Entrance and exit

[hamstring]

Another reason people don't like beavers is because they like to make ponds all over the place.

Ponds = lots of people biting bugs (mosquitoes,black flies, etc.)

I know ponds in forested areas that are fine to be around in the daytime on sunny days.
On other hand, at night or on a cloudy days you better run for your life or the tiny
flying vampires will drain you dry.

To be honest I have never had problems growing around beavers but I know others have.

While on a kayak trip once I put up my tent and tied off my kayak and was just bedding down when a beaver decided he didn't like me in his territory and kept slapping his tail all night. Honestly he/she was so pissed I thought he may drag my tent into the river.

 

[hamstring]

Burns can make good grow spots where bushes and trees will be resprouting from the roots. There's not much heavy cover, but everything coming up is the size and shape of a pot plant, and there's plenty of sunlight. Scatter the plants and don't make a habit of visiting.

I agree with you after a burn everything comes up green and it would make for great growing conditions. Less native veg to compete with.

On the other hand every step you take leaves a footprint and there is no cover to help with security while you are preparing plot. I'm from midwest farming area and its next to impossible to be able to grow somewhere where security isn't job one.

 

[hamstring]

I once made a small clearing about 100 ft by 100 ft on the north side of a
creek far in the forested area. Which was loaded with beavers. I cut the
trees in the fall at about 2 feet in height and left them there.

From the air, it probably look like beavers were going nuts. The next spring,
the trees were dry and much easier to lift. By then the clearing looked natural.
Now ferns grow there like mad. I haven't been there in years. It's nice to have
spare places to grow though.

BTW: Making a clearing at the same you grow is very risky.

I have only once removed a tree and it was one a beaver had started on already. Maybe around 12 -16 inches in diameter so fairly large but the beaver had done half the work.

I cant imagine removing a bunch of trees it would be a huge amount of work. I agree with you, " Never shit where you eat". I wouldn't grow where I just took down a bunch of trees.

 

[hamstring]

I prefer around 6 foot hybrid plants for guerilla growing. They don't stick out too much and are easy to deal with. The longer flowering ones I keep for home, I like to start em under lights and just finish em outdoors doesn't take long at all. In and out.

Agree 6 ft is about the exact size I like too. They shrink in height during flowering because of the flowering weight. A 6ft plant during flowering is under 5 ft and doesn't stick out.

A few years back I was into growing longer flowering strains and I had 8 ft plants in October and the flowering was just getting serious. I lost everyone of those plants to rippers or land owners. I went back to my roots on strain choices.

 

[Cox Jared]

Agree 6 ft is about the exact size I like too. They shrink in height during flowering because of the flowering weight. A 6ft plant during flowering is under 5 ft and doesn't stick out.

A few years back I was into growing longer flowering strains and I had 8 ft plants in October and the flowering was just getting serious. I lost everyone of those plants to rippers or land owners. I went back to my roots on strain choices.

That's some guerilla wisdom. Funny how people learn the same things with experience.

 

[Jesco]

This spot was a sure thing if you could get in securely .

Would you pick this spot?

Not without at least one reliable entry/exit point. In fact, I prefer to have at least two of each. It may be possible to create alternative entry/exit points yourself (I have done this myself in the past). The two farms you mention concerns me, given the view they have. Locals don't miss much and may be aware of things you may not be. Hope it works out for you.

 

[Jesco]

tech1234
hey thanks for the reply. I am worried about the beavers but security has me more worried.

I'm really thinking of letting this go because the two most important factors in plot consideration (for me) are the entrance/exit into the grow area vs the plot itself.

Wise move. I have found fantastic grow sites in the past which only problem was safe entry/exit points and had to walk away from them as you could not be guaranteed not to be seen 100% of the time. One time I ignored that issue and found it to be a huge pain in the ass coming and going - sometimes had to turn around and go home because people were near the track into the site or you have to sit and wait to leave. Not worth it...

 

[Jesco]

Do Smaller plants require less baby sitting i.e. less visits.

How do other guerrillas come down on this statement big or large plants as it pertains to Entrance/Exit and more importantly an actual harvest because thats the end game?

I am interested in everyones thoughts because all you ever read about is large plants not much from the other side of the question.

In my experience, small plants require the same amount of attention as big plants (aside from tying down, harvesting, etc.). They still need watering and feeding as frequently as larger plants. If you're carrying water in, then that might be another matter - but I don't pick a site without access to reliable water supply nearby.

 

[Jesco]

I once made a small clearing about 100 ft by 100 ft on the north side of a
creek far in the forested area. Which was loaded with beavers. I cut the
trees in the fall at about 2 feet in height and left them there.

From the air, it probably look like beavers were going nuts. The next spring,
the trees were dry and much easier to lift. By then the clearing looked natural.
Now ferns grow there like mad. I haven't been there in years. It's nice to have
spare places to grow though.

BTW: Making a clearing at the same you grow is very risky.

I've done the same - found a great spot in every way - except a little too shaded at certain times of day. So I went in and cleared the area, cut down a few trees, cut those up into smaller pieces and hid the logs under trees/bush. Left it for two years, then returned to develop the area for guerrilla growing. If you have the luxury to plan ahead like this, it does make life much easier in the long term.

 

[hamstring]

Jesco
Thanks for sharing your thoughts and experiences. I would like to hear more on your large vs small plants experience.

I agree with your points about watering and feeding large or small plants its the same amount of work.
Personally I don't water or feed my plants I haven't done either for years.

What is your experience and thoughts about security?
Tying/keeping branches from braking or laying on the ground?
Any problems with hermies?

I know since I switched to fems I have a couple of hermies every year. It's usually localized only affecting the single plant but if I were going with less but larger plants it would be a higher % of seeded weed. Granted its a smaller consideration but I still think about it.

Not arguing just looking for more peoples' experience and spreading the knowledge.

Thanks

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

While on a kayak trip once I put up my tent and tied off my kayak and was just bedding down when a beaver decided he didn't like me in his territory and kept slapping his tail all night. Honestly he/she was so pissed I thought he may drag my tent into the river.

Try kayaking under the full moon. You get challenged by another beaver every time you enter a new territory. I had them swim right up to me, chattering the whole while... then gaboosh! and you're all wet.

 

[corky1968]

Try kayaking under the full moon. You get challenged by another beaver every time you enter a new territory. I had them swim right up to me, chattering the whole while... then gaboosh! and you're all wet.

Beaver's aren't the only thing to worry about with their slapping tails in the outdoors by the water.

Once I was gathering water from a place at my clearing along the creek where beavers make
exits out of the water. Kind of looks like channels dug up. Anyways, it was getting dark and I
guess my gathering of water while making ripples in the water attracted a freaking "Snapping Turtle"
looking for a midnight snack.

It took off when I stood up but it sure scared me as well.

 

[hamstring]

Try kayaking under the full moon. You get challenged by another beaver every time you enter a new territory. I had them swim right up to me, chattering the whole while... then gaboosh! and you're all wet.

Dude that sounds so fun and a little bit dangerous. I would love to kayak at night but I have had some pretty scary experience kayaking during daylight hours let alone at night. It would have to be in a lake vs a river.

I have been drug under at a log jam during high water levels on a river. It changed my kayaking view point forever. When I went under I wasn't sure I was coming back up on the other side of the log jam.

Then when I did come up my relief went to desperation as I saw my paddle go floating by. I never swam so hard to grab my paddle and then the current was so strong it drug me another 100 yards before I could reach the shore. My brain was smooth for along time after that.

I forgot to add when the rivers/creeks are high you can see whole families of beavers because all of their dens have been flooded out. I have kayaked by hollows in the river bank and seen mom,dad a yearling and two kits staring back at me. Totally cool.

CR thanks for the memories I haven't thought about that forever. More to growing than just plants right brother!!

 

[hamstring]

Beaver's aren't the only thing to worry about with their slapping tails in the outdoors by the water.

Once I was gathering water from a place at my clearing along the creek where beavers make
exits out of the water. Kind of looks like channels dug up. Anyways, it was getting dark and I
guess my gathering of water while making ripples in the water attracted a freaking "Snapping Turtle"
looking for a midnight snack.

It took off when I stood up but it sure scared me as well.

One of my favorite things to do in early spring is look for snappers in swamps or small run off ponds. They are moving slow because of the temperature so it's easy to grab them by their tails. I catch and release just for fun because you rarely see them after spring.

 

[hamstring]

WOW!! looks like we took a fork in the river. To catch up with the main body of water we were discussing large vs small plants for guerrilla growing

 

[aridbud]

My concerns would be the "one way in, one way out". You don't want to create a trail....and need a second or third exit.

Personally, I wouldn't plant there for reasons others have mentioned.

 

[stoned-trout]

beaver aint bad eating...go to your spot at night and u wont be seen...yeehaw..kayaking at night is fun..i grew up with snapping turtles in my back yard..we use to paint their shells when they was burying eggs...

 

[Cox Jared]

My concerns would be the "one way in, one way out". You don't want to create a trail....and need a second or third exit.

Personally, I wouldn't plant there for reasons others have mentioned.

Exactly how I feel. I always try to keep my trails hidden and never keep them straight. I always zig zag them and know of a few different ways out. Can never be too careful.

 

[Crusader Rabbit]

I developed a great grow location in a willow-cottonwood choked wash in rocky desert. Had to crawl into the spot and start cutting willow trees. Did a burn in there on a night with light rain to get it all clear. Eventually enclosed it entirely, including overhead with chicken wire to keep the packrats from stealing the buds. My main entrance was maybe fifty yards away where I'd enter the thicket then crawl under and over and along branches to get to my plants. All the tools lived there so I had nothing incriminating to carry. Had that location for over a decade.

But the surroundings were open desert. I'd walk there in the morning dark if possible, but didn't want to spend the whole day waiting for nightfall. I carried a birding field guide and binoculars in case I had to explain myself. Once I was out nearby wearing desert camo and saw two people on horseback approaching. Nowhere to find cover so I lay down on my back in a shallow depression. Of course they innocently rode right to this location and I nearly spooked the horses they were so close when they saw me. Pretty strange laying on your back on the ground while making casual conversation with some stranger on a horse, trying to act like this was an everyday occurrence. And I was always nervous that this area had big rocky hills all around.

As the years went by it eventually just got too busy around there and I stropped using that location, though it meant walking away from a big investment in time and energy. Couple years later the local newspaper had a big write up about several growers who got popped in that general area who'd been growing in similar vegetation filled washes. Turned out the investigation was a big multi-agency operation which involved US Army personnel stationed up on those rocky hilltops with spotting scopes. I would have been toast.

 

[DuskrayTroubador]

I developed a great grow location in a willow-cottonwood choked wash in rocky desert. Had to crawl into the spot and start cutting willow trees. Did a burn in there on a night with light rain to get it all clear. Eventually enclosed it entirely, including overhead with chicken wire to keep the packrats from stealing the buds. My main entrance was maybe fifty yards away where I'd enter the thicket then crawl under and over and along branches to get to my plants. All the tools lived there so I had nothing incriminating to carry. Had that location for over a decade.

But the surroundings were open desert. I'd walk there in the morning dark if possible, but didn't want to spend the whole day waiting for nightfall. I carried a birding field guide and binoculars in case I had to explain myself. Once I was out nearby wearing desert camo and saw two people on horseback approaching. Nowhere to find cover so I lay down on my back in a shallow depression. Of course they innocently rode right to this location and I nearly spooked the horses they were so close when they saw me. Pretty strange laying on your back on the ground while making casual conversation with some stranger on a horse, trying to act like this was an everyday occurrence. And I was always nervous that this area had big rocky hills all around.

As the years went by it eventually just got too busy around there and I stropped using that location, though it meant walking away from a big investment in time and energy. Couple years later the local newspaper had a big write up about several growers who got popped in that general area who'd been growing in similar vegetation filled washes. Turned out the investigation was a big multi-agency operation which involved US Army personnel stationed up on those rocky hilltops with spotting scopes. I would have been toast.

FUCK! Fuck growing in the desert.