Hiram Hideaway

2009 Deer Season

2010-02-04T12:35:00.000-08:00

2009 Burn

2009-01-03T15:19:00.000-08:00

Another burn is scheduled prelimarily for January 16-17. The plan is to cut woody vegetation and burn the same ten acres as last year.

2008 Deer Season

2008-11-26T08:52:00.000-08:00

Greg and his 8 pointer from opening morning.

2008-11-07T12:41:00.000-08:00

Burn Results Few but Present

2008-09-05T12:24:00.000-07:00

The spring burn, although hardly noticeable at this point in the season, did show positive results in certain areas. Warm season grasses such as Saccharum alopecuroides (silver plumegrass- pictured), Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem) and Andropogon virginicus (broomsedge) appeared to rebound well in open areas. Woody growth was affected minimally which may require a chainsaw and herbicide to eliminate completely.

Labor Day Moved

2008-09-02T10:59:00.000-07:00

September 3rd will be labor day at the Hideaway. Several of the men will be heading down to complete deer stands, plant food plots, cut weeds, chainsaw woody vegetation in the savanna, plant native grass seed, spray sericea lespedeza, collect fire wood and other assorted jobs. Don and Rubin will work a double by heading down a day early.

Emerald Ash Borers Found in Wayne County

2008-08-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

They're here: Emerald ash borers, which have killed tens of millions of ash trees in eight states, are now in Missouri. On July 23, USDA scientists discovered seven of the insects in traps in Wayne County in southeast Missouri.
The arrival of the emerald ash borer ( EAB) in Missouri was unwanted but not unexpected, said Hank Stelzer, University of Missouri Extension forester and member of the state's EAB task force, which includes representatives from USDA, MU Extension and the Missouri agriculture, conservation and natural resources departments.
In mid-August, Stelzer will host an online seminar ("webinar") for federal, state and MU Extension stakeholders.
"We have been preparing for an event like this for some time," said Collin Wamsley, Missouri Department of Agriculture entomologist. "Right now, we are doing what we can to determine the location of the emerald ash borer. We hope to have that information soon and begin the next steps in battling this pest."
The emerald ash borer is a small, metallic-green beetle native to Asia. As an adult, the beetle nibbles on leaves, inflicting relatively little damage, but EAB larvae burrow into ash trees to feed on the inner bark (phloem), leaving meandering tunnels that disrupt the transport of water and nutrients. Afflicted trees typically die in three to four years.
The beetles were discovered in traps at a campground at the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Greenville Recreation Area in Wayne County. Crews are now conducting a visual survey of trees in the area to determine the extent of the infestation, said Rob Lawrence, forest entomologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation.
Ash trees make up about 3 percent of Missouri's forests and as much as 14 percent of trees in cities and towns. "While the borer will not have a significant impact on Missouri's forest products industry," Stelzer said, "it could have a devastating impact in communities across the state. For example, the vast majority of the trees surrounding the Gateway Arch in St. Louis are green ash."
Because standing dead trees are a public safety threat, cities and towns could end up spending millions of dollars removing afflicted ash trees, he said.
The emerald ash borer was unknown in North America until 2002, when entomologists discovered it was devastating ash trees in Michigan. Since then the borer has appeared in Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland and Ontario, Canada. Missouri marks the borer's westernmost appearance.
Entomologists believe borers arrived in the U.S. as stowaways in wooden shipping materials, such as crating or pallets, and have since spread by hitchhiking on firewood, ash logs and nursery stock.
Officials are urging people to obtain firewood locally and not transport firewood to or from campgrounds. The Missouri EAB task force is not yet advising landowners to change their scheduled timber management activities. For new planting, however, Stelzer said it's not a good idea to plant ash trees right now.
"Unless a miracle happens, this is going to end up a little worse than the American chestnut blight," said Steven Kirk, MU Extension integrated pest management specialist. In the early 1900s, a fungus began killing American chestnut trees, which were an important food crop and source of lumber until the blight virtually eradicated them from the U.S. by 1950.
"With the American chestnut, at least the roots are still alive and the tree can grow 8-10 feet before the disease kicks in," Kirk said. "With the borer, the tree is dead, dead, dead."
White ash and green ash trees have become popular in recent decades because they are resistant to gypsy moths, which have aggressively defoliated trees in North America for more than 100 years.
Lawrence, the MDC entomologist, notes that one lesson from this is to plant a variety of trees rather than stick to a single species. "If you do, eventually a bug will come along that only likes that tree," he said.
"There are no commercially available insecticides to combat this pest at the present time," Stelzer said. "But one promising chemical, called Tree-age, is being evaluated by research scientists in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, and will hopefully be approved for use in other states."
In China, scientists have observed parasitic wasps attacking eggs or larval stages of the emerald ash borer. "Efforts are underway to determine if these wasps could be safe and effective controls of EAB in America," Stelzer said.
For more information about the emerald ash borer, see http://snr.missouri.edu/forestry/extension/emeraldash.php.

-University of Missouri Extension Report (August 1, 2008)

Limenitis arthemis astyanax, red spotted purple

2008-07-29T13:00:00.000-07:00

Photo Taken: 7.1.2008

InBev Buys Anheuser-Busch

2008-07-13T19:55:00.001-07:00

Bottoms up to some of the alternatives!

Summer Olympics Come to Hiram

2008-07-01T15:18:00.000-07:00

Mark's aim was not true with fishing or riflery, but he avoided the sweep by drinking more Buds.

1930 Plat Map

2008-05-29T08:05:00.000-07:00

Section 17 shows that the Hiram Hideaway was owned by Concrete Investment Company at one time much like a good portion of the 29N 7E portion of Wayne County. It is likely the land was previously owned by Holladay-Klotz Land and Lumber Company. Hiram was named after Hiram Holladay, owner of the company. It is difficult to determine what influence either company had on the property, but it is almost certain that the land has been logged numerous times throughout history-most recently by Autry Morlan, owner of Morlan Land around 1997-99.

Shortleaf Pine Savanna

2008-05-10T19:18:00.000-07:00

Shortleaf pine is native throughout the Ozark Region in Missouri and as far north as the La Barque Hills area of Eureka, Missouri. It typically is associated with sandstone outcrops and various acid-loving plants like blueberries, mountain azalea, and legumes like leadplant Amorpha canescens, goats rue Tephrosia virginiana, and cream wild indigo Baptisia bracteata.

Easter Monday Burn

2008-03-25T14:38:00.000-07:00

Conditions were nearly perfect for the prescribed burn that slid across the ten acre section of the Hiram Hideaway on March 24th. A lazy breeze and slight early frost created a perfectly controlled fire. Don Bley, Kevin Bley and Bill Knight arrived and ignited the eastern edge around 9:15 AM.

The fire moved slowly, but steadily westward. As Don moved counterclockwise around the tract with the drip tank, which had been provided by, Hiram neighbor, Rick Golden of the Missouri Department of Conservation. Within the next two hours a northeastern burn line was gradually burning inward from Bill and Don. Kevin worked toward the center starting secondary spot burns to speed the process. Greg Bley and Ruben arrived to provide additional manpower along with Chief Larry Hornbuckle and another representatives of the Lowndes Fire Department. Once a burn line had been established on all edges, Don and Greg operated chainsaws to cut oak saplings and other woody vegetation. Ruben helped create burn piles to eliminate the downed timber.

Kevin proceded to distribute native seeds that included Little Bluestem, Big Bluestem, Switchgrass, Virginia Wild Rye and an small assortment of native wildflowers.

Overall, the fire burned well and the new fire breaks bulldozed by Ed Meloy held up well.

Prescribed Burn Plan

2008-03-11T13:02:00.000-07:00

When the smoke clears on March 24th, a newly burned ten acre tract will begin it's regrowth and regeneration just in time for spring. This was the ultimate concern when Don formulated the prescibed burn plan for the Hideaway on March 10th. The plan will be submitted to Dave Hassenbeck, Private Land Conservationist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. Below is a copy of the submission.

Prescribed Burn for the Bley Property

The burn area in question is on the Bley property located just East of Hiram, MO on County Road 224.

The landowner is Kevin Bley of St. Louis County, MO.

The burn area is a pie shaped ten-acre plot located on the West side of a two hundred acre tract. It is located on a slight grade near the top of a rolling hill. The west side of the property has a gravel drive approximately ten feet wide. The area north of the burn area will have a dozed logging road roughly fifteen feet wide. North of the logging road, will have a cleared food plot of land approximately twenty to thirty feet beyond the logging road. The southeast side of the burn will have a single width dozer break.

Both the north and the southeast flanks will have primary and secondary firebreaks established prior to the fire. A backfire and flank fires will be burnt prior to the setting of the head fire.

The Loundes Fire Chief, Chief Hornbuckle, has been advised of our attention to burn, and will be contacted prior to the burn. Chief Hornbuckle stated he would have a brush truck with volunteer firefighters present to assist along with five or six paid firefighters from the St. Louis area. Don Bley, an assistant fire chief from St. Louis County, will provide Indian pumpers, fire beaters and rakes. Accompanying the above mentioned individuals will be two to four men experienced with prescribed burns with the Missouri Department of Conservation and the Missouri Native Plant Society.

All of the adjacent land near the property line of the Bley property is open woods.

No homes should be affected from smoke in any direction, the nearest home being at least one half mile away to the west.

Ed Meloy, a local contractor from the area, will doze the logging road two blades wide north of the burn area. The area just north of the logging road will be a bare soil firebreak cleared twenty to thirty feet for planting. Ed will doze a single dozer width firebreak on the southeast side of the burn area.

In addition to the firebreaks on the north and southeast flanks, a backfire will be set to provide a firebreak of more than thirty feet surrounding the burn area.

See maps and drawing for the burn area location as well as the topography map showing elevation.

Rabbit Hunting

2008-02-11T09:44:00.000-08:00

Greg, Glen and Dennis made a rabbit hunting trip with their beagles. Many rabbits were run, but the thickness prevented all but four kills. Greg also shot a large bobcat. They spent the night on Friday and hunted Saturday. The FATSO was burning full on but the cabin was still cold.

Merry Christmas Hiram Hideaway

2008-01-08T12:44:00.001-08:00

Several gifts were received this Christmas that will be used at the Hiram Hideaway Cabin. As demonstrated by Kevin in the picture below, Santa brought a brand spankin' new portable toliet.

Also received were these army surplus backpacks. (Notice the many multi-use pocket. You could put all kinds of stuff in those pockets.) And, of course, Christmas wouldn't be the same without the exchange of Bass Pro gift cards (Not pictured). They are certain to be used for something really nice for this home away from home.

Gate Problems

2008-01-08T12:43:00.001-08:00

Rick Golden called on Christmas to report that the red gate had been destroyed. He was not sure who had done it or why. No damage was reported on the cabin. Eugene Halloway also reported some tampering with his gate lock. Perhaps a new, stronger gate is in order.

The Rest of the Hunt

2007-11-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

Hunters were skunked during the week and second weekend of deer rifle season. A ten pointer was killed by locals off Donald Baker's property to the north. At least one doe was killed on the Holloway's place. Some deer were seen, but no shots fired.

2007 Opening Weekend of Deer Season

2007-11-16T06:10:00.000-08:00

Tim and his friend, Travis, were able to both shoot does on the 20 acre electric clearing opening morning. Greg shot his four pointer in the northeast corner on the second morning.

Cabin Complete

2007-10-14T19:50:00.000-07:00

The cabin construction is complete and ready for good use. The final payments have been sent to Ed Meloy and Mistie and Kevin spent the night in the final product with much applause.

Deer Season

2007-10-14T19:45:00.000-07:00

Much work has been performed to prepare deer hunting locations. Paths have been cleared with the Gravely. Some sample food plot seeds (winter wheat, turnips, oats) have been planted. A permanent stand has been built northwest of the cabin.

Prescribed Burn Moved Up

2007-10-14T19:42:00.000-07:00

The burn scheduled for February will likely occur in December or January to promote native grasses and discourage woody growth.

2007-09-26T09:20:00.000-07:00

Papilio troilus troilus
spicebush swallowtail
Photographed: 9.6.2007

February Burn

2007-09-17T11:38:00.000-07:00

We are scheduled to conduct a controlled burn in February to assist in pine savanna restoration. The section will be roughly ten acres. The following people have volunteered their time for the burn:
Kevin Bley
Don Bley
Greg Bley
Bill Knight
Rick Golden

Others will be contacted. The more people we have, the safer and easier the project will become. Ideally, we will get 3-5 more volunteers. The burn may be performed earlier depending on schedules.

Upcoming Visits

2007-09-16T20:24:00.000-07:00

September 17: Greg & Coworkers
October 4-5: Kevin & Mistie
October 20: Kevin & Chester
November 9-11: Opening Weekend of Deer Season

Artist At Work

2007-09-07T14:16:00.000-07:00

Kevin and Don made a crack into clearing some roads, paths, food plots and savanna. The focus was on cutting shrubby vegetation (oaks, sumac, winged elm, blackberries, etc.)

Kevin the Mad Cutter

2007-09-06T20:22:00.000-07:00

Sept. 6, 2007
Today Kevin developed an uncontrollable urge to ride around on the Gravely cutting anything in his path. Watch out snakes!

2007-09-05T11:42:00.000-07:00

Oxalis violacea
violet woodsorrel

Photographed 4.29.2007

2007-09-05T11:37:00.000-07:00

Everes comyntas comyntas
eastern-tailed blue

Photographed 6.15.2007

2007-09-05T11:21:00.000-07:00

Clitoria mariana

Photographed 6.15.2007

Snake Egg

2007-09-05T11:10:00.000-07:00

This photo of a snake egg and hole was taken near the road entrance at CR224 on the western edge. 8.11.2007

Welcome!

2007-09-05T11:02:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the Hiram Hideaway blog! This site will be used in conjunction with the 224 Times to provide information about the happenings of the Hiram Hideaway. People are welcome to submit articles, stories, pictures or other items to be published on this blog. Enjoy!