Recent content by Natty Bumppo

I believe they are Bows. After just a day or two of starting my ritual TSI every year I get deer showing up. In fact, my target buck disappeared entirely from my land right around the end of November just after I tagged out. Didn't get a single pic of him the entire shotgun or muzzleloader...

I try to manage the natural landscape as much as possible always keeping in mind that deer like to flow like water through it. To facilitate this "flow" I cut very narrow trails to encourage deer movement where I'd like them to move. I will also drop massive spruce and fir trees to discourage...

I dropped the last of my dead ash trees today. I still have many dozen that are still healthy and thriving. These were the last of the trees I marked this summer for removal. I also dropped about 6 or 7 huge spruce trees. Trying to get some light on a small food plot. Almost all of them...

Not sure about hinge cutting as it's not something I do. Just don't care for the practice. But deer don't really need the leaves in the spring as there is no lack of food out there for them. But right now in the dead of winter the buds make an excellent food source. I'm dragging my trees out...

During the winter when I am in a pretty good logging routine and the deer are used to my presence on the land with a saw, there are times when I am walking off the land after having shut the saw off and packed up my things just before dark that I can look back and see the does through the timber...

Here's a video I just uploaded of me skidding logs on my JD 990 yesterday. I shot it for a friend of mine who was out skiing and enjoying the slopes and he asked me what I was out doing.

I'd like to add some pics as I think they help. But for now I'll just add this....as a teacher I had the last 12 days or so off. I tagged out in Mass. back in November so was unable to hunt the last season muzzeloader like I always do over Christmas break. So I've been doing habitat work...

If you're willing to do all of the girdling for him and he's OK with that, then offer to do all of the legwork in order to get a logger in there. Reach out to your local State Forester for help. Or just find a good logger yourself...he'll do all of the necessary paperwork. Have your cousin...

Same. Dropping some red maples and spruce and fir in some areas I am working on poplar regeneration. And getting my dead and/or dying ash on the ground.

3 to 5 acres of mature sugar maples? I think at that scale I'd be getting a logger in there to sell them.

A tree will certainly dry while standing. But then when you drop it the branches are more prone to shattering dangerously...ash especially. Also, bucking up dry wood is tougher. When I drop trees for firewood they are not left on the ground at all. You get them out of the woods and bucked up...

I girdle trees every now and then. Ideally yes...I would prefer to drop a tree, buck it up, clean up the mess. But often in my TSI I will girdle a massive and generally useless tree where I want to let light in, but don't want to spend time cleaning up the mess. For example, I have hundreds...

I don't. But down the road when I retire and can manage it a little better, I would consider offering, not selling, a hunt or two to a hunter with disabilities or a veteran with disabilities. Would love to share with others less fortunate what I have been so blessed to be able to do my whole...

Time well spent with your grandson. Got to ask...what academy is he attending? Is he starting school on Monday or returning to school?

Yes sir! I have all the fancy-smancy and way too expensive Sitka gear for bow season and for stand hunting. But once I get on the ground and start tracking I go with my woolies. As you know, there's nothing better for keeping warm on the move even when wet and staying quiet. I've...