Remembering Autumn, Enduring Winter & Preparing for Spring...

January 9, 2008

12:21 PM / 50.6 F

Sunny, blue skies

You'd never guess that just two weeks ago we had several feet of snow on the ground and the temperature was 50 degrees colder. It seemed like the furnace never shut off and the woodstove wasn't hot enough. Now when I look out the window at our family snowman, I see his eyes, mouth, nose and pipe resting in a pile where his feet would be. True to New England form though, I think we'll have more snow for Mr. Snowman repair through this month and into March.

It seems to be standard practice this time of year for we habitat folk to be contemplating the quality and future of our deer wintering areas. I've been looking over some recent studies, one by my former UVM professor, Dale Bergdahl. While it's interesting to think that a 38 mm/2 inch hemlock in the understory of a forest canopy could be 53 years old, it's also horrific to consider what the hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae, native to Asia) could do - or is doing - to our local hemlock stands. Clearly a concern when considering deer wintering areas. While on the subject of wintering areas, I recently got wind of some guy writing a potentially innovative book (Advanced Whitetail Gardening?). Supposed to be a good 'un in the makin'.

Hmmm... updates and product modifications. We've shuffled the content of this site a bit. You'll now find two photo galleries. One with deer and the like, the other focuses on plots and non-deer species like turkeys, coyotes and foxes. Seed blends... we've dropped the beets from our turnip blend (too unpredictable in New England woods-like plots) and added rutabagas and egg turnips. Rutabagas are excellent bulky treats and the egg turnips have an above-ground growth habit - both very favorable attributes. To compliment these changes, we now have brassica/rape seed available. This leaf-only brassica is great for anything from a first time planting to a site that's been worked for years. When used together the brassica makes excellent greens for the growing season and the turnips supply "fruit" for autumn and winter. Of all wildlife, deer especially love this green just as frost touches its leaves in the fall around mid-October. It will be available on our Products page in a week or so when the turnips are restocked and the Seed blends page is updated.

For the fishermen and women among us, please note the fly rods we have available. They're beautifully crafted with native hardwood handles and have very respectable price tags to match. There are currently four rods remaining, all work well for things like medium sized trout and bass. As time allows I hope to make more.

I've had a few calls/emails concerning deer survival. Yes, there has been the usual deer mortality, coyotes included. However, I haven't noticed anything that has been out of the ordinary or above average given the time of year and quantity of snow we've received thus far. But we still have the toughest months to go, keep your fingers crossed. A reminder, the Yankee Sportsman's Classic, Vermont Hunting and Fishing and Outdoor Show (Essex, Vermont) goes again this year, from Jan. 18 - 20. I'm hoping to be in the crowd looking for Sasketchewan information this year. Start planning your spring plantings, only four months to go!

Think of seed for wildlife in need,

Vaughn P.

President & Founder, Whitetail Micro-Plotters