A Perfect Habitat For All

A spike buck feeds on a bit of corn in a trough made from part of a hollow trunk. 

Lots of does on the hill, but not too many bucks in evidence. 

These woods are surrounded by farms and nearly everyone hunts. Home gun ranges are in earshot on three sides, and at least four or five deer stands are located within 300 yards of the house. I do not oppose hunting, and the deer stands are bow hunters. Without hunting, we’d be neck deep in deer. As it is, we are merely knee deep.

My small patch of woods is connected to about 400 acres of forest ringed by farms which have small woods and hedgerow scattered throughout. 

I pass cows, horses, chickens and sheep on the 12-minute drive to Lowes, Walmart, several banks, Wegman’s, Dunkin Donuts, California Pizza Kitchen, Five Guys, several gas stations, AutoZone, Starbucks, Giant Foods, CVS, PetSmart, Marshalls, Chipotle, and every other convenience imaginable, all of which is located across the road from a terrific riverside park where I can launch my kayak for 5-20 miles of peaceful paddling through waters teaming with fish, as evinced by the jaw-dropping numbers of Bald Eagles, Osprey, Blue Heron, Egrets, Merganser, Cormorants, and King Fishers to be seen along the way.  All of this is just 50 minutes to Washington, DC, 50 minutes to Baltimore, 25 minutes to the 2,000-mile long Appalachian Trail, and 25 minutes to the 340 mile river-side bicycle path that connects Washington, DC to Pittsburgh, PA.