80 Acres of UpNorth Heaven

[5030]

You can keep it. I don't mind at all. I like to hunt. If that involves snowshoes, so be it but that is my only snowshoe time. I don't ski, no interest.

 

[EdwardB]

You can keep it. I don't mind at all. I like to hunt. If that involves snowshoes, so be it but that is my only snowshoe time. I don't ski, no interest.

You do get some nice deer down that way. I am looking forward to being able to target shoot at longer ranges with my deer rifles; and, of course, put up some stands and trail cams. I see some food plots in my future too.

 

[5030]

I have land down here as well, I farm. I have my own private 300 yard range out back with covered shooting bench and 1/2" alloy plate backstop with 5 feet of bermed clay in front of it. I can't find the steel with any caliber I shoot, 338 Lapua included. I get custom rifles built by John Pierce in Lansing, on the way to my getaway...lol

My 'go to Michigan hunting caliber is 308 or a 44 magnum handgun with an X bow in there somewhere. End of the month will find me turkey hunting on the ground.

The trick with Michigan (if you want to call it that) is being north of M46. North of 46, anything that goes boom works. South of 46 is shotgun, bow smoke pole or straight walled pistol cartridge in a rifle like a Marlin or Henry.

 

[teejk]

You do get some nice deer down that way. I am looking forward to being able to target shoot at longer ranges with my deer rifles; and, of course, put up some stands and trail cams. I see some food plots in my future too.

Looks like a nice spot! Lake Michigan takes a lot of that cold air out of the equation (hence you being able to grow pears). Enjoy it!

 

[EdwardB]

In addition to the pear orchard it looks like you have some decent size sugar maple trees too....nice!

I need to canvas the woods and see how much sap potential there is. We currently put out about 60 taps on the neighbor's 100+ year old road maples. We generally make between 15 and 20 gallons of syrup. That's all my Leader half pint evaporator will realistically handle. We might need to expand our operation!

 

[EdwardB]

Congratulations. Looks like it has the right mix of open fields and woods. Pear orchard seems to be maintained, that might be a source of some revenue with the right care.

We measured it up earlier today. It's about 2 1/2 acres and around 300 trees. I need to sharpen up the pruning shears. There were quite a few fruiting spurs on the trees.

 

[teejk]

We measured it up earlier today. It's about 2 1/2 acres and around 300 trees. I need to sharpen up the pruning shears. There were quite a few fruiting spurs on the trees.

You are already doing syrup (spring time). You will need to study "pear cider" and or vodka for the fall. Seems to be the hottest trend going now and you won't have to sit next the road waiting for customers. Knew a old swiss guy that ran a still but also made wines/ciders out of anything he could find...his pear cider was always my favorite. Looking at establishing an orchard here but we are west of lake Michigan and "hardiness" is a big problem.

 

[95XL883]

We live just a few miles from there, so no houses in the near future. My kids might want to some day though, so who knows. The owner says there are lots of deer so I'm glad about that. Just curious, why do you suggest a food plot in that location?

My thought was the deer would prefer being surrounded by trees. My ground has a 3 acre opening surrounded by trees that is heavily frequented by deer and turkey.

After looking at the picture again I'm guessing that is your orchard. I wouldn't damage an orchard for a food plot. The other thing I noticed on the second look is that the north field doesn't have road exposure so a small food plot near the trees would probably be a good site as well.

The ground is gorgeous. Congrats again.

 

[MinnesotaEric]

That's the first item on my list. Need to do a bit of pruning.

If you want the pro set-up for pruning, a blue stick Jameson pole saw with a Sherrelltree head and a 15.5" Fanno-style fantail blades is the most awesome pruning tool for anything over cordless sawzall height. I regularly send a 55-year old woman out using the following set-up and she knocks out production all day. Get a couple of extra blades if you really think you'll be cutting as they go dull in 40 hours of workweek of cutting.

Overview of the Jameson line.

Purchase a 6' and an 8' Jameson B-light pole saw sticks. They can snap together. If you need more height, purchase another 8' pole. Pop on a Sherril tree head, and a Fanno blade. Skip the stupid pulling-rope pruner, or collapsable "high end" Japanese sticks they sell at home-improvement stores.

6' and 8' poles:
Jameson | B-Lite Fiberglass Poles | SHERRILLtree

Fanno hook-style blades. The hook allows the tip of the blade to pull down cut material, as well as the cutter to take a rest without the saw slipping out of a working cut.
Amazon.com : Replacement 15-1/2" Fanno Hook Type Blade for Snapcut No. 2 Pole Saw : Hand Pole Saws : Patio, Lawn & Garden

I have a Silky-style pole saw head made by Sherril Tree, but the Jameson head can save you money. They key here is that you need a male saw head for the Jameson poles so you don't need to run an adaptor that adds weight because you got a female sawhead.

http://www.amazon.com/Pole-Saw-Head...85&sr=8-1-spell&keywords=jameson+sawhead+pole

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/Products.asp?mi=47110&itemnum=81162

http://www.amazon.com/Silky-Sawhead..._UL160_SR160,160_&refRID=0WSNC2G7PPEZPY3VD9YH

This sheath pits perfect over the Fanno 15.5" style saw blades.
http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/p...bberized Belting Sheath&itemnum=27215&redir=Y

Jameson also sells their own Fanno hook-style blades:

http://www.forestry-suppliers.com/product_pages/Products.asp?mi=37878&itemnum=81315

And if all this is confusing, but you're intrigued, you can buy a basic pole saw kit but the rope pruner isn't going to get used.

http://www.amazon.com/Ultimate-Jame..._UL160_SR141,160_&refRID=173A4XJTH7D1D8AHNGX4

 

[WoodChuckDad]

Gorgeous.