St. Gall Farm Honey (Blog 453)

Earlier this week, good friend Paul Hinlicky dropped by our house to deliver some honey. Paul and his wife Ellen operate St. Gall Farm in the Catawba Valley of Roanoke County, Virginia (https://www.stgallfarm.com/).

Elaine and I are big proponents of living like locavores and purchasing honey from a neighbor is part of that philosophy. We have long believed that one of the best ways to keep Rural America rural is by supporting local small farmers, and the meat, vegetables, eggs, fruits, and, honey they sell. So if you have farmers' markets in your area (and around here we have ones in Botetourt, Roanoke, Salem, and Catawba just to name a few) consider supporting them and the folks who have local foods and goods to sell.

By the way, those foods, like Paul and Ellen's honey, are delicious.

Timber Stand Improvement Projects (Blog 452)

I have spent parts of the past three days working on Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) on our 38 acres in Botetourt County, Virginia. There has been so much to do: freeing up young oaks, cutting down dead ashes, removing non-mast producing trees to open up the forest floor, and spraying for invasive plants.

These activities are some of the most pleasant things I do. I honestly think I could do this for several hours a day, every day for a month, and not run out of things to do. Performing TSI is one of the most pleasant aspects of land ownership. The knowledge that I am making land better for wildlife is deeply satisfying, plus I'm gaining some firewood for the winter.

Summer Berry Season (Blog 451)

Elaine and I have been picking berries for a month or so now, and we now have picked 9 1/2 gallons of wild raspberries, wineberries, and blackberries. Tomorrow our son Mark and I are going to our Gap Mills land in Monroe County, West Virginia to hopefully pick at least two quarts, so that we can reach our annual 10-gallon goal. That way we will have enough fruit for Elaine to make most of the pies, cobblers, and jam we will use in the year ahead.

Mark and I are also going to clear brush and shooting lanes around my ladder stand there. Bow season starts the last Saturday in September, and I won't go back to the land until then. I will also check out the condition of the stand and the belts that keep it in place. I hope to kill a nice doe there on opening day.

Chestnut Tree on Our Potts Mountain Land (Blog 450)

Elaine and I recently went to our Potts Mountain land on the border of Craig County, Virginia and Monroe County, West Virginia to pick raspberries. While there, I checked on the progress of two American chestnut trees that continue to grow taller.

I noticed the two trees several years ago - they are not very far apart. I have been waiting for them to die, but they have not. Of course, I am guessing that they are afflicted with the blight that has impacted our native chestnuts since the early 1900s. However, they must have some immunity to have lived this long and grown some 40-feet tall.

Anyway, they were good to see.

Locavore Living in the Summer (Blog 449)

Elaine and I have been busy enjoying the bounty of our garden and the wild berries we are gathering. Today, Elaine made three loaves of zuchinni bread, two were frozen for the winter, and we began eating the other.

So far, we have gathered three gallons of wild berries. Our goal, as always every summer, is to gather 10 gallons before July is over. Tomorrow, I will try to pick a half gallon as Elaine is planning to make wineberry jam.

We also have eight chicks between one week and two weeks old. They are doing well except they have not learned how to walk up the gangplank to the hen house when night starts to fall.

Much is going on around here.

Gobbler Seen Strutting (Blog 448)

Today, June 18 around 10:30 here in Botetourt County, Virginia, I observed a mature gobbler in strut. This particular tom is amazing to watch and listen to. He gobbled frequently all spring. I often heard him while I was walking before going to teach school.

When the season concluded, he still kept gobbling and he only stopped doing so a week or two ago. However, he is still strutting, even today near noon. I have heard birds gobbling as late as Independence Day one year, when a tom sounded off 22 times behind our house. I guess it was his own version of setting off firecrackers.

Rhode Island Red Chicks Hatching (Blog 447)

This week, the chicks from our heritage Rhode Island Red hen Mary are starting to hatch. As I write this, chick number two is almost out of its shell. Chick number one came out on Thursday. We are hopeful that the other five eggs will start to shimmy and pip soon, but who knows.

One thing we learned last September was that hatching chicks are in grave danger from the other birds. We left Mary in the hen house, and the first chick to come out of the shell was killed. We found the dead creature when we came home from being gone for the afternoon. That's why we have Mary in our basement.

How Will This Rainy Period Affect Turkey Poults? (Blog 446)

Here in Southwest Virginia, the past two days have seen rain, and the wet weather is supposed to continue for another four or five days. Right now in this region, wild turkey poults are either a few days old or are just hatching. I have to wonder how this rainy spell will affect them.

One thing in the poults' favor is that the air temperature is not abnormally cold. A few nights in the low 40s, for example, could cause widespread death from hypothermia. But most nighttime lows are supposed to be far above that. I guess we'll have to wait and see how turkey reproduction might be affected by this precipitation spell.

Tom Still Gobbling (445)

Virginia's and West Virginia's spring gobbler season has been over for several weeks. In fact, some poults, no doubt, are hatching now. Yet, there is a gobbler on our rural Botetourt County road that is still gobbling. When I am walking in the pre-dawn murk, I often hear him sound off.

If he is not gobbling, I give him a couple yelps with my mouth, and he gobbles at that. One morning, I didn't yelp until I walked past his roost area. Then I yelped at him as I was walking away. This seemed to make him even more charged up. The gobbling became so intense that I thought he was  going to pop  out onto the road and look for the "hen."

I wonder how long into June this tom will continue to gobble?

Heritage Rhode Island Red Hen Goes Broody (Blog 444)

Mary, our heritage Rhode Island red hen, "went broody" yesterday afternoon. Elaine and I were very excited because that means in three weeks or so Mary's chicks will hatch. One of the joys of raising heritage chickens is that the hens know how to sit on a nest and hatch the eggs. Mary is now three years old and this is the fourth time she has become broody.

Mary is an excellent mother and is very attentive to her chicks. So we are sure that she will be the same with this bunch. She has already been doing the harsh "chrrrr" sound when her fellow flock hens approach her nest. Chickens have this penchant of all wanting to lay their eggs in the same nest no matter how many nesting boxes are within a coop. Mary's protesting chrrrrs is her way of telling her fellow hens to stay away.

Strawberries and More Strawberries (Blog 443)

Our Surecrop strawberry plants continue to produce in great abundance. This week, Elaine made jam, a second pie, and clafouti out of our haul, which has been averaging about a quart per day. Yesterday, my wife froze a quart or so of berries, which will eventually become part of smoothies and topping for oatmeal and cereal.

We are hoping for another week of production, as it would be good to have another pie and perhaps we could make jam one more time. There's no such thing as too many garden fresh strawberries.

Below is a picture of strawberries being turned into jam.

First Strawberry Pie of the Spring (Blog 442)

To my astonishment, strawberries from our garden are already ripening, and Saturday I picked enough for Elaine to make a pie. Pies made from Black Twig apples are high on my list as are pies made from wild raspberries. But pies consisting of garden fresh strawberries also rate in the top three. I'm not sure which of these three pies would come in first.

Today, there won't be enough for a second pie, but they will go great with breakfast cereal. Later in the week, hopefully it will be time to make strawberry jam.

Smooth Green Snakes and Grandsons (Blog 441)

Yesterday, my six-year-old grandson Sam, who lives across the hollow from Elaine and me with his family, came running into our house and said he had just seen a snake. He has been taught not to touch snakes but not to be fearful of them, either. To respect them and come find a parent or grandparent when he encounters one.

So Sam and I walked up the driveway to where the snake was entwined in a small tree. I  identified the reptile as a smooth green snake and Sam received a lesson on how beneficial these small creatures are. All in all, it was a nice little moment in life and a teachable event for Sam.

Longbeards and Morels in West Virginia (Blog 440)

This past weekend, I had one of those perfect spring days in the mountains of Monroe County, West Virginia. While trying to maneuver around a flock of gobblers and hens, I came across some black morels growing along a highland creek. I had brought a plastic bag for just such a random chance encounter. So I quickly gathered the morels and continued after the turkeys.

Later, I was able to kill my biggest ever West Virginia gobbler, a tom that weighed 26 pounds, 8 ounces. That night for dinner, my wife Elaine fixed a tasty scrambled eggs, vegetables, and morels dish. It was a perfect day and a perfect dinner.

Oh, by the way, I saw large patches of ramps growing on that mountainside. I know ramps are popular in many places, and I know this is heresy to say it, but neither Elaine nor I can understand their appeal. So I left them for someone else to gather.

Spring Gobbler Hunting in Virginia and West Virginia (Blog 439)

I first started turkey hunting in 1986, and in all those years, I cannot recall the gobbling intensity that I have experienced from Saturday through Thursday in Virginia and West Virginia. While afield in Virginia, I did not have a shot on Saturday or Sunday, although I saw approximately 20 different gobblers those days. On two occasions, I had multiple gobblers, one day five, another day three, within 50 yards of my position.

On Sunday, I had a gobbler, jake, and a hen within 20 yards of me, but I was afraid to shoot because they were so close together. Finally on Monday, I called in and killed a mature gobbbler, tagging out for the season because I had killed two birds back in the fall.

I didn't hunt Tuesday or Wednesday, the former because I was exhausted from climbing a mountain three straight days, and the latter because of two book signings/talks.

On Thursday I went to West Virginia and once again heard intense gobbling. I killed a mature bird at 8:00 A.M. I didn't go on Friday because of the rain but am heading for West Virginia on Saturday morning. I hope this gobbling frenzy keeps up.

The Thrushes are Singing (Blog 438)

One of the many joyous aspects of spring is listening to the various members of the thrush family. This week, the wood thrushes returned to Elaine's and my land in Botetourt County, Virginia. The flute-like tunes of the wood thrush, I believe, are the most beautiful of all the bird songs.

But also this month on our 38-acre spread, we've heard other thrush family members such as the veery, hermit thrush, and gray-cheeked thrush. They, too, have glorious voices, and, of course, are just passing through on their way northward. But it's the wood thrush, which breeds on our land, that I most look forward to hearing and seeing.

The Vagaries of Spring Gobbler Hunting (Blog 437)

I spent Saturday through Monday in Tennessee spring gobbler hunting with good friend Larry Proffit of Elizabethton. Larry is one of the best callers I have ever hunted with, and I didn't see a gobbler the three days I was there. Such is life sometimes in the spring gobbler woods.

This morning as I was letting our chickens out of their coops, I heard one gobbler - about 60 yards away in a pine - gobbling repeatedly. The tom was so talkative that he caused our alpha rooster, Don, to crow and all of the hens to be on edge.

Finally, I saw the tom fly down and land in our hollow - and still keep gobbling. In fact, the bird did not cease for another 10 minutes.

Why were the woods in Tennessee so quiet when I was there, and the toms so raucous behind our house. Will that gobbler still be behind our house when opening day arrives. Who knows?

Invasive Plant Elimination (Blog 436)

Wednesday after teaching school, I walked the seeded logging road behind our 38-acre parcel in Botetourt County, Virginia. I was looking for invasive plants that were just starting to bud. With loppers in hand and a spray bottle of herbicide, I was ready to do battle.

It was disappointing to find so many plants to target.  There were a few of Russian olive, but the most common one that I encountered was multi-flora rose, which seemed to be growing just about everywhere.

I spent about an hour on this task, which, frankly, has just begun. I've got a lot more work to do, but at least it was a start.

Virginia Toms Gobbling Every Morning (Blog 435)

Almost every morning year round I walk three miles in the dark before going to teach school or begin my summer day. This month is my favorite to walk in the dark because a morning ritual is to see how many gobblers I hear on my pre-dawn rambles.

Two mornings ago, I yelped with my mouth which sent one tom into a frenzied gobbling sequence. Several hens also responded to my yelps. This morning, the longbeard was gobbling on his own as I walked past his roost in the dark.

I conclude my walks on our 38-acre parcel in Botetourt County, Virginia. We have at least two toms gobbling behind our house, but they do not do so every morning. I don't think they have settled into a roosting pattern yet.

Soon, Elaine and I will head to Tennessee for me to turkey hunt, then, of course, come the Virginia and West Virginia seasons. I can hardly wait.

Don and Friday Crowing in Tandem (Blog 434)

One of the most interesting things about raising chickens is observing their behavior. As noted in last week's blog, Friday, our five-month-old cockerel finally began crowing. Our previous cockerels all have started earlier than Friday.

But what is so interesting is that though Friday began late, when he finally did start greeting the dawn it was in a voice similar to that of a mature rooster. In fact, Friday's cock-a-doodle-do is very similar to that of Don, our four-year-old rooster and the biological father of Friday.  Is the way a rooster crows inherited? I have no answer to that, but already I am having difficulty discerning between the crowings of Don and Friday.

Gobblers Gobbling, Cockerel Crowing, Veeries Passing Through (Blog 433)

One of the many great things about late winter/early spring is all the changes going on. The turkey gobblers are in full throat, sounding off every morning that doesn't bring rains or high winds. Cold temperatures are irrelevant to them now, the toms have to gobble.

Two days ago, our young heritage Rhode Island Red cockerel, who Elaine and I named Friday because that was the day of the week he hatched, finally started crowing. Friday also has become caught up in the spirit of the spring.

And several days ago, one of the many gifted singers of the thrush family - a veery - broke into song at dawn one morning. I was walking past a woodlot one and I heard the melodic tune of a veery. Great sounds to hark to here in rural Virginia.

Wood Cutting Season in Virginia (Blog 432)

Here in Virginia, small game seasons are over now, and spring gobbler season is more than a month away. But now it is wood cutting season here on our Botetourt County land. Last week, Elaine and I hired logger Jeff Britt to cut down a number of dead or dying ashes that were near our house and chicken runs. He also cut down some massive scarlet and red oaks that were too big for me to handle.

The next three weekends will be devoted to cutting up this wood so that it will fit into our stove next winter. With our solar panels on the roof and with the wood stove, our electric bill is less than $50.00 a month, sometimes much less.

Rhode Island Reds Resume Laying (Blog 431)

One of life's little joys occurred this weekend. Elaine and I raise heritage Rhode Island Reds, and it is natural for our chickens to stop laying eggs some time in late fall. The laying typically stops when the birds are in the molting process. The last egg came around Thanksgiving time.

Friday, I found an egg inside the chicken coop. Monday morning, I found two more. One of those eggs was on the ground, probably the work of one of our pullets which probably hasn't figured out when her body is telling her it is emitting an egg.

So it was time to put the nesting boxes back in what we call "The Little Red Hen House," which consists mostly of our younger chickens.  And to make sure that the nesting boxes in "The Big Red Hen House" are clean.

Virginia Gobblers Heralding the Season (Blog 430)

Last week, I heard the first gobbler  of the season sound off, which caused a crow to caw. Then another longbeard gobbled. That woke up every turkey in our Botetourt County woodlot. So for the next ten minutes or so, I heard gobble after gobble.

Every spring one of the nice things to look forward to is the first gobbling of the soon to come spring. I rarely hear hen talk among all the gobbler outbursts. It's always been clear that the males are raring to go earlier than the females are.

As far as what all this means for the season to come, well, the answer is usually very little. Still, it's nice to hear the sounds of turkeys gobbling.

First Woodcock of Season Appears on out Botetourt County, VA Land (Blog 429)

This morning, February 8, I went for my daily three-mile walk in the dark, here in Botetourt County, Virginia. As I was walking up the driveway, I heard the characteristic "peeent," which is how I describe the sound of a male woodcock.

I immediately stopped in mid-stride, wanting to make sure that I had indeed heard what I thought I had. Then came another peeent, and my suspicions were thus confirmed.

We've lived on this land since 1989, having bought it in 1988. We never heard woodcocks until we did a timber cut in 2010 and created some young forest. Beginning in 2011, woodcocks have been present every March. Three years ago, they started coming in February. I wonder when the first female will show up?

Finding the Shed Antler of an Eight Pointer (Blog 428)

During Virginia's deer season, my son-in-law David Reynolds and I encountered a fine, young 2 1/2-year-old buck. David saw him several times during the rut and afterwards. I glimpsed him several times in December. The whitetail had the characteristic long legs of a 2 1/2-year-old, but also sported four points on each side.

Yesterday, I was in our 38-acre Botetourt County woodlot, gathering wood from an oak I had sawed up earlier  but had not had time to bring into our garage. There lying near the tree I had cut was one of the antlers. It was nice to know that the young buck had made it through the deer season and would be around next fall. Hopefully, either David or I will have a chance at him.

Ash Trees Continue to Die (Blog 427)

Saturday afternoon, I spent much of my time cutting down and cutting up dead ash trees done in by the emerald ash borer plague. Our 38 acres in Botetourt County, Virginia hosts many ashes that are dead or succumbing.

It is a sad thing to see  beautiful hardwoods like the green and white ash quickly disappearing from the mountains here in Southwest Virginia and across their range. There is no cure on the horizon, either. And on our land, I can find only one mature tree that, to my surprise, has not been affected yet.
That will probably change this summer.

Chickens "Complaining" about Cold Weather (Blog 426)

Here in Botetourt County, Virginia, the wind chill is below 0 this morning and our heritage Rhode Island Reds are not happy. Chickens have a way of... perhaps fussing the right word... when things do not go to suit them. They march up to Elaine and me, and the whining begins.

This is usually after we give treats to the other chicken run's fowl - the two separate flocks have pens that border each other -  and the other flock does not receive any. Of course, both flocks will complain simultaneously if we walk by and don't give anyone anything.

This morning there was quite a bit of ruffled feathers, both literally and figuratively. Literally because the birds were constantly "fluffing" because of the cold and figuratively because they were complaining about the frigid conditions.

Preparing for Snow in the Virginia Mountains (Blog 425)

Elaine and I were supposed to have given an outdoors-related talk at the Bridgewater public library this morning, but the impending snowfall cancelled the event. Instead, we are cleaning both chicken runs, and I am going to cut some more fire wood before the snow starts.

Human nature is strange. We have plenty of firewood already in the garage and more is out at our woodpile.  But cutting wood in front of snowfall just seems like a constructive thing to do. Elaine is going to cook venison tenderloin for lunch and a wild blackberry cobbler is hopefully on the menu, too. Let it snow.

Deer Scarce during Virginia's Late Muzzleloader Season (Blog 424)

I had five different "settings" during doe days in Virginia's late muzzleloader season and only saw deer (two fawns) on the first of the five. I am often amazed when I see stories about trophy hunting for big bucks during the late season, and I struggle to see deer most years during this time period.

Maybe my poor success year after year is because of my hunting so much in the mountains where the weather is colder. Or, frankly, my poor hunting could be because I am clueless on how to pursue late season deer.  In any event, another late season has come and gone, and I struck out again.

On the January and February Saturdays to come, I'm going to look forward to squirrel hunting behind the house and doing Timber Stand Improvement projects on our Botetourt County land.

Success in the Virginia Fall Turkey Woods (Blog 423)

Today for Christmas, we dined on wild turkey burger and venison meatball vegetable soup. The reason we were able to eat wild turkey breast (in the form of burgers) is because Sunday I was able to tag a bird.

I went hunting with Bedford County's Mike Morrell and his turkey dog Bailey.
Bailey is a superior turkey dog and busted up two flocks not long after we arrived. It was a joy watching Bailey work. Next year, I would like to take Mike and Bailey to our West Virginia land in Monroe County.

Tomorrow, I'm going to take my son Mark turkey hunting in Botetourt with the hope that he can tag a bird before he heads back to Alaska to teach.

Spending Saturday in the Virginia Turkey Woods (Blog 422)

I spent all day Saturday pursuing turkeys on a Botetourt County, Virginia cattle farm. And for the first time in my life, I busted up three separate flocks of birds...and never fired a shot. On the first scatter, with the birds on the roost, they all flew in the same direction.

On the second scatter, which was a flock of gobblers, I actually called one of the longbeards in. But I didn't have a shot because I had set up wrong.

On the third scatter, which was just before 2:00 P.M., I again set up incorrectly as birds filtered by just out of sight.

I hope to do better today. People who think fall turkey hunting is easy are people who don't hunt fall turkeys.

Virginia Turkey Hunting in the Snow (Blog 421)

Wednesday of this week, with Botetourt County schools again closed and with my frustration with being inside at its peak, I decided to go turkey hunting in the snow at a nearby cattle farm. I asked Elaine to drop me off around 2:30 and pick me up at dark.

My reasoning was that the cattle would slog their way through the deep snow (16 inches fell) and open up some pasture. This would cause turkeys to come feed in the pasture...or so my reasoning went.

But when I arrived at the farm, the cattle were all down at the barn. None of them had ventured away from it the whole time since the snow had fallen on Sunday. So it was I that slogged my way through the pasture and found not a single turkey track. I had hoped to go turkey hunting today, Saturday, but the steady rains ruined that.  Maybe tomorrow?

Success in Virginia Turkey Woods (Blog 420)

In my 32 years as a turkey hunter, I have never seen so few birds as this year. I've gone deer hunting 20 times this season and only twice during those times did I see turkeys.

So when I scattered a flock of birds Tuesday after teaching school, I was so excited I could barely sleep. Wednesday morning, I went out for an hour hunt before school, setting up at the scatter point.

Fortunately, I was able to call in a bird, killing it at 7:18. Elaine took pictures for a future magazine story, I phone checked the bird and cleaned it, and was able to arrive at school around 8:30. The kitchen was a mess from the cleaning and my hunting clothes were scattered all over the house, but it was a memorable morning.

Time for Chicks to Move Outdoors? (Blog 419)

Elaine and I have been in a quandry all week. Our two heritage Rhode Island Red chicks are now almost 10 weeks old, and they, with their mother Mary, have been living in our basement since the hatching. This is not an ideal situation, of course, yet we also know that the other chickens can kill chicks, as did happen earlier with Mary's first chick that hatched.

Winter is coming on, and if we wait too late to put this trio outside, it will be all the harder for the chicks to adapt to the cold. But, again, if they enter into the run too soon, there's that danger of them being killed. So Sunday tomorrow, with a forecast in the 60s, is the day we are going to put the chicks outdoors in the run. We know Mary will try to protect them, the question is will she be able to.

Cutting Down Christmas Trees for the Family (Blog 418)

Wednesday, I drove to our Johns Creek land in Craig County to cut down a Christmas tree for Elaine and me and also one for David and Sarah and their two boys. While bowhunting there in October, I had noted several white pines that would be ideal for Christmastime. They also were growing near oaks and should be removed anyway.

There is something inherently special about going into the woods and finding your own Christmas tree. It harks back to the time when this was a common thing for all families to do. For the past 15 years or so, Elaine and I have found a tree either on our Botetourt County land where we live or on the Johns Creek property. These trees aren't perfectly shaped like the ones for sale, but we think they are beautiful and perfect, nevertheless.

The Joy of Having Grandchildren (Blog 417)

One of the great joys of Elaine's and my life is having grandchildren living close by. Generally, three mornings a week, we have four-year old Eli at our home for an hour or so before my wife takes him to daycare.

The other day, Elaine was performing her early morning exercises, and, unceremoniously, Eli plopped himself down beside her to join in. One of Elaine's standard exercises is to do some leg lifts with a rubber ball positioned between her legs. The photo below shows that Eli knows how to do this exercise as well.

The Joys of Elaine's Homemade Persimmon Bread (Blog 416)

When people ask me what is my favorite type of bread, many answers could come to mind. Elaine is a marvelous cook and her sourdough and whole wheat breads are sublime. But the best bread she makes is her persimmon/wild black walnut bread.

This past weekend, we went to gather persimmons. Earlier, I had gathered wild black walnuts on our Botetourt County, Virginia land and had left them on our fireplace hearth to fully ripen. After we gathered the persimmons, I cracked the walnuts while Elaine prepared the persimmon pulp.

An hour or so later, we dined on persimmon bread for lunch. The fruity/nutty taste, the appealing deep brown color/the smell of warm bread hot from the oven...well, yes, this is my favorite bread.

Wednesday Catches Her First Beetle (Blog 415)

Our best heritage Rhode Island Red hen, Mary, is only 2 1/2, but has already been broody three times. The most recent time was in September; and when the other chickens killed her first chick to hatch, we had to bring her inside for when the other chicks hatched.

The two chicks that hatched, named Wednesday and Friday for the days they were born, are now a month old and living in the basement with Mary. When I came downstairs to check on them this morning, Wednesday, a young pullet, and Friday, a cockerel, were in hot pursuit of a beetle that had blundered into the enclosure.

I was impressed that Wednesday caught the beetle, spearing it with her beak. She had a little trouble eating it, especially with Friday trying to grab the treat. But, eventually, Wednesday downed her first of many beetles.

Stand Selection for Opening Day of Virginia's Muzzleloader Season (Blog 414)

Elaine and I went out mid-day Sunday to set up a blind for me to hunt from during Virginia's early muzzleloader season. The site overlooks a food plot and is a proven evening stand location. But the problem is that the deer come down a hillside to either the right or left and are "on me" before I often know it. A blind was the only choice for this site, as the most suitable tree has lost all its leaves and I would be too exposed if I placed a hang-on there. Sitting on the ground is simply not a viable option.

It will be interesting to see how the site performs Saturday. I expect to see deer that evening.

Scouting for Virginia Turkeys while Bowhunting (Blog 413)

With Virginia's turkey season set to start Saturday, October 27, I decided to bow hunt a Botetourt County cattle farm for deer Thursday after school. My main objective was to look for turkey sign and hope that I would see or hear a flock. I have called in and killed several spring gobblers there and hope that I could take a fall bird  this year on the property.

At 5:10, I saw a flock and when the members came to within about a 100 yards, I got my crossbow in a position to shoot. In the past, while in a stand with my compound or crossbow, I have waited too long too many times to be in shooting position. However, the flock never came any closer than about 70 yards, but I was able to identify its members - seven mature gobblers.

About 5:30, a mature doe approached my stand, and I was able to kill her. Obviously, this outing could not have gone any better.

Rhode Island Red Chicks Hatch (Blog 412)

What do you do when a hen tries to incubate eggs that haven't been fe

rtilized by a rooster? That's what happened to Elaine and me back in late August when one of her heritage Rhode Island Red hens, Mary, became broody.

No rooster had been in Mary's run since April, and, of course, that meant none of the eggs that Mary had so diligently gathered would hatch. Knowing that Mary would not stop being broody until she actually hatched chicks, Elaine and I decided to put three eggs in our mini-incubator  and see what happened. Those eggs were taken from the pen of our alpha rooster, Don, and two of those eggs hatched, one on October 3, the other on October 5.

So we replaced Mary's dud eggs with the two chicks, and she had no problem adopting them. We hope that Mary and her chicks can go outside to live by Thanksgiving.

Grandsons Help me Drag a Deer (Blog 411)

Sunday morning I killed a deer with my new Parker Thunderhawk Pro crossbow, and when I brought it home, I found that Elaine was babysitting our grandsons Sam and Eli. I asked the boys, ages six and four, if they would help me drag the deer to the outside water faucet so that I could rinse out the chest cavity.

They both announced that they had to have long plastic gloves to do the job. So after donning the gloves, they assisted in helping me drag the deer to the faucet. They also, more or less, mostly less, held the chest cavity open so that I could cut out the bottom loins. I am hoping that their dad David and I can take Sam hunting on Virginia's Youth Day in a few years.

Ingram Talk at Blue Ridge Library on Tuesday (Blog 410)

Elaine and I will be giving a locavore talk on Tuesday, October 2 at the Blue Ridge Library in Botetourt County. Beginning at 7:00 P.M., we will be talking about some of the fall fruits (grapes, paw paws, and persimmons) and nuts (black walnuts and three species of hickory nuts) that folks can gather in this region.

We'll also cover raising apple and crabapple trees, and some of our favorite varieties. For example, this fall Elaine made bread from our Rome apples and pies and cobblers from the fruit of our Dolgo crabapple tree.

Finally, we will be covering how to prepare venison and why it is such a healthy meat.

Giving Talk on Invasive Plants to Third Graders (Blog 409)

Tomorrow morning, I am giving a talk to my daughter Sarah's third grade class at Greenfield Elementary. The subject is invasive plants. I have never "taught" third graders or any elementary school students before, so I have tried to be really prepared.

Sarah asked me to gather invasive plants for a show and tell session with her students, plus the classes of the other two third grade teachers. It was not hard to walk along our Botetourt County road for 50 yards or so and gather a half dozen invasive plants.

And that's why students of any age group should learn about invasive plants in their areas. Invasive plants negatively impact both native flora and fauna and require a great deal of work to eliminate. I'm looking forward to the day.

No Bowhunting in the Rain (Blog 408)

This entire week, I studied the weather forecast for Southwest Virginia, hoping that I could go bowhunting during Virginia's Urban Archery Season. A few times, I saw a few brief windows where I could possibly have climbed up into a tree stand for a couple hours.

But, alas, the rains have not relented, and I'll have to be content to go out and do some tree stand site scouting. I have a few places that I want to check out to see if they hold promise. One site especially has promise, as it leads to a clover food plot.

Another place is a Roanoke County backyard where the home owner says deer have been venturing into during the evenings. I'll just try to put myself into position to be successful next weekend.

Bruce and Elaine to present Locavore Workshop

Tuesday evening September 18, Elaine and I will be presenting a locavore workhop at the Salem, Virginia library: https://www.evensi.us/hunting-gathering-fall-free-workshop-28-main-st-salem-virginia-24153/266569171. One of the things the workshop will be about is gathering fall fruits and nuts, which is appropriate because Wednesday afternoon after school, we went gathering wild summer grapes.

Upon finding some summer grapes growing along the side of the road, we later asked the Botetourt County landowner if we could pick them. As a reward for the person's generosity, we gave her a jar of peach preserves that Elaine had made.

Thursday, we removed the berries from the stems and Elaine made the juice. Saturday morning was making jelly time, and Sunday for breakfast will be the taste test.  Summer grape jelly is my favorite jelly of any kind, it is pleasantly tart.

Snafus Aplenty on Opening Morning of Virginia's Urban Archery Season (Blog 406)

I thought I had planned everything for opening morning of Virginia's Urban Archery Season...clothes in a scent free container, safety harness in an adjacent container, gear all proportioned nicely in my day pack.

Nevertheless, I drove off without having my safety harness in tow, which caused me to have to return home. When I finally made it up to my tree stand and secured myself, it wasn't long until my bow haul apparatus fell out of my pocket and crashed to the ground.

Probably my late arrival to the stand and my haul rope falling had nothing to do with my not seeing a single deer on opening morning. I can believe that anyway, I guess. The day was not one of my better performances afield.

Land Prepping for Deer Season (Blog 405)

With Virginia's Urban Archery Season starting next Saturday, I spent this Saturday rejuvenating a food plot on our Botetourt County land. First, I lightly tilled the soil, then raked the debris, and last planted clover.

After that was accomplished, I went around the perimeter of the plot and cut down saplings, mostly ash, pine, red cedar, and redbuds. The removal of those trees should allow the plot to receive more sunlight.

Sunday, my son-in-law David Reynolds and I plan on visiting our Eagle Rock land and putting up a tree stand there. Later in the morning, we hope to errect one behind the house and check on the status of the other ladder stands. I hope next Saturday some time in the morning or afternoon that Elaine and I will be butchering a doe.

Frogs, Turtles, and Toads on the Road (Blog 404)

I typically walk three miles before going to teach school every morning and many mornings I do in the dark. With such a wet summer, I often encounter frogs, toads, and various species of turtles on the road.

I don't like to take box turtles away from their chosen paths because they have well-defined territories. I will "help" them across a road by depositing them on the other side.  Painted turtles are another matter.

The other morning I saw a young painted turtle crossing the Botetourt County road we live on. There was no water source anywhere near him and definitely not one in the direction he was heading. I figured he had gone out looking for food in the wet weather and was still questing about.

I don't generally like to interfere with nature, but I decided to take the turtle home so that he could head for Catawba Creek which flows through our land. I hope I did the right thing. At least, I knew I wouldn't see him crushed on the road later in the morning when I headed for school. Here's his picture.

Spring "Sensory" Story for Smoky Mountain Living Magazine (Blog 403)

The editor of Smoky Mountain Living magazine has assigned me to do a story on the favorite sights, smells, and sounds of spring. For the lead of the story, I interviewed Virginia's Sherry Crumley, a board member for the NWTF, about her favorite sights, smells, and sounds.  The editor has posted the lead of the story and has asked readers to contact me at bruceingramoutdoors@gmail.com if they would like their sensory experiences to be considered to be a part of the story.  Here is the link to the story lead...http://www.smliv.com/blog/things-to-see-hear-and-smell-in-spring-forests/

If you would like your favorite sensory experiences to be considered to be a part of the story, please contact me via e-mail. Thanks.

Time to Renew Hunting Permission (Blog 402)

It's the first week of August, and, to me, this is the time to renew hunting permission for the properties I hunt in Virginia and West Virginia. Monday, I dropped by one property and brought the landowner several packages of venison from a deer killed on the family's place.

Yesterday, I contacted another landowner on a parcel where I will go hunting during Virginia's Urban Archery Season. Tonight, I hope to renew permission for a Botetourt County cattle farm. And so it will continue until I have contacted all the folks I need to.

I've bought new arrows and blades, and my two bows are ready to go, so that is taken care of as well.

Songbirds Barely Singing (Blog 401)

One of the most fascinating things about songbirds is how their singing changes over the course of the spring and summer. For both the yearlong residents and the migrants who come to breed, April and May are intense periods of sometimes practically non-stop singing.

But in June with mating over and the young beginning to leave the nest, the songs of the males begin to be heard less and less. Birds, of course, don't sing because they are happy but to attract and keep mates and to announce their presence and defend their territory.

By July, most birds have stopped singing. For example, this week Elaine and I spent one night at the home of Bill and Bonnie Amshey in Fairfax County. I went walking right after dawn broke, and only heard two birds singing: a chipping sparrow and a great-crested flycatcher. Even the red-eyed vireos weren't singing.

Getting Ready for Virginia and West Virginia 2018 Bow Season (Blog 400)

Today, I amped up the preparation for the upcoming bow season in Virginia and West Virginia. Elaine and I drove to our Monroe County land early this morning. We drove down the gravel roadway to the creek bottom, then I used a mower and scythe to prepare a pathway through the field to the woods.

I then used the scythe to cut our shooting lanes around my ladder stand. Later, I checked the stand itself to make sure all straps were still functional and safe. Meanwhile, Elaine had found a blackberry patch along the logging road that leads through our 94 acres. She busied herself with picking a quart of blackberries which turned into a cobbler for dinner. All in all, a really good start.

In a couple of weeks, I will put up  a tree stand in Roanoke County where the Urban Archery Season opens on September 1.

Locavore Walk, Talk, and Meal for the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy

Today, Elaine and I presented a Locavore Workshop for the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy at our Botetourt County home and woodlot, and we had a wonderful time. Six people attended, and Elaine did a presentation on our house being partially powered by solar energy, and I talked about raising chickens, fruit trees, and a garden and how we gathered wild foods and performed habitat improvement projects.

Elaine prepared a fantastic lunch with venison meatballs, an egg dish with chives, onions, and tomatoes from our garden, zuke bread with of course zukes from our garden, and for dessert we had wild blackberry smoothies from blackberries gathered by the participants. Just a wonderful time for Elaine and me.

Locavore Meal on a Summer Day (Blog 398)

One of the best things about summer is writing in the morning and then going gathering later in the day. Today, I wrote for two hours, then gathered two quarts of wineberries and a quart of wild blackberries.

Then I went to our two Rhode Island Red runs to gather eggs, made a stop at the garden to gather cherry tomatoes, chives, and zukes and dined on deer burgers for lunch. Fresh tomatoes from the garden make any sandwich better.

I did business-type writing related things after lunch, took a nap, and prepared for dinner and a game of Scrabble with Elaine. Not a bad day at all.

Bruce and Elaine Ingram to Lead Locavore Workshop (Blog 397)

Just a note that Saturday, July 14 on our Botetourt County land, Elaine and I will be leading a locavore workshop as a fund raiser for the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy. In case, you are interested, here is a blurb on what we will be doing and how to sign up.

I. Bruce and Elaine Ingram will be conducting a Locavore Workshop and Fund Raiser for the Blue Ridge Land Conservancy on Saturday, July 14  at their Botetourt County home and 38 acres. The Ingrams, who were the BRLC Landsavers of the Year in 2014, co-wrote Living the Locavore Lifestyle, a guide to hunting, fishing, and gathering for food, plus tips on raising chickens, fruit trees, and a garden.  Activities planned.

1. Elaine will explain how by using solar energy and a wood stove, the Ingrams only have an electric bill of about $10.00 per month.

2. Elaine will also share some of her favorite locavore recipes and prepare a locavore lunch for participants.

3. The Ingrams will share how they raise heritage Rhode Island Red chickens and keep them safe from predators.

4. Bruce, who won the forestry award from the Virginia DOF and Soil and Water Conservation Districts in 2005, will lead a tour of the Ingram's land, explaining how he creatively manages the land for wildlife.

5. Participants will gather wild berries for a cobbler.

6. The Ingrams will explain how they integrate raising chickens and growing a garden.

7. Bruce will discuss how he controls invasive plants on the land and discuss some of the worst invasives and how to eliminate them.

8. All participants will receive a signed, dedicated copy of Living the Locavore Lifestyle.

9. Bruce will identify edible wild foods on the property.

Here is also the link to sign up: 

https://www.blueridgelandconservancy.org/outdoor-adventures.html

Upcoming Events (Blog 396)

Yesterday, I turned in my first outdoor related blog to the Virginia Game Department. I'm excited to say that I will be blogging about various outdoor activities in the Old Dominion for the VDGIF. This is a wonderful opportunity for me, and I will be giving more details later about how to read these blogs.

Also, this Saturday from 2:00 to 4:00, I will be at Book No Further in Downtown Roanoke, www.booknofurther.com. I will be having a book signing for my two Young Adult Fiction novels, Ninth Grade Angst and Tenth Grade Blues.

And, finally, the rains have stopped, and I will be able to go summertime fishing for the first time this month. I have trips planned to the James, New, Shenandoah, and Rappahannock

Our 40th Wedding Anniversary (Blog 395)

Last weekend, Elaine and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary by having dinner at Liberty Station in Bedford and then spending the night at a wonderful bed and breakfast, Whitetail Lodge (www.wtlodge.com) operated by Dan and Lisa Lovelace. The B&B is situated near the rural community of Sedalia, and it was just the perfect romantic getaway for us.

The next morning we visited Tom Smedley's farm not far down the road. Tom's son Bob was one of the ushers at our wedding, and we wanted to hear from Mr. Smedley how Bob was doing.

Elaine and I had only had five dates when I asked her to marry me - the smartest thing I have ever done in my life. And she has given me the best 40 years of my life.

Elaine On Stage at the Barter Theatre (Blog 394)

Elaine and I spent Tuesday through Thursday morning in Abingdon doing magazine articles, one of which involved going to the Barter Theatre. We were able to have a tour of the Barter and as part of that tour, Elaine was able to go on the Barter stage with Amy Fiorini, one of the theatre's staff members.

So my wife now is able to say that she has appeared on stage at the historic Barter Theatre.  Here is a picture of Amy and Elaine documenting this momentous event.

Locavore Lunch on a June Saturday in Virginia (Blog 393)

Today's morning hours and lunch were great examples of why I enjoy summertime Saturdays - or any day - with Elaine so much. To start we turned our heritage Rhode Island Reds into the backyard to let them forage while we worked in the garden and yard.

I picked the last of the strawberries and also gathered spinach and onions for lunch while also pulling weeds. I forgot to gather some chives, but so it goes. The weeds were placed in our two chicken runs for our birds' green food and entertainment.

For lunch, we dined on venison burgers from a West Virginia doe I had killed last fall. The burgers were adorned with the onions and spinach from the garden. We also had sauteed asparagus from the garden and strawberry pie (obviously from our strawberry patch) for dessert. It was a really, really good morning and lunch.

Tenth Grade Angst Comes Out (Blog 392)

Thursday when I came home from Lord Botetourt High School where I teach, a box of books was on our stoop. My eight book overall, and second Young Adult fiction novel, Tenth Grade Angst is now out. After all these years as an outdoor writer/photgrapher, it feels weird to now also be writing fiction for high school students.

I'm half way through the third book in the series, Eleventh Grade Stress, which I hope to finish this summer and have my Creative Writing students proof in the fall, just as they did for the tenth grade book and the first in the series, Ninth Grade Blues.

Ingram on Western Virginia PBS Channels (Blog 391)

Just a little note that I will be interviewed on the western Virginia PBS series Write Around the Corner on Thursday night at 7:30. The show was originally on Tuesday night and this is a rerun. The show is about my writing career and also covers how Elaine and I met and how my students at Lord Botetourt High School helped me write and edit my first two Young Adult Fiction novels, Ninth Grade Blues and Tenth Grade Angst.

Interesting Morning on the Last Day of West Virginia's Turkey Season (Blog 391)

I didn't see or hear any turkeys, or even spot any fresh sign, on the last day of West Virginia's spring gobbler season. And both my tags for that state went unused.

Still, as always, there are always things to marvel about in the spring woods. I was hunting at over 3,200 feet in the mountains of my Monroe County land, so I was able to listen to a rose-breasted grosbeak singing for several hours. I kept scanning the tree tops to see him, but no luck for the longest time. 

Then, finally, the male materialized just 20 or so yards away and warbled his robin-like tune. The red patch on his breast was dazzling.

I had heard the distress sounds of a raven for most of the morning, so when walking out of the woods to go home, I decided to see what the bird's issue was.  I walked right under the raven's perch.  The bird was only about 10 yards from me, the closest I have ever been to a raven. The bird was struggling to remain on its perch, so something was clearly wrong. I was surprised that the avian let me come so close, again, indicating that something was wrong.

So my turkey hunting is over in Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia for the season. Next weekend, I am floating the James River.

Barred Owls Battle in West Virginia's Spring Gobbler Woods (Blog 390)

After tagging out in Virginia, I've turned to spring gobbler hunting in West Virginia. This past Sunday, I was making barred owl sounds, and four of these owls came flying in to my sounds.

They created quite a ruckus, and I saw no need to call further and decided to watch how the owls interacted. To my surprise, two of them attacked each other in mid-air and tumbled to the ground fighting. Then a third owl flew in to where the two were jousting on the ground.

I could not see which owl won the ground battle, but, to my chagrin, all of that hooting awakened nary a gobbler.  I went home empty handed, but it was a fascinating morning.

Spring Gobbler Success in Virginia Woods (Blog 389)

Friday, I took a vacation day from school and hunted my best Botetourt County farm and though I heard five gobblers, I also heard and saw hens. Saturday, I hunted another really good place and heard three toms off our land in the Sinking Creek Valley of Craig County. Sunday, I went to the best farm I have permission to hunt, one in Franklin County.  And never came close to killing a bird.

With my having to be at school on Monday morning by 8:45, I almost decided not to go. But, ultimately, I did and a tom came charging in to position, not long after he flew down from the roost. The gobbler and I were back home by around 7:00 A.M., time for Elaine to take pictures of the bird and me, and for me to clean him.

Spring gobbler hunting is full of little ironies, and such was the case again. Three days when I had to noon to hunt and never came close to punching a tag, and then on a short hunt before school, I tagged a tom quickly. Since I killed two VA birds in the fall, I am now tagged out in my home state. Saturday, I will go afield in West Virginia.

Virginia Gobblers Uncooperative, but Songbirds Are Returning (Blog 388)

I continued to struggle while turkey hunting this week. I have now been out seven times either on weekends or before school and have not yet seen a gobbler except for one that was about 100 yards away. The typical outing goes like the following: hear toms on the roost, they gobble a little, then they depart with their hens for parts unknown.

The songbird watching and listening has been great, though.  Whip-poor-wills and chuck-wills-widows returned this week as did scarlet tanagers, worm-eating warblers, and ovenbirds. Fascinatingly, a worm-eating warbler came within about five yards of me, and I watched it hopping about the forest floor looking for bugs.

The turkey hunting should improve soon, once more hens go to lay their eggs.

Spring Gobbler Opening day in Virginia (Blog 387)

Opening day in Virginia was today, and it was very uneventful for me. With brisk winds, warm weather, and humidity, I was not optimistic there would be much gobbling on the Franklin County farm I was afield on.

Unfortunately, I was correct in my predictions on how the day would be. I didn't hear my first gobble until 9:15, and it was in response to a crow call. I only heard two more the rest of the day, one in answer to the crow call and a random gobble in mid-morning.

Disappointed for sure, but I'm not depressed about it. Sooner or later, the birds will turn on, and then the excitement will begin.

Setting Up too Close to a Tennessee Gobbler (Blog 386)

This past Saturday, I was in Northeast Tennessee to hunt opening day of that state's spring gobbler season. I was afield with Larry Proffitt, my long time turkey hunting mentor and friend, of Elizabethton. Larry and I climbed a Sullivan County mountain in the dark, and while we were waiting for dawn, a gobbler began sounding off directly behind us.

Larry motioned for me to slowly scoot around to the other side of the tree, which I did. A while later, I was able to make out the tom in a tree about 50 yards from us. Larry had been making pitting sounds before the tom gobbled, which perhaps made the old boy start up.

Anyway, I felt doom was at hand when I saw that the gobbler was so close. Every time except one during my 32 years of spring gobbler hunting when I have, by chance, set up in the dark within sight of a roosted gobbler, the hunt had turned out badly.

This hunt, too, ended in failure as when dawn came, the tom pitched down and quickly rambled away out of shooting range. All I could do was watch him flee. Is there such a thing as being too close to a roosted tom? I think so.

Gobblers in Virginia Begin Anew (Blog 385)

A blast of cold air and two snowfalls shut down all gobbling here in the mountains of Southwest Virginia, that is, all gobbling except for one lone tom. In the midst of a driving wind and precipitation, that old boy was gobbling.

That is the type of bird that I would like to hunt on opening day - one gobbling in the wind and snow. That kind of tom will invariably come charging in.

Still, he was the only one to sound off for the entire week until the warm front came through this morning. Predictably, a gobbler on the eastern side of our property greeted the dawn and was so boisterous that both my son-in-law David and I both heard him. Opening day is just two weeks distant.

Chickens in the Snow (Blog 384)

At 2:45 this morning, I woke up, looked out the window and saw snow falling, and knew what I had to do. Earlier this month, we had a wet, slushy snow, and the netting covering our two chicken runs collapsed, leaving our heritage Rhode Island Reds vulnerable to an owl or hawk attack.

Elaine and I spent an hour or so repairing the damage then. I figured it was better to arise in the wee hours than wait until dawn and try to repair the net. When I arrived inside the two runs, the netting was already badly sagging, so I as delicately as possible tapped the bottom of the netting with a broom to cause snow to cascade through the openings.

I'll go outside at dawn to do the broom tapping gambit again. I expect more such visits will be required during what appears will be a long, snow-filled day.

Gobbling Intensity Increasing in Southwest Virginia (Blog 383)

What a difference a week makes here in Southwest Virginia in terms of gobbling intensity. Two weeks ago, a lone gobble every few mornings was the norm. Now, the "normal" progression of spring morning sounds is evident.

For example, this morning, the crows, as is typical in spring, were the first birds to really announce the dawn in a boisterous way. This seemed to wake up two gobblers behind my house, and they began gobbling every 45 or so seconds. I also noted that the two toms were on opposite side of our 38 acres in Botetourt County, perhaps because they have already endured several skirmishes with each other.

What I expect to happen next - perhaps in just a few days - is an outbreak of non-stop gobbling as one longbeard becomes consumed with the prospects of mating, which, in turn, sets several other gobblers off.

Woodcock Mating Season in Full Throttle in Southwest Virginia (Blog 382)

This morning at 5:45, I left our Botetourt County, Virginia house to walk and almost immediately heard the sounds of a male woodcock doing his mating aerial dance.  Soon afterwards, I heard another woodcock while I was walking up the driveway.  And about 100 yards into my walk, a third one was heard.

Next to hearing the sounds of gobblers in early spring, I love to hear the whistling and peents of woodcocks. Adding to the morning aura was snow flakes falling.  In the distance, it seemed like the surrounding mountains were enveloped in snow as well. The forecast is for snow at dawn on Monday.  I wonder if the woodcocks will persist in their mating rituals if snow falls?

First Gobbling, First Woodcock (Blog 381)

Yesterday, February 28, brought the first gobble of the morning, here in Southwest Virginia. I was out walking when I heard a distant jake sound off.  Not quite believing my ears, I paused for several minutes, then yelped with my mouth. 

Nothing answered, so I resumed my walk feeling that I had misinterpreted what I thought I had heard. However, three minutes later, the jake gobbled again, and this time there was no mistaking the sound. I again yelped and again no response. Several minutes later, the young tom belted out one more gobble.

This morning brought a cool rain and 50 degree temperatures in Botetourt County. While I was tending to our chickens, I heard the distant sounds of a woodcock doing his aerial mating dance. Two sure signs of onrushing spring are gobbling toms and the return of woodcocks.

No Gobbling Yet in the Southwest Virginia Mountains (Blog 380)

For the past week or so, I have been listening a little more intently to the beginning signs of spring as the morning temperatures have been in the 50s. Two days ago,  this winter/spring, I heard a song sparrow singing its mating song for the first time. Cardinals have already broken into song and mourning doves are likewise in full-blown mating mood.

Our two Rhode Island Red roosters have increased the intensity of their morning skirmishes, even though their respective domains are separated by a wire fence. The two roosters often fling themselves against the fence and give each other the evil eye in this battle for one upsmanship.

Still, though, I have not heard the first gobble on our 38 acres in Botetourt County. While I was tending the chickens this morning, two turkey hens began yelping and cutting, and I was sure that a tom would respond to that. But none did. It won't be long, though, because I have at least two longbeards that roost on our land.

More Young Forests Needed in Virginia's National Forests (Blog 379)

This weekend, I am going hiking in the George Washington and Jefferson National Forest with Wayne Thacker, chair of the Virginia Wildlife Habitat Coalition. This is a group from such Virginia  entities as the Bear Hunters Association, the Bowhunters Association, the Deer Hunters Association, the Hunting Dog Alliance, the State Chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation State Leadership Team, the State Advisory Council of the Quality Deer Management Association, and representatives from two Virginia Ruffed Grouse Chapters. 

We will be talking about the need for the creation of more young forests on the GWJNF as part of a Virginia Wildlife magazine story I am working on. Many people, both hunters and non-hunters, do not realize the importance of young forests and early succession habitat for many species of game and non-game wildlife.

A good publication on this is Talking about Young Forests, A Communication Handbook. For more information, contact Thacker at bumcw@aol.com.

Signs of Spring in Virginia (Blog 378)

It's not even mid-February yet, but I noticed an early sign of spring this week - a male cardinal singing in a lusty manner. Of course, cardinals are a year-round resident in Southwest Virginia, and they do sing year-round, which is unlike most songbirds.

Nevertheless, the duration of this particular bird's song was what made it different.  The cardinal, at dawn, launched into a full-throated outburst and kept up the music for quite some time. In a week or so, I wager, our local Carolina wren will begin doing the same, and I also expect to hear mourning doves singing soon as they are one of the first birds to build nests, around here usually in March.

I also expect the two turkey gobblers that have been roosting behind our house to become "restless" by early March. Then I will know for sure that spring is here.

Letting Our Heritage Rhode Island Reds Forage (Blog 377)

Today is bitterly cold and with snow in the forecast for Sunday, Elaine and I decided to let our heritage Rhode Island Reds forage in our backyard while I cleaned out their henhouse. After our chickens had been in the yard for a while, I noticed that Elaine had followed our flock into the surrounding woodlot.

"There's just nothing green for them to eat in the yard," said Elaine, and she was right. It is now February and the depth of winter, and the yard is as gray as the sky on an overcast day. Perhaps our chickens found a few random green tidbits among the forest duff, but chances are that, too, had been picked over by songbirds, squirrels, and rabbits. It's winter and times are hard for wildlife and wandering chickens.

Heading Out into the Virginia Turkey Woods (Blog 376)

It's 5:39 A.M. as I write this and in about 20 minutes my son-in-law David Reynolds will be by to pick me up for us to go turkey hunting on the last day of Virginia's winter turkey season. I have killed my two-bird limit, so I won't be carrying a gun, but I am still really excited to be going.

So excited that I had trouble sleeping last night. Just the thought of entering the woods to pursue turkeys, whether it is fall, winter, or spring, is incredible pleasurable and stimulating to me. The challenge of matching up against a bird whose sight and hearing is far superior to mine and whose instincts are so raw and pure. It's one of the many great things about hunting turkeys.

Who knows whether David will kill a bird or not or whether we will even find a flock. That story will be written in the woods this morning.

Homebound in the Virginia Mountains (Blog 375)

The weather continues to be bitterly cold here in Southwest Virginia, and school is closed once again, so I can't start Of Mice and Men again today with my tenth graders or help my freshmen with their PowerPoints on the 1930s.

Our two flocks of heritage Rhode Island Reds are refusing to come out of their respective henhouses, except for brief forays to the feeder. And Elaine has beaten me three straight games of Scrabble. We were half way through the game last night, and she was already ahead of me by some 150 points. It was then that I did the only thing I could - overturn the board and concede defeat. I used to overturn the board when she was ahead and claim that it was an accident.  That gambit has never worked, however.

Warmer days are hopefully ahead.

Rhode Island Red Pullets Start Laying (Blog 374)

Life is full of small success stories. Last April, Elaine and I watched one of our heritage Rhode Island Red hens, Mary, hatch three chicks on her first try as a mother. Although we had hatched other eggs in an incubator, there is no comparison to seeing a hen actually do what genetically she is programmed to do.

This week, Mary's two pullets began laying eggs.  Elaine has named them Thelma and Louise as my wife is in charge of naming the hens while I give the cockerels their appellations. The first egg appeared on Wednesday and the second on Thursday, though the two young hens have not yet grasped the concept of depositing their eggs in a nesting box.  Nevertheless, it is exciting times in the Ingram household.

Deer Hunting in the Cold (Blog 373)

Today is the last day of deer season, and I am doubtful if I will be able to summon up enough courage to go afield. Monday, New Year's Day, my son-in-law David Reynolds and I went to a Botetourt County, Virginia cattle farm, arriving on our respective stands around 3:15.

The temperature with the wind chill was 4 degrees, and neither one of us made it to the end of shooting light at 5:35. In fact, we ran into each other leaving the woods at 5:15. Neither one of us had seen a deer. David summed up our respective thoughts when he said, "I knew it was time to get up when I realized I was too cold to shoot a deer if one did come by."

We talked earlier in the week about going today in late afternoon when the temperature will be around 0 with the wind chill. I have a feeling that we will probably cancel.

Babysitting the Grandsons (Blog 372)

It's a blustery, cold Saturday, and our wood stove is stoked, and our grandsons Sam (age 5) and Eli (age 3) are having a sleepover. As I write, we are watching a Thomas movie and the boys are drinking hot chocolate. Eli has already spilled his, but, hey,no problem.

I have often teased Elaine that when I first asked her out if I had said, "Go out with me on a date, and one night 35 or 40 years later, we can be babysitting our grandchildren. Would you have gone out with me, if that had been my line?"

Elaine is rather non-committal on that question, leaving me much in doubt if that would have been a good approach.

Finding a Christmas Tree with my Grandsons (Blog 371)

One of the joys of living out in the country and having Elaine's and my two grandsons, five-year-old Sam and three-year-old Eli, living nearby is seeing them experience Christmas. This week one day after school, the boys came over and helped me find, cut down, and drag back to the house a Christmas tree.

The tree was just a scrawny Virginia pine, but to Same and Eli, it was a tree of magnificent beauty and importance. I look forward to seeing them unrap their presents there on Monday

The Joy of Cutting Wood (Blog 370)

Saturday morning, I spent my time working on my next book and several magazine articles. After lunch, though, I spent several hours working in our woodlot, using my chainsaw and splitting maul.

There is something wonderful and satisfying about hard physical labor that is difficult to describe. Several years ago, a huge limb fell from a dead chestnut oak in the hollow directly behind our house.  For the past two winters, I have worked on this log, as it is exceptionally thick and hard to saw. Yesterday, I finally finished cutting and splitting it. The wood from the log now sits on our sundeck and burns in our stove.

When not using our wood stove, Elaine and I keep our thermostat set to 68 degrees. But Elaine loves for me to start up our wood stove on weekends because she says the heat "is warmer." She's right, it does seem to be. This afternoon, I need to work on a pignut hickory that fell close to the driveway last week, and then there's that long dead black locust that lies on the ground. Both need my attention.

Rhode Island Reds See Their Snow (Blog 369)

Elaine and I have two flocks of heritage Rhode Island Reds living side by side in separate enclosures. We call the older chickens the "Big Reds" and the younger ones, the "Little Reds." This morning, the Little Reds experienced their first snow, and their leader, Don Junior, an eight-month-old cockerel, stuck his head out the henhouse door, saw the snow, emitted an alarm note, and promptly announced to his flock in chicken speak that it was not safe to go outside. Approximately, a half inch of snow had fallen overnight.

Of course, next door, Don Senior resolutely led his flock outside and began to do what chickens do best... eating. Meanwhile, I had to lure Don Junior, who so far has not taken after his father in bravery and leadership skills, out of the house by dangling bread bits a few inches in front of him. Once Don Junior was down on the ground, I had to physically remove the rest of the flock to join in.

Last winter, when snow fell one weekend, the younger flock stayed inside for several days, and a mite outbreak took place.  I don't know if that was because they remained inside for several days, but I am going to try to make sure that an infestation does not occur this winter. One way to do that is to make sure our flock spends time foraging - not cowering inside.

Sitting Out the Last Day of Virginia's General Firearms Season (Blog 368)

Today here in Botetourt County, it is the last day of Virginia's general firearms season West of the Blue Ridge. Here I am working on a magazine article and my next Young Adult fiction novel. Elaine's and my freezer is almost full, and I wouldn't mind taking one more doe, but, honestly, I am looking forward to the late muzzleloader season.

I love that season and that time of the year. The weather is usually cold, sometimes, like last year, there is snow on the ground the last week of the season, which is the first week of January. Trudging through the snow, searching for deer sign, trying to dress warmly enough so that I can sit still for hours - it's all so challenging and exhilarating.

Quite frankly, most years I don't kill a deer during the late season, so my success rate is rather pathetic.  In fact, last year during the six antlerless days in Botetourt County, I never saw a doe, just four or five non-shooter young bucks. But during Virginia's late season, just being out in the woods is a good enough reason to be there.

Thanksgiving Eve with the Family (Blog 367)

Elaine and I usually celebrate Thanksgiving Eve at our house with our daughter Sarah, her husband David, and their children Sam and Eli. And so it was last night. The only person missing was our son Mark who is in Alaska teaching.

Elaine fixed a scrumptious venison vegetable soup, made from a deer I had killed and for dessert we had crabapple muffins from our Dolgo crabapple tree. After dinner, we called Mark and visited with him for a while. It was a really good evening.

Virginia Bucks in the Morning, Does in the Evening (Blog 366)

Sunday morning, I went deer hunting on one of our properties in Craig County. I set up high on a ridge where I could overlook a feeding flat below, a place I have killed a number of deer over the years. With the general firearms season in and my being afield with a rifle, I was looking to kill a nice doe or a mature buck.

However, I never saw a doe all morning, though I did see four young bucks, drifting through the area and periodically fighting with each other. The sightings were extremely exciting because at one point, I had bucks around me for almost an hour.

That evening, I went hunting on our land in the Eagle Rock area of Botetourt County. I had never hunted the property before, just having bought it last year.  So I arrived at 2:00, set up by 2:15 and killed a doe by 2:30. I think I will hunt this property more in the future.

Virginia Muzzleloader Season Success (Blog 365)

After not being able to hunt Monday through Wednesday of the first week of Virginia's muzzleloader season, I finally was able to plan an after school hunt in Roanoke County. I drove quickly from school to the Roanoke County food plot that was my destination and about 90 seconds after I set up, the deer began filing into the plot.

First came a two pointer, then a nice  2 1/2-year-old six pointer, then another two pointer, and finally a doe. I watched the doe for about two minutes, then she moved slightly and I was able to make an easy 35-yard shot.

Saturday, I am heading for West Virginia to turkey hunt in the Jefferson National Forest in Monroe County. We'll see how that goes.

No luck on Opening Weekend of Virginia's Muzzleloading Season (Blog 364)

I was very confident that I would kill a deer on opening weekend of Virginia's muzzleloading season. I had chosen to hunt a food plot in Roanoke County so that I could kill a doe, given that every day in Roanoke is antlerless during the smokepole season.

However, the action was slow Saturday morning, and the evening was even slower. I saw a non-shooter six pointer but that was about it. A doe came near my blind but it spotted me in the blind...which is the last time I won't have a face mask on.  Sunday was even slower as I saw no deer all morning and when around 9:45, a youngster on a an ATV started driving up and down a nearby road, I decided it was time to go home.

I was hoping to go Tuesday morning because we have a school workday beginning at noon, but the forecast is for heavy rain...so I guess I will just have to wait a while.

Success on Opening Day of Virginia's Fall Turkey Season (Blog 363)

What an incredible morning on opening day of Virginia's fall turkey season. I had three flocks within 100 yards of me at dawn - too many it seems for me to decide what to do, which caused me to sit tight for several hours. That indecision caused me to wait several hours with the result being that all three flocks left for who knows where.

But one I started moving about, I encountered a flock of birds and ended up taking a hen from it. It is always a thrill to kill a turkey on opening day of the autumn season.

Turkeys and Deer All Around Me in Virginia Woods (Blog 362)

Saturday morning I went to a Botetourt County, Virginia cattle farm to bowhunt, and what a morning it was.  I saw nothing but squirrels until 8:45 when two yearling bucks and a flock of eight turkeys showed up the same time and came within 20 to 30 yards of my hang-on stand.

I was not interested in shooting either of the bucks (a 5 pointer and a 2 pointer), but I very much wanted to try to arrow a turkey. But there was just too many eyes on me.  Once, I started to raise my bow, but one of the turkeys spotted that little bit of movement, which resulted in all of them moving off to about 40 yards away.

Meanwhile, the 5 pointer stalked back and forth in front of me, just 10 yards away. He apparently sensed that something was not right about the area, but he wasn't quite sure just what. Finally, he and the smaller buck followed the turkeys up the mountain.

Who knows what I will see when I go to a different cattle farm this evening.

First Rutting Activity in Virginia Woods (Blog 361)

Sunday morning while bowhunting in Craig County, I witnessed my first rutting activity of this autumn. I watched a  2 1/2-year-old six pointer stroll up a mountain on a logging road. But when he reached a fork in the road, he was met by a 3 1/2-year-old eight pointer that was not pleased with the appearance.

The eight made an aggressive move on the six, then made a scrape on the road. The six pointer decided that the best thing to do was back off about 15 yards. The budding skirmish settled fairly amicably, the two then proceeded to walk up the mountain, the six pointer following discretely behind.

About half hour later, I arrowed a deer and was home for lunch, so it was a good morning.

Canning Venison and Peeling Crabapples (Blog 360)

Today was opening day of Virginia's archery season, and I was fortunate enough to kill a deer on land we own in Craig County. On the drive home, I pulled over and called Elaine and asked if this deer was the one she might want to can. Earlier, Elaine had talked about canning one of the deer I killed this year.

My wife said yes and after I finished removing the meat from the whitetail, and she finished cutting the meat up and placing it in a cooler (Elaine prefer to chill the meat overnight and work it up the next day), we planned out our Sunday. After we finish canning the venison, we will cut up the crabapples I gathered today, and we will make a cobbler.

If we still feel ambitious after those two acts, Elaine says we may make applesauce from some Jonathan apples. I really enjoy talking with her while we do those type things. It's a great way to spend a day together.

Deer Hunting in Virginia and West Virginia (Blog 359)

Last week, I struggled to see deer all week. This week, perhaps because the weather turned colder, sightings - and success - improved.  Thursday, I hunted after school in Roanoke County and killed a deer  during the Urban Archery season.  Then this morning, I drove to Monroe County, West Virginia and killed a nice, mature doe in the morning on that state's bow opening day. Two 25-minute hunts back to back.

I am pondering whether to go Sunday morning to Roanoke County again, but I may sleep in, too. I will check the wind in the morning and see what that is like before making a final decision.

Seeing the Same Young Four Pointer (Blog 358)

The last two Saturdays I have seen a fair number of deer, but the only whitetail that has presented a shot is a young four pointer that has shown up at the same time to my tree stand both mornings.  Of course, not only are bucks not legal this time of year in Roanoke County or in Virginia's Urban Archery season as a whole, this buck would be too small to shoot anyway.

The young buck appears to be feeling fairly good about himself, as he successfully head butted a button buck this morning. The latter seemed very intimidated, so Mr. Four Pointer definitely won that round.  From the looks of a rub near my stand, he may have a day of reckoning in the future.

Hawk Attacks Chicken Runs (Blog 357)

Elaine and I are often fascinated with the  behavior of our heritage Rhode Island Reds, and such was the case again a few days ago.  Late in the afternoon, I heard Don, our lone rooster, sound the alarm note, so I rushed outside to see what had happened.

I saw Don "high stepping" around in his run, and in the adjacent run, I observed that Mary and her two 14-week old pullets and cockerel, Don, Jr., had all run into their hen house.  Then I saw what looked like a Cooper's hawk fly away and Don let out another alarm note.

A good rooster, and Don is probably the best one we've ever had, will constantly be on guard and will fight to protect his flock.  Of course, with the netting over our two runs, the chickens were not in any danger.  Still, Don performed his job admirably.

I was a little dismayed that his offspring, Don, Jr., was cowering in the run with the hens.  But, Elaine said that he was still a cockerel, maybe he would grow into the role of protector.

First Deer of Virginia Season (Blog 356)

I really enjoy Virginia's Urban Archery season, and the chance to start bowhunting in early September.  But my first three outings were spent either not seeing deer or having the ones I did glimpse smell me and flee.

After striking out Saturday morning, I told Elaine I wanted to give the evening a try, though we were both skeptical of any success.  But at 5:50 P.M. while afield in Roanoke County, I saw four deer walking through a backyard about 80 yards away.

One of those does appeared before me at 6:10, and upon shooting my crossbow, I heard the resounding thump of a lung shot. Elaine and I spent about three hours Saturday evening butchering the deer and will finish the task on Sunday.  She likes to let the meat set up overnight in a cooler.

It's always a thrill to kill that first deer of the season

All Camouflaged Up and Nowhere to Go (Blog 355)

It's opening day of Virginia's Urban Archery season, and I should be in a tree stand in Roanoke County right now, but it has been raining most of the night, and the precipitation is expected to continue today.

Although I am going to go bowhunting on Sunday and Monday, there is nothing quite like going afield on opening day of any season. The expectation and the planning have both come to a head, and all that remains is to head for the woods.

So what am I going to do today?  I am working on a magazine story about deer and then reading a book about deer.  Those things will have to do on a rainy Saturday.