Clover/corn food plot Day 79
Reviewed some of the earlier post and seems like you're reading a weather report. The rain is still an issue in Washington County. As of today, we've had 6.85 inches since August 1st, 4.8 inches of it coming late Sunday afternoon. Water over dirt roads that hadn't been flooded in years :eek . We cross a little branch coming to our house and the water was crossing over the road, no big deal but still hadn't seen water like this in years! As we were coming home from church Sunday evening, there was a wad of deer floundering around in the peanut field, trying to get to the woods as we drove by. I don't know how they navigate in such a mess? The dog even knows not to wade off in that mess!
The Panama City TV weather guys are forecasting another 3-5 inches this week. If this keeps up I'm going to have to trade for an airboat just to pick some of the (hopefully) red corn for seed and corn meal. The corn has made and is drying down as it should, but haven't seen any ears turn down yet. This natural occurrence protects the corn from water/rain damage as the shucks are layered like shingles. Corn just ain't supposed to have water standing on it's roots :no . Several places in this ol' bottom have held standing water long enough to kill some of the corn plants.
The little fish pond near the shooting house is usually a beautiful red/tannic color, but Monday morning it was a chocolate brown color from runoff from a farm north of us. It'll settle out one day.
Glad to see and read of some successful south Florida hunts by down4dacount. Drinking our coffee on the porch this morning, my wife said "There goes a fox!" Actually it was a pair of coyotes trotting along by another fish pond. One looked mature and the one about 3/4 grown.
Pics this time will show the muddy pond, sign where the deer were slopping around in the garden and standing water in the corn.
Treefarmer
There is a tropical depression that is forming in the caribbean now, and headed for the upper gulf coast by this weekend. Should be bringing you some more UN-needed water!
Well it should be a good woody spot..........LOL
Clover/corn food plot Day 86
At the expense of sounding like a broken record, about all that's going on around the food plot is weather. (Just realized how old the phrase "sounding like a broken record must be! Most folks don't even know what it is referencing, 8 tracks, cassettes, CDs, progress!) Our rain has just been unbelievable! Since last Wednesday we have poured out 12.0 inches. Add that to the 6.85 inches earlier in the month and the 21.8 inches from July and we have a grand total of 40.65 inches in less than 2 months. Highway 77, south of I-10 has been closed since Sunday afternoon as water from Blue Lake is across the road.
The corn that has made it looks pretty good. Shucked an ear this morning and it was red, same as the seed that we planted. What percentage will be red is not known but last year 50% was red, hoping for a higher percentage this season!
If it doesn't stop raining and dry up, a fall oat patch may not be a possibility. Almost 50 years ago I learned what it means to improvise in the Marine Corps. This I know, the deer are still here, they have to eat, sleep and chase does but it may not be exactly where I am used to hunting, so improvise!
Today's pictures will show the red ear and a couple of sad pics of our fall garden. Peas and pumpkins/cushaws don't do well with too much water.
Treefarmer
Clover/corn food plot Day 93
Spent last weekend in Orange County. Father-in-law's 90th birthday celebration. Main event was held at Ft. Christmas park, there were several hundred people in attendance. A good event!
It only rained 4/10" while we were gone, but the fields (and yard) are still way too wet. Today I was able to walk in the corn south of the shooting house and the deer have already been working on the corn. Last year they didn't start on it quite so early if I remember correctly.
At this rate we will need quite a few dry days to be able to plant any kind of food plot where the clover failed. The cart almost bogged down, even on top of all the crab grass. It'll be a while before a disk can be pulled through that field. Was able to run a cultivator through the pea patch yesterday and today. Fluffed it up a bit then went over it a 3rd time and side dressed the peas with some 13-13-13. The pea plants were almost yellow. I suppose it is the result of too much water and the fertilizer had leached out of the soil? Maybe they will make enough to put up a few quarts, I will be putting out some Milorganite for protection!
Pictures for this time are evidence of the deer working on the corn patch. They are using one side of the 2 trail road on the east side of the patch for their path. Corn cobs stripped of kernels, on the ground and tracks all through the patch let us know they are eating well! Also there was a bunch of pics of deer eating sand pears in the front yard. No antlers in the bunch but the old gals look healthy.
More rain is forecast for the end of the week.
Treefarmer
