A Glimmer of Light

This stealth camera, shown here being installed by Rick Baker was stolen. Several days later, another camera , owned by Lynn Hewey, was stolen. In the latter case, the tree was cut down, in order to remove the locked camera. These personal cameras were being used to evaluate how much the forage was eaten on the plots. It was discouraging to all of us who are trying to do some good for our wildlife.

When Jared Austin heard about this misfortune, he contacted Stealth.cam. This company stepped up to plate and donated a camera to the club. They also gave Rick and Lyn a large discount to replace their cameras. Such kindness helped those of us who were deeply disillusioned by this act. I hope you will consider Stealth.cam if you buy a game camera in the future.

Third Apple Tree Release Clinic

With just a mid-week crew of five, we exceeded our goals. Not only did we get the clean-up done, with two wildmen (Bob Booker and Chick Hembrow) bearing chainsaws, we released an extra seven apple trees, and fertilized the ones from last cutting. This means that we have released 24 apple trees that will provide cover (from the accumulated brush piles) and nourishment to countless animal and bird species. This is all from 3 occasions with 6 hours of labor.
Below you see Bob Booker ( in green plaid) and Andy Chabot, both over 80 years old clearing and piling limbs. Remarkable. Need I say more?

Andy Chabot, in red plain jacket, a Trac Club member, drove all the way from Saco, to help with this project. Thanks Andy for your dedication.

(Below) Mary Henbrow and Chuck really going to it!

Last cutting will be October 31, Sunday from 1:00 - 3:00. Call Marcia at 864-3351 if you would like to help.

Helping Wildlife on your Property

Two new books for RRG & SA members will be available at the Club House for lending. You may check them out at meeting time and keep it until next meeting. See Elaine Holcum or Marcia Baker.

The book "Grow 'Em Right" by Neil and Dougherty, talks about simple Timber Stand Improvement (TSI), that only requires your time and some tools. They claim that the chainsaw is the deer's best friend. It also takes into account issues planting plots in northern timberland like ours.

Quality Food Plots, zeros in on planting food plots on your property. The authors, Kammermeyer, Miller and Thomas, distinquish between climates. It also gives a run-down on every kind of seed you are considering. Both books do recommend commercial seed-mixes although they are more expensive, compared to using The Rangeley Mix, our Association designed. Both books talk about seeding logging roads or power lines.

You can just buy a few seed packets of turnips, plant them in the spring, and that will be the best way to provide food to deer up until January. The deer only start eating turnips after frost-time when a chemical reaction triggers an attraction. (As always we recommend liming or ash to sweeten the soil). Their stems remain upright even under the snow. Turnip , and other brassicas like it, are the only nutritious plant family that endures our climate. Otherwise, we have to hope that food plots will fatten up the deer enough to carry them until the spring.

The photo below shows Andy Nagle checking out his scattered food plots. In this case, he used clover which is an excellent perennial that will last for two or three years. Here he is checking out how they grew during the summer. Like Andy, start small and experiment.

At the next RRG & SA meeting, on Oct 21, we are happy to have Chuck Hulsey, deer biologist, talk about the new partnership of large and small landowners in managing winter deeryards. I hope you can be there