Camp Work

[LampLighter]

Who has camp work to do ? We need to go up and do some pillar leveling. I am thinking about getting some of those cheap sissor jacks from Harbor Freight, and just leaving them under the camp, cranking up whenever it is needed. We will bring a grille, some meat, and an ice chest full of long necks. That is the only time I will drink at camp ; when I don't have to go hunt the next morning. As soon as the a/c work slows, we'll head up. Anybody else need to do any camp work ?

[purple heart]

I've already done the leveling of the camper. It's a tag along that I leave
where I hunt. With the frost heaves and all the camper needs leveling
about every year. I cover it with a blue tarp after deer season in DEC.
and uncover it sometime in Sept. I have some other maintainance stuff
to do but that will wait until I uncover it. In the mean time we have to
get into the woods and clear the woods roads of fallen trees and such.
That's an every year chore. It helps us with hunting and the land owner
appreciates it too. We've already checked our tree stands and so far
everything is good there. I enjoy working in the woods and see it as just part of the hunting experience.
What I'm really waiting for now is the middle of Sept. When I start going to
where we hunt and watching the fields in the evening to see what's coming out to feed.:)

[Altjaeger]

I checked mine last weekend coming back from my father's. Theres not much to it. I pulled a small fallen pine from the drive and checked the table, benchs and firepit. No boards to replace this year so all is well. I will go back in October and spread some fire ant bait just to make sure.

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

We've put in about 7 - 8 days of it this summer. It's hard to say if the place looks better or just different. I have a little slab that used to be covered fairly well. It was just housing a bunch of junk and a 59 International pickup that I've been "gonna fix up one-a-these-days". I relocated it and small grain bin that we use for a smokehouse to the perimeter of the camp and will clear off the rest of the slab next week. the whole thing is about 16 X 30 and I plan to recover it and someday screen it to use as a cleaning station. I've got several old double sinks and three doors from a stainless cooler (approx) 32" X 60" to use for table tops. All it takes is work. Lots of work.

One good thing about a drought (if there is a good thing) is that it's Hell on the fire ants. It has been Hellaciously hot down here this Summer. We had a very light rain two days ago but only enough to blot out the tire tracks in the road. Might be another poor year for hunting. I haven't seen a deer with fat on them for two years now. We had a fair Spring but this heat and drought is sapping them good now.

Alan

[Silvertip]

We should hike back there and paint the roof this summer.Also need to cut some firewood come early fall.Should also spend some time brushing out the trails.Its tough to find the time to do anything though with family and job commitments.

Silvertip

[venado]

Alan, just curious, what do you have on your place for water available to stock and wildlife?

All but one of our tanks are and have been dry for 3 years. We do have 2 pilas about a mile apart that are fed by a windmill that the cattle use and I assume deer also even though it is very rare to see a deer there. The water sources are not well distributed to retain our deer. One of the neighbors to the east has a number of small cattle troughs fed by a water well and it seems to us that he has a lot more deer activity since this drought hit us 5 seasons ago. BTW, he is also a neighbor that shoots bucks long before their time.:(

I have seen some information on providing local water for wildlife protected by hog/cattle panels. These local spots use a tank that holds the water and gravities into a small float chamber where the wildlife can get a drink. I'm really curious in our desert like environment how long 300 to 500 gallons of water might last. We could fill them by transporting water from the pilas. Do you or anyone reading have any knowledge of this approach??

[pepaw]

V,
We have only a couple of windmills and one small tank the landowner fills with a nearby oil and gas water well when necessary on our 1,000 acres.

My boss placed a camera on a cattle trough very, very near 59 in Freer last year. Only water source on his 1100 acres since the tank dried up.
Amazing the photos he had of bucks there last winter when it was so dry.

The surface water sure congregates the wildlife (and cattle) and thereby overgrazes the available forage nearby. I know deer travel long distances to water, but that is time that should be spend foraging.
I agree with Alan that this year is turning into tough year for wildlife.


pepaw

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

We have two working water wells (although I do need to get two more going) Deer don't have to have surface if the forage is green but they sure use it if it's there. One of our wells is at the camp itself and we have numerous animals that think nothing of walking in and getting a drink, even turkeys. The other well is about 400 yards distant from the camp and lots of stuff goes there all the time. There are other little spots that hold water when it rains but that is a non-issue right now.

Our neighbors have some water also and I'm sure they get a lot of deer during the season when it's dry and not much greenery.

Alan

[pepaw]

Camp work,
I love the weekends spent working at the lease, but right now it is over 100 degrees every day. Unfortunately, it is only July so we have a couple months till the tide turns. But our camps are established and very little work HAS to be done right now.
However, we have been doing some supplemental feeding due to the lack of rainfall. And killing pigs when possible.
Otherwise, waiting on Oct. for some relief.

pepaw

[southtexas]

Alan, just curious, what do you have on your place for water available to stock and wildlife?

All but one of our tanks are and have been dry for 3 years. We do have 2 pilas about a mile apart that are fed by a windmill that the cattle use and I assume deer also even though it is very rare to see a deer there. The water sources are not well distributed to retain our deer. One of the neighbors to the east has a number of small cattle troughs fed by a water well and it seems to us that he has a lot more deer activity since this drought hit us 5 seasons ago. BTW, he is also a neighbor that shoots bucks long before their time.:(

I have seen some information on providing local water for wildlife protected by hog/cattle panels. These local spots use a tank that holds the water and gravities into a small float chamber where the wildlife can get a drink. I'm really curious in our desert like environment how long 300 to 500 gallons of water might last. We could fill them by transporting water from the pilas. Do you or anyone reading have any knowledge of this approach??

Venado: I was talking with the Zavala County Agent yesterday and asked him if he knew anyone in the area that was using the water guzzlers, or similar device. He was not aware of anyone in the local area that uses them.

These folks might be able to answer your questions:

http://www.wildlifewaterguzzler.com/

[venado]

ST, thanks a bunch for the reply with the link. The idea that I had was home made using readily availabe items and used something similar to the float drinker shown.

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

Oh, and we don't have any stock on the place at present although with economic walls closing in it is certainly an option for the future. It is nice not having to contend with cattle but they do have a purpose in that they will keep the brush opened up.

Alan

[frenchbuck]

The Wife and I just got done with cabin work in Maine last week. We just installed some cabinets and a counter top. We also assembled a second Ikea bunk bed. Man those thing are made solid. We did some final adjustments to our composting toilet. The trail camera had 19 photos on it but I could't get the rewind button to work. Ruined the whole film. Doesn't matter though cause I know what was on it. The muddy trail leading to our cabin was covered in Moose tracks. The rain would wipe them out at night and their would be fresh one by morning. Too bad you have to hunt Maine Moose with a lottery system. I would need a bigger freezer!:D

[venado]

ST, interestingly I have called twice and left return info twice and the operator of that site you referenced has not returned my call. Maybe they are out of business... but if so their 800 number still works.:confused:

[southtexas]

Strange, you would think that if their business would ever do well, it would be now, with the heat and drought that we have.

But maybe that's the problem, they don't have time to answer their phone??

[venado]

ST, we are in deep do-do at our place now. The rancher has pulled all cattle and the only water supply has gone briney on us. I think we can write this coming year off.

[Alan R McDaniel Jr]

Does that water well supply your drinking water too? If so it could be a problem. Pulling the cattle will free up available browse (what is left of it) for the deer. The deer will be able to get some water from the browse and will use the briney stuff too but they may be heading over to your neighbors place too. We still have some browse and there is grass and forbs in some of the protected areas. We got a little rain the other day too.

It's really getting dry down here and and no real relief in sight. These deer have been going through these cycles for lots of years now. I just hope the hunters can control themselves until it's on the upswing again.

Alan

[venado]

Alan, we were severely overpopulated here for years because the rancher wouldn't let us take many does. He relented a few years ago and I've overseen a significant reduction of deer for 3 years. At this point I am really glad to have done so since I'm sure that we would have had some serious survival issues had I not done so.

In an exagerated sense what we see here is what goes on in places where hunters are hesitent to reduce deer herds when the biologists say that HR is the proper course of action. Because Texas is a private property state to a huge extent, the wildlife department has limited tools to force what needs to be done and they depend on an educated hunter population to act in a manner that fits what is correct for the resource. It isn't easy at times to get that education down to the grass roots level but it is necessary if every stakeholder has at least some of his needs met.

Back to "camp work". We have monthly sessions where all of my crew comes and participates and the July, August and September sessions are really tough on everyone. Trying to do physical work in the 100+ degree temperatures is difficult at best and ensures that most things get done in that first few hours of daylight in the morning when it is relatively cool.

[southtexas]

ST, we are in deep do-do at our place now. The rancher has pulled all cattle and the only water supply has gone briney on us. I think we can write this coming year off.

Venado: We still have a little water, but not near normal. County agent was out last week and said the brush still has plenty of groceries for the deer.

No grass or forbs, so the fawns, which are dropping as we speak, could have a tough time making it, with little cover form the 'yotes..

[venado]

ST, we are 3" YTD and our pasture looks like a desert. I think it will be tough for adults much less fawns. I'll be there on the 31st and will see what the situation really is. BTW, we had a nice rain here in Seguin yesterday which we seriously needed as well. Alan, we have always brought in drinking water so that will not change. We do use well water for general washing of animals and bathing though and I doubt that will change much either. Speaking of drinking water, we will have to have some extra this trip since a guy that runs a crawfish farm is coming for the weekend and he'll be boiling mud bugs. Even as dry as it is, we always enjoy ourselves...!:D

[LampLighter]

I checked mine last weekend coming back from my father's. Theres not much to it. I pulled a small fallen pine from the drive and checked the table, benchs and firepit. No boards to replace this year so all is well. I will go back in October and spread some fire ant bait just to make sure.


I know you own that land. So if you own your primary residence too, and Tx has homestead exemption, I wonder what is the yearly property tax on the hunting land ?

[Altjaeger]

I know you own that land. So if you own your primary residence too, and Tx has homestead exemption, I wonder what is the yearly property tax on the hunting land ?

My permanent residence is the homestead. The hunting property is 4 undeveloped acres of mixed timber on a graded Forest Service road with only a culvert in the drive as a taxable improvement. I suspect it might cost me $5.00 a years. County and school property taxes come to just a bit less than $200 a year. I suspect I could get around $8,000 if I put it on the market without being too optimistic if that helps.

[southtexas]

Alt: do you have, or could you get an ag exemption?

[Altjaeger]

Alt: do you have, or could you get an ag exemption?

It does not have and I really have not investigated or thought of it. There is no land clear enought fr any agriculture and the forest thick mixed hardwoods. Something to ask about though. Thanks.

[southtexas]

My general understanding is, to qualify for the ag exemption, your land must be used for an agricultural purposes, similarliy to other properties in the area. That's why a lot of folks buy a cow or two to put on their land. Perhaps you could convince 'em that you are growing trees for future harvest!

BTW, there is also now a wildlife exemption, that you might be able to qualify for. It would provide the same tax benefits. There may be a minimun acreage requirement...don't know,

[Altjaeger]

My general understanding is, to qualify for the ag exemption, your land must be used for an agricultural purposes, similarliy to other properties in the area. That's why a lot of folks buy a cow or two to put on their land. Perhaps you could convince 'em that you are growing trees for future harvest!

BTW, there is also now a wildlife exemption, that you might be able to qualify for. It would provide the same tax benefits. There may be a minimun acreage requirement...don't know,

I'll check. TY

Truth is at $180-$190 a year total I really had not considered it. But to save a buck I will let Joe Biden call me unpatriotic.:)

[venado]

ST, the guy finally called this morning regarding the water guzzlers that you gave me a link to earlier in this thread. The 200 gal guzzler is $1040, the 750 gal one is $1740. He says a deer drinks between 1 and 6 quarts daily. They find that in many places that the evaporation in the trough is made up by the nightly condensation over the storage area. Algae build up is only in the trough not in the storage area due to the material that blocks the sun to the large storage area.

Lets say that our deer use 4 qts/day, and lets say that there are 15 deer using the guzzler, ie. 15 gal/day and that there is a 1% loss due to evaporation which would be up to another 2 gal/day so as a WAG the 200 gal of water size might only last 11 days. Since this is all a WAG as to use, a 200 gal unit might last 2 weeks at best. For me it would require the 750 gal unit to have any chance of being effective at this time in our drought since a trip there every two weeks to refill is impractical.

[pepaw]

V,
Interesting about that guzzler. Thanks for the info. I would like to have a couple of those on our leases. But I can see how it would be tough to keep them filled unless you lived nearby.

I wonder how much the "assorted" wildlife would drink. If you remember the water tank game cam photos recently, everybody and their brother were drinking from the trough. Even with a cattle panel fence to keep out the javelinas and hogs, I suspect everything else would find a way in or over.

pepaw

[venado]

pepaw, I actually suspect that our deer down there where you, ST, and I are do not normally get anywhere close to 4 qts. of water a day of standing water but survive almost entirely on the moisture they get through their food. I wish I knew a bit more accurately because if we could get by a month on a 200 gallon supply I could find a way to make it work.

[txm]

Alt
I don’t think that you have enough land for the wildlife exemption.
Just call any Parks and Wildlife office and they can tell you.
Any of you that have enough acreage should look into it.
A Parks and Wildlife Biologist will work with you to build a program for you and it does not need to be an expensive program.
The biologists work is free.
Thy will give you a certificate showing the approved program and you file the exemption with the county.
How much it saves depends on the county tax rates, etc.

I built a program for a friend and we decided to work on improving the native food supply and restrict deer harvest and have a little predator control.
There are many different things that you can do that would be approved..
His taxes on 330 acres were$1850 before the program and $365 after.
He only spent $250 on the program last year and $200 so far this year.

[Altjaeger]

txm, I appreciate the brain storming. I doubt I qualify for anyexpemtions and to be honest I am not crying at the $180-190 a year it costs. All in all I think its a pretty good deal.:)

[LampLighter]

OK just got back. Went Thursday. Brought a new fridge someone gave me. Brought the old junky one back home. Got all pillar leveling done. Vacuumed up all spider webs and roach poo poo. Lysol mopped , and wiped shelving, counters etc.

Went out Fri morn. hiked in way back behind the ag fields I hunt. Corn is harvested. Deer track highways same as usual. Acorns look good. Squirrels are cutting alot and deer are on them big time getting the ones the squirrels drop. Saw about 8 deer on the road where I park, and one spotted fawn in the woods.

Friday night me and the red necks ( they were at camp too) drank quite a few long necks and we cooked fried catfish, taters, onions, and grilled some deer sausage. We were jamming to this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I8j2ej5jqQw&feature=related

Sat mor. I went for a ride down river in my boat. Went & checked out another of my spots. It is hot. I will be there opening morning.

Both mornings included alot of gps trail mapping and waypoint setting- playing catch-up from having to buy a new gps. remember I dropped my other one in the river and lost a year's worth of set points.

All in all, a very productive trip. I am trying to get some pics up, but photobucket is acting up badly.

[LampLighter]

test

[LampLighter]

Here's the Fridge and camp interior

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/manygobbles/008-1.jpg



Here's my boat in the river

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/manygobbles/020.jpg

What the woods look like in one of my new spots

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm148/manygobbles/017.jpg

when I found this spot in January, it was loaded with fresh sign. It still was yesterday. This is where I was going to put that 2nd camera before they banned them.