How To Explode Whitetail And Wildlife Populations | Old Field Conversion
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- Опубликовано: 6 июн 2024
- Are you tired of the many wildlife failures caused by in effective CRP and pheasant mix plantings? Do you like bees, birds, pheasants, rabbits, butterflies and whitetails? Then creating high value diversity pockets within fields of solid switchgrass can explode wildlife populations to levels that are impossible thru traditional planting methods. This is another original concept of mine designed in the 2000s to not only increase year-round daytime deer bedding opportunity, but to take the potential of sustainable wildlife populations to new levels! Old field, fallow fields and ag fields can quickly and easily be converted to high powered, mega wildlife hotspots by following this technique. Are you ready to turn that old field of yours into the envy of the local whitetail and wildlife neighborhood in 2 growing seasons or less? Then you need to watch this about my tried and true technique, that will out grow, out compete, out diversify and out produce, any other old field wildlife planting method currently used today.
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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
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.
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
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!!!
This has been the most helpful video for me yet! Thanks Jeff!
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.
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 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.
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. :)
Great info. I have a solid 5 acre block of switch and just started doing what you explained. Thanks.
Now I’m going to have to order more switch grass seed! Thanks for these suggestions. Its perfect timing for me.
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.
Exactly what I am dealing with in my expiring CRP. Thanks for the information.
You are very welcome Max...I hope it helps you considerably! Far better method than CRP and pheasant mixes...
Exactly what we wanna do Jeff, change a 12 acre pasture into deer heaven. Thanks so much for covering this topic.. Excellent advice.
You are very welcome Mark...that is great to hear! You will enjoy this method very much ☺️ Thank YOU!
Awesome video as always Jeff. Great content.
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!
Another Great one Jeff! One of my favorite videos from you!
Best videos on RUclips 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 RUclips 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.
I watch all your videos and don’t even own any land.... great sincere information. Thumbs up!
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!
That's great to hear! Man I hope you can own some land soon ☺️ I will try to keep the info coming for when you do!
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 I absolutely love these videos been watching since the beginning. Wished I owned enough land to implement your strategies. Thanks for all you do
Thank you so much Brandon! Really appreciate you watching ☺️ Hopefully you can own or use some land soon!
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?
Thanks for this video. I look forward to frost seeding some areas this spring.
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!
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
Once again very good information , thank you Jeff
You are very welcome...really appreciate it!
I'm a big fan of red dogwood. Looks so cool in the winter.
Great information! I really enjoyed watching.
Thanks a lot Brian...man I really appreciate it!
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 ☺️
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?
Awesome video sir, love this idea.
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'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.
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
Jeff love the channel. I have learned so much from you. Will most of your techniques and plantings that you recommend work in the southeast?
Thanks for the aha moment!
Jeff, could you please do a video about establishing clover??? Herbicide, seeding rates, types to use, weed management over times, etc.
Hi Jeff, Great presentation of very helpful material. What mapping software is that? I have been looking for something for tree farm use. Thanks!
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?
Thank you for your video.
Good stuff!
How small can you make the pockets and they still work?
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?
Thanks as always!
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?
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
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?
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.
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.
Burning time😁
Love your videos, I am doing this in an old pasture area and want to do this inside a pine area as well.
What is best method to make the pockets inside the thick pines for example within a 12 acre super thick jack and white pine area in northern lower Michigan, which i am sure you've experienced? and what do you use to keep the pines from growing back in the area you cleared?
I have to screen 40 acres of ag for access to 80 of timber. Contemplated minimizing ag to hold more deer. This vid has got my gears turning. Thank u!
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 😁
Jeff - This was exactly the video I needed! I have an old, 9 acre field here in MD that I plan to use this technique on. What do you recommend for thickening up field edges with the goal being hunter access and making it so deer in the woods can't see what's happening in the field.
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.
Very nice job 👍
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.
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?
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?
Excellent video!! Is it possible to frost seed switch grass over an old field or do I need to kill all vegetation the summer prior?
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?
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 video but have a question, do you this work down in the Eastern Shore of Maryland for sika deer?
Great content Jeff. Lot of good ideas there. Still haven't heard back from you, from November. Wanting to possibly hire you for your expertise. I went through your website. Been that busy I suppose...
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
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.
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!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Thanks Jeff
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.
Nailed it!
Thank you Ryan... appreciate it!
Excellent concept. Would be curious how to hu to it though
So on a 5 acre field do you mow it down, kill it off then switch grass the whole thing and then cut these pockets in? Or kill it off and plant the sg in a pattern leaving the pockets open? Thx, great video.
Love the video, mr. Jeff This is off subject. I shoot a Mathews Triax 28 inch draw 70 lb pull. I've been shooting Carbon Express Maxima red 350. My total Arrow weight Is 415 with my Hundred grain broadheads? Can you recommend a mechanical broadhead for me, please? I been shooting with the nap Spitfires not liking the penetration. I shot two deer this year. With them Got them both, but broadside doe at 17 yards no pass-through. Want to try a new Broadhead? Any advice is appreciative. Thinking about the grim reapers 125 grain. Want something made in USA?
I know your up north, would you still recommend switchgrass for south Louisiana?
Thank u
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.
@@ttext-5360 sorry I thought I sent you a direct message
Jeff how big do we need to make the diversity pockets? Do the pockets need to be different sizes in autumn olive, honeysuckle, and switchgrass? I have areas of monoculture for all three.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge theres alot of misinformation out there but its not coming from your channel 👍
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
Do you think that I will be able to use a lot of the same vegetation for a food plot and cover areas down in the Houston Texas area?
Do you recommend food plots along side of the early growth pockets or how would you fit that in? Doing a 10 acre ag conversion and this would be the only place to do a food plot. So is both ok or does food beat early growth pockets?
Thanks dude
Jeff, how hard would it be to plant switchgrass into a ongoing ag field? Thinking about taking 5 acres from the rental farmer and adding 5 acres of switchgrass into it. It was beans this past year, could I frost seed the switchgrass on now with the exposed ground?
Would you reccommend planting food plots in these "pockets", or just allow broadleaf weeds to come through?
I will be frost seeding switchgrass next week in last years soybean field. Would you recommend tilling the ground first if 50 percent of the ground has volunteer herbaceous plants?
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!
What agency?
@@whitewood2000 farm service agency. FSA. The same agency that my crp is enrolled in
With an expiring CRP contract, would you recommend drilling in switch and spraying clethodim for the ESG pockets and/or tilling up the pocket areas? Or would you take and simazine the whole thing, drill the switch and leave open the ESC pockets? The CRP isn’t completely to the ground here in KS but not holding deer like I want.
Hey Jeff as you know I received 5# of switchgrass from John can’t wait to frost seed for screening purposes do you think I should get more to do the outside perimeter of food plot without giving it that horse arena look feel I do want to hide the plot but by the same token don’t want the deer to feel trapped or closed in if I were to frostseed the entire perimeter of plot I think would definitely add to the arena feel your thoughts please as always super video
Jeff how high off ground are your stands on average? Thanks!
Do switch grass cover and regeneration pockets work further south in Alabama?
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?
Jeff, any info on the south(SC) where you don't have these AG fields for nightly feeding? Some grass/hay but not good AG.
When would you drill switch into a picked cornfield in central WI? June 1?
wondering how you create these pockets within the switch grass. do you plant solid stand of switchgrass first and then spray patches to create the openings or do you just flag out the patches and not plant them?
I like it. what's your thoughts on a grid design of weeds and then switchgrass? #ultimate
I’m interested in whether a properly laid English style hedge would be a beneficial component to one of these plans. They can be used to produce a complete physical and visual barrier as well as cover for smaller animals. They are quite labour intensive to establish however. Have you ever experimented with them?
Hey Jeff. If you have a 7 acre field you've used as your main supplemental food source would you recommend implementing this method there?
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
What would your thoughts be on wide open marsh land to own in a well known county? Patches of trees here and there....would you own 30 acres of it? I mean spend the money on it?
Is burning a good practice then so you can help break down the old to help bring in the new?
Jeff. I have two smaller AG fields that total 6-7 acres. They are just weed fields now. I really want to incorporate the pizza looking switch grass field mix in both. I’m torn on what shrubs to mix in. I have thought about transplanting some AO that I have in some wood lines but this will not help with deer bedding as they don’t love to browse the AO. Southern Michigan mixed AG and rolling hills. Any suggestions ?
Jeff, I would like know what opening you use on your spreader, for seeding switchgrass. I'm running out of seed before finishing my plantings & getting expensive.
Hi Paul...so it is barely coming out. I unfortunately go by feel so o know that doesn't help much. But begin at the smallest setting that you can spread the seed with, and add more if needed after. Very important to go light first...go over a 2nd and 3rd time if needed. Also very important to know exactly how big the area is you are seeding and then use the exact amount of seed. Then you can go light and begin to find the exact setting that you need based on your walk and how fast you spin the deed out.
Awsome
Hi Jeff
Great stuff. Any chance you have a code to enter at Big Rock Trees so you get credit? I imagine they are gonna get a lot of sales from it.