wildlifefarmer
Well-Known Member
I tried that 3 weeks ago. My truck is so dusty I can't see out of it!! I'm getting concerned about my well drying up it's been so dry.
Food Plots Hot, dry spell
- Thread starter BSK
- Start date
BSK
Well-Known Member
Plan on going out to my property this week. I'll check our spring-fed stairstep rock creeks. Closest they have come to going dry was the severe drought in 2007, which also produced the worst EHD outbreak I've ever seen.
BSK
Well-Known Member
The computer models usually exaggerate forecast precipitation amounts, but right now, one long-range model has 9 inches of rain for Middle TN over the next 2 weeks, while a second shifts that 9 inches into East TN. Take that for what it's worth (i.e. not a lot).
megalomaniac
Well-Known Member
If the drought on your place continues, the hunting this fall can be incredible if you... #1 have a water source (haul water to 1 spot if needed), and #2 have some native browse. Even if the browse is dry but has just a little green left in it, it becomes the preferred food source, especially if your neighbors don't have any green.
One of the best hunting years we've ever had on my place was the horrible fall drought the year Gatlinburg burned. Noone around us had water, we still had a couple ponds that cattle couldn't access that had water. Deer (and older bucks) were hitting them twice a day in November. We killed more mature bucks that season than any other season hunting ponds and native browse (catbrier, coralberry) that was dry but not burned completely up.
BSK
Well-Known Member
That's sort of what I'm hoping for. We have three spring-fed tumbling rock creeks that have never gone dry. We have 100 acres of 2-year-old cut-over. And IF we get fall rains, our food plots will be the only game in town. Could be a slam-dunk.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
We have two ponds touching each other. One is full and the other about 1/3 full. Both comprising about an acre total. On each side of our property is a flowing creek and the other side has some springs. Those would be my preference if I was a deer, but found tons of tracks in the mud in our water (mud) holes.
As far as food, we should be good there. We had about 40 acres select-cut last year and I was happy to see as much lush green stuff growing in that as I did over the weekend. And if we can plan right and get some timely rains this early fall, we'll have around 30 acres of food plots. We limed this spring and will invest in fertilizer this fall, because it looks like there will be a dismal acorn crop
Got some decent rain in my area, hope you all did or soon will.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Finally! 1.33" That's more in one day than I've received in the last two months combined.
DoubleRidge
Well-Known Member
Hadn't checked the exact amount but we got a good ground soaker yesterday afternoon....hopefully more on the way.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Too late for my food plots, but maybe it will help the natural habitat a bit.
Looks like Lobelville area got 3"+.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Yup.
I can't remember who posted it, but I want to thank whoever posted the iWeathernet rainfall totals map link. It is amazingly accurate. I have a recording rain gauge at my property that I can access through the internet, so I know exactly what rainfall the location actually received. Yet that iWeathernet rainfall map gets very ,very close. It says my rain gauge location received 1.22" which is very close to the actual 1.33"
.6" at my place on Wayne/Hardin line yesterday & .12" day before.
Boll Weevil
Well-Known Member
You're welcome sir.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Thank you as well. I saved that link. According to it, we received 1.76". Woohoo!
BSK
Well-Known Member
You 'da MAN!
I've been very blessed with a lot of rain over the past 3 weeks in upper E TN along the VA line. I got 0.91" yesterday and another 2" over the past week. Everything is growing and green on my places.
Bottom plot
Ridge Top Plot after I mowed it. You couldn't see the fallen tree in the back ground before I cut it.
Bottom plot
Ridge Top Plot after I mowed it. You couldn't see the fallen tree in the back ground before I cut it.
JCDEERMAN
Well-Known Member
Yea E TN has gotten a lot of rain. I mentioned to my FIL in Knoxville how we were living in a desert and he didn't believe me. You're right - that is bright green!
BSK
Well-Known Member
I looked at a radar estimate the other day that showed over 8 inches of rain in 3 days just north of Oak Ridge. Crazy. Until yesterday, I had received a grand total of 0.62" in the last 2 months.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Pouring at my place again today. Yea! Almost an inch today and still coming down.
