November 2015 Activity

Week 44
Deer population steady at 4 to 5 does.  On an occasion of once per week or so, a rather large buck shows up with the does.  On occasions, we see them cross the county road going south toward Purgatory Creek where it is pretty much a "no man's land".
Twice this week had a rather large group of turkeys move through the area.
Songbirds are dwindling down in numbers.
Mowed some more of the broomweed before its seeds are mature.
Cleared two tractor buckets full of prickly pear cactus.
Week 45
Hauled two tractor buckets of brush trimmings to the main brush pile in the west end.  The brush pile, although it is settling due to decay and weight, still offers  many places for small animals.
Grass seed production this year has been very poor.  Last year I was harvesting by hand all the tops of the bluestem. and indian grass, but there is almost none this year. 
A report on all the acorns planted inside the spread of the prickly pears, I find none that have sprouted.
The ten oak tree seedlings planted in a protected area, in spite of watering, have lost their leaves.  The stems seem to be pliant yet, so maybe next spring they will respond and grow.
Week 46
Deer season has started, the does don't seem to mind matters and the buck has again made his appearance.  We stopped feeding the table vegetable scraps because the deer seem to have enough feed in the area with the more rain we have had and the other deer feeders in operation.  Plus, the kitchen vegetable scraps down in the deer yard may be contributing to the hog problem.
Cut a few more swaths of broom weed, making sure not to cut the grass that seems to want to form seed at this late time.
Week 47
Finally got one of the wild pigs, now lets see if the rooting damage stops.
Deer population seems to have dropped.
Ever since we have electrified the bird feeder, we no longer have any squirrels, the birds seem to appreciate the disappearance of the squirrels.  If there is food present, there is no way to kill enough squirrels to drop their population to zero---don't even try.