Old burned down church

[mitto]

Hi All --

I just received permission to hunt a church which was built in the 1870's, and burned down in the 1930's. I went out to the site to look around today. All I could find left of the church was the stone steps. The site is aprox. 1 acre but very overgrown with brush and pickers.

I was wondering if anyone has any advice on how to hunt a site like this. I live in Western Wisconsin. Would I be best off waiting until we get a couple frosts to try to get rid of some foilage, or should I just buck up and go in now. We should be getting freezes at night within a month.

What does everyone think I should do.

 

[montanagold]

Mow it, then detect it to death!

 

[Knight451]

If they are ok with you mowing it I would do that. I have a site like that myself but it is long grass and about 2 acres. I thought about taking out the weed eater and knocking down some of it in the areas that would have seen the most traffic. Also a cheesehead. Good luck and happy hunting.

 

[mitto]

It is not mowable. Too thick (i.e. brush) I think I will put on the carharts and just go for it.

 

[fowlercharles]

Freeze/frost probably won't do much but bunk up the critter/crawlers for the winter,. I have worked some places if the underbrush would allow it (when I was young) literally on my hands and knees, worming my way through the underbrush, but only after most of the creepy crawlers have thinned out. If there are grassy spots,they will just turn brown and lie there come freeze so, try a piece of 1/4" plywood and stomp it down ahead of you to flatten it some. If you don't have a real snake hazard, go ahead and put the Carharts on and maybe you can find a goodie spot to hammer on whenever it does cool down. I would try first to concentrate on the burnt building site behind the steps.Use a small coil in the nails, and hope for the best. Don;t forget to look for the well/spring/ or trail to the creek and toilets.Also any older grove trees, if any.You got a winner there if you can get to it and the more time you spend there the better you will learn how to work it.! HH Charlie

 

[mr1874]

Built in the 1870's.

Even nasty looking 1877 pennies are fetching fancy prices these days.

 

[montanagold]

Rent one of those DR trimmers, I think it would be worth the cost.

 

[BusDigger]

I would have to hunt the areas of it that would allow it. Another option is Craigslist, find someone advertising and ask what it'd cost you to have an acre bush-hogged. If I felt good about the site, I might pay a bit to be able to hunt it. If you've got a hunting buddy, see if they'd split the cost & share the hunt.

Good luck, whichever route you take!