#1 Deer and Wildlife Shrub

The #1 deer and wildlife is....
Several shrubs could be the #1 shrub! The silky willows we use from Big Rock Trees, red osier dogwoods and alder bushes could all be considered the best shrub. However, what about this one? You may want to consider this shrub for the value it delivers...
*For Kicking Bear Calendars: kickingbear.org/2021-kicking-...
*Do you want to create incredible buck habitat for your hunting land? Check out my "Hunting Hills and Thermals" web class:
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*Jeff and Friends Talk Deer Podcast: www.whitetailhabitatsolutions...

[@elanashelef8511]

Thank you for addressing non-natives and invasive species. Your approach makes perfect sense.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are very welcome Elana, there is certainly no black and white approach!

[@normyoder2622]

Jeff, I nominate you for wildlife habitat award..I've learned so much from WHS And appreciate it

[@anthonymalueg3520]

Picking the right shrubs can be a real challenge for me educating myself has been a huge help

[@Pilled_red]

I feel the same way about autumn olive. I’ve gone rogue on it before and totally ruined hunting areas. For the past 5 years or so I’ve been managing it rather than terminating it completely. The problem I had is nothing native came back in significant numbers.

[@mochoman5532]

The Iowa DNR planted Multi flower Rose on public land years ago and made a terrible mess. Now they can never get rid of it.

[@michiganwhitetailsociety]

Seriously enjoying your videos!

[@ala5831]

A good shrub that I have been planting is High bush cranberry. Easy to grow and deer don’t eat it all but will nip on it. Easy to root if a branch is touching the ground or cut and put in wet sand. Replacing some bush honey suckle with it. Although I will never replace all of it. Lol

[@smallfishbigpond5047]

Agree!

[@ryanfreeman9766]

I LOVE autumn olive. The scent from the blooms is unreal. If the wildlife love it and benefit from it, why not love it?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Amen Ryan!

[@whitetailhabitatandhunting]

Thanks Jeff! About to order some shrubs and possibly trees here soon!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are welcome Isaac! Make sure to check out Big Rock Trees 😊

[@underdogoutdoors]

Smilax Rotundafolia for me baby!!!!!! Hunting unfortunately not my full time business, it's awesome to have you on KZbin, so often- truly appreciate all you do Jeff!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thank you very much...truly means a lot to me!

[@michaelmoon5664]

In my area (Niagara County NY) we have an abundance of gray dogwood, sumac and morrow's honeysuckle.

[@timmiller2192]

Thanks! Deer Hunter and Honey Beekeeper her, I need flowers in July -Aug. Thinking of planting Sumac And Button Bush.

[@drewharman1690]

Just what I needed to see!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Good 😊

[@amb221989]

I met a guy in MI that said he couldn't keep the deer out of his Hostas in his front yard, so he started planting them along his food plots and has had great success. I'm considering trying it myself.

[@bowman8316]

Remember Hostas like some shade 👍🏼

[@vervi1jw1]

Can. Confirm. Deer came an annihilated my wife's hostas that were planted against our house this past summer in northern MI. The buck even fell asleep laying against our window afterward.

[@jkosinski4148]

They hold a good amount of moisture, deer definitely love them.

[@weslovell815]

Yes on white hosta lilies...all over edges...started them 5yr ago ... nothing but good...

[@h-minus2212]

Thanks for this video. I prefer hunting in a forest setting over hunting near a field edge. Plantings of this type give the deer something they need and like, while allowing me to hunt in a more "in the woods" environment. By the way, you won the phrase of the day contest when you said 'under the guise'. Thanks again.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Ha, thanks...always good to win phrase of the day 😁

[@ericwittman3]

I consulted the National Zoological Park of the US for five years and developed its entire invasive plant program from 2006-10. Also lectured for Adkins Arboretum and Maryland extension service for decades, so there are very few people who walk the earth that know more about invasives than I do. I can tell you that the operative concept is exactly what you touched on- management. Invasives are NEVER a good thing to plant. Ever. No arguments or discussions. They not only displace natives, but in numerous instances they destroy the biomechanics of your soil; particularly mycorrhizal fungi that serve as extensions to the root systems of native herbaceous and woody natives. They destroy forests in all circumstances. That being said, the swift removal without proper replacement strategies can cause horrific effects to fauna who lose adequate food sources to maintain populations and cause devastating erosion catastrophes which bring a host of immediate problems no one wants to deal with. As a hardcore archery hunter, I want our woods to sustain our native species. That begins and ends with a long term management plan for eradication and reintroduction of native plant material. Couple things: (1) Hell no on burning bush. Hell no on any invasives. You can do permanent damage to your land. (2) the park ranger you mentioned is talking out of his rear when he talked about soil biomechics. (3) US Fish and Wildlife has brochures on native alternatives to invasives. Just select ones that provide food and cover for the wildlife you’re looking to attract and maintain on site. I’m glad you made the point about management

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thank you and I really appreciate your background and comments Eric!

[@timgore1487]

Good video and info

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thank you!

[@oldfatnugly]

yew bushes, they cant get enough of em in my area come winter.

[@bowman8316]

Right on 👍

[@kurtcaramanidis5705]

Interesting commentary on ROD. I have found the opposite in Central WI. We have it thriving on high medium and low ground with no maintenance. Deer bed in it and browse it. Easy to propagate for free too. Birds also spread it for us by eating the berries. I assume you promote diversity similar to food plots.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

I love ROD...but it is likely one of the largest fails I see for shrub plantings. Fails for too dry of soil when planting...too wet ..or deer browse. Was just on a client parcel today in MI and their ROD is beautiful! Already established naturally of course too

[@smallfishbigpond5047]

Agree!

[@smallfishbigpond5047]

Thanks! I have had good success planting red oiser dogwood in central wisconsin. I plant and let it go on it's own without any fencing or care. Sure, deer browse it heavily, but it survives and in 3-4 years it really starts to take off. I don't think it can be too wet for ROD, unless maybe flooding for a long time, but overly dry sites will kill it. Perpetually moist soil is perfect for it. Look where it grows naturally and duplicate.

[@75shadystorm]

I would really like to plant red Osier in my 1ish forest acre in central Wisconsin also. Is simply planting in a forest setting a good idea?

[@smallfishbigpond5047]

@@75shadystorm I think u want to plant in full sun. My experience it doesn't do well in shadey places.

[@75shadystorm]

@smallfishbigpond5047 ok good to know! Everything on nursery websites say part to full sun with moist soil. Other videos on KZbin show me swampy areas 🤷 so I really am unsure of this dogwood. Thank you much!

[@jjhoran1273]

Morning Jeff

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Morning...now evening...JJ 😁

[@christinelippincott5189]

I love AO, bush honey suckle, grey dogwood on our place. I plant hazel nuts for brush not trees,and love all elderberry, sumac. Here's a controversy in wet areas, only wet areas clumping bamboo. It holds green most of winter and leaf cover year around. I have some 25 yrs old that hasn't moved 10 ft. Aronia , and Quince are 2 others I like though Quince can be a pain to watch out for. Sun for those two

[@Kingbgreen5]

What area of the country are you growing bamboo in?

[@christinelippincott5189]

Finger lakes NY

[@johnduellman5760]

I am planting 300 red osier dog wood and 100 swamp white oak I'm some lowland this coming spring.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Sounds perfect...best wishes for a great growing season!

[@beaulyons5554]

Would a Russian olive be close enough to autumn olive to plant? They seem very similar plus I can get Russian olive. I also see American silver berry. Thank you for the great videos and knowledge.

[@kybucks5086]

Forester in KY said get rid of the bush honeysuckle. Problem is deer eat it and provides great cover So gonna keep it in check but leave it.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

The problem with most "Resource Professionals" is a blanket approach to habitat management with no thought. Basically have blinders on an learn zero perspective along the way. Like anything there is balance. Ask them what is the viable replacement. Ask them how long that will take. Ask them the success rate of that replacement. Ask them for several examples. Finally...ask them what the wildlife does in the meantime. If they can answer all of their questions to your satisfaction...then by all means listen. I have my doubts they can, but you could at least entertain them.

[@jonathonwendorf9562]

Jeff- any thoughts on prickly ash? In central WI. Thanks

[@tbob740]

You think planting switchgrass screening pockets in big woods with little cover would work?

[@sirmatt6143]

I’m wanting to plant something for the deer that will take over and spread… do these autumn olive grow in west Texas or do you recommend something else?

[@jamesmorris4428]

If you would clear cut an area of about .5 to 1 acre for bedding what would you suggest to add as far as shrubs or trees. Would you add switch grass?

[@ihus9950]

👍🏻

[@jasonblair6693]

What is a good shrub for middle Ga. I want to add some shrubs for cover plants. Sometimes it gets real dry here

[@toddbarnert3515]

Walnuts, pecans, hazelnuts, peaches, apples, pears, cherries, raspberries

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Walnuts and pecans very bad for wildlife in general. Hazelnuts "ok". Soft mass great to add to food plots but not in general woods or cover improvement. Strawberries great for shortcake and jam.

[@smallfishbigpond5047]

Lol

[@johnmcmahon1196]

Hi Jeff! If you are planting fruit trees on a property do you like to put them along the edge of your food plots so all of the food is in the same area vs planting them in bedding and potentially keeping the deer from getting to your food plots before dark?

[@williamstormoen140]

I have possibly an extreme amount of grey dogwood, and starting to get quite a few Autumn olive. How can I manage these? Should I bush hog the grey dogwood? Cut back\thin autumn olive? Kinda lost, the forester wanted me to kill off all the autumn olive. Don't think its possible though. Dogwood is well over my head in most places.

[@SerDiesel90]

What about privet? I have a chunk of woodlands coveted in it and don't know if it should stay or go

[@Craizg35]

Spicebush, any thoughts? I’m in Illinois, just north of St.Louis, MO. This is an option for purchase on the County Soil & Water Conservation order form. $35 for 10.

[@jasonewing2555]

What do you think about mt laural on a deer property?

[@adamhanson7950]

Can you touch base on Gray dogwood. my property on NW mn is loaded with them within the aspen timber along with red osier dogwood. Great stem count. the deer love the gray dogwood and it has changed my property for the better. I cant find any info on it but it may be worth talking about. Thanks

[@bobmatley]

Don't listen to anybody that pushes Autumn Olive, the dogwoods are all good shrubs if you have it leave it.

[@chadoverkamp9407]

Minnesota sandy soil in the open What would be a good screening from road? Fairly high deer numbers

[@big_rock_trees]

Silky Willow are browse tolerant and max out around 12ft. If you need a taller screen-Hybrid Willow tree is a great option to reach over 40ft tall. Because of drier conditions, using a longer cutting and getting some water on them during the dry periods of the year would be crucial to success. The hybrid willow would need to be protected the first couple growing seasons if there is a lot of deer pressure in the area!

[@robertduell4511]

Any suggestions for central MS in pine plantations(shade tolerant).

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

There is no good shade tolerant that I can recommend...would have to see. Not sure about that one

[@jeremyrobs3643]

What’s a good cover planting for sandy 4.2 PH soil? Great informative video as always!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thank you very much Jeremy!

[@ala5831]

Blueberry?

[@BillVerbeten]

Need to at least get some lime or wood ash on that spot.

[@MollyDogg1234]

I know this is an old video, I just stumbled across it, but I LOVE autumn olive!!! One of the properties I hunt, is about 100 acres of overgrown cattle land. When I first got permission from the new landowner of it, it was AWESOME hunting as it had a lot of autumn olive in it. A big buck paradise. That was until he took the advice of our local DNR, and started an all out war trying to eradicate it. All the human intrusion coupled with the loss of good cover, has reduced that properties mature buck hold ability. It's getting worse every year. Long story short, I could not agree with you more on the topics in this video!! I'm actually going to be intentionally planting autumn olive on my own land soon. I will keep an eye on it and manage it as I see fit

[@sirmatt6143]

Do these grow well everywhere without extra watering? I’m in west Texas

[@mudslutmusic9052]

Burning bush gets hammered in my woods

[@75shadystorm]

I would really like to plant red Osier in my 1ish forest acre in central Wisconsin also. Is simply planting in a forest setting a good idea? I'm trying to remove Japanese honeysuckle and replace it.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Be very careful when you remove that honeysuckle. In central WI it is very valuable for wildlife. The red osier dogwood needs a lot of sun, medium to damp soil and can often be heavily browsed. Make sure to cage it and get some sun to it!

[@75shadystorm]

@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 yea but Japanese honeysuckle is invasive and out competes everything very quickly. It never looks like anything eats it either compared to everything else in the woods.

[@ala5831]

2

[@kurtpearson2793]

1! You got it-

[@whitetailhabitatandhunting]

Congrats

[@shawndickmann8215]

Buckthorn is rampant in S.E Wisconsin, a good screen plant, but I HATE it!! Can't stand that evil tree.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

It's definitely a bad one!!

[@nathaniellarson8]

#MeToo

[@c.s.8359]

Any thoughts on hazelbrush?

[@christinelippincott5189]

I love mine and actually have more coming this spring. They need sun though. One thing I will warn everyone about, I mightily as well have planted buck thorn for how BAD this is ..WILD PLUM. NEVER again!. Arona brush in sun, Quince is good but will root spread so mowed areas only. If you have tiny wild goose berry and current in your woods now, dig them up and Transplant to a sunny area. They will develop into 4-5 foot shrubs just as wide loaded with berries.

[@myronlaidler8034]

Would be easier to list what deer won't eat than what they will. lol

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Amen to that!

[@bowman8316]

Multiflora rose is the worst... imo. Ouch

[@brettbaker5599]

Great bunny and bird cover, though!

[@bowman8316]

@@brettbaker5599 i agree... just dread bloodtrailing into a rose thicket 👍🏼

[@brettbaker5599]

@@bowman8316 or a calf decided that's a safe spot when momma goes to the feed bunk.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Very bad!

[@guardianminifarm8005]

It is terribly sad to see how horrible autumn olive and all the various EXOTIC INVASIVES have ruined untold acres of great woodlands. I worked with exotic invasive control doing woodlands and wetlands management for 2 decades. I got out of it various reasons but the two main reasons was because of all the chemicals it requires to "control"(manage) it. The other main reason is because it really is next to impossible to eradicate. Please folk don't plant exotic invasives. Always choose native plants.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Amen I agree...don't plant them, but understand you will never eradicate them...

[@squirrely5527]

The invasive phragmite grass has totally taken over 1000 plus acres of swamp by my property. Stuff is awful

[@guardianminifarm8005]

@@squirrely5527 I worked for 3 years wading through this terrible invasive with a backpack and aquadic roundup mainly in swamps in Northern WI and much of the UP. I also kayaked to isolated spots with a 15 gal. Sprayer and chemical. I was a small contractor. Larger operations used large boats and even helicopter to "treat" hundreds of acres of lake Shore on small lakes and Great Lakes. Massive amounts of chemicals and millions of dollars and it still persists. It is very discouraging. I changed focus and no longer use chemicals. In fact I do very little Exotic work of any sort.

[@squirrely5527]

@@guardianminifarm8005 I could only Imagine how fun that was. I’ve walked through it several times and it is awful. The state did try to remove it here using some kind of chemical and a fire. (The fire scared me considering it’s a peat bog.) seems it only grew back thicker and they burned the few areas where trees were taking hold. Living in MI I did not realize that there was that much of a war with it.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

@@squirrely5527 The rhizomes are large and go very deep. If any of the rhizome remains after chemical "kills" plant and most of rhizome the resources left in persistent rhizome send out vigorously to reestablish the plant. It reproduces vigorously also by seed. It is a giant aquadic grass. Nasty.

[@averagearcher9523]

Not one of your best videos. Your known for beating around the bush but this was even worse with you second guessing the very few options you mentioned and leaving it seeming to say a horrible invasive may be the best option.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

What flavor is that Kool Aide of yours?

[@averagearcher9523]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 just some high quality H2O👌