Merry Christmas

From 

Dewberry Lands

Oh Christmas Tree

We have decorated two Christmas Trees, one at the lodge and one at home.  Last Saturday James, my oldest Grandson, and I hunted but we took time to cut a tree off of our property.  It is now decorated and pointing to Heaven.  Merry Christmas!!! 

Prescribe Burn

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D7ofLiblGIM

This is a great link made here in Alabama to information about burning your forest.

Mulched Road

We have just had a road constructed through our property for easier access and it will give us another access to a public road.  The road was mulched and not dozed so there should not be any erosion.  I marked the location of the road for easiest travel and will start using it for travel soon.

Lots of Small Bucks

This year we are seeing a large number of small bucks.  This is a very positive thing because we only harvest large and more mature bucks.  This is the deer we will be hunting in three to four years.  We are planting more high protein crops and are waiting to see what our results will be.  We have pictures of at least twelve different bucks that are very young and vary in size from spikes to small eight pointers.  Just about every where we place the camera we get at lest one picture of a small buck.

Where are the big ones from last year?  Well we didn't get a picture of a good buck until the middle of December last year.  They are much more experienced in when and where to stay until it gets closer to the rut.

This Weeks Tree News

There was a good news article shared by Kathy Westra that puts together the American Forest Foundation, Friday-Week in Trees- Tree News from Around The World.  The article was taken from the Anniston Star.  The article is about the Longleaf Pine Trail being constructed in Calhoun County.

Here is the link: http://www.annistonstar.com/life/you-ll-never-believe-what-alabama-s-forests-used-to/article_1409d2b0-7f26-11e5-bd39-e37915eae27d.html?utm_source=WIT110615&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=WeekInTrees

Go to this link to see more tree news: https://www.forestfoundation.org/american-forest-foundation-blog

Busy October

October has been a busy month.  The month started with the Annual meeting of the Alabama Treasure Forest Association.  This started on a Thursday night with a board meeting, on Friday Educational seminars with a banquet, and ended on Saturday with a tour on forest management. 

I continued to bush hogging fields and roads and planting fall fields.  Some are really starting to look good.

I had some help inspecting tree stands to make sure they were safe but I have many more to check.

We did take time for camping with the grandchildren.  One did not want to leave when we got all packed up.  She said she wanted to stay another night.

Mattie had to have a leaf for a classroom project so we got out and found her one.  She took extras to class for the other boys and girls that might not have the opportunity to go into the forest and get a leaf. 

Then it was on to Moultrie, Georgia for the Ag Expo.  We get invited back each year because we competed in the Southeastern Farmer of  the Year in 2008.  This is always a good trip attending the banquet, seeing the Expo and learning about new equipment.

Then we were to host 200 fifth grade students on our property for Classroom in the Forest but the rain postponed it till the first of November.  I had been working on the trail and clearing spots to do the forest activities.  Well October is going fast and it has been a busy month.