Frank's outdoors...

The last 2 years on the lease have seen time and time again tons of raccoons making off with our corn and tearing up our feeders.  Its time to start a predator management plan. We are targeting: Raccoons by trapping only Possums by trapping only Coyotes by calling, stand hunting, and trapping Hogs by hunting and pen trapping (not a varmint, but still trying to rid them) To begin this plan, last year we started by building a hog pen/trap, and have yet to have any success, and I believe a major part of that is due to the gate design.  Plainly, it was a custom job by a friend of my buddy and doesn't stay closed.  Its heavy duty, but the closing mechanism needs to re-engineering.  The door rebounds when the springs close the door, and the pigs have gotten out each time. This year, I am focusing less on the pigs, and more on the smaller predators and varmints, primarily raccoons (pictured above).  I purchased 8 Duke DP Coon Traps .  I will bait 2 or 3 around each feed

Purchased an ATV plow to better prep my plots in the areas where breaking up the soil requires more than just my drag harrow.  I saw this one on The Sportsman's Guide site .  For the price, I think it will do the job, and the reviews say it is heavy and rugged enough.  My Polaris Sportsman should pull it without a problem.  From the looks of it, I can put 3 or 4 cinder blocks on it, and attache my drag harrow right behind that and do a twofer. I will take some pictures once I get it and get it assembled.  I will also take some pictures of the work I do in the field with it. Anyone have recommendations on a seeder/broadcast spreader?

Turkey season lasts the duration of April in most states that I know of, and it is just around the corner.  I follow the blog of Toxie Givens (primarily for his deer blogs/videos of the Reality Hunt Club), and he post this post a week or so ago of some turkeys in his backyard !  It really got me fired up!  I need to find a place to get on some birds this year (and next year for sure if I can't make it happen this April). Turkey hunting is one of those experiences that are so unique and invigorating that its is truly hard to describe.  I have hunted turkeys maybe about 5-7 times, and harvested only one.  All but one of those hunts were in South Carolina with my Uncle Jim hunting the Eastern species.  That is some tough hunting!  When a big Tom gobbler is within 50 yards and hammers down gobbling it makes your rib cage vibrate, and it is quite intense as you wait for the opportunity to see the bird and get a shot.  Her is the picture of a double my uncle and I took in April 2004.