I've started my real orchard on my hunting property. There are about 10 acres of seedling apple trees at the back of the property but now I'm planting grafted trees. I figured that with about 5 years to go before I build a house, the trees will just be coming along nicely. I put in a dozen MacIntosh, Empire, Delicious, Ida Red, Cortland and Spy apples as well as Bosc and Bartlet pears. This will give me a mid September to late October harvest season. The orchard is located near my pond next to a 150' wooded buffer I'm letting grow next to the swamp. This will close in the open side of my clover/alfalfa field which should bring the deer out earlier at night (I hope).

The food plot planted with scratch grain (oats, wheat, barley) is about 4-6" tall. The deer have shown up again. They appear to like the food plot. The ripe apple tree right next to it isn't hurting the situation either.

My bear hunt has been a bust so far. I put out a full 45 gallon barrel filled with donuts, corn flakes, and bran flakes all covered with 10 gallons of used peanut oil. I hunted it for 3 days with no sign. I went away for a few days and they knocked the skid off the barrel, tipped the barrel over, and cleaned up everything. The grass for 6 ft. all around the barrel was so stomped down it looked like they were having a party.

I hope we start getting some rain soon. The trees made it through the summer but they're looking pretty ragged right now. Just 2 weeks to deer opening. <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Dan O.