Sam, that stand is 100% gonna have to replaced soon. . If it's not now, it will become rickety/ rotten / noisy over time. I see ZERO reason to create cover around it as every deer in that area has grown up with it. It's part of their life. Love the way you got the zones layed out though..
@ScottJenkins-vq5gxСағат бұрын
Thanks for sharing Sam
@dennisisaacs850811 сағат бұрын
Nicely done with all the stages of your plan coming together
@PFHabitat5 сағат бұрын
Thanks Dennis. Yah it worked out very well
@jerryburns42372 күн бұрын
Outstanding habitat my friend. Hard work!
@PFHabitatКүн бұрын
I appreciate that Jerry! It was a lot of work but definitely rewarding to see the result
@rockarolla47562 күн бұрын
I’ve never tried making a trail leading deer to shooting distance to my tree stand until watching this video. It really works!! I raked a trail in an area where deer are working to get to one of my clover kill plots with a scrape 30 yards from my tree stand and they follow it directly to the scrape before exiting to get to the clover. I’ve used scrapes before but never on a trail I made, wish I knew this info back in the 90’s lol. Thanks for sharing, keep on keeping on!
@PFHabitat2 күн бұрын
@rockarolla4756 glad to hear it worked well for you! Yah this little detail work can make all the difference when it matters the most
@db7outdoors9874 күн бұрын
Another great video!
@PFHabitat3 күн бұрын
Much appreciated!
@artbrennhofer82834 күн бұрын
Great video Sam. I am wondering where you start when it comes to buckthorn. I was out trimming a couple of stands and then putting down some fertilizer on the food plots and noticed just how much buckthorn there is from a couple of years ago. Do you start by spraying back some of it and then going in and cutting and treating the bigger ones. i don't think I can win this battle with the buckthorn and still get everything else I want to do to make the land more huntable and hold a few more deer. Thanks again for the video.
@PFHabitat3 күн бұрын
The battle always starts with seed trees. Focus on those to stop the bleeding. If it's really bad I'll start in the lighter areas first and get some easy wins and then move into the heavier areas once I get the lighter areas cleaned up. The quickest way for really bad infestations is to bring in the mulcher and then boom spray it when it sprouts back. There are cost share options for getting rid of it in most states. Talk to your DNR forester about that
@stevedenoyer59564 күн бұрын
Looks great, lots of early successional growth. Nice stand setup too!
@PFHabitat3 күн бұрын
Thanks Steve, I love this spot
@virgilholmes66884 күн бұрын
Great video showing the value of putting in the hard work and discussing your strategy. Looks like the structure of the cover would allow bucks to use it all season even when in velvet.
@PFHabitat3 күн бұрын
Thanks Virgil and that's a great point! With the broken up cover I do believe they could use it during any season
@HabitatDave4 күн бұрын
How are you able to so quickly identify buckthorn?
@PFHabitat3 күн бұрын
Lots of woods time and lots of time killing it. It sticks out like a sore thumb to me now after years of eradicating it. If you struggle with identification know that it stays green long after the native trees have dropped their leaves. So if you see green in your woods after leaf drop that's not a good sign.
@StevenSmith-7t3912 күн бұрын
Always enjoy your videos. I’ve got serious buckthorn issues that I am spraying for. To basal spray I’m using Tri 4 and diesel at 1:6 ratio. That’s a lot of Triclopyr! You use 5% Tri4 with water so just to be clear, that means a ratio of 1:20 Tri4:water? And it kills well. How much of the trunk are you covering?
@PFHabitat2 күн бұрын
@StevenSmith-7t391 the 5% solution is when I foliar treat the small stuff. For basal bark I use my 25%triclopyr/75% diesel solution but I very much prefer cut stump to basal bark. I coat the bottom 18 inches of the trunk for basal bark
@StevenSmith-7t3912 күн бұрын
That’s more in line with my procedure. Thanks.
@PFHabitatКүн бұрын
No prob!
@daveguttormson63154 күн бұрын
Great work Sam. That cover looks perfect.
@PFHabitat4 күн бұрын
Thanks Dave, it's been a really fun spot
@randyh.60197 күн бұрын
So say you frost seeded clovers in March into last years peas and bean plots with the intension of mowing 3 x then broadcasting winter oats, wheat and rye after last mowing, but now torn between broadcasting and no-till drilling with maybe adding a little clover to it....what would you do?
@PFHabitat6 күн бұрын
Either will work. If you have the no-till drill I'd probably go that route given it'll give you better seed to soil contact and quicker germination given you'll have the ability to take advantage of the moisture in the soil
@saltytech83807 күн бұрын
What varieties of clover did you plant Sam?
@PFHabitat6 күн бұрын
I knew someone would ask that and I forgot to take a snapshot of the seed tag when I planted. It was a blend from merit seed that I remember looked good....
@PFHabitat6 күн бұрын
I just looked at my receipts and it was the platinum ultra blend they sell which has a couple different alfalfas, ladino and Durana clover, and chicory
@kurtcaramanidis57057 күн бұрын
Love it
@PFHabitat6 күн бұрын
Yah it's nice to see a plan come together!
@scottschaeffer89207 күн бұрын
Done the same, all it takes is rain.
@PFHabitat6 күн бұрын
Yes and we've had plenty of that this year!
@chadilacnissen97177 күн бұрын
great video!!!
@PFHabitat7 күн бұрын
@@chadilacnissen9717 thanks! It was fun to see it work out so well
@PaigeNature7 күн бұрын
So beautiful!!! Switchgrass is one of my favorite North American grasses. The wildlife loves it!
@PFHabitat7 күн бұрын
Agreed! They do love it and I think it's gorgeous esthetically
@ryanconklin59837 күн бұрын
I’m torn between planting light switch grass/planting bushes & shrubs in it and going with your other teachings of just spraying cool season grasses in spring and let seed bed take over. Any advice? I have about 5 acres of old field that I need more cover in to move deer between wood lots. Thoughts? Spraying grasses seems easier, but not sure that it would provide enough cover post mid/late October. Mid Michigan FYI
@PFHabitat7 күн бұрын
@ryanconklin5983 with 5 acres you could really do either. The switchgrass will give you a quicker ROI but the cool season grass killing/tree planting would likely have better long term results. There's enough space there you could even do a combination of both.
@transamguy90737 күн бұрын
I have a nice bench system on my north facing hill wich i need to do some cutting for early season bedding. Now my south facing hill needs opened up. There is no sunlight comming through the canopy
@PFHabitat7 күн бұрын
Sounds like a great recipe for the chainsaw to me!
@db7outdoors9879 күн бұрын
How much Triclopyr 4 do you put in a 4 gallon backpack sprayer for foilage spraying? Thanks.
@PFHabitat8 күн бұрын
26 ounces
@db7outdoors9876 күн бұрын
@@PFHabitat do you put MSO in the Tryclopyr/water mixture? I appreciate the responses. I've never foliage sprayed. I always cut it and spray with Tordon.
@PFHabitat6 күн бұрын
Yah per the label it calls for it. Basically I just add a splash of it. You don't need much. And I've sprayed plenty without it and still get a great kill rate
@stevedenoyer59569 күн бұрын
Most up against a structure of some kind. Makes sense, seems like they’d be vulnerable on a windy day like you have.?
@PFHabitat9 күн бұрын
Possibly, I'll have to see if they seem to avoid the switchgrass areas when I'm hunting on windy days.
@stevedenoyer59569 күн бұрын
@@PFHabitat you should throw a camera on one of them and track weather patterns and when they bed there! Be an interesting little study!
@PFHabitat8 күн бұрын
I've tried the camera on beds before and it really wigs um out so tend to shy away from that. Perhaps a trail on the way to them though
@stevedenoyer59568 күн бұрын
@@PFHabitat yeah be tough there too have to put it low, so they would likely see it and freak out.
@tristanfu10559 күн бұрын
Which sprayer do you like using? I just ordered the fmico boomless and I'm worried I may have made thr wrong choice
@PFHabitat9 күн бұрын
That will work. I have a 25 gallon sprayer with the short 3 nozzle boom fimco sells
@virgilholmes668810 күн бұрын
Nice job doing the homework for the rest of us!
@PFHabitat10 күн бұрын
I love doing it, thanks for watching!
@derekmuche892710 күн бұрын
Great video. Helps confirm my plans to frost seed on the lighter side this winter followed up with a planting of shrubs and trees scattered within. Rather than burning for maintenance, I'll just let mother nature do her thing. Maybe the guys that have solid stands of switch need to consider creating bedding pockets by spot spraying holes in their fields? Then planting some shrubs/trees along side those pockets to sweeten the deal.
@PFHabitat10 күн бұрын
I love that plan Derek! Yah if guys planted pure switchgrass for bedding, spraying some back or even resetting some with a disc would be a good idea
@TheCaseygore10 күн бұрын
Your switchgrass looks amazing!
@PFHabitat10 күн бұрын
Thanks Casey!
@daveguttormson631510 күн бұрын
Great stuff Sam. Totally agree. When i was younger and more ambitious, id collect discarded Christmas trees and drag them out into crp fields and just let them lay. Deer gravitated to them for bedding. Your really putting out some superb content!!
@PFHabitat10 күн бұрын
Thanks Dave! And that's a great idea! I'm sure the deer loved the structure and the branches made for nice spots for the birds to perch and do some tree seeding for you!.
@gregg950011 күн бұрын
Great video. Thank you. How close can you get to the oaks when spraying without killing them?
@PFHabitat11 күн бұрын
@gregg9500 as long as you're not hitting the leaves with the foliar mix it won't hurt the mature oaks
@dennisisaacs850812 күн бұрын
How big is this field and is it square or odd shaped? Thanks
@PFHabitat12 күн бұрын
The whole area is around 20 acres and it's a square
@derekmuche892713 күн бұрын
At what rate would you spread switch into a field you're trying to convert into bedding/old field management?
@PFHabitat13 күн бұрын
@@derekmuche8927 8 pounds per acre with plenty of open pockets for bedding/early successional growth
@stevedenoyer595614 күн бұрын
What happens when you get a snow?
@PFHabitat14 күн бұрын
It'll go down eventually. I'll be sure to do a follow-up early winter to see how long it holds up
@stevedenoyer595614 күн бұрын
Great, did you drill or conventional seed?
@PFHabitat14 күн бұрын
Frost seeded immediately after the snow melt
@scottschaeffer892014 күн бұрын
Like you mentioned, repeat in Winter with 8 inches or so of snow on it. That’s really why you would even, for me, use switchgrass. Limited nest cover ( edges) no brood value, it’s too aggressive to blend with native forbs, etc. So, it’s winter cover predominantly. But, next to a good food plot, can really hold a winter flock pheasants-deer. Keep it up!
@PFHabitat14 күн бұрын
I actually had a nice sized group of pheasent poults hanging in this spot early. I flushed them walking through it. I'm guessing it's too thick at this point but I have lots of herbaceous growth adjacent to it I'm sure they're in now. I have no clue where the pheasents are coming from given we historically aren't an area that holds them, but really fun to see. And you're correct, they love it in the winter. I'll be sure to share a follow-up.
@daveguttormson631514 күн бұрын
Have you ever went back to that field where you put out logs for bedding spots?
@PFHabitat14 күн бұрын
I actually just did a few days ago. I'll share that video at some point. No action on the logs but plenty of bedding out there. Lots of doe and fawn beds. I haven't given up hope yet. I'm hoping when the fall shift occurs, I'll get some bedding on them this fall.
@daveguttormson631514 күн бұрын
That looks incredible Sam!
@PFHabitat14 күн бұрын
Thanks Dave!
@timhatfield636714 күн бұрын
Cut mine last week. Rain coming soon in Indiana... Hopefully anyways
@PFHabitat14 күн бұрын
Sounds perfect!
@patrickbarry902716 күн бұрын
do you come back the year following after late summer heat cooks the wood and the cold winter months break down the woody material and run fire to encourage more seedlings to sprout and make sure you get it wiped out?
@patrickbarry902716 күн бұрын
or could you broadcast treat it with gly in the fall after natives go dormant?
@BenGraf2216 күн бұрын
I have Jake mulching some buckthorn at my property near Fergus today! Love buckthorn destruction! Do you feel like a boom sprayer is better for this vs boomless?
@PFHabitat16 күн бұрын
Great to hear! I use the 3 nozzle short boom fimco has but the boomless would definitely work too
@db7outdoors98716 күн бұрын
Is the hack and squirt method effective on buckthorn?
@PFHabitat16 күн бұрын
@db7outdoors987 no that I've seen from clients that have tried it. Cut stump or basal bark treatment works best. I prefer cut stump
@Matt-3316 күн бұрын
Wish I had the funds to start a similar project. The 40 acre piece I hunt looks identical. It's great for holding deer April - November, but offers no winter browse. Nasty stuff.
@PFHabitat16 күн бұрын
What state are you in?
@Matt-3316 күн бұрын
@@PFHabitat Wright Co, MN
@PFHabitat16 күн бұрын
@Matt-33 your DNR consulting forester is Tony Miller Phone # 320-679-3683 Email [email protected] Contact him to come out to your property to discuss cost-share options for the buckthorn. He will come out for free. You can get a large portion of the removal cost covered through the cost share. I cost shared this project
@Matt-3316 күн бұрын
@@PFHabitat Thank you!
@PFHabitat16 күн бұрын
No prob!
@jamesfarrow213017 күн бұрын
would love to see you mark off a couple 10 foot square plots and plant acorns in those to see what happens! good luck👍
@PFHabitat16 күн бұрын
Not a bad idea!
@ScottJenkins-vq5gx17 күн бұрын
What herbicide are you running in your boom sprayer.?
@PFHabitat16 күн бұрын
Triclopyr 4
@stevedenoyer595617 күн бұрын
Looking forward to the results of your work! Glad I don’t have to deal with buckthorn
@PFHabitat16 күн бұрын
Yes be thankful, it's awful!
@michaelsawyer702917 күн бұрын
My buddy had same problem, we tore that thing completely apart, the last thing we checked was the manifold, turned out the manifold went bad, new manifold and now all three nozzles work great again, so check your manifold
@PFHabitat17 күн бұрын
@@michaelsawyer7029 that's what I did in this video
@tristanfu105518 күн бұрын
It can persist in the seed bed for 1 to 2 years. It's likely you'll still have to treat seedlings, but not as many. Good video. BT is a pita
@PFHabitat18 күн бұрын
The U of Minnesota just did a study checking the seed viability of buckthorn. 97% sprouts the 1st year so if you hammer it good the 1st year you'll be in really good shape. Google that one, very interesting and encouraging results. Better than that we used to think when we thought it persisted for several years.
@StevenSmith-7t39118 күн бұрын
Glad to hear you’re chasing buckthorn. Triclopyr 4 / diesel 1:4 mix works on basal bark treatments as well when temperatures are below 85°. Good information as usual.
@PFHabitat18 күн бұрын
@StevenSmith-7t391 yah I'll basal bark treat when I'm foliar spraying with the backpack sprayer and I have just a few residual seed trees left. I prefer cut stump just because I feel it's quicker for me in heavier areas and I use less chemical than basal bark treatment.
@NorthMissouriOutdoors19 күн бұрын
Great share and information on this topic
@PFHabitat18 күн бұрын
@@NorthMissouriOutdoors thanks!
@artbrennhofer828323 күн бұрын
That looks like it is working out pretty good. I am guessing the deer won't bother using it, so there won't be any chance encounters or being able to pattern you coming and going. Thanks for the video.
@PFHabitat23 күн бұрын
Yah I think you are correct. Having a quiet easy access is going to be immensely helpful this fall
@ChilcoteForestryServices23 күн бұрын
Ueah but jeffy says you dont need canopy😅
@PFHabitat23 күн бұрын
He has a video of himself standing under a canopy he created talking about how much he likes canopies on his old youtube channel :)