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Started By
Message
re: Native Habitat Restoration for Wildlife
Posted on 7/13/23 at 4:48 pm to The Levee
Posted on 7/13/23 at 4:48 pm to The Levee
Thank you for the information. I planted early September last year, and got a rain on it about an hour after I finished, but it then didn't rain for 6 weeks. It's usually dry that time of year, but last year was a record drought for this century.
I do plan to take soil samples this weekend in the areas where I plan to make the food plots.
I'm reading dirt to soil by Gabe Brown. My hearts desire is to Restore the Ground. I'm probably going to have subpar food plots for a few years while I build quality soil, but I am avoiding all fertilizers. I am going to use herbicide the first year or two to knock out most of the weeds, but again my goal is to build a deep quality soil that is full of microbial fungi. A soil that holds moisture when no one else's will.
I haven't decided if I want to use the BuckBuster blend this year or try to create a blend of my own.
I'm headed up tomorrow to brush cut a couple of areas that are bramble/briar patches. I am then going to burn those areas Saturday, so that they start to regenerate fresh growth for the hottest, hardest time of summer. The goal is to try to create a couple of native regrowth areas that work as late summer plots.
The one I did like this in late May has flushed out and is full of deer on a daily basis in the middle of the day.
This is an adventure, and will probably be full of some heartache. It sure is fun when a plan works out though, and right now, I am loving the results that I am seeing in the deer from the work that I have put in.
I am not as pleased with the results for Turkeys, but when we burn 100 acres of the pines on the lease next February, it should help tremendously.
I do plan to take soil samples this weekend in the areas where I plan to make the food plots.
I'm reading dirt to soil by Gabe Brown. My hearts desire is to Restore the Ground. I'm probably going to have subpar food plots for a few years while I build quality soil, but I am avoiding all fertilizers. I am going to use herbicide the first year or two to knock out most of the weeds, but again my goal is to build a deep quality soil that is full of microbial fungi. A soil that holds moisture when no one else's will.
I haven't decided if I want to use the BuckBuster blend this year or try to create a blend of my own.
I'm headed up tomorrow to brush cut a couple of areas that are bramble/briar patches. I am then going to burn those areas Saturday, so that they start to regenerate fresh growth for the hottest, hardest time of summer. The goal is to try to create a couple of native regrowth areas that work as late summer plots.
The one I did like this in late May has flushed out and is full of deer on a daily basis in the middle of the day.
This is an adventure, and will probably be full of some heartache. It sure is fun when a plan works out though, and right now, I am loving the results that I am seeing in the deer from the work that I have put in.
I am not as pleased with the results for Turkeys, but when we burn 100 acres of the pines on the lease next February, it should help tremendously.
3
Posted on 7/13/23 at 5:14 pm to Restoringtheground
It’s so much fun. Quite the hobby. Gave up LSU football games for it myself.
Great book! Just EASE into it. The most important thing is to NOT start cold Turkey with the herbicides and fertilizers. Use them as much as you need the first few years. The most important thing for success is a strong foundation and you’ll get the soil results you are looking for. I highly suggest that you Eliminate as many weeds as humanly possible, the first few years. You’re already doing the soil a great service by not tilling.
Depends on how much time you have. If you’ve got an idea of what grows best, take the time and make your own mix at co-op. It will save you some serious money. Also, why try to grow something in the mix that will not grow well?
I cannot stress how much burning will help your property well beyond your food plots. Your food plots alone are not enough. The natural browse needs to be there to create a deer and turkey haven. You’ll see. It’s been great for us. We burn 1/3 of the property every year on schedule. NRCS can pay for this up to 90%. Check with your local office.
Burning and killing raccoons, hogs and coyotes will help with the turkeys. We need to do a better job with all of them at my place.
If you can’t tell, I’m sort of a psycho about this stuff. Can’t get enough.
Also, plant in the May/June window to help with the stress months of August and September. We did Browntop Millet and Clay peas. They look and perform GREAT. Deer every day and night. It’s about 1.5 feet up now. The summer plots are important for producing lots of doe milk that’s high in nutrients and protein. THIS is what makes big bucks and antlers. This critical time that’s currently only supplemented by pellets and corn by 90% of hunting properties.
Plant clover with your mixes for the pressure months of January/ February when there’s not a lot of food. The perennial clover will give the soil plenty of nitrogen. Vetch is also great to plant anytime.
The key is biomass, diversity (shite that will grow well in your area), cover crops, and habitat TSI so the deer won’t leave. They have to have places to relax and fawn
Hit me up sometime if you need help.
quote:
I'm reading dirt to soil by Gabe Brown. My hearts desire is to Restore the Ground. I'm probably going to have subpar food plots for a few years while I build quality soil, but I am avoiding all fertilizers. I am going to use herbicide the first year or two to knock out most of the weeds, but again my goal is to build a deep quality soil that is full of microbial fungi. A soil that holds moisture when no one else's will.
Great book! Just EASE into it. The most important thing is to NOT start cold Turkey with the herbicides and fertilizers. Use them as much as you need the first few years. The most important thing for success is a strong foundation and you’ll get the soil results you are looking for. I highly suggest that you Eliminate as many weeds as humanly possible, the first few years. You’re already doing the soil a great service by not tilling.
quote:
I haven't decided if I want to use the BuckBuster blend this year or try to create a blend of my own.
Depends on how much time you have. If you’ve got an idea of what grows best, take the time and make your own mix at co-op. It will save you some serious money. Also, why try to grow something in the mix that will not grow well?
quote:
I'm headed up tomorrow to brush cut a couple of areas that are bramble/briar patches. I am then going to burn those areas Saturday, so that they start to regenerate fresh growth for the hottest, hardest time of summer. The goal is to try to create a couple of native regrowth areas that work as late summer plots.
I cannot stress how much burning will help your property well beyond your food plots. Your food plots alone are not enough. The natural browse needs to be there to create a deer and turkey haven. You’ll see. It’s been great for us. We burn 1/3 of the property every year on schedule. NRCS can pay for this up to 90%. Check with your local office.
quote:
I am not as pleased with the results for Turkeys, but when we burn 100 acres of the pines on the lease next February, it should help tremendously.
Burning and killing raccoons, hogs and coyotes will help with the turkeys. We need to do a better job with all of them at my place.
If you can’t tell, I’m sort of a psycho about this stuff. Can’t get enough.
Also, plant in the May/June window to help with the stress months of August and September. We did Browntop Millet and Clay peas. They look and perform GREAT. Deer every day and night. It’s about 1.5 feet up now. The summer plots are important for producing lots of doe milk that’s high in nutrients and protein. THIS is what makes big bucks and antlers. This critical time that’s currently only supplemented by pellets and corn by 90% of hunting properties.
Plant clover with your mixes for the pressure months of January/ February when there’s not a lot of food. The perennial clover will give the soil plenty of nitrogen. Vetch is also great to plant anytime.
The key is biomass, diversity (shite that will grow well in your area), cover crops, and habitat TSI so the deer won’t leave. They have to have places to relax and fawn
Hit me up sometime if you need help.
This post was edited on 7/13/23 at 5:20 pm
Posted on 7/13/23 at 5:49 pm to The Levee
Levee,
Please shoot me an email at restoringtheground@gmail.com
I’d love to chat. I start talking about this stuff to my hunting buddies and they look at me like I have two heads. LOL
Since my place was clear cut 5 years ago, and I want to save the regeneration trees in certain areas, I can’t start with fire. I own skid steers because of my business so i bought a brush cutter just to do the cutting/prep work. I would say I have about 40-50 percent of the acreage that I want opened up, completed.
I did burn about 25-30 acres this year, but some spots didn’t burn well so that’s what I’m going back to try to finish this weekend. I’m also trying to get a couple of spots burnt so that I am ready for bow season. These areas are full of nutrition and tender browse. I’ll probably burn a couple of small spots in late August/early September also.
Please shoot me an email at restoringtheground@gmail.com
I’d love to chat. I start talking about this stuff to my hunting buddies and they look at me like I have two heads. LOL
Since my place was clear cut 5 years ago, and I want to save the regeneration trees in certain areas, I can’t start with fire. I own skid steers because of my business so i bought a brush cutter just to do the cutting/prep work. I would say I have about 40-50 percent of the acreage that I want opened up, completed.
I did burn about 25-30 acres this year, but some spots didn’t burn well so that’s what I’m going back to try to finish this weekend. I’m also trying to get a couple of spots burnt so that I am ready for bow season. These areas are full of nutrition and tender browse. I’ll probably burn a couple of small spots in late August/early September also.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:45 pm to Restoringtheground
quote:
I planted early September last year
We made that mistake once and now wait till October and some rain in the forecast. October is historically the driest month so planting in September is risky.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 9:49 pm to The Levee
quote:
cannot stress how much burning will help your property well beyond your food plots.
At a certain point in your adventure in restoring the land, you’ll realize you don’t even need to plant food plots. Native plants are there and can be manipulated with fire and disturbance to peak growth at wildlife stress periods.
The key is to maintain diversity and keep resetting the forest succession so there is always food at deer height.
Posted on 7/13/23 at 10:28 pm to ABucks11
quote:
At a certain point in your adventure in restoring the land, you’ll realize you don’t even need to plant food plots. Native plants are there and can be manipulated with fire and disturbance to peak growth at wildlife stress periods.
The key is to maintain diversity and keep resetting the forest succession so there is always food at deer height.
I agree with you...with a lot of factors in mind....the deer population in our area was healthy back in the 90's before feeding was legal. All we ever planted was rye grass and that was more than enough. Nature takes care of itself...nature has fires from lightning.
But the competition is the difference. I need to provide whats actually on my land with enough protein to produce wall hangers brah
And its fun to plant stuff and fix your soil...so you could literally plant anything...and make money doing it if you want!
Also, not every guest of mine is equipped to hunt all 632 acres. I like for them to stand a chance at seeing a deer and having a good, clean shot. Thats easy to do with afternoon hunts in food plots.
This post was edited on 7/13/23 at 10:32 pm
Posted on 7/14/23 at 5:09 am to The Levee
Levee,
I agree, I will have food plots on my place, but I also plan to mix food plots into the middle of my old field habitat areas. That helps to create a soft edge. If I have 4 ft of old field habitat growth 100 yds in all directions around the food plots, then the bucks have to come out of the woods into the old field, to see what's in the food plot. It also gives them variety on the food choices with woody browse all on the edges of the food plots.
Reports say that woody browse makes up about 60 percent of a deers diet in January and February.
I personally prefer hanging on the side of a tree hunting a funnel or pinch point, but I have grandkids, women and an older Dad who can't necessarily do that. I will have the food plots and shooting houses for them to hunt out of.
I will run feeders in August/Septemeber primarily to do a deer survey, but they will be there. I usually fill them and keep them running until March, but I may transition away from that this year.
For me, there is nothing better than hanging on the side of a tree, on a cold morning during rut, watching deer move and nature do its thing. One of the best hunts of my life last year, was just that exact circumstance, but I never fired a shot.
I agree, I will have food plots on my place, but I also plan to mix food plots into the middle of my old field habitat areas. That helps to create a soft edge. If I have 4 ft of old field habitat growth 100 yds in all directions around the food plots, then the bucks have to come out of the woods into the old field, to see what's in the food plot. It also gives them variety on the food choices with woody browse all on the edges of the food plots.
Reports say that woody browse makes up about 60 percent of a deers diet in January and February.
I personally prefer hanging on the side of a tree hunting a funnel or pinch point, but I have grandkids, women and an older Dad who can't necessarily do that. I will have the food plots and shooting houses for them to hunt out of.
I will run feeders in August/Septemeber primarily to do a deer survey, but they will be there. I usually fill them and keep them running until March, but I may transition away from that this year.
For me, there is nothing better than hanging on the side of a tree, on a cold morning during rut, watching deer move and nature do its thing. One of the best hunts of my life last year, was just that exact circumstance, but I never fired a shot.
Posted on 7/14/23 at 5:13 am to Restoringtheground
quote:
For me, there is nothing better than hanging on the side of a tree, on a cold morning during rut, watching deer move and nature do its thing. One of the best hunts of my life last year, was just that exact circumstance, but I never fired a shot.
Absolutely. Been there done that. Alot.
Posted on 7/14/23 at 6:33 am to Restoringtheground
quote:
I'm headed up tomorrow to brush cut a couple of areas that are bramble/briar patches. I am then going to burn those areas Saturday, so that they start to regenerate fresh growth for the hottest, hardest time of summer. The goal is to try to create a couple of native regrowth areas that work as late summer plots.
I'm above you in Claiborne county and about a year ahead of you on your project but not quite taking the same path.
Take this for what it's worth the there are a LOT of very young fawns on the ground right now. As you likely know their defense is to NOT move when in danger. Clipping thickets could very potentially kill some of your fawns. You likely know a lot more than I do but I typically don't clip anything between July 4 and August 15. For me it's not worth the risk of killing one of my renewable resources.
I have enjoyed following your FB posts and posts on here.
The Levee and Reb and a few others on here are knowledgeable and I have learned a lot from them and others.
We have 650 acres with a 125 acre 24 mo old clear cut and the rest in mature timber and about 24 acres of fields. We have has the property a year now and have made it WAY better since we bought it and it was pretty good when we got it.
Gabe Brown's book is awesome so much good info in it which has led me to many other books over the last month on regenerative farming/soil practices. We were lucky I bought a NT drill about two years ago to simplify the process on our lease which has about 120 acres of food plots and only 2-3 of us to plant and care for them. Before reading any of the books on regenerative ag I considered it one of the best purchases I have made in our hunting/farming operation. My goal is to try and make sandy hill soil into thick cake like soil with time and keeping the dirt planted at all time and keeping an armor on the fields with previous crops. Luckily we have been doing this the last year for the most part without realizing it and we can already see a big difference in our fields.
I'm most interested in your restoration as we try and figure out how to best manage our clear cut land over time. I am still not sure weather we just let it go and become native habitat. Or we divide it into 30 acre blocks and re cut it every 5-8 years to always have thicket or let the trees grow up another few years and then divide it into sections and burn each section every two years. Luckily we have time and enough whiskey to discuss over the coming years.
I have really enjoyed the food plot thread from last month and this one. Thanks for posting it ( I don't post a lot but read a lot)
Posted on 7/14/23 at 7:00 am to Da Hammer
Thanks for the kind words Hammer. But I’m no expert, I just like to read and regurgitate.
My wife and kids are going out of town for a week and I’ll get to spend that time at the camp. So much shite to do.
The Co-Op is gonna hate me.
The summer food plot thread was great. It was filled with my emotional mood swings as I battled drought, incorrect forecasts, and what appeared to be God. He had mercy at the end and they are up and looking great!
My wife and kids are going out of town for a week and I’ll get to spend that time at the camp. So much shite to do.
The Co-Op is gonna hate me.
The summer food plot thread was great. It was filled with my emotional mood swings as I battled drought, incorrect forecasts, and what appeared to be God. He had mercy at the end and they are up and looking great!
Posted on 7/14/23 at 7:10 am to Da Hammer
Hammer,
Very good point about fawns because we are right around the time that does start dropping them.
I would be heart broken to kill a fawn, but saying that, I don’t think I will have an issue. The reason is that I only plan to cut the areas that are absolute briar thickets. I’m talking about stuff so thick that only a rabbit goes into. I have two spots that are about 2 acres each.
If you are interested in taking a look at what I have done, shoot me an email at restoringtheground@gmail.com and we can exchange numbers. I’m learning as I do this, and the more that I do it, the more I realize that I don’t know.
Scott
Very good point about fawns because we are right around the time that does start dropping them.
I would be heart broken to kill a fawn, but saying that, I don’t think I will have an issue. The reason is that I only plan to cut the areas that are absolute briar thickets. I’m talking about stuff so thick that only a rabbit goes into. I have two spots that are about 2 acres each.
If you are interested in taking a look at what I have done, shoot me an email at restoringtheground@gmail.com and we can exchange numbers. I’m learning as I do this, and the more that I do it, the more I realize that I don’t know.
Scott
Posted on 7/14/23 at 8:48 am to Restoringtheground
Scott,
I will be on my property from July 19th evening to July 26th morning.
If you or anyone would like to stop by and talk shop, I'd love to have company. I'll also have my buddy's thermal out there to sight in and hopefully kill some predators
I will be on my property from July 19th evening to July 26th morning.
If you or anyone would like to stop by and talk shop, I'd love to have company. I'll also have my buddy's thermal out there to sight in and hopefully kill some predators
This post was edited on 7/14/23 at 8:49 am
Posted on 7/14/23 at 9:08 am to Da Hammer
quote:
Take this for what it's worth the there are a LOT of very young fawns on the ground right now.
I have about 80 acres that needs a fire, and I’m waiting until the end of august-early September because of fawns.
quote:
I'm most interested in your restoration as we try and figure out how to best manage our clear cut land over time. I am still not sure weather we just let it go and become native habitat. Or we divide it into 30 acre blocks and re cut it every 5-8 years
What kind of trees are we talking about? Have you had registered forester survey it?
Posted on 7/14/23 at 10:11 am to Restoringtheground
Your Facebook made me realize HuntStand has monthly satellite images. Never realized that was a feature of that app.
Posted on 7/14/23 at 12:41 pm to Outdoorreb
Restoringtheground/Scott Yes I have several on camera right now, I would be REAL careful cutting those briars tomorrow remember too thick for us is perfect for deer.
Reb It's growing back up in volunteer timber the previous owner wanted it to stay thick so they didn't replant it. It has a lot of pine some willow, some Chinese Berry.
We are looking at getting a forester out there but haven't gotten that done yet. It's a priority but for now the cutover is still where we want it thick and height wise so we haven't scrambled for one yet. We were thinking with starting with the NCRS office in Port Gibson as we don't really know any foresters.
Reb It's growing back up in volunteer timber the previous owner wanted it to stay thick so they didn't replant it. It has a lot of pine some willow, some Chinese Berry.
We are looking at getting a forester out there but haven't gotten that done yet. It's a priority but for now the cutover is still where we want it thick and height wise so we haven't scrambled for one yet. We were thinking with starting with the NCRS office in Port Gibson as we don't really know any foresters.
Posted on 7/14/23 at 12:43 pm to The Levee
Hate I will miss you, I'll be up for an extended stay at my place July 27-30. Of course I'm up at least every other weekend doing something up there. I absolutely love working on land, WAY more than I do hunting.
Posted on 7/14/23 at 1:38 pm to Da Hammer
quote:
NCRS office in Port Gibson as we don't really know any foresters.
The guy we use is from Hammond and I dont know if he'd make the drive past Natchez. NRCS is a great place to start. Also, go to your local Mississippi State University Extension office. Claiborne Extension
They might could help you....A lot of questions i've had over the last few years, I've gotten answers here....they call into the Deer Lab and Forestry departments in Starkville for things they cant answer right away. Its free info
Posted on 7/14/23 at 6:54 pm to Da Hammer
Hammer/Reb,
Well, I headed your warning. Last year, my first fawn picture was July 21st, but I saw fawn tracks in the sand in one of the areas I was going to work. I didn’t do the briar cutting because I didn’t want to risk it.
Instead, i recut 2 areas that I brush cut about 7-8 weeks ago. They are only about a foot tall and only about 3 acres total between the two. I’m going to try to burn them tomorrow.
I’m going to focus on putting cameras out tomorrow morning and then repairing a creek crossing that is washed out.
Well, I headed your warning. Last year, my first fawn picture was July 21st, but I saw fawn tracks in the sand in one of the areas I was going to work. I didn’t do the briar cutting because I didn’t want to risk it.
Instead, i recut 2 areas that I brush cut about 7-8 weeks ago. They are only about a foot tall and only about 3 acres total between the two. I’m going to try to burn them tomorrow.
I’m going to focus on putting cameras out tomorrow morning and then repairing a creek crossing that is washed out.
Posted on 7/14/23 at 7:14 pm to Restoringtheground
quote:
repairing a creek crossing that is washed out.
Ah, the never ending battle
Posted on 7/14/23 at 8:03 pm to Restoringtheground
quote:
Well, I headed your warning. Last year, my first fawn picture was July 21st, but I saw fawn tracks in the sand in one of the areas I was going to work. I didn’t do the briar cutting because I didn’t want to risk it.
I haven’t had the first fawn pic, but I have seen them with my own eyes, and , supposedly, the guys that work for me started seeing some a few weeks ago.
When is the peak of the rut in your area? (Huntstand’s rut map is accurate for me)
Whitetail deer gestation period is 200(ish) days. Remember what Peak Rut means, that just means when the majority of does Should come into heat, not the 1st doe.
I just subtract 200 days from the day’s date and see if I expect any does could have been bred tether or earlier.
Quail are nesting right now. If the habitat is bad enough that you don’t think quail could be using it then ignore that part, but usually that is still good fawning cover.
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