Great App For Keeping Up With Swarm Trap Locations

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! 

I haven't posted an update here in a few weeks now because I have been busy with work and with putting out swarm traps. Yes, I know most people believe that it is a bit early (or late depending on how you view it), but I want to get them in place now as I build them and find good locations for them. Also, I like to put them out over a very large area so I can get a wide range of genetics to bring back to my apiary. I am switching over to top-bar hives, so I am building a bunch of top-bar hive swarm traps. The process is slow right now, but I am hoping that after the Christmas Holiday I will have time to build and put out many more throughout the state. 

Anyway, if you are like me and trying to place multiple traps, it might be a good idea to use some sort of GPS app to keep track of them all. I found on that I really like called HuntStand. I found it on the Google Play Store. I don't know if it is available on iPhone. So far I like the features it comes with. It has great functionality and seems to be very accurate, even in areas where there is little cell coverage. 

I am able to mark my location easily, label it, make comments at each visit, and even use a photo to help me locate it better. There are a ton of other features, but these are the few that I am using at this time. 

If you are putting out many swarm traps over a large area, I highly recommend that you download this GPS app. Its free to use. You can upgrade, but I think the upgrade only gets rid of the ads. One last thing, make absolutely certain that you backup your map after putting out traps. If you don't and your phone gets broken somehow, you will lose your data. 

Have a great day!

A screenshot of my current trap location near my home.

First Light Frost On The Farm

 It appears that during the night winter weather made its entrance into the deep south. The goldenrod is still blooming here and this was a very light and spotty frost so maybe it wasn't enough to stop the blooms. We'll see.

 I'm not gonna call it the official end to the fall flow just yet, but it looks like the end is indeed near.

Just want to keep my fellow beekeepers aware that Spring is not that far away. At least not for those of us in the south. It's a really good time to start planning for Spring. Building boxes and swarm traps is what you should be starting to do. We are in the process of building and placing 30+ swarm traps throughout West Louisiana. It may seem too early to start putting traps out, but keep in mind that the holidays will be here soon and most of us are preoccupied with that until January. So get it done now. We'll be working straight through the holidays getting ready for a great 2020!
Bye for now. Be a blessing!