I'm a wildlife management student starting my senior year. Would love the opportunity to maybe volunteer some time next summer and learn from you. Most state agencies won't even consider giving a management plan to land owners under 50 acres and I really think the land fragmentation and the plethora of small farms, that shifting the focus to community management strategies where several land owners with a similar vision for herd quality will be a shift that most agencies will have to deal with as large land tracts continue to be divided and fragmented. If there's an intern type position I could qualify for summer 2021 I'd be overwhelmingly pleased.
All I can say, is I'd you pull up a map of where soybeans are grown throughout the entire country, and overlay it with a map of where the most Boone and Crockett deer are harvested, it nearly matches perfectly. Why, because most modern soybeans have a protein content of 28 to 32%. The only other crop I've seen come close to it is alfalfa. Do the research and I think you will see exactly that.
I had a question in regard to one of the suggestions you made. You said put up mock scrapes and licking branches early as in June July but then right after that you said bucks shift their patterns from summer to fall. My question is why do you want to put up a mock scrape so early if those bucks are not going to be there during the fall?
I've always thought that golf was for the people who didn't know how to hunt or fish 😂. All joking aside I've been using your mock scrape strategy and using winter rye plantings, and the results have been incredible. Thank you!!!
So if you have bachelor groups of bucks constantly during the summer and most leave in the fall what do you do to flip the script on that and retain bucks?
Place a chepe trail cam on a pile of corn or a trail watch them grow then start hunting them no need for fancy stuff like mr Hollywood here not trying to hate but cmon its hunting not a movie set
Fore! Well okay, really not four, but five months until October 1 and the 2020 Archery Deer Opener here in Michigan. The golf clubs may not come out of the basement again this summer. I have my priorities right!
One of the best days of my life. Caught a ton of smallmouth in the morning, played a round of golf mid day and shot a deer with my bow that evening. I thought to myself, “ How do I top today?........Good listen. Can’t wait for this virus to lift so I can get to my land.
James Moore I live in Maine, I work for the State. The Governor mandates we could not leave the state. She first allowed it last month as long as I got a Covid test upon my return. So I have gone twice now. Before that I literally would have lost my job.
Great tips as always. REALLY appreciate your first tip about enjoying the land. Yesterday we sprayed the grass where the new food plots are going, and where we frost-seeded switchgrass. Then did some mushroom hunting and fishing. Thanks for all the advise!
Hi, when you go and put your new mock scrape on your new property......will you hang up a stick that was already hanging somewhere else?? One that smells like deer already? Thanks
Hi Michael, no I will cut s fresh vine...or th best rub/licking branch variety of tree species in the area. All still the same size 5' long, 3/4" to 1" in diameter. Hanging down to belly high, middle of deer trail, from the end of s rope - not connected directly to a branch or horizontal rope.
Im goin to have part of my woods logged out is it better to have it logged in the summer or winter? Should I have the whole woods logged at once or have it done in sections?
NC archery season starts early septerbers when the weather is still in the 80s and most of the ag fields are still green and standing . Any thoughts on food plots ? How quickly do you think bucks make the "switch" ?
Walter Darby Walter, my two cents from hunting my farm in ENC is that deer are browse feeders. Our food plots are along sewer and power line right of ways that run through the farm. Deer “pop in” to the plots on their way to and from the main ag fields. I plant the plots in the big openings along the main deer trails just so that they will slow down just a bit as they are crossing from bedding to larger feeding areas/ag fields.. Once the fields are harvested, they do spend more time in the food plots. I do the summer food plots for fun, but I think the winter wheat and clover plots are way more important. I leave some of the wheat and clover standing all year just to keep something green around for them to eat.
Great video went upnorth to scout so many deer eatting on the side of 75 friday night for miles but they were practicing social distancing so it was ok amazed how many there was in a 10 mile stretch crazy just a lil scared slowed right down had to be at least a hundred or so that i could see at around 10:30 pm
That's awesome to see and for sure a little scary! They love that green right now in the ditches and shoulder where there is no other green.. Have fun. Up north now that the governess let you go 😲😁
Funny thing I was an avid golfer, now I’d rather spend time working on habitat improvement. Also, easier on the wallet. I agree, enjoy your property, throughout the “off season”. Our family does and it hasn’t effected our hunting success.
I didn't think it was possible for you to improve in my book, then you go and mention MUSKY fishing! You are truly amazing. Thanks for all the info you provide.
Another activity I'm going to do this summer from watching your videos is keep track how many times my cameras get busted by deer. I reviewed my pics from last year and had many deer looking directly at my cameras. Going to work on better concealment. Also put out two new Vine scrapes today. Lots of fun. Thanks for all the tips.
Jeff if you love to Musky fish and you are by your property in Southern WI then you should hit up my good buddy Jon at Ghinazzi outdoors. He does an incredible job getting people on quality fish right in Southern WI. He is also a riot to fish with, never a dull moment in his boat. Check him out on Facebook, tell him I sent you. facebook.com/ghinazzioutdoors/ Love your videos!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 awesome thank you!!! and as far as the weeds, i cleared about three 20x20 plots and planted clover and they came in very thing in an area of a lot of vegetation should i put down any weed killer around the surrounding area
If mature bucks are absent most of the summer but start to show up in August is that a good or bad sign. I’ve been scouting a property all summer I’ve never hunted it before and I didn’t have any mature bucks on camera till this past week I had 4 different mature bucks that just started to show up the first week of August.
Thanks a lot...that is great to hear! Check this video out...bet it will help you out a lot. Your really want your trail cams right next to a stand location, for many reasons... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-CcE6V_Duuk8.html
I use my land all the time. The Westfork and Kickapoo run through my property so I fish trout quite a bit. I also camp alot on the property. I have deer on the land all year and see and shoot nice buck's. As much as Id like to put some food plot's I don't see much of a need for em. Maybe some apple and crabapple tree's. I have so much woody browse and new growth, I think Im just going to leave the land alone.
That all sounds great! I use ours all year too...live it! The power of s food plot system elevates the ability if a parcel...even small...to several times more whitetail potential than without. It isn't even fair. For example if someone is doing it right in the neighborhood, they can make it so that the surrounding neighbors have significantly lower levels of potential. To the point the neighbors wonder where the deer went...that's how drastic the power of a quality food plot system can have on the entire neighborhood. Soft and mast crops have little bearing overall, unfortunately. Just depends on what level that you want to be at with your level of herd influence and quality of the hunt. And that's not even hunting on the food olots...
im hunting a 40acres square land surrounded by soy bean on one side and corn on the other.. I have 2 salt stations, one of them is near a mock scrape I did near my hunting spot. What can I do to increase the chance that a buck wants to come there?
I would appreciate seeing drone video of pocketed switch grass. (Like described in many videos) your drawings are great for conceptual inspiration but what do they actually LOOK like? Could you walk through some to get a view?
Whitetail Habitat Solutions I would love a video like that. Could include steps to establish or how it relates to the depth of cover and lines of movement. One planting of mine is ending up looking like a 4 leaf clover - hope to have google earth document it in the next few years. Planted the exterior and leaf outline in CIR, tilled up the pockets (going to spray with clethodim then plant some shrubs - dogwoods/ nannyberry/ serviceberry/ elderberry/ plum -with a blackgum or hazelnut in the center). Probably will use my bean electric fence to let the shrubs establish this summer. Thanks for the idea to do the CIR bedding area in pockets - almost followed Higgins and did straight SG at 6lb/A for 5 acres solid.
Carson Schulz we have 7 long acres that’s ag I’m looking to convert - it’s next to hardwoods and corn. I’m thinking switch grass with browse pockets like you are describing. I’m even thinking hemp might work?? I’ve heard good anecdotes.....
Kurt Pearson I’ve never looked into hemp. Sounds interesting. I’ll have to check it out. If the land goes corn - hardwoods - your land, it sounds like you could plant switchgrass bedding by the timber and have some elongated fall food sources screened by switchgrass so you can pull deer from your neighbors on to your land into your fall food then let them hit the corn at night.
I have 15 acres that borders a hunting club. 10 acres of which is thick heavy brush and Marsh. Right now it is a doe factory. I've been working on the deer population and the hunting for 2 years. What can I do to bring in the bucks. I've been trying to think out the does.
Jeff could you recommend a weed killer to spray food plots with? Weed killer that says “broadleaf killer”, would turnips we considered a broadleaf? Thank you in advance, Tommy.
Hi Tommy...2-4D is a broadleaf killer. Glyphosate is a general killer. I often combine 2 quarts per acre of Glyphosate + 1 pint per acre of 2-4D. Check this video out... ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LvZRl5mySts.html
@@carsonschulz6498 or just ask 🙂 Those labels are confusing. The above referenced video discusses what he needs. I personally wouldn't read the labels...like you said, Google works too...depending on the source. Definately not a question for all of the low value Facebook pages.
Whitetail Habitat Solutions Definitely steer clear of Facebook. Or anywhere ppl argue just to argue. Herbicide labels can be confusing (degree in Biochemistry too) so I tend to read them and cross reference google. Either a habitat forum where everyone wants the other members to succeed or a state conservation service will normally have some good info and hints. Plus you stumble across videos that can be great - stumbled on WHS looking up herbicides with no till food plots last August and you’ve completely changed how I view managing my land.
Thank you guys for the help. I tried to find on the label for specifics as to whether Turnips are included in the broadleaf department, it is certainly a broadleaf by the eyes I just wasn’t sure if it was included or not. I have only planted plots for about 10 years and I have not used anything in my plots after planting to kill weeds out of fear. My goal has been to choke out the bad with the good and fertilize. This season was my most successful year yet, they turned out amazing. The only thing I did different than years past was buy a higher quality seed. I appreciate any input because I am certainly no farmer. Jeff thank you so much for all you do and share, it is so beneficial. Thank you, Tommy.
I think if I put large stones in the waterholes the deer will still be able to drink in the voids caused by the stones & hopefully keep my furry monsters out lol yep gonna kill rye also spray switchgrass hoping that’s gonna take could benefit from the screening should I use 2-4d on the rye or just glyphs
My family just inherited a nice piece of land . On the next property over it was clear cut ,then fields on the other side and a ski area on the 3rd side . I cant wait to get in there to check it out im the only deer hunter in this part of my family so I'll have to all to my self . Everything around it has been posted for years and the property we got hasn't been hunted in years either . Let the fun begin . Thanks for another great video.
Thanks Rob, you are very welcome and man, that is outstanding!! I bet you are so pumped ☺️ Can't wait to hear about it from you this year... We are buying a new home and land and I really know the feeling 👍 Exciting year for both of us!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 yes definitely very exciting I just found out about it yesterday so this video was a good refresher and good luck with the new property
I'm currently in the process of trying to cut back some of the Bush honeysuckle in part of my hunting area, it's getting to the point that the deer won't move through it. I've been trying to propagate red osier dogwood in its place. Am I wasting my time?
I believe that you are wasting your time...just because bush honeysuckle (actually native to the Midwest) grows in very poor soils...often dry, whereas red osier dogwoods grows in semi wet soils. Bush honeysuckle is far superior cover to red osier dogwood...RED far superior during Winter. Bush honeysuckle better food during the fall with their leaves. Think of BH as similar cover to red cedar and spruce, but with the added bonus of a Fall food source. Easy to manage by creating trails thru it, openings, etc. Great cover base. Again, native to the upper Midwest. Not to be confused with Bells Honeysuckle, which is a cross between Bush and Tatarian. Bells and Tatarian are considered invasive. Very easy to manage tho, but because it grows so well in poor soils and ROD needs such a specific site, not an easy or appropriate replacement.
Commented before the end and I have to say Jeff I love to golf and you would to if you put the time in golfing like you do hunting. Once I developed kidney stone's I had to quit being as physically active, which meant no more bike riding no more skateboarding and no more basketball so golf became my thing and Im pretty dang good at it now. There isn't anything wrong with golf, it's a great sport to me.
Hi Paul... definitely do not need to use the Simazine now...spring green up has already taken place 👍 Look forward to hearing about your spraying trip next weekend!
I understand your logic on soybeans but we've tried it all and soybeans overseeded with cereal rye consistently provide the best attraction on our farm in the fall. I've tried many different brassica blends and the deer just don't seem that interested.
Really depends on the location, but soybeans are also responsible for Summer Doe factories which result in poor fall potential. It's too bad that the deer don't like the brassica on your land...part of the 10% club. They produce an incredible amount of tonnage. Beans and rye are a fairly low value combo for the heart of hunting season...easy for a neighbor to take advantage of with higher value greens and higher volume mid season food diversity. It works when that's all that's available ..but low on the ability to compete with neighbors who offer high quality food plot systems. My new neighbors in MN will find that out soon 😁
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 I'll be interested to hear how your MN hunting goes. We're in Otter Tail County. A little known hotspot here in MN, just check the Boone and Crockett book. But shhhh, don't tell anyone :) Thanks for the input. I did order John Komps brassica mix. I'll keep trying other things, hopefully other mixes work at some point
I have a property owned by my family by Grand Rapids MN. It is a beautiful property (300 acres) connected to thousands acres of public land. I have a question regarding maturing forest. We have the opportunity for a logging company to come in to harvest and open the forest up. Some of my family members are very opposed to this selective harvest. It is hard for me to explain the details but what is your opinion on this issue?
Im no expert. But you should do some forestry research. Trees dont last forever. Selective cutting will allow for regeneration. Jeff talks about this. Proper forest management is the best for the environment. Just letting trees grow and die and decay is really a poor way to care for your land. That is the exact problem California had with the wild fires. Greenies preventing cutting and clearing of ground cover. It got dry, all that fuel for fire was just sitting there waiting for fire. All that timber was just burned instead of utilized. There are tons of on line resources on this subject. Dont let people who blindly hug trees prevent you from maintaining your land. I love trees but what i love more is new trees growing with established trees
Hey Jeff... when are you doing your spraying for emerged weeds in your frost seeded switchgrass this spring? ... been cool recently, but warmer days are coming.
Hi Sam! I was looking to the weekend if 5/1...maybe the following weekend. The longer you can hold off the better, but within the next 2 weeks. Being in MI, I need to get home and check out the weed growth...
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Yep, I was eyeing up the end of the week as well. Might follow up in a few weeks if any sign of weeds or spots that escaped the fist round. Thanks Jeff
If you already have an accidental doe factory because of previous food plotting, and you want to reverse it in the summer, should you go spook the does out every day? Do you herbicide all your food plots growing from last year?
Once I hit my ideal population in the UP of MI...I stopped planting the clover. Unplanted zero summer food. That allows a portion of doe families to relocate outside of your land...and a portion to be targeted by neighbors. Helps a LOT! I actually haven't planted a perennial since maybe 2006. Have never planted a perennial in 17 seasons in WI...so much summer food around. That way I just work on the high powered cool season annuals, influencing the quality of the deer herd, and having a great hunt. Always remember great deer herds are largely built in the Fall. Only in the Summer for building a herd. Once a herd is built...the need for Summer food on your hunting land disappears. Hope that all helps!
Hey Sir, your channel and Growing Deer TV are among the best on RU-vid for improving habitat. I have been working hard improving our little 7.3 acre plot here in Dunn county this year and feel a real sense of pride as I get things done. Thanks for all the great information and good luck this fall.
Man that is awesome to hear and I am honored to be included in such company! Keep up the great work on your WI land too...that is awesome 👍 I love it...
Whitetail Habitat Solutions I think you are above Dr Woods. Especially when it comes to managing less than 500 acres. He’s a great person to follow but I find a higher % of your content is applicable to my 160acres even though he’s located closer to me (8 vs 2 hrs I think). He lets managing forests for timber value and summer beans/plots become too central in his philosophy.
Would the conifers at 1:40 (tall but only green 20+ ft up) be more summer habitat type than fall? I have 16 acres of timber that has at least 45% red cedar that are 8-20” wide w/ no green under 20ft that I’ve started trying to drop as many to get sun to the forest floor - am I on the right track? Also, using CIR Switchgrass on 2 sides (2 acre each total area) with 40-50% shrub pockets to pull doe bedding out closer to fall food, & no summer plots or summer protein feeders thnx to your videos & books. Hope you are using the extra time to get out w/ your boys; I’m loving the extra time in the field with my dad. Nice golf cleats btw - best advice: spend your summer bean $ on chasing walleye & pike in Ontario! Love the musky comment!
Oops. I have 4 acres that has a lot of fall deer traffic. The rest of the year I’ve had6 deer (doe and 5 yearlings) hanging. I was going to do winter Rye but plant closer to fall as you’ve suggested. Maybe I misunderstood. Should I plant some rye now or am I too late? Given I’d need to kill current vegetation and prep. We just moves in last August but neighbor say there are always deer. I have another 4 acre next to me of open grasses/ goldenrod and another 4 acres of woods. All of it I can hunt.
I rarely do food plots because my hunting spot is surrounded by agriculture. The last two years my area (76 acres) has grown up in weeds waist to over head high. Because of the hunting pressure in the adjacent wood lots, the deer seem to have shifted to using the weeds as their bedding area and don't go into the woods till after dark. I noticed this several years ago hunting woodlots at the edge of CRP fields. Got more big bucks on trail cams this summer than last five years combined. Only a few acres of woods on this property so I don't have much choice but try to maintain some sneak in/sneak out trails and find some terrain pinch points. I do keep some small openings mowed and the clover is like a carpet in those. They are coming to mineral licks which will diminish once the velvet comes off. There are some clusters of white oaks, but they are at the edge of the property line and shot deer tend to run off onto neighbor's property. Windy days can be good time to slip in and crowd a bedding area. Thanks for all your good info Jeff.
Just started using your mock scrape/vines strategy, and not even a week has gone by and already have bucks and does hitting it. Can't wait to see other trail cameras and what has been hitting them. Thanks for the info!
Hey Jeff.Saw my first buck growing his antlers yesterday. Still looking for sheds and they are coming back already.Good luck getting that bird on the ground.Sounds like he's lonely...
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Golfing??Never was Interesting to me either. Nice divots in your yard. That 1 was really deep.Ended up finding 75 sheds.My pup found 15.We were going to go today.But it's pouring.🤨
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Ah a new house.Thats why you never hung your deer heads.Now it all makes sense. Hope your walls have no windows.Way more room for mounts.
I have been stuck in Mexico since Feb 3rd. and there is so much I could be doing on my property in Michigan right now. So disappointed with everything at the moment. I'll be binge watching your videos as ill hopefully have a 2 week window at end of May to get back home.
Hahaha. After watching so much of your content right now, idk how I’m going to get all the hunting prep done and still play so much golf. I’m torn! Either way, I don’t think the wife is going like me spending so much time doing both....
How do you feel about observation sits before the season starts? I've never really understood taking the chance of spooking a big buck or just educating deer in general of human presence. I've quite a few big time hunters doing these sits a week prior or so to the season start. Any thoughts, good or bad?
I think it can be a lot of fun IF you do not spook any deer whatsoever. You have to remember s lot of big name hunters are big name hunters because they hunt and own land in fantasy land states, where your effects of hunting pressure is drastically reduced. Or, they have lots of land to hunt...lots of AG land...and can afford to watch deer from a great distance. A quality post season and pre season trail cam program can tell you all that you need. For example if you know a target buck has made it thru the season, you should already know when and where to kill him based on previous years data. For me personally I think that time for most hunters is better served, safer and more profitable to spend shooting their bows and quickly checking exterior treestands. Of course cell cams are awesome too! Not really a good activity I partake in just because I have a lot better things to do...and the additional Intel if any gained, could potentially destroy your future hunt.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 thanks for the advice. I feel this technique of scoutung is somewhat outdated now with the use of modern trail cameras.
Consider I haven't needed it or thought it was a great idea since the 90s ☺️ That was when I watched deer from a 30' high spruce on hill, from up to a 1/2 mile thru a spotting scope. Up thru about 97. I do like driving the back roads with a pop and jerky tho, during the Summer.
Hey Jeff, I know you didn't mention it in this video, but I know you are a huge believer in switchgrass. Is there a specific kind you prefer, or certain place you purchase your seed. I am in Virginia and know it would be huge a huge addition for my property, just trying to figure out some of the logistics.
We don’t have to do anything here in coastal Maine. The deer get all the rich peoples plants and shrubs and grow huge racks at a very young age and hide among the houses luckily we have permission to hunt a few properties. Awesome video
It sometimes is? Really depends on the land and situation. I've seen some really cool land crossings before! I had one in the UP of MI. The more soil and grass on it the better. Really depends tho...
Whitetail Habitat Solutions thanks for the reply it is in west central wi about 30-45 min from coon valley I may have to have you come walk it with me sometime.
Hi Jeff, I wanted to ask you about "edge feathering", the practice of cutting the edge of a woodlot to promote succession as it butts up to a field. I have SG planted north of wood lot. And where they butt, I am struggling to get SG to grow bc it's partial shade. Curious if you would thin the edge out on the north side of the woodlot OR edge feather with hinge cuts or other cuttings to open the canopy.
We had land logged last year and have been planting some elderberry and oaks. Dads said deer crawl rt into those 10 tree tops stacked on each other. Ya ok if you cant they canr Lol. Got to get in and clean them up to make usable.
Hi Joe...it is a low value Fall and Winter food source when the deer need it the most, So I do not, personally. O did in the past tho...for about 15 years from 95 - 2010. Just way better options and sometimes easy isn't as it seems. Still have to spray and mow. Towards the end I planted it in areas I had to walk thru to get to treestands, so I wouldn't spook deer. Also creates doe factories and is available at a time when the local habitat is at its best. Really not a good true influencer for the local herd or your ability to positively influence the herd or your hunt - in most cases. There are exceptions.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 thanks Jeff appreciate definitely makes sense think ill stick with brassica winter peas and rye annuals appreciate the info keep up the great videos very knowledgeable ps. I suck at golf too 😅
You are welcome Joe! Ha, golf...got to love it. I guess 😁 That's why I really like my ultimate no till system...really helps folks be extremely efficient with their time and money spent.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 yup I definitely need a handicap if I play😂 that is a good system been looking for a seeder so can plant then crimp it. That extra organic matter def helps plant with organic nutrients and from drying out in the fall👍
Hi Matt...talked about it quite a bit in my 2014 food plot book in chapter 12. Also if you hashtag "Ultimate No Till" on Instagram it is there too. As well as searching on RU-vid for the same.
Another great video! I am wondering how many mock scrapes you would recommend per acre. I'm sure there isnt an exact number just curious. Do you only use them by stands? Or stand locations and along a used trail every so often.
I always set the date of July 1 to have all new strapes on all stands and all shooting lanes cut and then never go back until 2 weeks before I hunt the stands to check the cameras.
We ride dirt bikes and atvs on our land deer are used to it.. when you walk the trails is when you disturb them you can ride by and the will just stare at ya on quad
Jeff, how often do you see sunflower used for food plots/ screening? I’d love to use some for screen but wondering if it’s a summertime attraction before they even flower.
Hey Jeff where I hunt is corn and pant and cotton fields on all round me what is the best way to get the deer moving in the day light time bc all my pic of I have is at night
