Monoculture Deer Bedding Habitat Makeover
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- Опубліковано 21 лют 2020
- While great deer habitat comes in all shapes, sizes and diversity one thing is for certain - great deer habitat is NOT a monoculture of any kind. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing, and that can include even the best bedding base cover types of switchgrass, conifers and shrubs. However, if you love great deer habitat and great deer bedding areas, don't worry if you deer hunting land suffers from a lack of diversity. Here is how you can take your boring chunk of a monoculture wasteland, and explode it into a daytime mega bedding hotspot! Is your deer habitat and hunting land in need of a deer bedding area makeover? Then here is how to reach your whitetail herd and hunting goals by installing one of my original concepts of diversity pockets, to whatever variety of monoculture habitat that you currently have, on your deer land.
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This was sent to my UA-cam notification today, older video, I know, but I watched it, and I 100% agree with every single word you said!!!!!
It's good to hear someone else besides me with the same concept in reality. I always end up disagreeing with Foresters for all of the reasons you mentioned. Natural regen is what I've been working on for years in strategic pockets. Good info thanks man
I love all of the videos you post. They are so educational, and it's coming from a real hunter and a person that understands the sport. Keep posting, they're awesome!
Thanks a lot Cole...I really appreciate it! I love working on client lands because I learn something on every parcel and them can report back to you guys ☺️ I will do my best to keep them coming...I have 6 more shot snd lined up for the next 10 days I think you will really like!
You just answered a few questions I had about creating deer bedding in a old pasture we own. Thank you for the info Jeff.
You are welcome Mark! I hope that you like this one too ☺️
ua-cam.com/video/vMEa8buhhqs/v-deo.html
Great video Jeff. Just found your channel a couple weeks ago, love it. I am learning sooo much about whitetail habitat!! I find myself looking forward to the next video. Keep them coming.
That is great to hear and thanks for letting me know! Really hope that they all help...and I will continue to keep putting out the content as best that I can ☺️
Thanks for another great video- you have me rethinking everything we’ve done for the last 25 years. I can’t wait to add cover to what we’ve been doing, it’s been open for decades! 👍
That is outstanding to hear Kurt! Enjoy ☺️ You can make some huge improvements quickly 👍
Great video! I'm looking forward to spring when we can start implementing these ideas! Thanks.
Thank you so much Marcus and man, you and me both ☺️
Jeff, for years and all kinds of deer management theries that are mostly good ,but you've taken it to the next level,
Awesome, thanks for sharing.
Thank you so much Norm...really means a lot to me! You are very welcome and there is a lot more to come ☺️
Jeff I have been reading all of you're books, and watching the UA-cam videos, and never seem to get enough!! I have learned so much from you !! Keep up the good work . Love it!!!
Makes perfect sense brother great video be safe out there and GOD BLESS you and your family brother Amen 🙏
Another great video Jeff, I’ve seen them all! Thank you for putting this educational content on you tube. It has helped me immensely to reconsider the habitat structure on my farm and adjust it with confidence. I live in the thumb of Michigan and have located the Cass river property you talk about occasionally in your videos. Nice bucks are taken yearly in that area.
That is great to hear Dave...and man, I love it coming from my old stomping grounds. Such find memories and a TON of learning from that area! I will be back there for clients a few times this year and can't wait to drive by the old place.
Great luck on your thumb deer habitat and hunting this year 👍
Thanks, Jeff. If you think you’ll have extra time on your trip to the thumb area let me know. I’d welcome the opportunity to have you look at my property.
Excellent video...Have been doing this to my land the last couple of years...It will make a difference!!...My favorite video so far because it relates to my situation the most...
Awesome Brad...I love your success story with everything! Best of all your work so hard at this and have gotten to experience the rewards ☺️ I always love hearing about it!
Thanks Jeff, I got about 95% of my info from you...that's why its working...
Jeff, Your concepts of how to diversify these mono cultures are brilliant....it has worked to well for me and completely changed my land in just one season! Many thanks!!
Thanks a lot Bill...I LOVE seeing what they have done for you ☺️ I am really excited about the future of the Christmas tree area! Thank YOU!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Me too Jeff.....
I started making pockets in the 5 acres of Jack pines that are on my 40 in January. There already were pockets with Poplar and Maple so we are opening them up and getting more regeneration in there as well. Nice to see we are thinking on the same level :).
Another great video Jeff! I hunt mostly public land here in NJ. I hunt edges of mountain laurel areas. The bucks always seem to travel the edges just like you said.
Exactly the information I needed to convert my new poorly positioned foodplot back to bedding.. thanks again for another great video Jeff!
Awesome to hear Matt! You are very welcome ☺️ A lot more to come...
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 can't wait! Keep em coming!
Read all your books and seen all your videos. I’be been saying a lot of what you’ve been saying for years, however I have a lot of non-believers at my deer camp. Own 70 acres and on 40 I’m implementing many of your concepts. The other 30 I can’t wrap my head around how to fix without moving camp. I also will be implementing your concepts up in Alger county on my 40 up there. Keep up the videos!
That's awesome to hear Ragnar! Hope you are making believers out of them ☺️ And Alger County...man...I love it up there!
Jeff, really appreciate all the content you post for hunters to leverage on their property to improve whitetail habitat. Question I have, when creating these bedding browse pockets (with say dogwood), how do you protect these from over browsing when initially planted. I’m assuming you fence it but it would be great to see a video on how you do this. Thanks again!
Great video Jeff!
Thank you very much Steve!
I have a 9 pound bag of Cave in Rock SG that will be frost seeded tomorrow to help screen some road frontage. Great video as always. Cris
Outstanding Cris...I hope that you have Incredible SG growth this year! I will be doing the same once the snow subsides a bit ☺️
Jeff, great comments as always. I sure wish I was able to manage my 15 acres of switch differently. I'll have to just wait for small pockets to die out. Just saw a nice buck with 5 still on one side. Hopefully the snow will start to melt this week. Hope you and Diane are doing well.
Bob
Bob...for sure...when can your SG be changed? We are doing great...very busy which is good ☺️ I believe I will be working right around 125 client days from mid Dec 2019 to mid September 2020. Crazy!
We have loved the buck pics too 👍 So awesome to see that. I believe next year will be incredible for you...LOVE seeing the good bucks late season!
Thanks for the kind words...have another 10yrs. on the program. Will have to live with it and hope a little dies. Will stay in touch....Bob
Hey Jeff, really enjoy watching all your videos and trying to put some of your ideas into place on my land. I had the timber 'pine' thinned last year in rows and cut a 1.5 acre food plot on 75yds off the highway side. I planted 25 fruit trees to cover half that plot last month. I'd like to work on some pockets for bedding/browse now. If you had to pick 2 of the plants you mentioned what would they be? Autumn olive, red maple, red osier, etc.. Would you mix them or plant pockets of each by themselves?
Great informative video as always Jeff! Is red osier dogwood red all the way down throughout entire plant? I have some that’s 50/50 where I hunt. Thanks
Love ❤️ me some WHS
Big fan of the “I have a video from that”
Question: do you have a video for us that have less than ideal soil to use for creating a food source. Like the soils you may find on an old gravel pit or the heavily sandy type souls found in many parts of Mi
You are a great resource for all of us
Big THANKS!!
Awesome stuff Jeff!! Question regarding red Osier dogwood. We have a bunch of it on our property but I want to plant more in the field to create those diversity pockets you are talking about. Do you recommend fencing it for a period of time to allow it to establish? Lots of switchgrass going in this year as well!! Can't wait and thanks again!
I have learned so much from your videos and will be applying many to my land for years to come. I am turning more people on to your videos down here in Arkansas. Do you have any videos that would fit the areas that are not anywhere near agri and are basically hardwood and cattle pasture? And do you have a video or information about the pros and cons of a property with creeks running through it? Thanks
Love your vids Jeff im putting in my first foodplot this year do you think I should putt a spring plot in to get the deer useing it and then plant a fall plot ? Or will the deer find it on there own once it starts to grow and just start useing it its only a small kill plot putting it in to draw deer out of the cover.. Its 13 acre that buts to 20 acre DOT land witch can not be hunted I can track deer on it but not hunt so im useing the DOT land as all whitetail all the time land but need to draw the deer down onto the 13 acre..
Great video. Have a 5 acre and 4 acre field I will be do I g this with this spring. My plan is to mow the native habitat down, spray to kill the grasses only and then allow portions to regrow. As that's happening I plan to spray kill everything where I want switchgrass and plant that. Does that sound like the best way to accomplish this? There is also a couple sections that I don't want to spray or cut at all but will plant switchgrass around them as they are already attractive spots. Thx
I’ve got 9 acres out of 40 that’s overgrown with briars and scattered cedar. Im hoping to implement this system if it’s not too far gone. Thanks for the info.
Will SG stand up to the snowfall of mid-northern WI? Snow is up to my kneecaps here. ATVs and tractors would get stuck if a trail isn't maintained all winter. Thanks Jeff. Your videos are my cocaine. LOL.
Thanks for all the great info! Do plantings in browse plots need protection?
Some do...but often I prefer a mix of non grass early successional growth and seeds like maple and box elder. Along with cuttings that can be stabbed in the ground. That practice seems to be the best...
Hey Jeff how would I apply what your saying to my land based on the size & what we have done already also do you think 20’x40/50 yds of switchgrass by my blind location for screening is good enough I would put more but don’t wanna take away from already small food plot your thoughts please great video I love all this your a great teacher
Awesome video! Do you find bucks will bed on slopes? Or does the ground have to be flat?
Jeff, would planting the switchgrass in a grid system work for this? We'll say rows that are 15 feet wide or will this cause the switchgrass to lay down?
Hey Jeff, another GREAT video. I am learning so much from your site, so much im re-thinking everything I have been doing on my property for the last 23 years. i have 100 acre parcel and 25 acres of hay fields a local farmer takes off. i don't get paid for the hey he takes off, should i start using this 25 acres for deer management like what your saying in the video. Thank you for all your hard work and time you put into educating myself and others.
Michael Aquin at the very least get a share of the hay. Especially if you use the area as a non deer area to enter/exit, blow your wind. The guy that hays my 20 acre hayfield always tries to get me to say yes to haying more areas - which my dad said yes to last year, and we had the worst year of the first 4 on the farm for buck sightings without the standing grass cover. Good luck with whatever path you decide. I plan to leave my field as a non deer area for the time being.
Would you consider putting a 1 or 2 acres plot of switchgrass in the middle of a 40 acre hard wood timber.
Jeff, 1st of all great Content, I have a Question, we don't own land but we have a 175 acre Lease and have like 1/2 to 3/4 acre pockets of openings in between big Timber , is it worth planting that in switch grass or is it to small acre ? our timber doesn't create a huge amount of bedding.
Let me know what you think?
Thanks
Jeff, what is the best way to install the pockets? Weed wacker or brush hog then spray a couple weeks later to kill any grass that may be growing.
A grass specific herbicide to begin with is great. Of course make sure that they are all surrounded in Switchgrass ☺️ just not planting the switch in those areas in the first place is great too
Jeff I planted 1 acre plot last fall, half brassica/half in the other stuff u recommended with winter rye couple weeks later...wats ur recommendation for weed control until buckwheat in June? Chemical or frostseeding? I'm sure you covered that somewhere I jus couldn't find it...thanks
Would allowing patches of blackberry to propagate within the base cover (grass, conifer stands etc) in a western property? Also, do you have any content specific to a property that is 100% Oak & chapparal?
I have a 2 year old clear cut planted in pine. Would you want to eliminate the pockets of pine on the ridges or down in the drainages to let it fill in with briars and shrubs?
so we are going to be planting switch this year. can I put the diversity pockets in when I plant the seed by marking out the areas I want to leave open, or is it better to establish the whole area of switch, and come back the next year and put the diversity pockets in. Switch is so expensive would hate to plant it, just to kill it.
Jeff great video!!! I have a 3.5 acres field that has grass in it. Would I kill it off and plant sg, then make those pockets for diversity?? Thanks
Thank you! For sure...but I would define the pockets first and plant the switch around them so that you don't waste your SG seed. It may work for you to plant the pockets this year...surround it all with the heavy duty plot screen from www.northwoodswhitetails.com, and prepare the area for frost seeding Switchgrass next Winter. You only have to plant the plot screen once!
Jeff, great discussion
as always, but.. just visited my property in Western Wisconsin and discovered my three patches of 5 year old Cave n' Rock switchgrass totaling one acre laying flat as a table top..
I also planted Autumn Olive over 15 years ago and found out the hard way that it's EXTREMELY invasive..
I really appreciate your information but obviously this should be shared..
Rudy Van Dunk I don’t think he recommends ever planting Autumn Olive, just not ripping it out if it’s your only habitat. Interesting that your CIR is laying flat - how big is each planting? Trying to pick a SG variety for KC area this spring.
You can see by the client Switchgrass in this example how well it is doing...maybe too many weeds?
AO is not invasive at all...just to foresters and folks that do not know how to maintain it. That's the message that should be spread...too many folks swallow the Kool aide, when really spruce or pine is much more invasive. Just scientific propaganda spread by folks with more book smarts than real experience, so the information I share obviously needs to be to fight the sheople.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Jeff, thanks for the response..
CIR switch grass is virtually weed free, very disappointed..
You were spot on, the Olive trees were part of a recommended wildlife habitat tree planting package put out by the DNR.. Looks like I took the bait now I need to get to work on how to manage it, as it has totally taken over an old 10 acre pasture possibly helped by the birds eating the berries and spreading it that way..any thoughts on management..
@@carsonschulz6498
CIR SG totals about 1 acre split into thirds, so lush and beautiful this past growing season.. So disappointed how it lodged with only 9 inches of snow, looks nothing like the example planting that Jeff is standing in and we're not that far apart as I am in Trempealeau Co.WI..
Excellent Jeff! Have you ever seen switchgrass added into a timber cutting?
Thank you very much! It is nearly impossible to add to timber cuttings unless the timber Regen is eliminated. Switch can't stand any kind of competition...shade in the form of canopy of weeds, hardwood regen, etc.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 that makes sense. Just thought of it while watching this vid. Im going to add 50 to 100 white pines /acre like you reccommend to the cutting I did this winter. Was in there today and there are beds and tracks everywhere. Pretty exciting stuff! New property is coming together, mostly with the help of all your great video education!
@@WHITETAILKINGS isn't this stuff awesome? The planning is so much fun...really happy to be a part of it all ☺️
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Yes it is the best! I know this next chapter for me will be constantly looking at ways to improve the habitat of the property. I can't get enough!!
What type of tree seeds would you plant in sandier soils ?
What method did your client use to plant the switch, frost seed or drill?
Great video. Wish I could get you to come to my property!!!!
Hi Andy thank you! What state are you in?
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751
Jeff
I’m in Eastern Indiana. The property is 40 miles south of Ft Wayne.
I don’t have a lot to work with just trying to minimize my presence and give some food and cover.
I also want to hide my deer from neighbors who has a tree stand almost on top of the fence.
I’ll study all your videos and glean what I can.
The land is so expensive now $9,000 per acre is tough for just making a recreational area.
But I doo believe in leaving nature better than I found it !!
My woods has tons of ground cover ivy. What would you do?
I’m going to set up plots in two new locations this season, you’ve stated that SG takes about two seasons to establish would it benefit me this season to mix SG seed and Egyptian Wheat for this season. Then plant additional SG seed next year?
Perry Bowers the switch wouldn’t survive the first year as the EW shades it out. If you plant in stops with the switch on the outside, facing more southerly, you might get away with it. WHS did mention something on a screening video that he mixed the two around a blind, the switch looked great until August then the EW shot up and shaded the SG killing it all. Hope that helps.
Jeff I dont think I own enough land to get bucks to bed on my property. What should I do with the 3 acres of hardwoods I own behind my 5 acre apple orchard? Clear cut for regeneration? Switch grass for doe bedding?
Hi Dann...that really depends on exactly what is going on...age of timber, variety, etc. Let me know if any of this helps...
ua-cam.com/video/9b0u-sdNVtQ/v-deo.html
I have a LOT of bedding area tactics that you can use for your woodlot too, in my bedding area playlist on this channel. Also, I have what I feel will be a great 8 acre deer parcel vid coming out in the next week or so! It has about a 4 acre woodlot on it and you can see what we did with it along with the results...
Thank you Jeff! I shot a great buck this past season using your low impact techniques. Really appreciate your videos.
@@dannjohnsonZ28 man I live hearing that!! Congrats on the buck ☺️ REALLY happy for you and I have a LOT more info to come this year... hopefully better than ever!
How does switch do in wetter soil?
What kind of vortex Binos do you have
You should develop and sell diversity pocket blends! That would sell!
Morning brother
Morning Randle, hope all is well!
Last fall I mowed a 12 ft x300 ft strip for switch. No gly used. Do you think I can seed it now and spray it in April when the golden rod sprouts?
Hi Al! Definately now if the snow isn't too deep AND the seed can get onto the soil. You can't have a layer of thatch. You also need to spray Simazine prior to spring green up...mix of Gly and 2-4D 3-4 weeks after spring green up. Here is how to get it done...
ua-cam.com/video/kLuZRtLMthU/v-deo.html
I can’t seem to find simizine around here. I’ll keep looking. Thank You
@@ala5831 keystone pest solutions has it
Northwoods Whitetails Food Plots Thanks its on it’s way. I ordered something from them a few years ago. Forgot all about them.
Great Video! What is the best way to contact you about your services?
Does switch grass grow in the pine barrens of NJ and also where do you purchase switch grass seed
Switchgrass is extremely soil tolerant...but it needs full sun, so it can not tolerate any form of shade by weeds, overhead canopy of timber, etc.
I get mine from seed on general, from John Komp at www.northwoodswhitetails.com. High quality, non filler seeds, including switchgrass.
Thank you very much planing some habitat changes this spring/summer
You are very welcome...have a great time with it!
I'm down in Gloucester County and my property falls within Pinelands though its not what you picture when you think of big pine forests and sandy soil. I have been following Jeff for over 5 years and have seen magical changes to the deer heard on my 22 acre parcel. Good luck with your improvements.
You talked about my home state of missouri. We get cedar groves and when they mature and self-prune you can see all the way thru them except for what stumps block. Imagine 10+ acres that no deer can move through since they are so tightly interwoven. We don't get hard winters in missouri. Red cedar groves aren't cover. You also say oakland savannas aren't habitat because they don't stand up during winter. I'm not sure that statement applies to the southern midwest at all. The only good red cedar is a red cedar laying on the ground. That provides far more cover than a standing one let alone a grove.
How about planting stag horn
What lav mic set up are you using in this video?
That's a Sony...I didn't even listen much, did the audio come across OK? I have had that mic for roughly 3 years...cost is right around $500. No problems at all!
Sounds great! I was wondering if it was just a regular lav mic plugged into the Rode wirless system or some other wireless system.
when you talk of olive, are you talking the same thing as Russian olive?
Autumn olive...which a bush. Russian Olive is like a thinner version of autumn olive, but a small tree with a dark trunk. Common along various highways...used to be planted by the 100s of thousands thru state conservation agencies for their wildlife potential...in particular Autumn olive.
What is that jacket I like it
It is awesome Chris...the Gravely Jacket. Single layer Gore-tex. Easy to layer quite a bit of insulation underneath...completely, wind, snow and waterproof. Packable too! I bring on a lot of my fly-in trips because it fits in a small travel case easily. They offer a lot more colors now, but I like that one for walking client parcels and fishing too
I just moved from the Midwest to Mississippi. It’s a huge difference from me plant perspective. What type of cover should I plant here? I have several fields I would like to convert to what you’re doing in this video. My property is surrounded by cut overs that do provide substantial cover. I have almost no cover on my property and it’s either open hardwoods or a few small fields. Obviously not conducive to wildlife. I only get deer usage at night much like you discussed in your other videos. The drain is quite hilly and instead of having food plots that don’t work in the fields I was thinking thin out the hardwoods and get more successional Growth there and cover browse...
Spent the day cutting pockets into 2 year pines with hand pruners. Mother nature will do the rest.
With conifers, better off planting Korean Nut Pines or Swiss Stone Pines and provide food for both wildlife and humans.
The mark of a truly diverse landscape are meals provided completely from the plantings, venison included
Clarify that comment that Deer dont eat grass. Is that just switch grass they dont eat? Is that just a portion of the year? Is it deer will nibble grass but grass is very little of their daily diet?
Hi Brian! Deer rarely if ever prefer grass...they sometimes eat it if that is all that the have like rye grass. Grains like rye or wheat or oats are completely different tho.
Grass should be used purely as cover and switchgrass is really the only grass that really should be used as a sturdy, cover base. You can see in the video the sea of switchgrass from February 17th. Too much snow to drive a truck thru, but still standing Incredibly strong! Now that switch just has to have diversity pockets installed for the ultimate wildlife attraction and habitat.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Thanks for your reply. I asked because on my farm every small hay field seems to have deer in them all growing season long. These fields are lots of fertilized grass but also a bit of clover and other short weeds like plaintain & dandelion.
This is the same concept as a pond. If you build a pond like a swimming pool and have no diversity in the depth, no cover and so on the fish will all stick together in a school. They have no reason to move around and would leave the pond if they were able too. Smart,