This weather...

[muddyboots]

I thought so. I thought my food plot program was going to be an incredible magnet. That turned out not to be the case. The deer simply left the area and concentrated on nearby ag fields all fall instead.

It takes big acreage to keep them in a certain area without acorns.

 

[huvrman]

I'm not sure why, but the deer on my farm in Humphreys County seem to be as healthy as they have in years past. We killed several does late December/early January, and they had just as much fat as I've ever seen. Even the majority of bucks I got pics of as of last Saturday are still carrying both antlers. With the severe drought and no acorns, I figured they would drop antlers in late December or early January.

They are definitely hammering my plots, which probably helped them through the rough spell.
View attachment 169502

Gotta love hunting those golf course food plots.

 

[Speedwell-Hunter]

This weather is really starting to worry me. We have Bradford Pears in full bloom in Nashville. In February. Please tell me this is not going to be a year where everything blooms in March and then we get a big freeze in April that kills all the fruit/nut crops like in 2007. Another acorn failure in my area would be an unmitigated disaster after losing the entire crop last year. In the 35 years I've been keeping records, we've never had two total failures in a row, but there's a first time for everything.

Would not worry about what is out of your control

 

[BSK]

It takes big acreage to keep them in a certain area without acorns.

Sadly, I learned that the hard way!

 

[BSK]

Would not worry about what is out of your control

First, I'm just a natural born worrier. Second, when deer herd health is your "business" you have to look out into the future and plan accordingly. Although how to "plan" for the disaster that would be if we have a second acorn failure in a row is a bit beyond me.

 

[timberjack86]

Just seen my white oaks in the yard are starting to bud. Not good

 

[megalomaniac]

Amazing how variable the plants behave to the weather...

This pic is of a redbud just beginng to bloom while the azaleas are in full bloom in the background. Normally, the azaleas are 2 weeks behind the redbuds. This year, the redbuds are right on time, while the azaleas are 2 to 3w early

 

[megalomaniac]

And here's a native azalea in the foreground with the cultivated azaleas in the background... again, right on time for the native azaleas.

I put a LOT of miles on the boots this weekend looking for turkeys, and while the grasses and shrubs are well ahead of schedule, most of the bigger trees are not even close to leafing out or blooming.

It may actually be a good thing for the deer and turkeys getting an earlier greenup for forage, as long as we don't get a hard freeze.

 

[BSK]

Again, the CFSv2 isn't the best model in the world, but it's one of the few that goes out a month. It shows a MONSTER freeze March 18-24. I'll keep an eye on it over time.

 

[Hduke86]

Again, the CFSv2 isn't the best model in the world, but it's one of the few that goes out a month. It shows a MONSTER freeze March 18-24. I'll keep an eye on it over time.

Be a perfect time for 30 yr anniversary of the blizzard of 93'. Not that I want it by no means but mid March seems iffy all the time. My birthday is March 19th and it's a toss up if it's going to nice spring weather or the last showing of winter.

 

[BSK]

Be a perfect time for 30 yr anniversary of the blizzard of 93'. Not that I want it by no means but mid March seems iffy all the time. My birthday is March 19th and it's a toss up if it's going to nice spring weather or the last showing of winter.

Having lived in the TN/KY region for the last 47 years, I've seen more than my share of Easters with snow in the air. The latest I can remember winter weather was on my birthday (May 24) back when I was in High School, so probably around 1980. I friend and I camped out and went fishing. The afternoon of the 23rd we had a tornado outbreak. On the morning of the 24th we were getting sleet and snow showers.

 

[BSK]

Thankfully, the CFSv2 model has taken that monster freeze for mid-March out of its forecast. Most of the cold air is now forecast to stay in the upper Midwest and the Northeast.

 

[knightrider]

Having lived in the TN/KY region for the last 47 years, I've seen more than my share of Easters with snow in the air. The latest I can remember winter weather was on my birthday (May 24) back when I was in High School, so probably around 1980. I friend and I camped out and went fishing. The afternoon of the 23rd we had a tornado outbreak. On the morning of the 24th we were getting sleet and snow showers.

Same birthday as my son just a few years apart

 

[BSK]

Same birthday as my son just a few years apart

Sorry you have to deal with a Gemini. We're an odd lot!

 

[Ski]

the redbuds are right on time

Yeah they bloom mostly according to photoperiod, not so much the weather. No idea about the azaleas. fingers crossed that we don't get a bad freeze before spring. My peaches and plums are in full bloom. Haven't had a peach in a few years.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Sorry you have to deal with a Gemini. We're an odd lot!

My wife is a Gemini…and dang proud of it!

 

[BSK]

My wife is a Gemini…and dang proud of it!

Of course we are! It's the rest of the world that has to deal with it!

 

[backyardtndeer]

Been pretty crazy. Had to run the air one day last week, and just switched the thermostat from heat to air this afternoon after I got home. A lot of our fruit trees are staying to get leaves and some are flowering.

Mosquitoes here are already bad, so are gnats. Not the norm for February.

 

[tellico4x4]

Blue birds are back & saw my first snake of season at camp yesterday. He crossed trail before I got close enough to tell what it was. Came home about 5 & pastures were slammed with deer. Saw gobbler fresh tracks at several places too, sure sign of spring for us as they winter off our property.

 

[BSK]

Shorter range models are now all suggesting a freeze the end of next week, around the 10th. GFS has another freeze the following week.