Sunday, March 16, 2008

Sunday 3/16 expedition

I went out Sunday on a search with a close friend and NHSHC member Chris Holmes, of Penacook, NH. More or less and exploratory search in an area he hunts.

It was a fairly suburbanised area with a tremendous amount of sign.We did not come up with any antlers, but got a great overview for futuresearches.It is a place few of us are so blessed to hunt! Some places we hunt have one or two major drawing points. This one has everything in a microhabitat.On one side a active and heavily used bedding area with TONS of hemlock ona side hill with many ravines and rolling knolls for the deer to bed on. On another side a swampy area bordered by white oaks slowly sloping upwards to two or three fields surrounded by select cut roads and tons of browse witha clear cut up top. Lots of thick cover for sancturaries.

We will hit this area again after the snow receeds. Another testament to this area is the numbers of deer Chris has taken there.

After all was said and done we covered close to 5 miles. Chris, myself and his Bloodhound Beauford were tired and hungry. Luckily Chris had invited me to a traditional Irish meal of corned beef and cabbage and lots more delicious treats that his lovely wife had prepared. Great food, greatcompany and lots of laughs with Chris and his family and guests. I amblessed to have such friends and am grateful for their hospitality. Better luck next time with the shed hunting, but it seems that they are starting to drop in earnest now so I shall be trying to post at least oncea week after each trip and it should get interesting.Good luck to all and may the tines show up light lightning from a starry night

Wednesday, March 12, 2008

Finds of the week


On Sunday- 3/9 I found a single shed on the woods adjoining our property.

Today-3/12 I went hiking on the private farm I sometimes hunt and covered a LOT of ground. The snow pack here is still incredibly deep with a thick crust in most areas. I found three dead deer, in different areas. It's a really tough winter for them.

March is the hardest month for them. I hate rain when it still can freeze but now I wish we'd get several days of WARM rain so the poor things can get to grass and such on the ground again before they starve