Kyle’s News and Reviews
Arrows Are Thumping In Multi-Purpose Building
As I write this article I can hear the constant thump of arrows hitting the styrofoam targets that are being used for the AIMS tournament this week. Every now and again I can hear the sound of an arrow hitting the metal siding on the walls. I would never poke fun at anyone but, just to put things into perspective, there is an 8-feet tall arrow screen that protects our wall from arrows and still some of the kids can over shoot it (the targets are only about three feet tall).
The kids are shooting bows that are compound but have no sights so they do have a reason to miss some. I will tell a little story about myself that happened just last year though. I was attending archery instructor training for the 4-H Shooting Sports in Grenada last fall and part of the training we had to go to the shooting range and actually shoot bows. I consider myself an avid archer and I can actually shoot my own Hoyt bow fairly well.
I didn’t bring my bow to this training so I decided to just use a bow provided, which was a recurve bow with no sights. This was the first time I had ever picked up a recurve but, being an avid archer, I felt like I could handle it. The targets were set at 20 yards and the first shot I took I hit the leg of the target stand knocking the target down, I was a little embarrassed and got another arrow, the second shot I over corrected and shot one over the target and into the woods. I then decided that I better ask for some instructions.
Back in February after deer season was over I was contacted by a gentleman who was concerned by the perceived decline in the deer population. Last Tuesday Extension Wildlife Biologist Adam Tullos came to the county and visited with the landowners. We visited two hunting clubs on the west side of the county which were primarily timber company lease lands that were majority pines.
The first stop that we made while on the tour was at a food plot that was planted in winter grass in the middle of a thinned pine stand. Adam told the guys that were there that in pine timber there are basically three things that had to be done to improve deer habitat thinning, spraying, and burning. As most of you know that are involved in leased timber company land, burning is generally not an option. So Adam responding by saying well if you can’t control the burning you are at a disadvantage, but there are some things that can be done to help. The first thing that needs to be done is soil testing to get the nutrient requirements corrected (pH is a huge factor in food plot success), planting a diversity of plants (grasses, clovers, etc.), fertilizing the surrounding browse apron around the food plots, and also planting summer crops as well.
I cannot stress enough how important liming to correct soil pH is, our soils throughout the county are generally very acidic and an acidic soil will simply not produce as well. The gentlemen that we met with asked Adam about his thoughts on baiting and depredation permits in relation to a drop in the deer population. Adam responded by saying both practices are legal, although we may not agree with them ,they are still legal and what you have to concentrate on is what you can control on your land.
I will be offering a series of vegetable growing classes over the next few weeks starting on April 6th at 6pm at the Multi-purpose building in Coffeeville. These classes are for commercial growers and home gardeners. We will have a set agenda each meeting but will also have open discussion on growing practices and culture. The cost of the class will be $10. If interested call the Extension office at 662-675-2730.
The Coffeeville Saddle Club will host its first judged show on Saturday April 1 at the Multi-purpose Building. The show will start at noon and there will be a concession stand provided by the 4-H Horse Club.
MSU Extension Office will provide accommodations to persons with disabilities or special needs. Please contact our office at 662-675-2730 prior to a program or event to request reasonable accommodations.
