Pond Boss Forums GENERAL QUESTIONS Pond Boss Happy Birthday DrLuke!

Happy Birthday DrLuke!

Happy Birthday 2ya

Happy birthday Doc.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Luke!

HBD!!

Happy birthday Doc!
What is the update on the pond? Any new catches or how are the predators vs the prey?

Any new technology going in the duck boxes? I look forward to your duck cams every spring!

Do you deer hunt too?

Hope you are staying sane with all the media fear around monkeypox, Chinese COVID, and now an epidemic of RSV in the midwest..

Dr Luke Hoping the birthday was healthy and a good time. Work in some time to give us a pond update.

Thanks all, for the birthday wishes!

CC-
Pond is doing pretty well..I think. I've decided to run my shallow diffuser year round, and we also ran ALL diffusers 24/7 spring to fall. I used to turn off the diffusers during the mid day in the hottest part of the summer. But Iowa just doesn't get that Texas style 'surface of the sun' type heat, so I quit with the timer cycling. The fish seemed to do fine. I used to worry more about super cooling, but between having it in a shallow finger (1 to 3 feet) and seeing how WarrenBuffetJr's pond did in the mountains of Colorado, I think my fish will be fine, even if the ave temp is bit cooler this winter. Time will tell. Just trying to keep the highest oxygen content and best water in my pond that I can.

We did overstock a bit this fall. I added 300 YP, 100 RES and 25 LMB. The YP because I wanted to pump up their numbers while my LMB population is regrowing after our winter kill. The RES because we still get a bit of black spot in our fillets and I also like RES. And the 25 new LMB just for a genetics boost.

I'm working on a fully wireless set up for a wood duck box. I'll hopefully get it up and running for spring. We had about 60 jumpers (baby ducks hatch out) this spring/summer, which is always fun to see.

And yes, I'm and avid bow hunter of the whitetail deer. Been at it for 30+ years. I typically try and shoot a 3 yr old or older, but filled my tag with a 2 yr old on my last day of hunting this year. We love venison and I typically pool burger meat with my dad and brother. We put up ~ 100 lbs this year. We (of course) save the choice cuts like backstrap and inside tenders for steaks. I thinks it's great what you and your son accomplished with getting him started hunting. I hope he's 'hooked' too. Maybe even get dad up in the stand eh? I love hunting, but there's nothing like being inside 20 yards with a big buck and getting in position and pulled without spooking him. I'm always shaking like a leaf after an 'encounter', successful or not. Good stuff. Highly recommended.

Wow, thanks for the great update!

300 YP!! that is a big load. I'm sure they will do great and the great thing about YP is that you can easily control population by removing egg strands. I also find that any kind of shiner when present in large population will wipe out the YP fry so it is hard to get the next generation a sure foothold.

I'm clearly showing my novice here but how in the world are you picking out the 2 yr olds from the 3 yr olds? You can tell from how they look what year they are? So my son's buck from the picture you can spot that? I'm impressed! Or maybe you know the deer from seeing them on your game cameras?

I LOVE everything about fishing I probably could get hooked on hunting too. The thing for me so far was the time needed to sit alone in the blind or walking through the woods and also gun safety was something I wasn't feeling very skilled in. Once we figure out this whole thing about harvest, prep, processing and learning to enjoy the meat I think the rest will fall in place. My son has a crossbow that he finds not nearly as interesting/attractive as his 20 gauge. I may take it over and learn to use it.

I'm determined to keep moving my 2 Duckhuts this year and hopefully find a place they find to be acceptable to start a nest.

Thanks for the update and please keep us posted on your new population of RES and YP.

Here is a primer on aging bucks on the hoof...