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Bill Heavey: Son of a Beech
I’ve nearly had about three heart attacks in the past weeks. The cause: beech leaves. The 3- to 6-inch long leaves of Fagus grandifolia, which grows in fertile woods in the eastern U.S., turn ivory-yellow when dry and have a maddening tendency to curl in tightly upon themselves. Such a leaf, standing perpendicular among the leaves of the forest floor, looks exactly like an antler tine. The guy treading the woods in search of antlers or any part of an antler is at the mercy of these nasty little guys.
This week’s tip: If you use a CamelBak or other backpack with a bladder, be extremely careful about how you stow sheds. Nature designed antlers to puncture. That’s really all I care to share at this time about that one.
I found two 5-pointers yesterday, both left sides, on the same hill where I found two 5-pointers last year. The bigger of the two was in the same exact spot – give or take 10 feet – of where I found a big one last year. I raced home, compared the two antlers, and confirmed to the extent that I can say they are both from the same deer. This year’s is just like last year’s, down to the wave in certain tines, only a little bigger around, with slightly longer tines, and the G4 that was part of a crab claw last year is now an independent tine.
The pleasure this find gave me, of confirming the survival and something of the habits of a buck I have yet to see, is enormous. And very hard to explain.
No need to explain. I understand perfectly.
Posted by: jack | March 10, 2008 at 01:17 PM
Much to my dismay, no sheds, yet! The only thing I'm finding is dead limbs, trash (not mine, but I still pick it up), old farm equipment and yesterday, feral piglets! All but two escaped! Both perfect to grill whole!
Maybe next week!
I'm not too worried about antlers poking holes in a water bladder, but the locust thorns, in grand abundance, are working on my ATV tires!
Bubba
Posted by: Bubba | March 10, 2008 at 03:35 PM
Just about 2 weeks ago I went for a walk through my property (a 3 hour walk) and found only one 4 point antler, but the cool thing was a porcupine whom I call Mr. Dan (he's lived on my land for about 8 years) was chewing away at it. So the whole top of the antler is gnawed on. He must have been getting the salt from the antler. But in my 68 years never have I seen that before.
MPN
Posted by: MPN | March 10, 2008 at 04:05 PM
MPN,
If you don't mind my asking why haven't you shot the porcupine yet, it would make a nice mount.
And doesn't destroy your trees?
White Pine
Posted by: White Pine | March 10, 2008 at 05:58 PM
White Pine,
Well my friend I have not shot him because I have no reason to. I enjoy watching him during deer season and when I go for my walks on the off season. He actually doesn't mind my presence anymore. Many times I've gotten fairly close to him while he is on the ground.
To answer the tree question, yes he does chew on the bark of my trees but only during winter. And some of the trees die and some do not. I don't see it as a major problem. But many people do shoot them for that reason alone. I have known him for 8 years and yes it is the same one. He has a white vertical line on his head. So I've got attached to him and probaly couldn't kill him if I wanted to.
MPN
Posted by: MPN | March 10, 2008 at 06:05 PM
MPN,
Well if I were you I would feed him something so it would stop eating your trees. But it must be pretty cool gaining the trust of that porcupine and to still know it after 8 years. By the way you spelled probably wrong. He he he
White Pine
Posted by: White Pine | March 10, 2008 at 06:55 PM
White Pine,
I was home schooled.
MPN
Posted by: MPN | March 10, 2008 at 07:48 PM
MPN you should put em a salt block out there but not to close to a deer stand because they'll bust you...trust me.And ive had a green snake that has lived in out garden for about two years he's a good ol' snake you can hold him,we do have to find him though every time before we till.
Posted by: Trae B. | March 10, 2008 at 09:16 PM
Trae B,
Never thought about giving a salt block to the porcupine, I'll have to try it. Wonder if that will keep him from going to the side of my street to eat the road salt. Always think he's gonna get hit even though there is not much car traffic down here.
MPN
Posted by: MPN | March 10, 2008 at 09:54 PM
Glad to know everybody doesn't have to kill something just because they can. Used to be everybody knew you never killed porkys, cause when you got lost, or stuck in the back country, they were the only critter you could kill, without anything but a stick! They were the original survival kit! So save the porkys! But let's not hold hands and hug 'em.....
Posted by: jes | March 11, 2008 at 06:16 AM
And Bill, quit getting heart attacks..You have a largely unknown following out here that never have any reason to let you know how much you are admired.. And think you are the best to come down the pike in many a year.
Posted by: jes | March 11, 2008 at 06:25 AM
After the fourth heart attack you're entitled to a free set of steak knives.
Posted by: Blue Ox | March 11, 2008 at 09:23 AM
With stag handles, of course.
Posted by: Blue Ox | March 11, 2008 at 09:23 AM
Can some please turn the supposed "global warming" up a little.We have been close to or below zero every night for the last two weeks.We still have a fair amount of snow on the ground in northern lower Michigan,for now we'll have to strap on snowshoes and look for Elk antlers.
Posted by: Mark Hansen | March 11, 2008 at 09:40 AM
Mark,
I'm with you all the way. I'm in North Dakota and back in LATE FEBRUARY we got a record low of NEGATIVE 33 DEGREES!! But the global warming people will still find something to complain about.
Nate
Posted by: I'm in school right now | March 11, 2008 at 10:13 AM
Welcome to weather in the midwest.
Just be patient, the calender always wins.
Posted by: Blue Ox | March 11, 2008 at 10:37 AM
Right now i am in Business Computer Applications All I have left with the outdoors is talking with people who also love the outdoors. But for the record, the cold still sucks.
Nate
Posted by: I'm in school right now | March 11, 2008 at 10:42 AM
It's approaching the Ides of March. Do I continue hiking about the woods and hedgerows with my head down muttering "beech leaves...beech leaves...beech leaves?
Or do I stand at the edge of the lake, staring at the slushy cap of ice and wish I was Superman with the laser eye thingy jacking up the water temperature?
Spooling new line on a freshly oiled reel may be on option. I could practice cast hitting the snowmen in the backyard.
Beware snowman, beware the Ides of March!
Posted by: jack | March 11, 2008 at 12:34 PM
Someone explain how global warming caused 5 feet of snow in my drive way. Global Warming is overrated.
MPN
Posted by: MPN | March 11, 2008 at 02:51 PM
Never mind they're all right. The snow is melting do to the sun being out. Quick stop driving you're all making the ozone layer go away. THE SNOW IS MELTING AND THE TEMP IS RISING! NOOOOOOOOOO
MPN
Posted by: MPN | March 11, 2008 at 03:53 PM
I had computer aps last semester Nate and always came on here till the school blocked all the good websites.My school blocked fiels and stream because it discussed guns.aint that some s***.
Posted by: Trae B. | March 11, 2008 at 08:26 PM
All i do during that class (it is called BTE in alabama) is go to this website. that would probably explain my C in there from lack of work turned in. hmmmmm........
Posted by: Alex Williams | March 11, 2008 at 09:00 PM
MPN <<<< Them porkys make for some verry good eats.
Don
yo, BILL H., take 5, we dont need for you to go belly up on us.
Posted by: don m. | March 11, 2008 at 09:59 PM
Don,
I don't think I could killed him if I wanted to. I've known it for 8 years.
MPN
Posted by: MPN | March 11, 2008 at 10:01 PM
Comment to Trae B.
That really is a bunch of bulls^#*. You should move to West Virgina. They are going to teach hunting there.
Nate
Posted by: I'm in school right now | March 12, 2008 at 10:25 AM