Top 5 Whitetail Habitat Improvements (non-food plot) 

Good points! Since the early 2000s I've been clearing them in July and leaving them...I don't want to typically get too close to them after that. Amazing how many dee we get using them in June, July AND August, let alone the hunting season. Lots of fun!

Man Billy you guys have had so much! I was down there for a client in February...flew into Nashville. Rained almost the whole time then! Well when those vids come up that relate...ask away! I also really appreciate you subbing...

Its something else when you see a buck thats 200 plus . I had to double take and almost ran off the road.

@@devouring2772 ha, that's awesome Billy!! Hope you see him again real close. During hunting season 😉 With a bow

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 is there anything that will grow for a winter food source on rock ground. Ill remove what i can by hand. But its just rocky and has red cedar tree 360 degrees around it.

Scott Burson yes I sure do Scott...I have for many, many years. I also just per off of my treestand. I have some articles going back a long ways...I think one I wrote in 2006 maybe? A revised version is under the title, "To Pee Or Not To Pee". I think you can find it on Google. It all turns to the same chemical after 20 minutes or so at the most.but yes, I per in my scrapes often....and also right off of my stand when needed.

Thanks, all those years of suffering!

Scott Burson ha...yes, you are welcome! It all turns into ammonia. I'm not so sure that I actually have to pee in the movk scrapes, but I do. During the season I typically don't because the scrapes are already established.

I have peed down from a tree stand that i planned on moving permanently that evening. 45 mins later 2 doe came through and spent 20 minutes directly on that area. I was amazed. That was in Adams county illinois, just a stones throw from pike county border. I tagged out my either sex and antlerless tag that year. Neither from that spot however; i had already tagged a doe so I held out for a mature buck and got a 134 inch the next morning. The bastard was bedded 50 feet in front of me and didnt budge until 0830 am, when it stood straight up in front of me. I was in a chairblind. Nearly fell out of it when i shot.

I been peeing from my stands and in scrapes for years. They will tear up a scrape from you peeing in it.

Thanks Matt...can't wait to bring you more, I have roughly 4 more to come over the next week...and then we are creating more this week for the following week. I really like using grass for screening because it can be highly effective and can last for decades. Living in NC, there are other grasses you can use because you don't need the grass to stand up to deep snows. I have to admit I have not worked in NC, but whether it is a variety of blue grass, Indian grass or switch...there has got to be something that you can plant that will not only work, but grow very well in the long growing season that you have, even in the first year. The bottom line tho, a grass can be highly effective at reducing the stress level in your food sources, nearby bedding areas and any other area that you want the deer to keep from seeing you...or even each other.

Whitetail Habitat Solutions Okay awesome I'm going to do some research on some different grasses that'll thrive here! I know I can speak for all your subscribers when saying we really appreciate you taking the time to respond to us personally! Have a good weekend !

Matt Johnson that's great Matt...good luck! Although the grass variety may be different...at least the strategy is the same. And thanks a lot too...I have really been enjoying the RU-vid experience and although I do run into times I can't respond...I do try and you guys have always seemed appreciative! Makes me want to to work as hard as I can at it...have a great weekend

Sounds like a nice chunk of land! I rake out waterhole out once a year...and then it is ok for it to get scummy...deer seem to prefer it. More natural anyways.

Whitetail Habitat Solutions Ok thanks for the information, is it too late in the year for me to start a mock scrape? Our Bucks don’t go in Rut till late January or early February, they have extended our season through February 10th for that reason. Thanks.

@@copedipper7654 you are very welcome! I think you still have plenty of time...check out my mock scrape playlist, LOT of info in that list and I hope that it helps! Here it is: ru-vid.com/group/PLmV8Ilexgmhee-6E06udW874E3ZoYWRfz

Whitetail Habitat Solutions Ok I’ll check it out now, Thanks for the help and Good Luck out there!

Eli Burkholder good question! It really doesn't on the soil/habitat and how much or what, would actually grow. In a portion of habitats the deer will keep it open by both moving thru and eating the new growth. In other areas a ground clear herbicide works very well and then a DR brush trimmer is a great tool to open up once a Summer. The number of overall deer per acre has a lot to do with it too. Generally the Upper Midwest will have much less growth than the lower Midwest. I view the bedding areas the same. This is another reason to not use canopies too, other than food and cover at deer level! Canopies cave in, fail, rot and just create a whole lot more future maintenance. They aren't as effective...and then require a lot more work to create and maintain.

Eli Burkholder Colorado Muzzleloader Regulations Legal Description: “Muzzle-loading rifles and smoothbore muskets, provided the minimum caliber shall be forty (.40) for all big game except elk and moose. The minimum caliber for elk and moose shall be fifty (.50). All muzzle-loading rifles and smoothbore muskets from forty (.40) caliber through fifty (.50) caliber must use a bullet of at least 170 grains in weight. All muzzle-loading rifles and smoothbore muskets greater than fifty (.50) caliber must use bullets of at least 210 grains in weight.” a. During the muzzle-loading firearms seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, and moose only lawful muzzle-loaders and smoothbore muskets may be used by muzzle-loading license holders. b. During the muzzle-loading firearm seasons for deer, elk, pronghorn, bear, and moose the following additional restrictions apply: 1.Propellent/Powders: The use of pelletized powder systems and smokeless powder are prohibited. 2. Projectiles: Sabots are prohibited. For the purposes of this regulation cloth patches are not sabots. 3. Loading: Firearms must load from the muzzle. Firearms, which can be loaded from the breech, are prohibited. 4. Sights: Any muzzle-loading rifle or smoothbore musket with any sighting device other than open or “iron” sights is prohibited. 5. Electronic or battery-powered devices cannot be incorporated into or attached to the muzzle-loading firearm. General Muzzleloader Seasons (Deer) September 9th-17th and October 14th-22nd (Elk) September 9th-17th (Moose) September 9th-17th (Bear) September 9th-17th (Pronghorn) September 21st-29th

Curtis Mulder Cave in Rock...

The specific switch grass I've researched that best suits my purposes is "Switch Grass Shelter" which grows 4'-6' tall, rather than "Native Switch Grass" which only grows 3'-4' tall. You can find it online at: www. AmericanMeadows.com

Cody Ulrich no I do not believe so at all, in any way. However, even the top scientists don't really definitely understand how CWD is actually transfered. I believe more thru the soil or bone, but tough to say about anything really. I've always wondered about deer foraging in acorns, or other ground forages...mast/fruit crops, but even then, no one knows at all. One thing I have been amazed at I'd how little it has actually spread from infected locations 10-15 years ago. At first the "sky was falling" and it would end the whitetail herd as we know it. Now, it has spread very little and been locally contained. Also, the small tanks are very low risk for EHD, with a lack of drying mud that cakes and cracks around the tank for the midge to propagate in, compared to ponds and more natural waterholes... Again tho with the CWD really tough, because of the lack of definitive conclusions to grasp on to.

Whitetail Habitat Solutions I actually meant to say EHD, not sure why I put CWD. Thanks for the responce and answer to both though. I think we are going to add one or two like those by our food plots in addition to the a pond and creek.

Cody Ulrich good luck! Couple things...make sure they are on the way to food and not in the food, and then also within bowshot.

Whitetail Habitat Solutions We're going to put them in a staging area before the plots between them and the bedding to hopefully offer up a good 20 yrd shot on their way out in the evening. Thanks again for all the helpful info.

Probably put a mock scrape there also.

Chilcote Forestry Stephen, I have some lines, some pockets, blocks and points planted in that valley...basically all of the semi flat areas that are too small for food plots or not in the right spot for food plots. Their is no cover in the field, so the switch creates bedding opportunity, screening for hunter access and holding cover for small game, all Fall and Winter. It also reduces the over all stress level of deer entering the entire valley, with many locations for them to hide behind and within. Hope that makes sense! No other grasses would stand up all winter around here, so switchgrass is the only option outside of planting conifers.

I C. Still trying to figure out grass bedding. I have come to the conclusion that, at least around here, you need a pretty large area and not too thick. I planted too thick and although its great screening, they don't bed down in there. I just looked at some grass on a NY property I work on that stood up well to some heavy weather lately and deer aren't using it at all.

One of the biggest misconceptions about grass for bedding...is that deer bed within the grass. Deer rarely bed in grass (except for fawning) unless forced to do so. Deer bed alongside grass, or the grass can be used to screen bedding within shrubs, timber or broadleaf, briar or woody growth (browse). Switchgrass is the only grass that stands up to Winter weather, and therefore the only true wildlife grass, at least when wildlife needs it the most. I have a couple other videos on my channel that talk about this, and a couple more coming over the next 2-3 weeks. Using grass for bedding is the easiest form of whitetail cover structure that a person can plant, providing cover within 2 Summers of growth. Think of the grass hiding the good stuff within, in the form of daily browse. Deer don't bed within the grass unless forced to because of the lack of daily browse. Same with conifers. However, creating 40-60% of the bedding area in non-grass growth, while using the grass to surround that growth, creates a bedding area. I hope that makes sense, but using switchgrass allows you to provide structure within a field that allows deer to be hidden while they bed, within 2 Summers.

Yes that makes sense. I noticed when ding TSI for the State where I had to get all the trees on the ground in beech and birch thickets, I noticed deer beds along the edge where I had quit for the day. They seem to like being able to see while having a place to run to when danger approaches. I have seen deer bounding out of switchgrass fields though. You never really know for sure what they will do. I would like to find a landowner who will let me create an oak savanna with switchgrass, fruiting shrubs and forage with a very thin oak canopy. I think this will hold deer but havent had the opportunity to create it yet

Chilcote Forestry One of the best combos is 40-60% switch, with pockets of broadleaf diversity mixed within at a rate of 40-60%. The reason deer do not prefer to bed within switchgrass, any grass or conifers is that there is no browse. Deer feed 5 times in a 24 hour period as rhythmic pattern feeders, which means twice during their daytime bedding areas. Woody regen, briars, shrub tips are perfect for daytime browse. Unless deer are forced into pure switch or conifers due to the lack of cover...they don't choose to bed there in any way. By creating broadleaf and woody browse pockets within the switch (the inconsistency of oaks makes them a poor choice), you can create both high quality browse and high quality Fall/Winter bedding within 2 Summers. A pretty cool combo which meets the needs of cover and daytime browse in the entire North 1/2 of the whitetail range. Straight switch or conifers (which is in the same bedding habitat class), just isn't enough.

That was in SW WI on one of the lands that I hunt...

Ha, you caught the 1 video with a bad mic placement...we are good before and since, hope you enjoy!

Jared Beyer Thank you Jared! You sure can have habitat that is too thick for deer. I've seen habitat that was hinge cut so thick that only does and small bucks could slip thru...the landowner even watched as mature bucks slipped around the pocket instead of traveling thru like the rest of the deer. Opening up pockets of clearcut and removing the woody debris us a great way to create more bowse, while creating a quality maze, browse and pocket effect that deer prefer to bed in. Good luck!

John I love food plots...in fact they are critical for small landowners. They just can't be overly pressured. Those natural travel corridors sound perfect! In like that a lot...probably a lot of natural regeneration too? Now you could match that with an unpressured food plot, off to the side...that connects with those corridors, that would be perfect!

That all sounds great John! I bet a very cool area that sounds good about right now, lol. Supposed to be -31 in the morning...actual temps. Close to -60 wind chills...crazy eh? Thanks for the comments John!

With a good chemical start, you should only have to use simazine prior to spring green up the 2nd year...and then let it go. I've seen great switchgrass fields last 10 years or more...but they were started weed free. Otherwise, burning at 5-7 years is perfect. If you have to mow the first 3 years...a landowner didn't use enough chemicals and the stand will suffer. I leave mine alone..mother than the simazine before spring green up in the 2nd year.

Good points! I had s client who cleaned up some old fields that equaled a huge amount if bedding, and planted soybeans via a farmer. After the first year they reverted back to making the fields true security cover with a switchgrass and browse combo and the deer herd has never been better. It's all about finding the right balance in the right location and I hope the video helps!

For sure...Mike in wrong spot 😉 Only made that mistake once out of 260 videos 😎

Hi Mark, not at all in any way! In fact they are better than a puddle in the woods because by planting clover and rye grass around the hole...or letting natural vegetation take over, there isn't the mud layer to allow the midge of EHD to live in. If these waterholes were bad, you would have to go around and fill in every natural mud hole or puddle in the woods. Extremely safe...

I don't...amazing how they will still come to it for at least a week. When you combine warm ups and a black tank, it seems to stay more thawed than frozen for the majority of the season.

jason hughes Jason, there are some really good articles online for growing switchgrass in SC. Although I am not sure of the variety, you can grow it for certain! It is also indigenous to the State as well... Good luck!

John Komp northwoods whitetail. Good stuff.

Actually get busted a lot less because the corridors hide and define movement where the fit best to avoid hunter access ..hope that makes sense?

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 thank you for the fast reply! It does make sense. I Was thinking if deer are using the path your using getting in or out. Either way, definitely more cover is better. Likely better to chance getting busted that way, then a big open area and get busted

Dan, I really do not know...I have worked in 23 states, but not TX yet. Sandy soil typically means lower growth levels, but sandy loam would be a little better than sand. I really wonder about the heat tho...but I am not totally sure. I apologize for that, wish I could help you more!

Just listen and learn 😉 it's called experience. Most likely more than anyone else in the country...

Whitetail Habitat Solutions I watched it again. It has good bedding area ideas. Just heavy on the intro. 😉

@@loamy ha, I understand...thanks for the follow up, really appreciate it!

I do believe your climate range is OK, but I am not familiar with planting switch in your area. The great thing is that switch is very tolerant of a variety of soil types, fertility levels and moisture levels.

Mitchell McArdle Hi Mitchell! For years I have purchased nearly all of my seed thru John Komp at Northwoods Whitetails. This year is the first year he will be carrying Cave In Rock switchgrass and it creates a great combo of both food plot and cover options!!