Jesse's 2015 Season Journal

He will cut it. Typically alfalfa will be ready to cut 60-75 days after it emerges. Once a stand is established, guys typically cut it 4 times a year with the ocassional 5th cutting in the fall weather permitting. This guy does things right, so I expect it to be a stellar stand of alfalfa.

Well things got even better this weekend. The farmer who bought the cows and is farming our place came out to get soil sample on the fields. While he was there, dad asked him to go check out our big bottom field to see if he thought it was possible to plant it in something. He came back and delivered the news: "I can work with it. I'll put corn down there this year."

This is truly a dream come true and will most certainly elevate the hunting to new levels. My sanctuary borders this field and it is the most secluded spot on the farm. It is also in the heart of the farm. Having crops in this field will be incredible!

So imagine this is corn, then beans...

Yes. Lots of oaks in the area, but spotty production most years.

HAHA. Yeah, yeah! Now you need to come down for a hunt to see your grand plans fully implemented!

You know you're always welcome. Just say when!

After several weeks of feeling guilty about not having minerals or a camera in the woods, I took advantage of the beautiful day yesterday and took my daughter to the farm for a while. We loaded up the Kubota and headed off to see how the mineral site looked after several months of neglect. I started this site in March of 2006 and it has been a good one. I've traditionally used my homebrew mix on this site and it has always done well. After running out, I needed to purchase more ingredients to make a new batch, but really didn't want to fool with it to be honest. Last year I put a trace mineral block in my backyard and it saw a lot of use. It was completely dissolved by September, but the deer are digging a hole up there this spring. I decided this was a ringing endorsement and went cheap, and easy this year. The block was $6, the bag of salt, $4.50. Hard to argue with that really.

It was nice to have some help for once!





Here is how we found the site and what I used. Even without it being freshened since last April, it had seen some light traffic...



After cleared off all the muck, I spread 30 pounds of the stock salt and mixed it in, then set the block on the middle of the site. Once that was done, it was time to hang the Browning Strike Force. This was K's first camera hang, so I hope she brings some good luck!



When we were done with that, it was time to clean up the trail leading to the creek just below the site. I loved playing in the creek growing up and K loves stomping around in the water. I look forward to teaching her the fine art of catching crawldads...



I remember an eager young man who would have showered, worn clean clothes, smoked up, worn rubber gloves, and only done this under the immediate threat of rain, or actually in the rain. Yesterday was the most satisfying and enjoyable mineral site/camera hang I've ever been a part of. Whether I ever get pics of a deer or not, the pictures above are the best ones that site will generate all summer!