What should I do to Improve the Habitat
01-26-2003, 11:45 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pelican Rapids mn USA
Posts: 9
What should I do to Improve the Habitat
Hi everyone,
I am looking for help on a project. I own a small farm of 145 acres in NW MN in the red river valley area. The layout of the land is the house barn etc are located about center on the south property line. The farmstead is surrounded by trees sheltering it around the west and noth sides of about 15-20 acres used for the house, barn and pasture. In the NE corner of the property is a small wetland area with some brush and an area that I have plated white clover covering I suppose .5 - 1 acre. This area has produced deer almost every year during hunting season unless its one of those years where the deer are only found in the woods. Which all of our hunting pices are not. Also on the property is a small .5 - 1 acrea area over on the west line that is classed wetland so can not be used for crops. It stays dry but due to its classification can not be farmed. Across the road from me on the south is 80 acres surrounded by a big slough or small lake depending on your perspective. To the SE corner of me is a farm of about equal size that has been planted in various trees in an l shape with a .5 acrea slough in a long narrow shape in the middle. To the north I have a farm that just to the north of it is another wetland production area. Mainly slough with some higher dry spots. Any way What should I do to make it even more productive for deer hunting, make it so Phesants are more populated in the area, very very few seen ever now. Plus make the area an area that deer want to remain in all day all year type thing. I can not remove all the land from production as need that income too but could take some for habitat or food plot. I am consdiering taking a 10' - 15' strip on the east property line down to the NE corner and plant clover, grasses and trees and shrubs. On the SE corner across the road is about a 40 acre Oak wood with sloughs. Any recommendations on if I should do this if so plant what and how? Should I circle around the other low spots on the property with similar plantings? HELP? [email protected]
I am looking for help on a project. I own a small farm of 145 acres in NW MN in the red river valley area. The layout of the land is the house barn etc are located about center on the south property line. The farmstead is surrounded by trees sheltering it around the west and noth sides of about 15-20 acres used for the house, barn and pasture. In the NE corner of the property is a small wetland area with some brush and an area that I have plated white clover covering I suppose .5 - 1 acre. This area has produced deer almost every year during hunting season unless its one of those years where the deer are only found in the woods. Which all of our hunting pices are not. Also on the property is a small .5 - 1 acrea area over on the west line that is classed wetland so can not be used for crops. It stays dry but due to its classification can not be farmed. Across the road from me on the south is 80 acres surrounded by a big slough or small lake depending on your perspective. To the SE corner of me is a farm of about equal size that has been planted in various trees in an l shape with a .5 acrea slough in a long narrow shape in the middle. To the north I have a farm that just to the north of it is another wetland production area. Mainly slough with some higher dry spots. Any way What should I do to make it even more productive for deer hunting, make it so Phesants are more populated in the area, very very few seen ever now. Plus make the area an area that deer want to remain in all day all year type thing. I can not remove all the land from production as need that income too but could take some for habitat or food plot. I am consdiering taking a 10' - 15' strip on the east property line down to the NE corner and plant clover, grasses and trees and shrubs. On the SE corner across the road is about a 40 acre Oak wood with sloughs. Any recommendations on if I should do this if so plant what and how? Should I circle around the other low spots on the property with similar plantings? HELP? [email protected]
01-28-2003, 09:15 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: What should I do to Improve the Habitat
I'm not sure why you haven't received any thoughts, maybe some were emailed to you - but your description of the property, while good - is difficult to follow.
Generally, it sounds like you already have a decent deer population, and bucks to work with. You need to decide on your goal - is it to harvest more bucks, better bucks, more deer period, - or more does. This will effect how you plan your plots going forward.
Again, Generally speaking, a 10-15" strip of food plot, regardless of how long it is, will do very little for you, especially if you already have adequate food sources. Personally, I would concentrate on a centrally located year round plot, probably clover, located very near the center of the property. Low spots can offer better soil types (not always) - but, a centrally located - main plot of 2 acres or more will substantially effect deer movemnt, and allow you to better manage a herd, regardless of your goal.
As far as habitat management - If you decide to plant shrubs that are attractive to deer, - you might concentrate on something like Red Osier, especially if the land is wet some of the year! Deer really like it, and you can produce a very high amount of browse in a short period of time. Apples, sumac, blackberry, and hazel are other good choices - and YES if low, shrub cover is lacking - you should promote, and encourage it - Stay away from Alder, Poplar, Willow, and most pine/spruce - while they may offer cover - they do little for browse, when you need it. Some in moderation, with preffered shrubs is OK.
Sorry I could not be more specific.
Keep us updated on your progress, and decisions going forward.
Edited by - farm hunter on 01/28/2003 22:24:19
Generally, it sounds like you already have a decent deer population, and bucks to work with. You need to decide on your goal - is it to harvest more bucks, better bucks, more deer period, - or more does. This will effect how you plan your plots going forward.
Again, Generally speaking, a 10-15" strip of food plot, regardless of how long it is, will do very little for you, especially if you already have adequate food sources. Personally, I would concentrate on a centrally located year round plot, probably clover, located very near the center of the property. Low spots can offer better soil types (not always) - but, a centrally located - main plot of 2 acres or more will substantially effect deer movemnt, and allow you to better manage a herd, regardless of your goal.
As far as habitat management - If you decide to plant shrubs that are attractive to deer, - you might concentrate on something like Red Osier, especially if the land is wet some of the year! Deer really like it, and you can produce a very high amount of browse in a short period of time. Apples, sumac, blackberry, and hazel are other good choices - and YES if low, shrub cover is lacking - you should promote, and encourage it - Stay away from Alder, Poplar, Willow, and most pine/spruce - while they may offer cover - they do little for browse, when you need it. Some in moderation, with preffered shrubs is OK.
Sorry I could not be more specific.
Keep us updated on your progress, and decisions going forward.
Edited by - farm hunter on 01/28/2003 22:24:19
01-29-2003, 06:08 PM
#3
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Livonia Mi USA
Posts: 551
RE: What should I do to Improve the Habitat
The first thing that jumps off the page at us is that you don't really seem to have a handle on the exact size of you food plots... Without measuring you are asking the proverbial question of" How much is a brown dog worth?". You need to list things that you want answered in some form or priority and we'll take it from there, we need to get to know you and your site...
The wetlands are producers because a deer needs nutrition, cover and water.
Romans 10:9 Psalms 42
The wetlands are producers because a deer needs nutrition, cover and water.
Romans 10:9 Psalms 42
