WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? One of our members found this bark spud in a swamp located in western Delaware County. It probably dates back to sometime in the mid-19th Century. Bark spuds were used to debark or peel hemlock bark in the late spring to early summer. BarkContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Gun season has begun in our part of New York State. I’ve been seeing bucks chasing does all over the place. Some of these bucks are colliding with bullets from hunters and others into front bumpers of drivers. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing more deerContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? On this wet fall day, I’m stuck inside and thinking ahead. The “season” or forest activity right now for me is hunting. The next one following that is maple sugaring which normally occurs in February & March. And that got me thinking back toContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I had to go out this morning; I had the time & wasn’t sure how many opportunities there might be. I have to say, this northern guy was sweating this morning walking to the tree-stand. It was 63 degrees! Even though temperatures were high,Continue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? This photo was taken years ago in the summer. It includes a doe and her 3 fawns or triplets. I don’t honestly remember the last time I saw a doe with triplets. Triplets become scarce in poor habitat or where a variety of youngContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? On my neighbor’s property is a tall smoothbark hickory tree that stands above the surrounding forest canopy. Climbing to its top offers a great view–east towards the Rondout Valley and Shawangunk Ridge and northwest towards the Catskills. I snapped a photo in late summer–probablyContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? I’ve been hunting once or twice since bow season began, but really just to get my head right & in the mood for killing something & taking it home. Yesterday was the first real hunt. One of those first cold, crisp October mornings whereContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Dug up these old photos someone sent to me a while ago of Seager Sawmill at the head of Dry Brook in the Town of Hardenburgh, Ulster County from perhaps the early 1900s. I believe one photo shows the mill with Graham/Doubletop Mt. inContinue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Fall foliage is underway. I have 2 red maples in my yard that are beginning to turn. I realize we had some bad drought this summer, but we could still be in good position for a nice fall foliage season. We’re looking for cool,Continue Reading
WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE FOREST? Sometimes pruning apple trees just isn’t enough, especially on young & vigorous trees. Branches that tend to grow straight up or at a 45-degree angle tend to be more “vegetative” instead of “fruitful.” In other words, branches that grow near horizontal from the trunk,Continue Reading