A year in the life of a farm

[elgato]

Stud 8! Cool coloration on his face too. Did Yall measure him?

Not yet. Evening hunt and I have a dinner party to go to. Full report tomorrow .

After a week of hot weather and a front coming thru this morning yielding colder beautiful skies this evening, no question it was going to be a special evening . Big fun for all

[MooseontheLoose]

Always fun to make magic memories for folks. My buddy here has hunted all his life and only taken a couple small 8 pts. Today he got introduced to the farm. Field full of bucks .He'd never seen anything like todays show. This one for him.

Great 8! Very pretty deer. Sounds like it was a fun hunt with some great memories. Congrats to your friend

[elgato]

THE GOATS WILL SAVE THE FARM:

Bet you never expected to see a header like that!

What I am seeing is that the goats will save the farm. I'm up to 320 now and am using them as a brush clearing tool. We mob graze them on small paddocks moving them every 3 days. Thats the key. Keeps them from overgrazing plus breaks the parasite cycle.

Over much of the farm the briars have become so thick that they choke out everything underneath much like canopied woods. Therefore the more valuable weeds, Forbes, and shrubs and grasses cant grow. The goats are opening that up allowing sunlight to hit the ground . Yet by moving them quickly there is still abundant vegetation left for deer and all else.

Another challenge/opportunity is goats seem to love tallow and are eating the young sprouts to the ground. A concern I've had is with so much open territory in the woods, tallow, privet, and gum trees would take over. Appears goats will help correct that.

I only have 15 cows now but we are in the process of buying 60 more soon. The plan is to follow the goats with the cows further opening up the brush working towards a savanah outcome...with lush herbaceous understory. WE are investigating corriente( SP? ) cows which apparently readily browse and are well adapted to woodland foraging in the Deep South.

More to come

[Puncher51]

Looking forward to seeing more progress with the mob grazing!!

[Pstraw]

Those goats will go through a thicket like army worms do a pasture and will do a good job.

[bgleaton]

Congrats to you and your buddy on the beautiful 8pt buck! Keep us posted on all the projects.

[Killer]

Goats and Big Deer it don't get no better!!!

[scott1022]

From elgato:
An update from the ranch... Here's the definition of wide! 30"+


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[elgato]

Thanks Scott, seems I like the technical expertise to post all my pics.

Rare air. We have grown maybe 15 bucks over 200" but this may be only the 2nd one 30" or more. 4 yr old. Made a nice jump from last yr. Very cool

[Puncher51]

Wow!! That buck is awesome!

[MAP]

that buck is 32 or 33" tip to tip is my guess.....thats crazy. I've always said that a wide deer, over 25"+ inside, is the rarest trait in antlers. Such a cool gene to have running around.

[GarGuy]

That deer is a foot outside his ears on each side.

[ethic1]

I’m not sure that one would be legal in east Texas [emoji848]


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[Pstraw]

Probably has two escort cars that go with him.

[axisbuck]

Wide load....unbelievable deer.