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A total of ( 19
) elk were harvested during the 2019 ( December ) elk hunt on and around CCR . This included ( 13 ) cows and ( 6 ) bulls . As of September 1 st , 2020 , ( 24 ) hunters have registered to hunt elk on CCR during the December 2020 elk season . ( Ten bull hunters and fourteen cow-only hunters ). There are also twelve names on the “ waiting list ”. The DNR has significantly increased the number of elk to be harvested in CCR ’ s elk unit for 2020 . The elk unit for CCR is now unit “ I ”. MAINTAINED AINED FIELDS AND OPEN GRASSLANDS Spring : Three acres of corn was planted in the spring on the north side of Rye Field # 3 as a “ test ” plot to see how well corn would grow . An electric fence was placed around the corn . The results were fairly positive even with a 5-6 week drought . The electric fence was removed the first week in August and was immediately hit hard ( mostly by elk ). The remaining main rye fields ( except rye 7 ) were planted with soy beans in the spring . A buffer of buckwheat was planted around the edges of the rye fields as well . Summer : Open field grasslands were mowed during June and July . The amount of mowing was reduced significantly in 2020 especially in the “ blind alley ” areas . Instead of the entire fields being mowed only the first 20-30 feet from the roads was mowed in several areas . There were 2-3 new food plots created during the summer including one on the west side of Rocker Panel . Fall : All the fields were fertilized the first week in August . The main rye fields were planted with rye . Selected Gas Well Sites and other small food plots were planted with a seed mix consisting mostly of clover . The fall planting has gone very well with August rains being very timely . By September 1 st all the fields were in excellent condition and should provide good nutrition entering the winter once the fields are being used by the deer . GROUSE AND WOODCOCK
This year ’ s spring grouse drumming survey took place over a three week period from late April until mid May . The spring grouse drumming survey results indicates that the grouse numbers are steady compared to last year . The DNR continues to monitor the Ruffed Grouse population in Northern Michigan for the West Nile Virus .
Approximately 6 acres of tag alder was cut last winter on the east side of Canada Creek . This cut began east of last years cut and continued to approximately the old toboggan run . The purpose of the cut is to improve both grouse and woodcock habitat on the Ranch . The work is financed through a shared grant ( 50 %) by the U . S . Fish and Wildlife Service . LAKES Rainbow Trout were planted in Little Joe Lake on April 20 th just prior to the April 25 th trout opener .
Bluegills were planted in Lake Geneva and Wildfowl Lake on May 27 th . Some members have expressed their concerns regarding the algae and water quality in Virginia Lake . FORESTRY 2019 / 20 Forest treatment : Area harvested is in the central South portion of CCR , north of West Fence and west of Homestead road . Area was harvested by Precision Forestry . The Covid 19 travel restrictions reduced logging activity , since forestry was deemed non-essential . Approximately 100 acres of red pine thinning was not completed and harvest contract was extended to winter of 2020 / 2021 . Some logs also will be hauled this winter .
60 acres of over-mature pin oak with some maple and aspen were clear cut . Objective is to regenerate pin oak and other associated species .
70 acres of well stocked red oak saw-log and pole timber with aspen and maple was treated . Established regeneration was mostly maple . Objective for harvest in these stands is to promote growth in residual oak by thinning . All mature maple and aspen were removed .
11 acres of red pine ( origin 1957 ) had every third row removed in 1997 and this year ’ s thinning removed selected trees within the remaining rows . Objective is to promote growth in the residual red pines .
Tree Planting : There was no pine tree planting this year , since no trenching equipment was available .
The chestnut and apple trees planted in enclosure on west side of the Big Ravine were hit by late frost end of May and by gypsy moth infestation . The tops of some of the trees appear to be dead , but are sprouting from the roots . Planting
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