2417 replies to this topic

[Pete]

A fresh new begining on the new site. Where do I start? At some point I will go back and provide a written and pictorial history of the 50 plus years of Cedar Grove Camp. Prior to the old site going off line I was scanning alot of old pictures to my computer to do a complete history(I continue to do this). For those that have seen the Cedar Grove Camp log book , you will know what I mean. But for now it's about the here and now and a look toward the future. The present Cedar grove Camp was built in 2000 (on 120 acresof land) and my first real attempt at food plots was 2002, although I had the "Camp Plot" cleared in 2001. The "East" and "West Plots" were created in 2006. Next to my family, buying the land, building the new camp and learning about food plots has been the most incredible thing in my life. First , a couple of old pictures to start things off, and then to the present. >Pete

Cedar Grove Camp



120 Acres of Paradise



Camp Plot





East Plot



West plot



Summer Bucks



"THE PHANTOM"



One of My favorite Camp Plot Bucks



One of My Favorite West Plot Bucks 2009

[Bowhunter]

I've been waiting for this thread to start again.... good to see ya back Pete!

[FOXTROTTER]

Nice pics again Pete..looking foward to many more stories and pics..good to
see all your hard work pay..

[Caleb]

I'm with these guys Pete. Looking very forward to many evenings of reading your Cedar Grove Camp posts.

[KEVIN]

AHHHHHhhhhhhh!!...just like a junkie......I NOW got my fix!...hahaha...Thankx Pete!

[Northfieldhunter]

Awesome Pete just wasnt the same without Cedar Grove thred on here
Northfield

[long-gone]

nice camp!
i expect more work in progress now that ya got that new tractor

[Pete]

I couldn't help it, a few more old photos from last season(2009).>Pete

The Gang



Me, My Dad, and my two boys



Me and my Dad



Deer from last year

[Pete]

Since alot of this tread has to do with the experimentation I have done over the last 8-9 years with food plots, I'm proud to have been able to document a history for some of the bucks that have called the plots home. For those familar with the old site , most of the work on the plots was my own manual labor. Here is the history of the 12 pt I took last year. I'm not sure if he was a 1.5 year old when I first saw him, or whether he was a 2.5 year old in 2005. He was very nocturnal. It would make him a 5.5 year old or 6.5 year old when I was lucky enough to see him in the daylight. See the pics from 2005 to 2009. >Pete

2005 West Plot



2006 East Plot



2007 West Plot




2008 West plot




2009 West Plot

[Pete]

The winter of 2008-2009 was extreme at Cedar Grove Camp. The snow came early and stayed late. It was at least 3-4 feet deep in the woods. Also, there seemed to be a spike in the coyote population. Obviously this made it hard on the deer. In the spring of 2009 I was able to identifie two pregnant does. I kept my trail cams out as I was hoping to get photos of new born fawns. Every evening I spent at the camp I could hear the coyotes howeling. By fall the two does were still around, BUT THEY HAD NO FAWNS! There are 5 regulars at the camp and during the 2009 season, we did not see one fawn!! Also, there was a severe shortage does. As strange as this may be, there seemed to be a healthy number of bucks.During the 2008 season I was able to identifie 13 different bucks at the plots. Also, I was able to indentifie 7 different does. This was an all time high since I created the plots and started keeping records. The plots had been great for the deer population. We took three of those bucks during the 2008 season. During the fall of 2009, I was able to identifie 11 bucks that visited the plots and only 2 does. A significant drop from 2008. Plus I shot one big buck. Therefore we went into the winter of 2009-2010 with 10 bucks and 2 does. Fortunately the winter was easy on the deer as they fed(pawed for the clover) at the plots into late Feb and there was not much snow. Since the coyotes had already cleaned up all the rabbits I think the winter has reduced the coyote population. There is certainly less sign of them around. See the pics of the remaining 2009 plot deer and coyote pack. >Pete

Coyote Pack (5)



Plot Deer (10) These pictures were taken at the plots and my bow stand I call the "Inbetween" as it is inbetween the Camp Plot a the East/West Plots.

[Pete]

OOOPS !!I posted more pics than I'm allowd to in my last post. Here are the last two pics(9 and 10).>Pete

[10point]

Good to see you back Pete. Missed reading the thread. I hear you have a new tractor. Lets see a pic or two. Lots of ground will be torn up now. Good luck with it and keep up the good work.

10point

[Turkeyhunter]

Looks great Pete, how are the plots coming along.

[Bob LeBlanc]

Coyote Pack (5)



Sheesh...
...and to think the DNR STILL claims that coyotes DON'T pack !!

I guess they aren't coyotes !!!

By now, Pete, 'Cedar Grove' has to be Atlantic Canada's most famous hunting camp !
It IS an awesome spot !

Bob

[KPR]

Great stuff seeing this thread back Pete.

OOOPS !!I posted more pics than I'm allowed to in my last post. Here are the last two pics(9 and 10).>Pete

Hmmm...maybe thats what was messin me up re-posting oldies lastnight...I "thought" the limit was ten...
Got me a couple times it did

[Pete]

Well it's time to get started with posting the present---2010. These four guys spent almost the entire winter in the East and West plots. Even after the final apples were gone they dug up the clover. One of the spike bucks lost his antler early. The other lost theirs in mid to late Jan. The ten point is going to be a nice deer this fall. My records(photo record) indicates he will be 5.5 or 6.5 years old.>Pete

[reknat]

Pete, could you refresh my memory on what you plant in the plots other than clover and how late in the year can you wait to plant it?

thanks, reknat

[Pete]

Reknat,The only other thing I usually plant is forage rape(a form of brassica). I have planted as late as July, and although there is sufficent growing time you have to worry about rain. If it makes it through a potential dry peroid, then the rains of late Sept usually bring it back.>Pete

[Pete]

A few more Jan deer pics. The 8pt lost his antlers on Jan 12-13. The 10pt lost his antlers from Jan 17-19. One spike lost his antlers in early Jan , while the other spike was the winner, he lost his antlers last on Jan 19-21.>Pete

8pt




10pt





Spike

[long-gone]

nice pics!