Early no-mow

[Apple Junkie]

I decided not to mow the grass under some of my larger apple trees this year in order to provide some additional fawning cover early in the year. It appears the fawn stayed hidden until given the "all-clear" signal by momma.

 

[b116757]

My middle boy and I where splaying Lespedeza yesterday evening and had a fawn hidden in the lespedeza jump up about 4 feet from the tractor. I was also spraying glysophate with a small hand sprayer earlier in the day around some of my grow tubed trees and jumped two bucks in velvet bedded down. Must be the time of year or something one of the bucks was 50 yds from me and just watched me continue working my way down the line of tubes before finally leaving. Pretty early to tell but he was already forked with 3-4” velvet so maybe he will be a decent one I’ve seen several much larger velvet bucks already a couple weeks ago so he isn’t going to be a shooter at least not this year. Great to see they are bedding in my tree planting however.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Those no-mow spots on any property serve well for cover for a number of critters. IMO, it never hurts to leave some taller cover of grass, rye, milkweed, goldenrod, etc. for any critters to use. Even insect-eating birds like to forage around in taller cover like you have there. Does and fawns sure like it. Great pics, A. J. !!