-
The forum has been upgraded to support both light and dark themes. Click here for directions.
To be named later Montana farm
- Thread starter cutman
- Start date
KSQ2
Well-Known Member
Is it beginning to cool down out there yet?
TRADEMARKTEXAN
New Member
Hey, love this! I’ve done habitat work in two very different biomes in Texas and also bought some land in Montana a few years ago. I’m in NW Montana but have driven through Forsyth many, many times heading towards North or South Dakota for pheasant hunts.
I’ve planted nearly 1000 tree seedlings on my place so have some thoughts that might help you.
Montana’s state nursery doesn’t sell to individuals but the Idaho state nursery does, and they are excellent in all ways. The Dakotas probably also do as well so check on those for sure.
Some things I’ve learned based on the seedlings I’ve planted and survival rates after 5 years:
- Deer are the #1 danger to your seedlings
- Fir, Spruce, and Tamarac are nearly entirely left alone by deer and have very high survival rates
- Ponderosa Pines do well but you have to protect the growth buds in the winter. This is easy if you learn how
- Deciduous plants need protection or they’ll struggle with deer pressure
- of the deciduous plants I’ve tried, Apples, Oakleaf Sumac, Ninebark have been the hardiest, but they need protection to ever really have a chance
Beyond that, I will say that in all hunting across the Dakota’s and Montana, by observation is that corn is king for both deer and pheasant. It provides cover and food for both. If you can grow it, there’s nothing better than for holding them on your property.
Good luck, looking forward to following this!
I’ve planted nearly 1000 tree seedlings on my place so have some thoughts that might help you.
Montana’s state nursery doesn’t sell to individuals but the Idaho state nursery does, and they are excellent in all ways. The Dakotas probably also do as well so check on those for sure.
Some things I’ve learned based on the seedlings I’ve planted and survival rates after 5 years:
- Deer are the #1 danger to your seedlings
- Fir, Spruce, and Tamarac are nearly entirely left alone by deer and have very high survival rates
- Ponderosa Pines do well but you have to protect the growth buds in the winter. This is easy if you learn how
- Deciduous plants need protection or they’ll struggle with deer pressure
- of the deciduous plants I’ve tried, Apples, Oakleaf Sumac, Ninebark have been the hardiest, but they need protection to ever really have a chance
Beyond that, I will say that in all hunting across the Dakota’s and Montana, by observation is that corn is king for both deer and pheasant. It provides cover and food for both. If you can grow it, there’s nothing better than for holding them on your property.
Good luck, looking forward to following this!
Awesome post. Thanks! Will dive into it when I have a minute.
Nice tall buck on the right. Looks like we got an inch of rain yesterday, the forecast is finally cool. I’m seeing lots of deer activity on camera.
Turkey Creek
Well-Known Member
If we had the coyote prices of just a few years ago, you could be paying off that farm alot quicker. You have some pretty coyotes in that part of the world.
I looked for about a year and had a broker keeping an eye out for me. I wanted to be in the mountains, but being in the mountains would have meant not having farm land (other than pasture). This property ticked all the boxes other than mountains: farm land, great hunting, a house, easily accessible, and in my price range.
This place never hit the open market. I’m fairly certain I overpaid for it, which bugs me, but I trusted my broker and he said it was a good deal. By the time I’m done with it, I think it will be worth a lot more than what I paid for it.
You can never overpay for land! (You just bought it early at future pricing
