I just cleared off a hillside of Red Cedar & tall poplars, & trashy trees....It was a food desert under it....Planted 5 fruit trees & have a lot of wild persimmon....Am burning off the brush, sold the logs cheap, 2.oo each, as i want them out....already the does are moving across the hillside as the weeds, small saplings are now getting sunlight...Planting 4 Chinese Chestnuts this October, close to a nice tree stand...Love your videos... Thank you for the quality information...
Thanks for this clarification on CRP. I was leaning towards a CRP program as well for a large agg field conversion and you just saved me a lot of lost time and work while waiting 10 years to get where I need to be. I'll just go smaller and work my way across the field as time any money permits. I appreciate the sharing of your experiences to help others avoid mistakes/missteps.
You should have enrolled in CRP. Sturgis is off on this. You should enroll whatever you can and use that annual payment to do work in your own elsewhere.
I hope some further explanation about this original concept of mine will help everyone out! Check out this article on my website that I wrote back in 2015... www.whitetailhabitatsolutions.com/blog/deer-browse-for-daytime-bedding
Jeff I really enjoy your videos and articles. I have 175 acres in Missouri that includes 120 acres of CRP (warm season grasses, forbs and pollinators) that expires in September, approximately 7-10 acres in marsh and the remaining in woods. I am primarily a quail & waterfowl hunter and then mix in deer hunting, more for my friends and relatives. I have approximately 12 acres of food plots across the property. My farm is land locked and there is limited hunting by my neighbors. I purchased the property 13 years ago and have increased the covey count from 1 to approximately 9 coveys with the habitat work I have done. Over this time period snow fall has been limited with exception of the last two winters where the cover was just laid down. I plan to use switch grass to enclose my fields as you have recommended for the deer to feel secure and increase cover for birds. This video will increase my switch grass plans. Does my passion for quail hunting impact my ability to attract big bucks? I have several doe groups and periodically get trail camera pictures of nice bucks.
Awesome information and just at the right time. I have a power line easement on one end of the property. Within that easement I have switch grass and have started gutting out pockets in it. I know I can not plant trees there but your videos and advice on your channel are awesome. Were there is a will for diversity there is a way. Thank you Sir.... Forever addicted. :)
Man you hit the nail on the head with this one! Exactly what we have on our 100 CRP parcel. We have not been able to hold mature bucks. We just got a 72 acre parcel with 20acres of CRP and 12 acres of hardwoods following along a creek the rest is 2 old age fields and you just told me exactly what to do! Thank you!
Thank you for all of your videos.. we are currently converting a ag feild back to habitat and making other improvements mainly access inprovements to our family farm we have had for 30 yrs. 100% of the improvements are based on watching many of your videos and reading your books.. again thank you for sharing your knowledge!!!
Best videos on RU-vid for sure. Thanks for all the great advice. Hoping you hook up with the guy from exodus to do a whitetail cribs so we can see all the trophies and hear a few stories Jeff 👍🏻👍🏻
Last year was my first year deer hunting and a bagged a big doe and really enjoyed myself. I don't own land but I was able to apply your teachings to my strategy on public land in northern Wisconsin during the gun season. I found an area with some high stick count woody browse with tracks going into it while scouting. You say they browse in bedding areas for feedings 1 & 2 so I set up outside of it for feeding #3 for a few days to pattern them. Sure enough they came out looking for a more quality food source in the evening for several days consistently! Next year I plan to have a tree stand so I can get a better look and hopefully see the buck that's rubbing all the trees by them. I don't usually comment on RU-vid videos but I wanted to drop you a note to express my thanks to you. Please know that I am very grateful for the knowledge you provide.
We have a farm in South East Kansas. We have always been told pheasants cannot live there because of the soil conditions. I’ve always wondered if this is true or just poor habitat compared to the central and western parts of the state. Any thoughts on this sir?
Love the new way that you are explaining and showing your ideas. Your older videos are great too but the more different ways that you can present ideas, the easier it becomes to understand and attempt to apply on my own land. Thanks for all the awesome content.
Jeff, I am so very glad you are doing more videos with your laptop and the white board. Seeing how/where to put attractions is really helping me tie this stuff all together. I also really enjoy the "diversity" of the types of property you present this material in relationship to. Reality is, that land exists in a variety of ways and knowing how to convert an old field and/or other scenarios such as the existing doe factory, wooded (high canopy) parcel vacant of cover, etc., into thriving habits is awesome stuff... great work.... I am huge fan !!! Scott
I'm 44 now and have never had land to do this kind of stuff on so I never really payed much attention to it. Now I have moved out of the city and live in Viroqua. I have an 85acre lease now in Readstown and am free to do whatever I want to do and all the information is so overwhelming. I thought this would be alittle project but man was I wrong. Not sure if I should do much of anything though. I have deer all year on the property and the guy who has hunted it for the last 18yrs has some big buck on the wall. I hung 5 stands and shot 4 deer this year. One early season Doe along with an old 9pt during the rut and 2 more Doe in that late season Doe only hunt. I also raise honeybees so if you need pollinating bee's around my area I have hives to build and paint and can get bee's as well. Thanks for everything you do Jeff you've changed the way I look at alot of thing's I do wrong as a hunter.
Was hoping you would do a segment on old field conversions. I've had good success managing my properties for quail and turkey but have recently decided I want to start doing more to create habitat for mature bucks. Thanks for the excellent...no bullshit content!
Thanks Jeff, this rings a bell with me. My land here in North Texas is heavy in timber...thick timber consisting of hackberry, mesquite, elm and post oak. I have plenty of cover but it’s not accessible for bedding or food. Creating pockets of clearing for new growth should greatly improve deer access to my 60 acres and provide better food sources.
I have 29 acres currently in 10 year crp. Now while my biologist worked with me on my plan, you're exactly right!, they like straight lines and they add way too much little and big blue stem. My plan was drawn up for quail. Unfortunately, the plan they originally drew me didn't really hold, keep, or house quail during the winter months, hence, negative affect on all other wildlife as well. We've since been able to change things up some through the agency but at that point, it's all outta my pocket. So, from experience, I can say that this video is once again, spot on. Thanks jeff
Shawn...man, I wish you didn't have to go thru that! It's crazy that professionals can recommend such failed practices, over and over and over again. I wouldn't have any clients, viewers or readers if I did that ☺️ But of course I don't have government benefits either, lol. Sounds like you are on track now and I hope the info really helps you out...this is an extremely powerful technique!
I'm Glad that I discovered your content! My neighbor has Some acreage in CRP and it is the big blue stem and little blue stem. And I noticed that it always goes down and does'nt seem to be any good for cover. I always figured that it may be due to inefficient nutrients. When the time comes I will definitely be using switchgrass. Thanks fo all the great content!
Jeff, you are ABSOLUTELY CORRECT!!!!! As you said, we planted an entire field in switch grass and enrolled it in a 15 yr. program, thinking it would be a great habit improvement. It was a huge mistake, but we have to live with it or pay LARGE penalties. Remember viewers, wildlife loves diversity, so anything you plant should be diverse. Jeff...just wish we had met a few years ago. Following your recommendations I feel we are making improvements and learning to live and work with our mistakes. Thanks for all your encouragement and help. Bob
You chose to use switchgrass. CRP offers have to be signed... you can choose the mix you use so thats your own fault. CRP allows for management so you can burn or do fall disking to thin the switchgrass and encourage forbs.
Thank you so much Jeff!!!!! I have been scouring around for this exact info. I have 40 acres of goldenrod with shrubs, early growth and wanted to convert/diversify my property for bedding with standing grass. Thank you , thank you thank you.
Great video! Our main goal this year for our 15 acres is edge edge edge, create as much edge and diversity as possible, we got our switchgrass seed delivered from Mr. Komp this week for frost seeding in a few days. Thanks for all the info Jeff! Your almost to 90k subs!
Thank you and that's great to hear JJ...really happy for you! I love it..."edge,edge,edge" 👍 Getting really close to 90k. Because it slows down so much in the off season 100k likely won't take place until July...but 150k is my goal by the end if the year ☺️
Another great video! I have just purchased an 85 acre parcel with a house in Central Maine where I will be retiring soon. I was worried because I have no fields of my own, but all my neighbors do! The front 20 acres was cut pretty heavy about 5 years ago and is growing up nicely with briars and red maple regeneration. Lots of buck sign on the property that should only get better after I place water holes and do some limited hinge cuts. Let them feed at the neighbors then come back to me! Thanks for all your help and sharing your extensive knowledge. Let me know if you have make a trip to Maine!
Jeff I love management vids like this, really helps me understand what deer want day to day and season to season.. It makes me want to own my own parcel someday!
Hey Jeff I have watched your content for a long time. It has helped us fill the freezer easily. I think I remember your really old blogs that you wrote about clover even. Have you ever thought about having a TWITCH channel maybe in the off season?
Some more detailed pictures of what you are discussing would help us beginners. I enjoy your videos. Ex. Switchgrass areas. Thank you for your content.
We can see what your teaching in your videos on the wall around you there that what your teaching and showing us that it works brother. Thank you and GOD BLESS
WOW Jeff!! GREAT VIDEO. I don’t have much space we bought a piece (buying) 11.29 acres going to put a pond and have a place to enjoy the out doors. I’ve hunted this area for 35 years it is a travel corridor for deer as well as bedding area So I don’t want to screw it up for the deer I want to plant grasses to conceal the deer so they feel like they can still travel the area. I love nature and want to make it better not worse. Man tends to screw everything up where ever he goes and I want to minimize the affect of my presence there? I’ll study your videos thoroughly and maybe contact you for some pointers. Or a simple 👍 or 👎 Thanks for the info on the video!!!! Indiana Jones
Someone who knew I was a fan of yours recently recommended I check out Growing Deer TV. I tried and became annoyed very quickly. When I have to skip ahead through 52 sponsors names, listen to annoying background music, watch plantings occur with the use of equipment totalling more than the value of my house and land together... I'm out. He showed how a hinge-cut tree shaded out growth at ground level and killed it off.... ummm duh, thats ONE TREE. He didn't show what happens when you hinge several and open the high canopy. You have zero distractions in your videos... just the way i like it. 😁
Hi Marcus...I don't remember a property yet...where keeping ag was best for wildlife. Ag land does more harm than good compared to making wildlife improvements instead...likely 100% of the time. I like to get years going 😁
I’m looking forward to putting my plots in this year brother if it ever dries up enough that I can get to work with the tractor and disc well I’m goin to bush hog some stuff 1st. I need to lime the field 1st get rid of the sage grass but the neighbors property on both sides of my lease the sage grass is bad. I seen 8 quail up there the other day. I caught one of the beavers that was in the big pond. It’s stretching and bout dry now. I really appreciate your videos brother very informative. Like this video here. Very good advice
Why would anyone argue with someone of your knowledge??I guess some people wake up that way.Thanks for your help. The black birch..Are they good to hinge cut for food??7 to 10 inches in diameter.
I would love more information on some of your keywords I’m gonna be using your strategy on a 15 acre property this year. Keywords being “hardwood regeneration” crp field “pollinator blend” bedding cover “scrubs” broadleafs among others. I know what some of them are but I’m just not sure how to implement them into my strategy. I think an idea for a future video would be how to utilize these planting, maintaining. More of a deep dive like you have done with switchgrass, food plots, and tsi. Thanks for all the information
Some of those old fields would do well with keyline plowing or swales on contour. I've installed some on my property and its the best method to infiltrate rainwater into the soil. Might not be a benefit in a year of 40 inches of rain, like 2019, but when drought comes those are the only wild fields that won't immediately dry out.
Unfortunately the tall varieties shade out the shorter switch and kill it, making it less of a stand. Switchgrass is easy to grow so you always want the tallest, strongest single variety you can plant for your region. Never a mix...
Great video. My neighbor has the state mix to my solid cave-in-rock switch. No comparison, his is flat in no time while mine is still standing. Need to freshen up my switch the weeds are taking a foothold though.
Sounds like you like some red cedars... we have some public land that has large swaths of cedars, almost impenetrable! There are pretty definitive trails in some parts of this but hardly anything grows in there, even grass. What are the deer doing in there? Are they bedding on bare dirt? Are they just passing through? Is it worth busting brush to get in there and spend time on the ground hunting?
The NRCS is finally starting to understand this approach and (almost) make it available through the CRP programs. The following are details of the specific program: CP38E-CP4D Diverse grassland seed mixtures will contain 3 1/2 pounds per acre (PLS) native grass and a minimum of 2 pounds per acre (PLS) native wildflowers. A minimum of at least 4 native grass species and 10 native wildflowers are required. To ensure seasonal availability of nectar and pollen, at least 2 wildflower species will be selected for each bloom period (early, mid, late) from the NRCS Midwest Monarch Butterfly Plant List. A minimum of 2 species of milkweed is required for monarchs and must be at least 1% of seed mix based on seed per square foot. See NRCS program sheet for seed mix requirements. PLUS: 10-20% of the field planted to at least 1 NATIVE shrub &/or Tree. 2/3/4/5 Eligible for CP12 wildlife food plot. Eligible for permanent water source for wildlife. FOOTNOTES: 2/ a wildlife conservation plan must be developed with the participant 3/ 51% of the offered acres must be located within the designated CRP-SAFE project area, will earn 20 additional points for N1b Wildlife Enhancements 4/ switchgrass monoculture winter cover may be established up to 25% of the block habitat offers, minimum 2 acres not to exceed 20 acres. 5/ eligible for Early Successional Habitat
In old articles I've seen you recommend 5-7 pounds per acre for bedding and 8-10 for screening. In this video you said 8-10 pounds per acre with your diversity pockets. Have you changed your practice from what you used to do?
So on my property I have this thicket of stuff that grows right by the road that resembles red osier dogwood but I didn't think it occurred naturally in my area. Well I took a clipping to the local lady at a nursery and sure enough it is! I'm going to work on transplanting it down where I will be hunting.
Wow how did you know I got 20 acres of red cedars to clear out. I have been slowly cutting them and making small piles with them through the cedars for some side cover until I get some undergrowth to pop up. Most of the cedars have gotten to big and only provide cover from above. I’m gonna try leaving some clusters like you showed on the white board. Maybe they will get some under growth from surrounding ones removed. We shall see. Thanks for another great video
I have 15 ac that was clear cut about 10 to 15 years ago. The regeneration has happened but the sweetgum is predominant. It is so thick you can't walk through it. I was wanting to open a few sections to hunt in. I made a road around the outside of it and have a winding path that I don't walk on going through the middle. My property is in a upside-down L. Our house is at the top of the L and the bottom is what I hunt. . I have closed-canopy hardwards on my right property line. On the other side of the hardwoods is another clear cut. On my left property line I have a clear cut that was replanted in pines. It is thick in there right now as well and the pines are about 10 to 15 ft tall. I am trying to figure out what I should do with mine. To the bottom of my property is a creek bottom that is flooded timber from a beaver pond. My property isn't hold any deer. Any ideas on how to improve my holding ability or get the deer crossing more?
Always wonder how to manage these areas for long term. At what year would the plants be so large that deer would no longer have adequate food and how to manage it.
An incredibly awesome practice is to mow the pockets down every 3-5 years. You can alternate pockets that are mowed for an even greater level of diversity.
Jeff great content! Keep the videos coming! I was wondering what app do you use to draw on to show planting, bedding cover? It seems to be a great tool! Thanks!
I love these videos, me and my son are really getting into making our 60 acre property attract more wildlife. I know this is an older video but what time of year would i need to plant the switch grass?
Really enjoy the content Jeff! I have old fields that are now “mature” autumn olive. Would you recommend pockets/strips of switch grass within that would lead to food plots?
That sounds really good! And thank you...really hope this stuff helps! I would actually create none AO pockets within. Think of the AO as enhanced Switchgrass...and then create the pockets within like you would in SG... pollinator pockets, early successional, non-grass...non AO pockets. I hope that helps!
As always, love the videos. One question.... You mentioned possible planting shrubs in the diversity pockets. Would they have to be caged to allow them time to get established or is best to just let them do what they do? I currently have a larger property where approx. 20-30 acres were clear cut 6-7 years ago. We need to establish switchgrass in there. However there is quite a bit of natural regrowth occurring.
So helpful. Designing my parcel recently bought last fall. Up in northern MN area. 50 miles north of Mille Lacs Lake. Any quick hint for the type of switchgrass seed that, I would have the best luck with?
Jeff I love this video. If you ever make a trip to WV let me know. I have a 300 acre parcel that mostly wooded and has been select cut in the last 5 years. The habitat is great but I would like to add to it. I have a 20 acre clearing that I added a pond to and a mineral lick off the field under cover. I would like to do something similar to what you have described here to the cleared area. Any recommendations on year round, low maintenance plantings for this part of the country? Also what are your feelings on mineral licks?
Hello from south central WI! Love the videos, I have a 9 acre property that the house is on and trying to covert the 8 tillable into wildlife heaven. Really using your videos to help plan the soybean field. My question: what variety of Switch would you suggest for my area?
Hey Jeff after creating the pockets do you go back and mow in those pockets after a few years of growth ? To keep growth in the deer face to make it easier for them to reach. Thanks for another great video. Planning on doing this exact thing soon.
I have a 21 acre parcel that was part of a 300 acre parcel. 13 acres are AG fields with 7+/- being wooded that was cut in 1994. It's thinning out, and I want to know what I can do to get the deer to bed on my property. The land around it is all talk timber and Ag fields. I like the idea of turning my open acreage to food plots and cover, along with making the wood area bedding
Jeff, Love all the information that you provide on your channel. really eye opening stuff. I do have a question though. Last summer/fall I sprayed a few areas with Glyphosate in prep to screen off our hunting cabin and a few entry/exit routes. but before the snow fell there was still some short green grasses in these areas. Can I still frost seed switch grass into these spots or should I wait until spring when I can till these spots to expose dirt?
I think the term diversity is just confusing people as it applies to too many things (diversity pockets, diverse mixtures). It just is not specific enough. You may as well explain the proper term what is needed is "deer habitat heterogeneity" it's a big word but at least it ends the confusion.
Hey Jeff I'm looking into getting the small Genesis no till drill for atv or utv use and was wondering what do you think is the best option for me? Atv or Utv? Both would work for my land and situations but just trying to decide between the two. Love the content you put out to us viewers and wish you a successful career! - Dalton from Central Kansas.
Great info as usual. I took six acres out of my CRP to do this exact thing. About half of it gets seasonally wet. In that area I'm going stick some red osier and willow cuttings. How do you handle reed canary grass? Clethodim? Thanks.
I have 100 acres in western pa and looking to plant switch grass on the land when can you plant and do you need to clear the old grasses or disk up and over seed? Thanks
Great content Jeff. I currently have a "doe factory" as u describe. However, I have one question regarding your theory of does moving out of your property by keeping the food on the outside edges. What if there is no "great food" on the neighboring properties? For example, in larger timber tracts here in SO Missouri? Other than acorns or pasture, there's not much offered by the neighbors!
Love the content. I am a Michigander serving in the military down south and was wondering if you think these tactics will work in the South? What about with small acre amounts?
Hi Rob you are very welcome! Anywhere from 1/16th of an acre to a 1/2 acre or more. It is relative to the size of the total area...for example several small area totalling 1 acre in a 2 acre field...up to 30-40 pockets of varying sizes within a 40 acre field. Roughly 1-2 pockets per acre of total space up to 10 acres...1 pocket per acre of total space with areas that are 15-20 acres or larger. I hope that helps! The pockets should total about 40-50% of the total area.
Forgive my ignorance, but are "pockets" essentially food plots? I have a 5 acre field I'm considering doing something like this to. A second question, the landowner is concerned about the field getting overgrown. Should the switchgrass be mowed down every 5 years or so?
curious if this will add to the probability of a doe factory or maybe not if there is no other major food source other then the browse.. Assume the deer you will pull into this, will be primarily does if it is a smaller 5-6 acre area, as that would not leave much depth for the bucks.
Thanks Jeff, great info. I have a very small old horse pasture I am converting. I have been putting in hybrid willow cuttings as part of the conversion. it seems if I dont tube everything the deer destroy them. how do you handle this when doing lets say 20 or 30 acres like this?
