Foggy's Deertopia Proving Grounds - Happenings

[sandbur]

It was a fun day when you came to my place Art.....always enjoy your company.....and your experience. You provided some good insight into that pond placement. I think it's gonna work out pretty well. Already placed some timber to divert the deer from a current travel path and to that pond. More to do.....but I already have a start. Glad you mentioned digging that water hole in my rifle range plot. That was quick and easy. It's a natural spot for that water hole. Almost had another dug nearby....but figured that would simply give too many choices for water in the same area.

Lots to do next spring / summer at Deertopia. Getting harder to do the work myself....so gotta plan wisely and find a few good kids to help with the physical parts of this. Getting up and down is getting hard for me. My strength is a fraction of that a few years ago. A couple trips in and out of my tractor's cab....slows me down somewhat. I'm learning to pace myself. A few years back I would have thought little to planting those cuttings. Now?....not so much. Gotta keep on keeping on tho.....just picking my battles.

I am feeling the same things . I can’t plant as many, if any, apple trees. Carrying water is hard on my back if we hit a dry spell.
Hard to get off the ground when I gut a deer. Back and knees both.

At least we can tell stories, some of which are even true!

:)

 

[sandbur]

It was a fun day when you came to my place Art.....always enjoy your company.....and your experience. You provided some good insight into that pond placement. I think it's gonna work out pretty well. Already placed some timber to divert the deer from a current travel path and to that pond. More to do.....but I already have a start. Glad you mentioned digging that water hole in my rifle range plot. That was quick and easy. It's a natural spot for that water hole. Almost had another dug nearby....but figured that would simply give too many choices for water in the same area.

Lots to do next spring / summer at Deertopia. Getting harder to do the work myself....so gotta plan wisely and find a few good kids to help with the physical parts of this. Getting up and down is getting hard for me. My strength is a fraction of that a few years ago. A couple trips in and out of my tractor's cab....slows me down somewhat. I'm learning to pace myself. A few years back I would have thought little to planting those cuttings. Now?....not so much. Gotta keep on keeping on tho.....just picking my battles.

That second water hole might be a valuable option during severe drought.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Has anyone observed the stabilization of trout stream banks with bundles of willows?

Yes. I've been a member of Trout Unlimited for years, and our chapter did a lot of bank stabilization projects using various methods. Pushing willow cuttings into stream banks is fairly easy and it works. Helps hold the soil & makes places for bugs to hide - then fall into the water to feed the fish.