Nice Deer

Terri and I were in Chadron, NE for our churches annual conference meeting last weekend. While driving across campus, I stopped at a 4-way stop sign, and started to turn left. We had to slam on the brakes, because of 4 deer running down the sidewalk. They stayed in the crosswalk, so we had to yield the right of way, or they would have run into the side of the car. There was one really nice mule deer buck (big rack, in full velvet).
We also had a good laugh with our keynote speaker, a black female minister from Columbus, Ohio. She serves an urban church in a poor neighborhood. We were telling stories about growing up in the midwest, and one lady told about the time they came home from church, and a rattlesnake was coiled up against their door on the back porch. This minister asked, what in the world did you do? The other person replied, "Go get a hoe to chop it's head off". The minister replied, "A Ho! Why have a Ho do it?
We had more nasty weather last night, I suppose most of you saw the news about the tornado in the boy scout camp just across the river in Iowa.
So far, no major flooding up at the farm, but it is still wet.

Later, the old farmer

spring update

I have three food plots planted, the first is down in the big slough by the deer stand, 2nd is on the south side of the big pond near the straw bale stand, and the third is south of the house, south of the tree strip. In at least part of each, I have planted 2 rows of grain sorghum, 4 rows of a short "hunting" corn, and 2 rows of regular, tall corn. When repeated across the field, this will give a 4-4-4 pattern. We also have 5 more low spots that we have not been able to plant any crop in yet, If they dry up soon, I may try to put a small corn food plot in each of those areas also. Depending on weather and other conditions, I may or may not harvest the tall corn before deer season.
I am in the process of cleaning out the basement of the house, to allow sleeping quarters down there. The Illinois hunters are going to try to find me some bunk/single beds to put down there, this should allow sleeping room for 6-8 guys. We may have a couple of pheasant hunters joining us over thanksgiving, but shouldn't cause any conflicts. They may or may not also apply for doe tags.
Both pheasants and deer had a very easy winter, minimal death loss, now we need a good growing season, and we should have a great fall hunt.
I should have time to start building deer stands in the next month, it is time to quit talking about them, and actually do some construction. (will try to send progess photos)
Still no job, but I really have enough to do to keep busy.

Thanks for the food plot donations!
See you soon!
"the old farmer"