As is common this time of year, I mowed several of the roads this week. I also finished up a lot of planting – the North Road duck pond and the planting strips and plots in the big quail field.

I did a lot of work this week on roads and drainage – used brick, rocks, gravel, and clay at the drainage points on the roads to prevent drainage issues and washing. We’re committed to grass and dirt roads out in the plantation – we aren’t going to pave out there, we’re trying to preserve the land and the game environment. That makes a challenge as we work to prevent ruts and washing, so we are constantly working on the roads to keep them in great shape.

Continued to spend a good bit of time this week plowing and planting. I re-plowed the game plots on the north end for planting and plowed the feeder strips in the big quail field. I also replanted some spots in the dove field, did some more planting in the lower dove field, and started planting in the upper dove field. I started planting the back half of the North Road duck pond.

Pulled weeds, picked up sticks, and even picked up some trash on the county roads. Mowed our roads in the home site areas. Did some yard work around the office cabin.

I showed the timber man all of the stands of timber. We have some fine trees on this plantation!

Been cleaning up brush and vines on home site #28 – hauled it off this week.

Cleaned more beaver debris from the pipe on North Road to drain the duck pond for planting. Got it drained.

Finished mowing the planting strips and cultivated the Upper Dove Field. Plowed some areas in the other Dove field for planting. Spread out corn to keep the deer from the dove fields.

Spent some time cleaning up trash on the county roads. Please, don’t litter!

Mowed the roads in the quail field areas. Fed the fish and checked on the game feeders.

Mowed strips in the quail field in preparation for planting. Also began draining the pond for planting.

Spent a good bit of time working on the bush hog – problems with the tail wheel.

Cleaned beaver debris out of the drainage pipe on North Rd.

Plowed for feed strips in the Lower Quail Field and the north end of the Big Quail Field.

Planted peas in the Lower Quail Field and milo in the Lower Dove Field. I also got 6 barrels of corn to fill the game feeders and spread corn out for wildlife.

Fed the fish in all ponds.

Spent a good bit of time this week working on the power take off on the tractor. Also still cleaning up on home site #28.

Finished up the plowing in the dove fields. Started plowing for feed strips in the Big Quail Field. Of course, farm work always has its challenges – had to take the harrow apart and replace the bearings.

Continued cleaning up homesite #28.

Spread fertilizer over the dove fields.

Fed the fish in the fish ponds.

Planted the dove fields. Planted feed strips in the Low Dove Field.

(Planted millet, corn, and sunflowers.)

Relocated game feeder at end of Tee Road and refilled with corn.

Also moved feeder across the top of Tee Road and filled it.

Cutting brush on homesite 28.

Mowed bird field roads and lower dove field.

Dove Field

Picked up grass seed and planted Gopher Road. Cut pine logs and put them in the ditch along Gopher Road to help control erosion. Also cut a ditch across Gopher Road and put in a pipe for drainage.

Filled some of the game feeders – relocated one in the corn field.

Spent a lot of time working on the bush hog this week – straightening and welding blade hub and installing a new gear box. Sharpened blades.

Guided a turkey hunt this week.

Turkey at ORP

Picked up a female German Short Haired Pointer to use in hunts.

Picked up and placed 60 birds for our quail hunt. Guided a great quail hunt! We’ll get some pictures up soon.

Picked up corn and filled all the feeders a couple of times this month. Relocated and adjusted two of them.

Checked on the duck boxes to make sure they’re located properly. All of them look real good, except for one which we may want to relocate for next year.

Duck Box

Changing batteries and filling covey base camps.

Spreading food for quail and turkeys.

Bush hogging around the high number home sites.

Worked on fire brakes and and feeder strips to be plowed.

Worked on improving Gopher Road.