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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
Not much to report. Gun season started a couple of weeks ago and I think the neighbors are hammering the deer. From what I gather, the does get shot when they jump the fence, but the bucks know they are safe on my land and stay on my side of the fence. Deer activity has decreased significantly on camera. The next two weeks are prime rut - who knows what will pop up.
I let a friend pheasant hunt yesterday and they got a couple of beauties. Sounds like they missed quite a few.
The farmer and I are figuring out a 5 year lease. We will most likely do a crop share agreement. The coop came out this week to get soil samples.
I let a friend pheasant hunt yesterday and they got a couple of beauties. Sounds like they missed quite a few.
The farmer and I are figuring out a 5 year lease. We will most likely do a crop share agreement. The coop came out this week to get soil samples.
Mennoniteman
Well-Known Member
Aren't you concerned that the pheasant hunters will chase your deer to the neighbors?
I’m not going to be able to spend much time out there for at least a few years. I’d rather build good human relationships at this point than worry about deer I can’t hunt.
Eventually I’m going to turn that bottom 40 acre field into a deer paradise. Once that happens, I don’t think I’ll have any problem shooting deer.
Eventually I’m going to turn that bottom 40 acre field into a deer paradise. Once that happens, I don’t think I’ll have any problem shooting deer.
Turkey Creek
Well-Known Member
Good neighbors are priceless if you are an absentee landowner.
yoderjac
Well-Known Member
That goes for resident landowners as well!
I fly Charleston to Chicago to Billings then rent a vehicle in Billings to drive 100 miles. I leave Charleston at 6 Am and can be at the farm by 2 PM.
