/4 acre plot should be a good attractant and big enough to draw them. That is allot of work when we are talking about a poor man plot. That said, if you can get some timely rain it should be a good payoff.

Funny about the feeders, we’ve got remote areas on our lease East of Nashoba that hold deer that are the same way. I’m pretty sure that some have never seen a human or been hunted.

Where are you planning to get your seen from? Will you plant and fertilize at the same time?

Haha yeah waders if I want to hunt that side of the creek. I have two telephone poles that I think will reach across the creek where I could build a small bridge with them, but I don't have a way to get them across right now.

I think 1/4 will be good enough and it would be located really close to their bedding area. It's super thick around that area and would be a good spot for the rut.

I think most places around me just run cattle. I haven't seen a deer blind in any of the pastures, no feeders, or anything that stands out to me that shows someone hunting via google earth.

I plan to throw seed and fertilizer at the same time. I think the elbon rye will grow like I want. I'm trying to get plenty of that down where I can just do the throw and mow method for my plots from here on forward, but it may take a while to build up a good soil base for that. All experimenting. I will be getting my seed from D&L Agmart in McKinney. They carry MBS seed. The elbon rye is more than I wanted it to be, but if I shipped it from MBS seed it would cost me more than double. D&L carries the fall deer mix from MBS, but I'm not sure I want to plant a premixed food plot.

[Booner Sooner]

That sounds like a good plan. Lots of work for your wife to hunt Queen’s landing. I’ll check out your thread to get a sense of the size of the creek. If you have a spot that is narrow enough you could convert a shipping container to a bridge. I know an old boy that would practically give you one.

[SFAbowhunter]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

That sounds like a good plan. Lots of work for your wife to hunt Queen’s landing. I’ll check out your thread to get a sense of the size of the creek. If you have a spot that is narrow enough you could convert a shipping container to a bridge. I know an old boy that would practically give you one.

Hahaha I don't know if I'd have a way to get it across the creek or I'd go that route. I don't think the people of Oklahoma build very strong bridges. That same creek runs to the main road that I enter my place on and that bridge is made out of wood, and only a little wider than my truck.

[Arrowsmith]

I would at least try a test plot of Triticale. It is a wheat/rye hybrid. It produces abundant forage, higher in protein, and is more digestable that wheat or rye. It is also more freeze resistant than wheat or rye. In Iowa the deer hammer the Triticale. The picture below is a Triticale field across the road from our farm. Enlarge the picture and look closely. There is a good buck standing in that little brushy draw. He was locked on a doe and was not moving. I had seen a group of deer right at daylight feeding way out in the Triticale. This picture was taken at about 11:00am. I had permission to hunt this ground. I pulled my truck over about 50 yards past the brush pile and tried to put a stalk on the buck. I got about 25 yards from where he was when a second doe that I had not seen busted me. The buck never paid any attention to me but followed the does. If you are not familiar with Triticale do some research on it.

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[Booner Sooner]

Originally Posted by Arrowsmith

I would at least try a test plot of Triticale. It is a wheat/rye hybrid. It produces abundant forage, higher in protein, and is more digestable that wheat or rye. It is also more freeze resistant than wheat or rye. In Iowa the deer hammer the Triticale. The picture below is a Triticale field across the road from our farm. Enlarge the picture and look closely. There is a good buck standing in that little brushy draw. He was locked on a doe and was not moving. I had seen a group of deer right at daylight feeding way out in the Triticale. This picture was taken at about 11:00am. I had permission to hunt this ground. I pulled my truck over about 50 yards past the brush pile and tried to put a stalk on the buck. I got about 25 yards from where he was when a second doe that I had not seen busted me. The buck never paid any attention to me but followed the does. If you are not familiar with Triticale do some research on it.

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Good information, Arrowsmith. I’ll look at the Triticale. Never heard of it before now. Anything planted on this place will likely have the local deer population scratching their head at first. Hopefully a few years of spring and fall plots along with supplemental feeding will have them adjusting their range a bit so they can stay slightly more fat, dumb, and happy. I’ve got the does and the cover. Add a consistent food source and I hope to have the recipe for long term success!


I wish I had a creek running through this place so I could make a connex bridge!

Molly helped me get the twin feeder primered, two coats of paint, added a solar panel, and a new timer.




Added a funnel to this one. Should work better.


The hand winch on this one was in pretty rough shape. Grinding the rust away took a while.
New paint and will add new cable this weekend. She should be good to go.


Heading back up to the hilltop this coming weekend and will have feeder #2 running.

Can’t wait.

[Darton]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

Good information, Arrowsmith. I’ll look at the Triticale. Never heard of it before now. Anything planted on this place will likely have the local deer population scratching their head at first. Hopefully a few years of spring and fall plots along with supplemental feeding will have them adjusting their range a bit so they can stay slightly more fat, dumb, and happy. I’ve got the does and the cover. Add a consistent food source and I hope to have the recipe for long term success!


I wish I had a creek running through this place so I could make a connex bridge!

Molly helped me get the twin feeder primered, two coats of paint, added a solar panel, and a new timer.




Added a funnel to this one. Should work better.


The hand winch on this one was in pretty rough shape. Grinding the rust away took a while.
New paint and white lol add new cable this weekend. She should be good to go.


Heading back up to the hilltop this coming weekend and will have feeder #2 running.

Can’t wait.

That Molly is a trooper Looking forward to the deployment Excellent product as usual

[KactusKiller]

fine work as usual sir

[gingib]

I know $$ maybe an issue. But from experience always clear more then you want, because you will be back doing it again if not. Ask me how I know lol

3-5 acres in middle of that or on main travel paths would be awesome. A big centralized food plot and year around feeding. THose big fields will have plenty of game in them at night

[KactusKiller]

Originally Posted by Booner Sooner

Good information, Arrowsmith. I’ll look at the Triticale. Never heard of it before now. Anything planted on this place will likely have the local deer population scratching their head at first. Hopefully a few years of spring and fall plots along with supplemental feeding will have them adjusting their range a bit so they can stay slightly more fat, dumb, and happy. I’ve got the does and the cover. Add a consistent food source and I hope to have the recipe for long term success!


I wish I had a creek running through this place so I could make a connex bridge!

Molly helped me get the twin feeder primered, two coats of paint, added a solar panel, and a new timer.




Added a funnel to this one. Should work better.


The hand winch on this one was in pretty rough shape. Grinding the rust away took a while.
New paint and will add new cable this weekend. She should be good to go.


Heading back up to the hilltop this coming weekend and will have feeder #2 running.

Can’t wait.

Yeah,no you don't, its a money pit, ask me how I know this, well you already know

[KactusKiller]

Originally Posted by Arrowsmith

I would at least try a test plot of Triticale. It is a wheat/rye hybrid. It produces abundant forage, higher in protein, and is more digestable that wheat or rye. It is also more freeze resistant than wheat or rye. In Iowa the deer hammer the Triticale. The picture below is a Triticale field across the road from our farm. Enlarge the picture and look closely. There is a good buck standing in that little brushy draw. He was locked on a doe and was not moving. I had seen a group of deer right at daylight feeding way out in the Triticale. This picture was taken at about 11:00am. I had permission to hunt this ground. I pulled my truck over about 50 yards past the brush pile and tried to put a stalk on the buck. I got about 25 yards from where he was when a second doe that I had not seen busted me. The buck never paid any attention to me but followed the does. If you are not familiar with Triticale do some research on it.

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I wonder how drought tolerant it is for TX?

[SFAbowhunter]

Originally Posted by KactusKiller

Yeah,no you don't, its a money pit, ask me how I know this, well you already know

Lol! I have a fantastic area for a setup across my creek, but it's about 30' across from dry land to dry land. Not sure what I'm going to do because I won't be able to get a container in that area.

[KactusKiller]

Originally Posted by SFAbowhunter

Lol! I have a fantastic area for a setup across my creek, but it's about 30' across from dry land to dry land. Not sure what I'm going to do because I won't be able to get a container in that area.

Man I promise it can’t be any worse than the area I started with, chain saw, skid steer and two skytrack forklifts. Wasn’t cheap but anything is possible.

[Booner Sooner]

This past weekend my father-in-law, my best friend, and I made it back up to the property. Our primary goal was to get the main food plot ready to plant. We picked up rocks picked up rocks and picked up more rocks before brush hogging and then picked up more rocks. We sprayed generic Roundup. My hope is that all of the berry vines and small saplings will die out. I will be back up in a few weeks with the disc, ready to plant.

I was able to get the John Deere 302A tractor up to the property this weekend also. You talk about a major difference in power between that and the Kabota! 28HP versus 52. The John Deere made short work of most of the boulders in the food plot. I’ve got a few left that the John Deere could not move so these will just have to stay for now.


My soil sample came back also. Looks like I’ve got quite a bit of work to do.


I was able to set up the second, refurbished feeder over on the east side. This area has a lot of cover. This year I will probably just set up a double stand for my youngest daughter to help with her crossbow. Eventually, I’d like to build a large, permanent blind here. All things in time.


I had time on Saturday evening to do a little clearing in a small food plot area in the woods. This little kill plot should produce if I can get something to grow here. I’m hoping that clover will grow. This looks like a good staging area as it is adjacent to a 30 acre field. I was able to get a few old stumps up which widened my area.


The black blind that overlooks the main plot got a little TLC also. We were able to secure the roof with new hardware and foam sealed it in. Also added the door with new hardware. Now I’ve just got to repair the windows and she should be good to go.

Finally, with two working corn feeders already on the property I brought the 550 corn feeder back to the house to refurbish it. I may sell this one in order to fund a protein feeder purchase.


Overall, I am very pleased with our progress. The season will be here before you know it. I think I see a time where we are ready to hunt and enjoy.

[SFAbowhunter]

Man, your place is looking great! Awesome stuff! What are you planning to plant?


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