Deer and Wildlife Forage Project

Call to Action: Educating Landowners for Deer Habitat

2012-01-29T11:31:00.001-08:00

Another Way You Can Help the Deer Herd

2012-01-29T11:22:00.001-08:00

This is a letter from IF&W to Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen's Assoc. requesting donations to supplement the income of 3 consultant to educate small landowners to improve the deer habitat in their backyard. You can help too by sending a donation to "Call to Action" John Pratt, Wildlife

Management, State of Maine, IF & W., Augusta. This letter will be going out to citizens like you.

Good Morning Outdoor Partners,

As you know, the deer population in northern and eastern Maine has been a hot topic among the hunting and wildlife viewing community and IF&W has been working with our outdoor partners on several projects to address these concerns. This winter, these initiatives will be culminating into a cohesive package that will require the strong support of all our outdoor partners to be successful.

Today I wish to call your attention to one specific initiative: Helping Small Landowners Manage Habitat for Deer and Other Wildlife.

This project will bridge a critical gap in deer yard management. IF&W has worked with large landowners for decades while attempts with small landowners were largely unsuccessful for a variety of reasons. We are a step away from changing that.

This venture will help solidify the partnership between sportsmen, the general public, IFW, businesses, foresters, and landowners by working together to bring needed assistance to those providing a basic but critical requirement for deer; their winter habitat. We have seen a trend over the last decade of deer using nontraditional winter habitat such as more urban areas, partly in response to increased winter feeding.

Just as deer habits have changed, we too must change our approach.

Our outdoor partners have recommended this project as one of several priorities and IFW secured a federal grant to fund three part-time positions for the next 12 months. We need $30,000 in local match over the duration of the project. $8,000 will allow this project to begin and continue for the first quarter will the balance is raised.

Each of the three consultants will work ~25 hrs/wk on this project through the end of December, 2012. There will be three phases for their work plan;

Develop outreach materials for several habitat components (materials will be distributed to and used by landowners, sportsmen, clubs, homeowners NRCS staff, IFW staff, businesses, foresters),
1. food plots/herbaceous seeding with the goal of providing high protein forage in late fall and early spring
2. apple tree releasing/maintenance
3. deer yard management guidelines
Prioritize landowners for making contact in two ways (supplemented with press releases, local news spots and directly reaching out to other organization and clubs);
1. General mailing to small landowners inquiring if they have wintering deer and would be interested in managing the habitat.
2. Using our GIS software to overlay ownership with deer yard information to specifically target priority landowners.
Respond to landowner contacts to evaluate their options, help them develop management plans and then connecting them with appropriate cost sharing opportunities and/or help with implementation.

Over the last year we have done a test pilot in Aroostook County with some of these items and now have the opportunity to expand to much of Aroostook, Penobscot and Washington Counties. As I mentioned earlier, there are several initiatives that are interconnected. While each one has a specific goal, the overall sequence and appropriate implementation of each will amplify our efforts.

The Department and sportsmen and women of our state now have an excellent opportunity to demonstrate our support of the many Maine landowners that provide recreational opportunities we have come to treasure. Contributing to this effort today will accomplish two important things;

Increase the quantity and quality of habitat managed for our northern deer population, and
Send the message to landowners that we support and are willing to help with their stewardship of our natural resources.

Only with the support of our outdoor partners can we implement this project and do something positive for deer and landowners across northern Maine.

I hope to hear from you soon,

John Pratte
Wildlife Management Section Supervisor

Winter Deer Feeding: Helpful or Harmful

2012-01-17T13:34:00.000-08:00

Jerry Levigne, retired deer biologist has written an article regarding the complex issue of feeding deer in the winter. For anyone who has fed the deer or is contemplating this activity, you should read this first. Please click on this link : http://www.sportsmansallianceofmaine.org/Deer_Feeding_Article.pdf

Club's deer food plots thicken | The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

2011-11-01T04:14:00.000-07:00

Club's deer food plots thicken The Portland Press Herald / Maine Sunday Telegram

This comprehensive article about our food plots came out in Portland's Sunday Telegram. Please click to read the article

Only Shoot Here with Your Camera!

2011-10-19T11:06:00.000-07:00

A visiting moose was called in by Nick Leadley a professional wildlife photographer. This was shot with his hand-held camera. On some of our plots, we can actually see moose beds. If you like what you see, google Nick on his new website Touchthewildphotos.com

I think the Club should donate Nick a pair of deer antlers, so he can learn to rattle antlers!

Please be reminded that we want all hunters to hunt away from the plots. Its the right thing to do! Only shoot with your cameras.

Signs of Wildlife Foraging

2011-10-17T06:00:00.000-07:00

We can't prove that the critters are better surviving the winter because of these plots. We can however monitor the plots for signs of usage. When the volunteers visit the plots every two weeks in the fall, they look for different signs:

We use remote cameras. (Deer photos courtesty of wildlife photographer, Nick Ledley).

We look for sign of fresh tracks.

WE USE OTHER SIGNS--VIEWER DISCRETION BE ADVISED.

Signs of browsing is observed. The bottom photos were taken from new plots this year:

Turn it Up with Turnips

2011-10-01T13:23:00.001-07:00

The first photo as on a challenging winter road planted with the modified Rangeley Mix quite late in August. With a composition of 5% turnips, the dark green is striking with their bold growth of turnip leaves. The clover will take a foot-hold next year after the turnips are gone. On Sept 31, We saw deer and moose tracks, turkey and fox scat.

The remaining photos are of a food plot planted totally with turnips. We were surprised how turnips grew since the hurricane a month ago: From a walnut size to baseball size.

The pink color on the leaves indicate a touch of frost.

Reving Up for Next Year

2011-09-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

Before and During-- not quite before and after: This new plot donated by Wagner is being prepared by RRG & SA volunteers for "Frost Seeding" when the spring snow starts to melt. It is a progess in work

Below, you see Mark Beuregard's Forestry Company delivering a load of ash. They have to donate approximately a 1/2 day to transfer the ash from Boralex's hoppers in Stratton. Boralex burns biomass to produce electricity. The left-over ash can now go back to the forest and be recylced via the Deer Forage Project. Mark Beauregard becomes another communtiy partner that makes this project the success that it is. Note that the ash is still quite hot.

Volunteers who are prepping the log landing are RRG&SA volunteers Gregg Silloway, Marilyn Brontman and Don & Marge Miller. Thank you folks for your contribution.

New Experimental Plot

2011-09-27T12:54:00.000-07:00

Wow, its so much fun this time of year to see the fruits of our labors. These are photos taken of our new experimental turnip patch taken in early September. We are trying these annuals, because they hold up so well in cold weather. In fact, deer normally don't eat the turnip tops until after the first frost. The leaves turn into a delicious-tasting carbohydrate for the deer. Sometimes it takes them awhile to learn to eat them. The leaves stand up in the snow and are accessible up to a foot of snow--I am told. Hopefully, the deer learn to paw up the bulbs which will last up until spring greening. We will keep you posted.

The deer are already hanging around, but we haven't caught them browsing yet. Thanks goes to Nick Ledley, our wildlife photographer, who is monitering wildlife use with trail cameras.

Ron Roy, our moniter now claims these turnips are 2-3 inches in diameter. Remember, just as we ask you not to hunt on our plots, we ask you not to eat the turnips.

Living on the Edge: Part II

2011-09-23T11:24:00.000-07:00

I would like to introduce my first guest writer P. Jaine Jacobs. She and her husband George Ebbinghousen recently moved to Rangeley to live full time at their previous vacation hideaway on a 40-acre lot. They developed their land for wildlife habitat, wisely cost-sharing with NRCS, a federal program. Land is managed to encourage wildlife.

In Photo One, "these brush piles were built to protect rabbits. While the rabbits can fit in the smallest spaces at and near the bottom, their larger predators, such as coyotes, cannot fit between the base logs. As the smaller brush at the t op decomposes, we will replenish it to prolong the useful lifespan of each 'bunny bolt hole.' There are three similar brush piles in a two-acre section of timber stand that has been thinned, or improved under the Program."

Next, in photos two and three

"The snag trees were created to provide habitat for woodpeckers and other wildlife. (Note the cut-mark below the W showing the girdling by a chainsaw). How the feds taught them to read the 'W' is a subject for another blog. There are four such wildlife trees in the same two-acre section. Each tree has been girdled with a chain saw so it will die standing, becoming a potential home for woodpeckers.

Our wood lot was part of the approved clear cut at the time of the spruce bud worm infestation about 30 years ago. When my husband and I bought it, it was clear to our untrained eyes that it needed some help. We have not stopped asking questions since then. Our sources have included neighbors, foresters, arborists and others who do the tree work. Other valuable resources has been the Small Woodlot Owners Association of Maine (SWOAM), officials for the WoodsWise Program, and the NRCS personnel out of Farmington 778-4767. We are both artists, pleased to be full time residents of Rangeley since 2009. You can see a sampling of our art work at www. ebbyjake.com"

Thank you Jaine for your contribution!

Like Jaine and George, please contact NRCS via internet or join SWOAM if you are interested in developing your property.

If you have a dead tree out back that is at least 3 feet thick and 6 feet high, LEAVE IT ALONE! Many amphibians, reptiles and mammals use cavities for nesting as well. At least 35 bird species in the Northeast use these snags for food and help to control unwanted insect pests. The more woodpeckers and birds, the better for our insect control. Also, decomposing logs on your property provide a source of food and lodging for critters.

What Landowners Can Do to Help Wildlife

2011-09-05T13:54:00.000-07:00

We have to live more on the edge.

A contributory factor in Western Maine's declining wildlife, is the LOSS OF EDGE. We are gradually losing our Rangeley area fields. Laws passed in the 80's discourage clear cuts by logging companies. A clear cut helps to establish new saplings and shrubs, creating forage for wildlife, including song birds. Fields are turning into forests, and well-meaning land owners are letting their property's woods mature without management. Only a small percentage of wildlife thrives in a mature forest.

Along the edges of fields grow small trees and shrubs that create "soft mast", berries, moutain ash, apple choke cherries and etc. Beech trees and Oak produce hard mast, which are picked by wildlife from the ground. Grouse, deer, bear and turkeys all compete for mast. Buds and catkins of trees and shrubs are eaten later in the fall.

Mast-producing trees and schrubs are intolerant of shade, and need sunlight. Poplar, or big-toothed aspen saplings, a popular winter food source will not flourish if shaded by mature poplar. Most wildlife need a succession of young forest to provide food sources.

The best thing a landowner can do is to identify any schrub or tree producing mast. Much of these shrubs may be on the edge of your lawn You can remove any competing tree or schrub which causes shade. Fertilizing any fruit tree can greatly enhance fruit production. There are many wild apple trees being choked out by competing forest. Rangeley once had abudant apple orchards.

You can also take a chainsaw and create small clearings in your woods. Create a new clearing every year. A chainsaw is a deer's best friend! You can also buy some "Rangeley Seed Mix" available at the River's Edge Tackle Shop and plant it on your septic tank, trails, logging roads or throw in your ditches.

Remember, its good to live on the edge.

Results of Apple Tree Release

2011-08-16T11:18:00.000-07:00

Thanks to a great volunteer crew, about 85 % of the apple trees we released are bearing fruit. Photos of these apples were taken last week. This fall, we will attempt to do some more pruning in this orchard. Get your chain saws and pruners ready!

Before and After

Winter Road Conquered

2011-08-15T06:35:00.000-07:00

BEFORE GROUND PREPARATION, HERE LIES AN UNTAMED WINTER ROAD

Seven Islands requests Jack Searles to excavate and prepare the mile long winter road for a food plot

And who is this at the Kabota helm? None other than retired minister Bill Carter. Still making the world a better place. But this time, it is for those who without a voice.

Below is Rick Baker spreading seed on the winter road. Note the seeds radiating out of the hopper. This mile long road was seeded in 1/2 hour! Thank you Rick for the many hours you put in this summer.

This is same location as the first photo: Before and After. Although you can't see it, the ash-covered soil is dragged to aereate it and the seed has been laid.

Ash Spreading on Woody Hill Plots

2011-08-07T09:34:00.000-07:00

Thanks to the 5 Volunteers who helped spread
ash on August 1, 2001. You can't see them but Dave Borman, on Kabota, is dumping ash to Ron Ray's dump truck (Cupsuptic Fabrication).

The ash being transferred to another plot
around the corner
Here you see Dave Borman, Kabota owner, Oquossoc, delicately spreading
the ash across the plot.

Next, Rick Baker drags the ash to evenly distribute it. Just to remind you, ash sweetens and fertilizes the soil, which enables our specially designed seed mix to grow into high-protein forage. Deer and wildlife needs this to fatten up for our sever winters.

Then rakers, Tom Nagel and Albert Ladd,

rake the ash into any empty spots. After that, its seeded. If it wasn't for our volunteers, this project would be nowhere.

M & H Becomes a Major Partner

2011-07-31T11:32:00.001-07:00

We had new challenges this second season. M & H stepped up to the plate in many ways. They donated time and equipment to "scrape off" the debris and unwanted vegetation to prepare the plots for seeding.

M & H Construction drove their bulldossers along challenging gravel roads to prepare these remote plots.

M & H also used their trucks to stand for hours, allowing the ash to slowly fill from Boralex's hoppers. This clean woodash created from biomass was then trucked and dumped to the new food plots. Thanks to Maine Environmental, part of this job was financed. Maine Environmental, a eastern Maine environmental waste company that specializes in beneficial reuse helped facilitate this new relationship.

On the right photograph, is Shannon Giles, from Maine Environmental in Herman, Maine who is helping M&H truck driver to get ready to dump the ash.

Whata Drag!!!

2011-07-31T10:59:00.000-07:00

For the second season of the Logging Company Partnership, we have purchased and/or created new devices to meet the demand of north woods wildlife gardening. The magazines don't talk much about deer plots in such rugged inhospitable terrain here in Western Maine.

Rick Baker has designed a 400 pound drag that aerates and smooths the soil before seeding. Thanks to M&H Trucking, who donated these rusty skidder chains, this improvised dragger really does the trick.

We have purchased a new ATV-driven seed spreader and invite any land-owner to buy a share in it. That way we can start a cooperative to develop the habitat on private lands. This spreader has saved lots of man labor in getting the seed on Seven Islands' winter road. This year we have tweeked our seed mix by adding a small portion of forage turnip. Once frost occurs, the leaves are changed from protein to carbohydrate which will help fatten the deer up for their winter endurance.

The Spreader has an adjustable rate of spreading

I bet you are wondering how can 2 people manage a 400 pound drag. . . .

This seeding job only took 2 and 1/2 hours.

Did It Work?

2011-06-12T13:59:00.000-07:00

On June 6th, 2011, we walked Two Mile Plot, and were amazed by the lush carpet of clover. This mix works superb for erosion too. Notice the deer tracks. There is no doubt that the forage mix and wood ash are successful to provide forage.

Deer Habitat Workshop for Landowners or A chainsaw is the Deer's Best Friend

2011-01-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

Did you know that, without the small land-owners help, the deer herd is not expected to reach normal levels in 30 years! If we, as land-owners get busy, maybe we can acheive l980 levels in 10 years!!! If you are a land-owner, and enjoy the presence of deer, than you can't afford to miss this workshop.

Rangeley Region Guides & Sportsmen's Club is proud to host a free workshop for members and the public on managing own's property to enhance deer sustainability. On Saturday, March 12, 8:30-12:00, this workshop is designed for the Upper Kennebec Valley chapter of SWOAM. What is SWOAM? It is an organization of small Maine land-owners meant to teach the owner management techniques of forest sustainability. It also educates about tax breaks, provides informative newsletters, easements and profit-making.

Anyone is invited to attend this Saturday workshop at the Oquossoc Clubhouse. Coffee and cookies available at the Clubhouse 8:30, followed by a 9:00 talk on deer ecology and timber management techniques with IF+W Biologists Chuck Hulsey and Bob Cordes. The participants will then tour the work the Rangeley Lakes Heritage Trust folks have done to increase deer habitat on Trust land. This is a great workshop for those who would love a little more guidance on how to manage their land to encourage deer, or those just interested in deer ecology. Foresters will also be hand to discuss spruce/fir management relative to deer habitat.

Please dress for the weather and bring showshoes if you have them. The outside portion will involve a short walk. This workshop is sponsored by the SWOAM, the Rangeley Region Guides and Sportsmen’s Association, IF+W, and the Maine Forest Service.

Directions: Once in Oquossoc , Continuing West on Highway 4, turn left at the 2nd intersection past the Oquossoc Post Office. Drive 2 blocks and you will see the Club House on the right.

Any questions, contact Marcia at 864-3351 marciambaker@hotmail.com or Patty Cormier at 592-2238 , patty.cormier@maine.gov.

Experts Give Projects a Visit

2010-12-04T06:51:00.000-08:00

This fall, both projects, Apple Tree Release and Food Plots received much attention. One of our active volunteers, Andy Nagle accompanied Steve Goodwin, Dean of U. Mass. Dept of Agriculture and Natural Science. Dean Goodwin was especially interested in our Apple Tree Release Program, and has offered any help. Thanks to his department, we have learned that the Quimby Pond apple trees are called "winter banana". The ones we ate, were surprising sweet and delicious for stressed trees. We have now completed the first phase of clearing more sunlight for 34 apple trees. We await another consulting visit from Steve's colleague in the spring, to determine if the larger competing trees should be professionally removed.

Bob Cordes, deer biologist from IF & W,, has made two trips to our Rangeley plots. He was impressed how much deer and moose use the Cross-Town plots. He felt that the clover is solidly established and will produce adequately the next few years. He recommended we replant with the annuals, buckwheat and oats to help the does produce strong offspring this early summer. He thought over-planting forage turnip along the periphery next year would help the deer's winter endurance. On a second trip, he visited the Flat Iron Plot, and confirmed late-season deer usuage, as the deer migrate through this area on the way into Oqoussoc. Planting the annuals, Turnip and buckwheat will be considered here as well. The control plot did fairly well, probably germinating 30% because its soil ph was pretty good to start with. Bob, you will recall, was the biologist that helped Marcia to design the Rangeley Seed Mix. In the picture, he is looking at some of the ryegrass, and pleased with the obvious success of the plots. We are lucky to have such close access to the expertise Bob Cordess and Chuck Hulsey.

Bob and his little girl, Madison, accompanied Marcia, Ron Ray and Kent Cummings to visit some new potential plots for next year.
Bob agreed with Ron Ray, Guide and Moniter, that these plots met all the criteria: south-facing, along the winter deer corrider, good drainage and good cover. Ash will again be used. This location will be proposed to Seven Islands.

Our visitor, Andy Weik, grouse biologist from Ruffed Grouse Society gave us a very educational presentation on managing grouse and woodcock habitat. This can be done maintaining habitats of various ages. Ruffed grouse are most common in patches that are covered by trees 5-15 years old. The land-owner should strive to maintain forest of different ages. Harvesting a 5-10 acre every 10 years easily provides a mix of age classes. So folks, remember that small clear-cuts are the best thing we can do for all our wildlife. Another excellent technique is cutting down strips of alder to give woodcock more access to earthworms, their main food source. A chainsaw is the best friend of most wildlife.

While touring our plots, Andy recommended cutting a few narrow corriders entering the plots. This would better serve woodcock and other wildlife. He also discovered that rabbits have been browsing the plots that had good cover. Prior to his presentation, Andy also got a chance to hunt grouse with Rick Baker.

If any of you are interested in learning more, please join the Ruffed Grouse Society 888-564-6747. The quarterly magazine is really excellent.

CHAIN SAW MASSACRE?!

2010-11-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

No, you aren't a witness to a gruesome murder. Instead, you see Michael Warren (red checked coat) clearing an outlying apple tree. Despite inclement weather, Oct 29th was our last clinic of the year.

Gino Nali and Michael W. team up.

To your left are the dynamic couple Kevin and Doreen Sinnett. Below is our own Marilyn Bronton slinging brush.

Below: Gino Nali trimming with Sheri Oldham, (lt. green jacket) who has traded in her former surgeon's gown for Kevlar chaps. I wonder if she makes precision cuts with that chain saw.

All in all, we have released a total of 34 apple trees, ending the first phase of this location. I keep on getting asked, "What's being released?" LIGHT. We are clearing around the trees, so that the crowns can be exposed to more sunlight.

A Glimmer of Light

2010-10-16T08:24:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-16T07:43:00.000-07:00

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

2010-10-16T06:58:00.000-07:00

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

Another Dent in the Apple Tree Project

2010-09-30T07:54:00.000-07:00

On Sept 26, four brave souls endured the drizzle to once again work on the apple tree orchard that is being choked out by mature forest.

To your left is Sam Spaulding, professional forester, downing the nearby trees so that the apple trees will be exposed to more light. Sunlight is the most important thing to restore these trees. You will note an apple tree trunk to the left of the picture with its own identifying tag.

Gino Nalli is using a specialized chainsaw that can saw off the dead wood in no time.

Gary Languille, who hails from Cape Cod, also fell many trees.

Because of such a small work party, we will have to reschedule to delimb and clean up. We also will be fertilizing the trees.

Mark your calendar. Next tentative date will be October 13, at 1:00 in the Quimby Pond area. Call marcia for directions. Bring your shears and pruners.

Thank you fellas for helping to make a difference.

Update on Progress

2010-09-26T03:24:00.000-07:00

On the photo to your left, is Marcia Baker, Chairman of the project, checking out the dented and bashed enclosure, probably a moose in rut. Although you can't see it, the enclosure was beaten into an hour-glass shape. We were able to restore it somewhat, although the moose was able to get his snout underneath and munch on the "forbidden fruit".

The photos below you show "before and after" photos of our most successful plot. In this first photo you see the buckwheat abundant outside the closure. The whole field appeared white from the abundant blossom.
Then the moose and deer discovered it.

Elaine Holcum, who moniters this plot is studying the untouched growth in the enclosure on Sept. 24. In the background, the field appears mowed, as all the buckwheat and oats are leveled to the ground. Clover hasn't been touched much, as it is only an inch high. The deer and moose have barely discovered the plot on Flat Iron Road though. Each plot has its own personality. Anvil Rock and Half Moon show signs of browsing on the periphery.

This field appears mowed, without any buckwheat blossom left! It is just as well, as a frost this week has killed most of the buckwheat.

Sadly, two stealth cameras, owned by volunteers were stolen from different plots last week. A tree was cut done in order to remove one camera which had a lockbox. This tool was a very valuable part of evaluating the usuage of the plot.

What We Have Been Waiting For. . .

2010-08-26T16:43:00.001-07:00

In this photo you see our first buck grazing on our seedlings .

These photos were taken from Lyn Hewey's game camera on Two Mile Plot.

All in all, after a week, Lyn saw photos of two bucks, a doe and fawn and a couple of moose.

Quite a bit of night-time browsing.

Thank you Lyn for this great contribution to our project!

We also saw Bear sign at Flat Iron Road Site, but the photo is too distasteful to show!

A Funny Kind of a Deer Repellent

2010-08-26T13:16:00.000-07:00

What do you mean--a deer repellent? These "feeding enclosures" you see in the photos, keep the deer from eating inside of the wired enclosure. If the seedlings inside are taller and more robust than the growth outside, we hope it means that the deer and wildlife are feeding on the plants outside of the enclosure. This will be one measurement of wildlife usage.

Meet Ron Roy, Maine Guide, who has volunteered to make 8 of these enclosures for our plots.

You need approximateley a 4 ft. diameter of enclosed chicken wire secured by 3 or 4 six-foot rebars. Ron even designed a special tool to pound the rebars into the rocky ground.

In the above photo, Ron is securing the wire to the rebar with zip ties.

Manley Harriman and Belinda Mansfield, volunteer moniters, are installing thir enclosure on their adopted plot. These volunteers will check the plots every two weeks and take other measurements. They will measure how much the plants have grown, and observe any tracks and droppings of wildlife. Weather will also be noted. By keeping good records, we can figure out what worked and what didn't. Elaine Holcum has also volunteered to be a moniter.

IT'S GREEN !!!

2010-08-16T13:16:00.000-07:00

Two Mile Plot is thriving after 10 days of growth.
In the photo above, the bow-tie shape is buckwheat, blue-green blades are oats, green blades, rye grass, and small dots, clover and timothy.
There is ample sign of deer and moose.

We are now entering the Moniter Phase of this project.

Above are seedlings at 8 days after planting on Seven Island's Flat Iron Road. Most of the time the seedlings are growing spotty--mostly flourishing in shady areas, and damp recesses. There is sparse growth on hard, sunny soil. We are noticing that the seedlings do better on the ash, as long as it is not too overly concentrated.

These seedlings are growing at 21 days on rugged Anvil Rock Site on Wagner Land. Marcia Baker, Chair of the project is scrutinizing the growth trends.

Guard dog Gretta checking out the seedlings on Anvil Rock Site.

We are noticing deer tracks of different age groups. The deer and moose like to hang around in thick concentrations of ash. Does anyone have an explanation for that?

Rangeley Seed Mix shows Spectacular Results

2010-08-07T04:30:00.000-07:00

Don't get too excited, our food plots haven't grown that much yet. But this is what we hope it will look like.

This yield of Rangeley Seed Mix was grown in a private plot by George Poland. He sent this picture by cell phone, so it is a blurred at this size. We identified the white flowers as buckwheat and he says he recognizes the oats and the two clovers . He tells me that the deer are constantly feeding in it, and it is now thigh-high!

Great job George!

Stardate 8/5/10: Conquering Flat Iron Road

2010-08-06T14:25:00.000-07:00

This site challenged our standard way of spreading the ash. Because of heavy rain, the ground was too wet and soft to hold the Kabota.

You recall, a couple weeks back, dump trucks hauling the ash got mired in the mud and we had no choice but to wait for a dry spell of weather. It was too risky to bring in the Kabota. So M& H Trucking was called in and assessed the situation. They volunteered this handy "little" Bobcat that hauled and leveled out 9 tons of ash in an hour and a half!

THANK YOU M & H TRUCKING!!!

From our "inventory" of drags, we attached an old dog kennel gate to the back of Rick and Marcia Baker's ATV to ruff up the top soil for seeding.

Left to right is Tom Clough, Marcia Baker, Manley Harriman and Rick Baker discussing this new system.

Here you see Bakers' dog Mickey assisting Marcia Baker at the ATV helm. This drag was donated by Michael Warren, and it worked terrific on this site.

Special thanks to Belinda Harriman for her photography of the event.

Left to Right: Marcia Baker (driving the ATV), Rick Baker, Manley Harriman , and Tom Clough seeding. Dog guards Mickey Finn and Gretta.

August 3, Signs of Life!

2010-08-04T13:51:00.001-07:00

After one rainless week after planting, a few seedlings are popping up on Anvil Rock Site.

Stardate Aug 3: Two more plots of Wagner's Completed!

2010-08-04T12:45:00.000-07:00

After a week of no rain, we went to work to seed Wagner's Two Mile Plot. In our case, rain is a very good thing. To the right is Rick Baker getting the markers out to make lanes, for the volunteers to follow while seeding.

In this photo Reggie Cyr is trying the cyclone seeder for the first time. Left to right: Reggie Cyr, Rick Baker, Gregg Silloway and Tom Clough

Gregg Silloway joins the team for seeding. Below, you see Rick Baker dragging the seed bed with a l0w-tech rake behind his ATV.

This worked suprisingly well. So now we have an inventory of two rakes for different terrains: the disposable christmas tree and an old dog kennel doorgate donated by Micheal Warren.

After completing Two Mile plot, Rick & Marcia Baker, and Tom Clough seeded the control plot called the Tower site (not shown). This latter plot, of course, does not have ash spread on it, but it will be compared to the results of Two Mile.

Thanks to Gregg Silloway, Reggie Cyr and Tom Clough, who did a perfect job cranking their seed spreaders.

July 28, Ash Spread on Wagner's Second plot, Two Mile Site

2010-07-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

In this first photo, ash is being carried from the large pile of ash in the background
shadows.

Dave Borman evenly spreads the proportions through out the field. Don't ask me how he can get it so evenly covered!

A formula is determined how much ash needs to cover the soil to reach a ph of 6. This number is needed to grow the grains and legumes that are being seeded.

This week has been super busy getting Wagner's plots ready for seeding. Dave Borman, Club board member, and his trusty mascot, "The Kabota", spread the nine tons of ash over an acre. You can note from the photos how he finesses the ash as it falls out of his shovel! Thanks goes to the volunteers who assisted Dave: Reggie and Sheila Cyr, and Lyn Hewey with canine companion Corey. Rick Baker in his ATV, not seen here, dragged the spread ash so that it mixed in the ground. Now all we need is some rain!

Reggie and Sheila Cyr sitting shotgun

Lyn Hewey, Board Member and companion Corey.

A Technique for soil preparation on a Private Land-Owners Plot

2010-07-27T17:45:00.000-07:00

This photo of Tower Site was taken in late May. Full of boulders and weeds, but it has great potential nontheless.

It will be the "control site", the results of which will be compared to Two Mile Site. The sites will be seeded the same day, but Tower Site will not have any ash. It would be mission impossible to clear this site with bull-dozing.

So another technique to to get rid of competing weeds is to spray with Round-up, a green product. It is not toxic and is a plant enzyme. It kills any plant that is sprayed, but is safe for humans and wildlife. It does not remain in the soil.

This is an ideal technique for the private land owner who has a clearing in their woods or an old field.

Notice how tall the grass is here.

Here you see Tom Clough and Marc ia Baker preparing this 40 x 60 foot site,

by spraying. It took less than an hour.

Spraying should be done in 60 degree weather, and you wait a week before seeding.

See my earlier entry about our specialized seed mix. There is detailed information about Round-Up, and ways to prepare your soil before seeding.

Stardate July 25 2010: First Food Plot Completed

2010-07-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

Our first food plot successfully seeded and ashed. It only took 15 minutes for our seeders to get the seed spread on these hand-cranked cyclone spreaders.

Here you see our seeders parceling out the seeds in their special lanes.

Anvil Rock Site, the most challenging site for us. Because of all the rain, The site was left with many rain-soaked ruts. Before seeding, Marge Miller, Micheal Warren and Tom Nagel smoothed out the surface and fine-tuned the ash spread.

With the help of Rick Baker measuring out the correct amout of seed, Tom Clough gets his allotment to seed his lane . Although it only took a few minutes to seed, beforehand, Rick and Marcia Baker calculated out the t formula for spreading the correct amount of seed. In addition, lanes were marked ahead of time for the seeders to follow. Could a fifth grader figure this out?

Not shown here were the goodies eaten by the workers Tom Clough, Micheal Warren, Rick and Marcia Baker, Jack Nutile,Tom Nagel and Marge Miller. Thank you Marge and Claire Chase for donating the goodies.

Stardate: July 15 Murphy's Law Takes Effect on Second Site

2010-07-18T08:10:00.000-07:00

Murphy's Law: Everything that could happen, did happen!

Flat Iron Rd. Site seemed innocent enough. We thought it would by far be easiest to spread the ash. Afterall, it was a flat road. But Mother Nature had other plans for us.

This site presents different challenges, as we needed to haul ash from the main pile up the long road. (The tractor trailor could not enter this site )

Dave Borman, is transferring ash to Ron Ray's One ton dumptruck. Ron, a Club volunteer, owns Cupsuptic Welding Fabrication.

While there was a four delay waiting for the part to be installed in the Kabota, we had lots of rain, which totally saturated this site. To add insult to injury, it started to rain, just as we got started with our first truck load of ash to be dumped on the road. Dave Borman and Rick Baker spent all morning hammering and bending a part to fit into the disabled Kabota. There was no cell-phone signal to alert the crew that the Kabot would be three hours late.

Meanwhile, the volunteer work crew: Corey Baker, Sherry Oldham, Dick Moore, Reggie Cyr and Marcia Baker awaited the arrival of the "alusive Kabota". Meanwhile, one of the dump-truck owners, Corey Baker, of CP Transport, after waiting for 3 hours, had to depart thereby leaving only one truck to transport the ash across a very wet water bar at the entrance of the road.

Thank you Corey!

In this photo, Ron Ray studies his dump truck that is stuck to the gills on the first delivery up the road.

These are the next photos of the team trying to pull out Ron's truck. The chain broke once, so Marcia had to drive back to Ron's house to pick up a sturdier set of chains.

All in all, Ron got stuck two more times trying to retreat back to the staging area. In fact, Dave's trusty Kabota towed him back to drier territory. Ron had a great attitude about this fiasco.

At present, this site is on hold. The team must decide whether to wait until the road site dries and it is passable, or move the ash to another site.

I would like to thank all the volunteers for patiently waiting. A special thanks to Dave Borman with his assistant Rick Baker, of whom had the added burden of having to order and pick up a part, and spend all morning under a machine installing that stubborn part-- with the pressure of knowing that uninformed volunteers are waiting.

Stardate: July 12, 2010. . .whose mission is to go where no man has gone before.

2010-07-18T04:26:00.000-07:00

Anvil Rock Plot was the first location to tackle. The day the ash arrived, a team of volunteers met to help Dave Borman spread the ash with his trusty Kabota. Although we had 9 volunteers, Dave expertly spread the ash without the help of manual raking.

It took Dave two hours to spread and mix ash, a pesky log tore out the transmission/hydraulic line of the Kabota. The replacement of this part caused quite a delay in completing the ash-spread to the other plots. A part had to be flown in from Ohio, and picked up by Rick Baker in Dixfield, to finally get Kabota fixed 4 days later.

The volunteers you see are Marcia Baker (project Chair), Dave Borman , Kabota owner and operator, Dick Moore, Lyn Hewey, Tom Nagle, and Rick Baker. Other volunteers (not shown) were Jean and Jack Nutile, Ed and Zenna Innes, and Reggie and wife Cyr. Cyr. The person fine tuning the spread ash is Dick Moore.

Here you see Anvil Rock Plot covered with ash. The

ash appears black, but it will slowly cool to light grey.

Because this plot was spread so smoothly we felt that the next two plots would be a piece of cake.

Ash-Delivery July 12 for Soil Preparation of Plots

2010-07-17T13:04:00.000-07:00

On July 12, Our 30 tons of ash arrived. Here you see this truck preparing to dump 9 tons of wood ash on Wagner's Anvil Rock site. Notice that the ash is still steaming!

This tractor-trailor truck carrying 30 tons of still-warm steaming ash, made it up all the logging roads to deliver the seperate loads to our three designated cleared areas at Wagner and Seven Islands Logging Companies.

It took 22 hours for Boralex Energy to fill the truck , and then cart it here to Rangeley! The truck is so big, it has a conveyor-like floor that moves the ash out and onto the ground.

This barren logging site, called Two Mile Site, was dragged and prepared by M & H trucking, one of our partners. After the ash is dumped, a Kabota and a team of volunteers will go into mix the soil with the ash.

Boralex Energy of stratton donated DEP-approved wood ash. The truck driver's services was donated by Waste Management of Norridgewok, and the tractor-trailer itself was donated by Sam's Trucking of Georgetown, Mass. John Wolf drove the truck.

Let me remind you why we are using wood-ash, which is the first-of -its-kind project in N. America. Our timberland soil was never farmed, and is extremely acidic. No mater how fertile the soil is, our seeds would not germinate, unless the soil is sweetened. The other option is lime which is extremely expensive. The challenge was to match the cost of the conservation seeds, the logging companis have used in the past. The good news is that Wagner and Seven Islands, the logging companies have agreed to buy the specially designed "Rangeley Mix" for wildlife forage.

Logging Company Project : First Phase

2010-04-26T14:13:00.000-07:00

Soil tests are being taken at one of Wagner's logging sites where the RRG &SA volunteers will be planting the wildlife-friendly seed mix on a wood ash-prepared soil. The road ash will be donated by Boralex of Stratton. The goal of this partnership is to strengthen the deer herd and other wildlife. Shown here is Dave Borman and Dick Moore, volunteers on the Deer Forage Project sponsored by the club. Wood Ash, a free natural fertilizer, will be used to neutralize the soil so that the seeds will have more vitality in a very acidic soil. One of the goals is to see if wood ash will be effective. One half of the plots will consist of seeds only, and the other half will contain seeds and wood ash. Wildlife use will be monitored by the volunteers.

A new partner in this project has come on board. M & H Construction has offered 2 dump trucks to devliver the wood ash from Boralex in Stratton to Wagner's and Seven Islands' logging sites.

Grouse Trail Mix Available for Food Plots

2010-04-26T13:49:00.000-07:00

After June 15, you can buy a bag of Grouse Trail Mix. It is a commercally designed mix for Grouse, although deer like it too. One 6-pound bag will cover 1/2 acre. This mixture was designed by the Ruffed Grouse Society, and it has been successfully tested along roadsides, ditches and food plots. It has 4 clovers and birdsfoot trefoil which is extremely hardly and will last for years. You can also plant it different times during the growing season.

Marcia Baker will sell this at cost which is $37 per bag. Directions for seeding are similar to the Rangeley Mix. Although this mix is designed to grow better in worse soil. marciambaker@hotmail.com

Rangeley Seed Mix Available at River's Edge Sports

2010-04-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

We all must do our part to bring back our deer herd. Rangeley Guides and Sportsmen's Assoc. is sponsoring a specially designed deer/wildlife seed mix that can be planted on your septic tank, telephone pole area or even a skidder path in the back of your woods. You might even have a secret spot!

This seed mix was designed by a deer biologist for Rangeley Guides and Sportsmen's logging project. It isalso great for grouse, turkeys , bears and song birds. A acre of food plot can provide "one ton" of forage for our wildlife. Its high protein forage helps a deer to develop more fat, so it can better withstand severe winters. The flowering plants attract partridge chicks feeding on bugs.

The seed mix is now available at River's Edge Sports in Oquossoc for $22 a 12 lb. bag. (see particulars on RRG & SA Website). Now a 12 pound bag will cover a quarter-acre which is roughly 11,000 sq. feet. For example That could cover a plot 21 ft. x 50 ft. , or 100 ft x 11 ft. (You figure the square feet of your plot by multiplying the width by the length).

I'd recommend you start small. In these photos, Rick Baker is working on a 10 x 30 food plot which is 300 square feet. For this size, you might want to share a bag with a neighbor. One club member is going to seed her mix on the area behind her house where she dumps her wood ash. Wood ash, a natural fertilizer and soil nuetralizer, is one-to- one equivalent to lime. However, most of us don't have wood ash.

For the 10 x 30 plot with a ph of 5, in the picture above, we figured it needed 3/4 bag of pelleted lime. This seed mix will not grow unless you have at least ph of 6. Why you ask? Acidic soil (7 is neutral) soil does not allow the nutrients to be used by the plant.

Around here where we have so much pine , ( unless you live on an old farm), , you can be assured that you have acid soil. For a plot of 10 x 40, which is around 400 sq. feet, a 40 bag of lime will do it. The other choice is to get a bag of starter fertilizer. A bag of lime costs $6 up here in Rangeley. All the nurseries have it like, Mtn. Greenery and Cermanara's . After you lime you soil, wait for a rain or two to have it saturate in the soil.

You can pick up a free sample box for your soil test at River's Edge. It coat $15 to get your standard analysis from the university extension. A cheaper way to do it is to google "web soil survey" where you can get your free soil analysis of your specific spot. A third way, is to contact Marcia Baker or Dave Borman who have free kits to test yourself. (The latter is available after June 15)

This seed mix is composed of Oats, Buckwheat, White Dutch Clover, Medium Red Clover, Timothy and perennial ryegrass.

Good references are Food Plots for Deer which can be purchased online at QDMA website (Quality Deer Management Association). Another good book is Grow'em Right by Craig. These books will be available at River's Edge.

Seeds will not grow if you throw them on dead leaves, or if there is lots of weeds. Round-up, a safe herbicide can be applied to your plot, and it will kill all the weeds in a week. It does not leach out with rain or water run-off. But use your common sense, do not use it within 100 feet of any pond or lake-- nor any fertilizer for that matter! If there is a danger of any run-off into your pond- or lake-side, then plant a food plot (or for that matter, a flower garden) someplace else. There are suspicions that animal and deer droppings can contribute to the phosphates in ponds and lakes. So be careful if you are within the water catchment zone of your pond.

We have a seed spreader available for you to use. It also spreads pelleted lime. Contact Dave Borman at 864-2812. He will also give you free advice on any of your guestions.

Apple Tree Release Project off to a Great Start

2010-04-26T11:34:00.000-07:00

On a beautiful spring day, April 24, a group of eight released 10 apple trees, and partially released 5 more.

Attending were Sam Spaulding, Dick Moore, Jack and Jean Nutile, Andy Chabot (representing the Trac Club), Tom Nagle, and Rick & Marcia Baker. We far exceeded our expectations on the how much ground we covered (no pun intended).

In these photos, you can barely make out Sam Spaulding and Jack Nutile as they cut and clear the congested area around three apple trees. (In fact I can't even tell who else is in these photos). Note the same three apple trees after they are released. Each tree was given a little 5-10-10 fertilizer. Next year, the crowns will receive a little pruning. As these trees are considered senior citizens (with one step into the nursing home), a little has to be done each year to insure recovery.

A special thanks to Don and Sandi Dumont, RRG & SA members, who have allowed the team to rejuvenate their overgrown orchard.

Another Release event will be planned this summer to finish the rest of the orchard. Newcomers are always welcome. Contact Sam Spaulding or Marcia Baker to get on the Volunteer list.

Logging Company Project : First Phase

2010-04-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

Flat Iron Road:

On April 23, Rick and Marcia Baker took soil samples from Seven Islands' designated sites. Here you see Rick Baker and Seven Islands, forester, Pete Smith. Unlike Wagner's sites, Club members will be seeding a road instead of logging sites. Two acres will contain wood ash along with seed and two more acres will contain seed only. This way, we will see how effective wood ash will be in adding plant vitality. These places look pretty rugged right now, but they will be leveled out by a bulldozer prior to wood ash delivery. In late June, after the ash is delivered. our own Dave Borman will use his Kabota to distribute the ash . A volunteer group will rake it, followed by a rock rake. Then we wait for rains to help absorb the ash into the soil.

Wanted: Browsing Enclosure for Logging Company Food Plots

2010-04-22T13:28:00.000-07:00

I imagine you're asking what a "browsing enclosure" is. No, its not to keep the deer in--its to keep the deer and other critters out. The project is looking for some ambitious outdoorsman/woman to make 8 of these things.

"Why?" you ask. Afterall, we want critters to come and eat at the logging sites. Well, these little enclosureswill tell us if any animals are eating at these plots. We will look at the contrast of plant growth inside the closure, where they can't touch it. This will help us to moniter whether we are attracting critters to our food plot.

Enclosed is a picture and instructions on how to make them. The club will gladly reimburse you for materials.

CONSTRUCTING A BROWSE EXCLOSURE
• Select Hoot-high welded wire fencing with 2x4-inch panels.
• Wearing gloves and using wire shears, cut the fence into lO-foot long sections. Each 10-foot long
section will form one browse exdosure.
When cutting through the horizontal
wires, make the cut close to
the next vertical wire, leaving tag
ends of horizontal wires projecting.
• Rollthe section until the ends connect
to form a cylinder. Bend the tag-end wires
of one end around the vertical end wire of
the opposite end, forming loops that attach
the ends of the rolled cage together.
• Drive sturdy stakes of rebar or wood
into the ground on opposite sides of the
cage and secure the cage to the stakes with
wire ties.Or,"weave"the stakes through at
least three panels near the bottom of the
cage by bending the panel wires slightly,
then drive the stake into the ground. The
cage should be secure enough to withstand
wind as well as animals pushing
against it.
to form a cylinder. Bend the tag-end wires
of one end around the vertical end wire of
the opposite end, forming loops that attach
the ends of the rolled cage together.
• Drive sturdy stakes of rebar or wood
into the ground on opposite sides of the
cage and secure the cage to the stakes with
wire ties.Or,"weave"the stakes through at
least three panels near the bottom of the
cage by bending the panel wires slightly,
then drive the stake into the ground. The
cage should be secure enough to withstand
wind as well as animals pushing
against it.

We will need 8 of these by the end of July.

Contract Marcia Baker at 841-0496.

Reference: Kammermeyer, Miller, and Thomas, Quality Food Plots, A Publication of the Quality Deer Management Association. p. 139 This is a great book for anyone who wants to start doing their own personal plots. You can order it on the QDMA website.

Introduction to the Deer and Wildlife Forage Project

2010-04-17T14:31:00.000-07:00

The Mission of the team is to enhance the deer herd and other wildlife through habitat restoration and forestry techniques. Deer biologists are predicting that Western Maine's deer herd will be gone in ten years. Projects will be done through hands-on projects with the logging companies and with private owners’ properties. The membership will also have regular educational information via presentations at meetings and through e-mail presentations.

There are four infant projects of the Committee, some or all of which you can become informed or become a volunteer .

I. Partnership with the Logging Companies: The project goal is to supplement deer forage to prevent winter starvation. Launching this summer, Wagner and Seven Islands will be utilizing their empty logging sites for wildlife-friend food plots. The Team volunteers will help in soil-testing, spreading wood-ash, broad-casting seed mix, and montering the results. This is a three-year project to determine if wood-ash can facilitate the viability of wildlife food plots. There will only be 2-4 days of group labor this summer. The first event will be in mid-late June spreading wood ash to prepare the soil at both company sites.

II. Appletree Release Project: Launching this spring, team volunteers will be restore the many wild apple trees that are being choked out by maturing forest. Wild apple trees are common in Rangeley and a wild-life food mecca. The first event will be a two-hour hands-on clinic Saturday, 10:30 on April 24. Meet on the N.W. corner of Mike Linnell's field, 3 rd left driveway on Quimby Pond Road. Bring long-handled shears, chain saw or bucksaw, if you have them. This is a three-year Project. Marcia Baker and Sam Spaulding are the speakers . rsvp 864-3351. Bring a bag lunch. Rain date is next day Sunday at 1:00.

III. Food plots on private lands: Dave Borman is the Chairman. 864-3351. The membership will be educated on establishing wild-life friendly food plots on their land. Seed mix is now available at River's Edge, in Oquossoc, for $22 a bag. It will cover a 1/4 acre. It is recommended that one start on a small level. You start with the spreading the seed mix on your septic tank! The Club has resources for soil tests. If you would like to buy this seed-mix, stop by the River's Edge. Dave Borman'd email is jborman@localnet.com. He will give you a free consultation to get you started.

IV. General Education about Habitat Enhancement: Small sound-bytes of hands-on habitat restoration techniques will be offered via news letter, e-mail and small presentations at meetings. This project will begin once a leader is found. The club has a lot of educational material for dissemination.

Co-chairing the Deer and Wildlife Forage project are Sam Spaulding spaulding@gwi.net and Marcia Baker marciambaker@hotmail.com or 864-3351

Please do your part in saving our deer.