The Right 15

[jvanhees]

Made it out to the property yesterday for a couple hours as I needed to get the North Plot sprayed along with my southern property border to plant the screen. Tried some of that blue dye to see where I sprayed, and it worked well. The only issue was I looked half smurf afterwards. A picture of my mobile lab as well.

Plot

The Southern Plot looks pretty dead. Only missed a few spots...touched it up. Overall in about 2 weeks I should be ready to till and get the screens planted. You can see it in the background, behind my "pond".

Peeked into the back wood lot, and it is THICK already. I'm not even sure what to think on this haha. I could be wrong, but I don't think the deer are using it much now, but come hunting season I bet they will.

Waiting to get my soil samples back then determining what to plant.

Thanks for tagging along! I love this stuff!!!

 

[Sam16]

To be honest, I am unsure on what to plant. I think covering a broad spectrum of seed will give me an idea on what the deer in this area like and when they like it. Doing a simple browse survey showed me they need more food, so I think a food plot in general will be a plus. I would love to do some beans....have you ever tried broadcasting them? My equipment is limited as well - no drill for me.

I never have broadcasted. The good news is if you break ground in the next month and try to broadcast and it fails... you still have plenty of time to get Oats/Rye in the ground! If you have the time it might be worth a shot. Seed more than recommended and till/disk the beans into the ground.

 

[buckhunter10]

To be honest, I am unsure on what to plant. I think covering a broad spectrum of seed will give me an idea on what the deer in this area like and when they like it. Doing a simple browse survey showed me they need more food, so I think a food plot in general will be a plus. I would love to do some beans....have you ever tried broadcasting them? My equipment is limited as well - no drill for me.

hey buddy i am in a rush but look at my thread - I have done beans broadcasted for years and have grown acres of them this way, chest high or better.

 

[jvanhees]

I never have broadcasted. The good news is if you break ground in the next month and try to broadcast and it fails... you still have plenty of time to get Oats/Rye in the ground! If you have the time it might be worth a shot. Seed more than recommended and till/disk the beans into the ground.

Actually that is an excellent idea. Thanks Sam. I could broadcast them before we till and till them down. Looking like 1-1.5" is the depth so a disc or shallow till) maybe 2nd round of shallow tilling, would be perfect. Its worth a shot, and I can overseed like you said or disc under if they turn out poorly.

hey buddy i am in a rush but look at my thread - I have done beans broadcasted for years and have grown acres of them this way, chest high or better.

I remember seeing that in the stonehenge plot if I am not mistaken, Ill go dig in! Thank you.

I should be seeing my soil test results here soon, and that should help determine next steps.

 

[jvanhees]

Went to my buddy Chad's house. He has planted some kind of willows and let me take cuttings from them. I will plant these once they root out as a permanent screen from the neighbors. Gonna need a lot more. About 40 here I'd say.

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[buckhunter10]

Went to my buddy Chad's house. He has planted some kind of willows and let me take cuttings from them. I will plant these once they root out as a permanent screen from the neighbors. Gonna need a lot more. About 40 here I'd say.

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Those look like hybrid Willows. I planted a bunch of them, deer will browse them when they produce new shoots. They grow FAST!

 

[skindog1]

Enjoyed reading through this. A couple things I'd recommend: you can fabricate a mini boom for your back pack sprayer to cut down on the back and forth. Dr. Craig Harper has one, I wish I would've taken pics and got a parts list. He used thin wall metal tubin!gthreaded to accept flat nozzles. I bet it could be fabricated out of a couple cheap wands. next, I love soy beans but I bet they won't stand a chance with your deer densities considering there aren't other ag fields around. You'll have to fence them. Id it were me I'd split the plots plant half in wheat/wr/or oats mixed with clover, chickory and winter peas. The other half would be a different winter grain mixed with daikon radish, turnips and rape. I've had good luck broadcasting that last mix into a good stand of clover that's stressed from the summer and getting a great stand. It's as close to a year round good plot as it gets. Good luck. I look forward to following along.

 

[Weasel]

No worries broadcasting beans. Just make sure you get them covered. I make a second pass with my tiller just touching the ground. Fluffs up the soil and covers the seed perfectly.

 

[jvanhees]

Brought the kiddos with me Memorial Day weekend to get 5 apple trees in the ground. They had fun playing with worms. These trees are semi dwarf apples. Went back once to water them as we haven't had any rain. Hope they make it. My willows are starting to root. I plan on plugging them in the wet ground in between the plots by my new "pond". Need lots more willows!

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[Stickbow Felty]

Looks like you are going to have a couple hunting buddies in a few years. Enjoy.

 

[Sam16]

Looks like you did a good job protecting those trees! What types did you go with?

 

[Weasel]

Looks good. Throw some clover seed in that apple orchard.

 

[Stickbow Felty]

Jared. Did you find out how many babies the big doe had?

 

[jvanhees]

Looks like you are going to have a couple hunting buddies in a few years. Enjoy.

I sure hope so. They already love to shoot their nerf bows at my wall mounts haha.

Looks like you did a good job protecting those trees! What types did you go with?

I tried! Thanks. The deer have already nipped a few branches that were close to the outer edge. I just hope they make it..havent had any rain since planting, but I did water once. They were a mix of Gala and Fuji.

Looks good. Throw some clover seed in that apple orchard.

Good idea, thanks! Youre place is coming along very nice so far this year

Jared. Did you find out how many babies the big doe had?

Shes still packing as of last week. I see her all the time. No fawns on camera yet.... Have any cameras out on your place right now??

 

[Stickbow Felty]

I put one out a couple weeks ago . I haven't been able to get back out and check it yet.

 

[jvanhees]

Hey everyone! Hope you all had a great 4th weekend. Been busy the last couple weeks with work, vacation and some habitat work. I was able to finally get my willow cuttings to sprout roots. I think I had too many in one bucket.

I found a guy who lives 5 mins from my property to come till up the plots for the first time. He did a great job and also ended up tilling in 1200 lbs of pelletized lime. I will now be able to disc in any Fall seed. Soil levels came back at 5.4 and 5.6 so I have some work to do.

Apple trees seem to be doing good last time I checked!

No picks of any great bucks yet....but I'm trying to be patient . Next step is to get the screens planted, both willow trees and the KFP Border Patrol which is an annual screen. I should probably hang a stand or two soon...just don't know where yet. Lastly I have been seeing more coyote scat then ever before. Not good!

 

[Sam16]

Rome wasn't built in a day! But with that being said you have done a ton of improvements in one off-season so congrats on that. Of course it'll be near impossible to hold any bucks on your 15 acre but you're well on your way to making an attractive tract come rut when the does find your food plots! Looking forward to more progress

 

[Stickbow Felty]

The place is looking good. It's like the field of dreams. If you build it they will come.

 

[jvanhees]

Pic I meant to post last time of applying the lime. Also the twins made an appearance!

These are from that big doe I believe.

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[lakngolf]

Good work . Looks like the fields are in fine shape for planting. Apple trees growing and I bet those girls are too