Creating Pheasant Habitat While Creating Deer Habitat

Watching all the wildlife respond to the habitat work we've done on the farm is a very rewarding feeling. I especially love seeing and hearing pheasents start to have a presence on our farm. I'm no expert by any means when it comes to pheasent habitat, but much of what we do as habitat managers benefits a multitude of species. Here's a look at some of the habitat features we've seen the pheasents hanging out in on our farm.
For more about Purpose-Filled Habitat Management, check out my website at www.pfhabitat....
DISCLAIMERS & AFFILIATIONS: I am a part of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites. I am not sponsored by any of these products and using these links does not change the price you will pay for the product. This is merely a way you can support this channel if you plan to order your habitat products through Amazon.
Affiliate Links (paid links):
Seeder/Spraying Tools:
Earthway Bag Seeder: amzn.to/3QqrWxL
ATV Sprayer: amzn.to/43U3LLi
Dewalt Batteries/Charger: amzn.to/3HOITws
Dewalt Backpack Sprayer: amzn.to/3UrMWGF
Backpack Sprayer: amzn.to/3rYhunf
Applicator Gloves: amzn.to/47WAN0G
Applicator Mask: amzn.to/48em9AK
Recording:
Tri-Pod/Self Stick: amzn.to/3YowcQC
Trail Cam:
Tactacam: amzn.to/3YmkSnW
Tactacam Solar Panel: amzn.to/3qnZQZp
Tactacam Stand: amzn.to/3s3tEeh
Energizer Batteries: amzn.to/3Oq7ISn
#deer #deerhabitat #wildlife #hunting #whitetails #habitat #foodplots #foodplot #deerhunting #pheasants #birds

[@tonydaniels4057]

Nice looking farm! You have lots of diversity and I think that helps the birds and deer. A lite and random discing in the cool season grasses would make the forbs and weeds explode and really help the wildlife. Awesome job

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks Tony! I have tinkered with discing. It definitely brings on the forbs but we have a ton of thistle in the seed bed so it brings on that as well. In lieu of discing I've leaned more towards keeping pockets open free of switchgrass and instead managed the cool season grass in those areas. I've gotten a good forb response from that as well and less thistle.

[@jeffbergsbaken9637]

Nice job, sir! Thanks for posting; creating good deer habitat will also create good pheasant habitat. We put in 15 acres of native grasses and native flowers 4 years ago and have seen pheasant numbers increase 4 fold; our local biologist recommended putting native flowers amongst the switchgrass to increase the bugs, which are attracted to the flowers and in turn provide a food source for pheasant chicks. We have also noticed an increase in badgers, coyotes, rabbits and , of course , deer. It is gratifying to see all the wildlife diversity even if you’re only trying to improve the deer habitat. I almost enjoy the habitat improvement more so than the hunting. It is a yearlong obsession! Thanks again for showing your habitat improvements!

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks Jeff! And I'm right there with you. Watching the wildlife respond to the work is the most edifying part of this whole process for me. Glad to hear you're doing great work on your piece of dirt!

[@kurtcaramanidis5705]

Good tour. Love the pheasants.

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks brother!

[@danhealyeverythingoutdoors7105]

Great video !

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks brother!

[@masonbrubaker1952]

Looks awesome!! With regards to the pf mixes, they’re more for quality nesting and brood rearing habitat. While your switch is great winter habitat, it’s frankly poor brood rearing habitat. I think you’re seeing more pheasants because you have both the switch, but you also do a lot of work with your cool season fields with your burning and spraying. That’s serving the same purpose of the pf mixes. They’re good at what they’re designed to do. You just need diversity of habitat types.

[@PFHabitat]

That is a great point, the PF mixes do make for great brooding and nesting habitat. I have found several turkey nests in my switch and turkey poults love the switchgrass, but I have only seen a pheasent poult in it once. I know the thick rank switchgrass isn't much good for anything. I understand they need that space to run around underneath it and the deer certainly don't seem to want to push into it when it's thick and rank and bed in it. I love creating those open pockets in the switchgrass for the diversity you're referencing. And yes, lots of cool season grass management so ample herbaceous growth being promoted in that regard!

[@masonbrubaker1952]

@@PFHabitatyeah man! Turkey poults are a little bit bigger than pheasants so they can navigate the switch a little bit better. Same goes for Turkey hens.

[@PFHabitat]

That makes sense!

[@brians2733]

I would love to increase pheasants on my farm but being in Ohio it’s been nearly 20 years since I have seen one in the wild, same for quail sadly. When our state coyote population exploded, our upland birds virtually disappeared. Strangely it’s been a slow repopulation for the turkeys over a similar time period.

[@PFHabitat]

That's disappointing to hear. They some of the best predator management is creating great habitat so keep chipping away. If anything the deer will appreciate the work

[@seanbalch7563]

Looks great. How many acres is your home farm? I feel like I see a new part of the farm every video. I enjoy being brought along and shown your work!

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks for watching Sean, it's fun to share! It's 270 acres. It's the original homestead my great great grandfather settled on when he came over from Finnland. It was a working dairy farm until my dad sold the cattle in 2001. Since then it's been just crops. It really does have a diverse range of habitat features on it. Which makes it very fun to work on for a habitat geek like me :)

[@seanbalch7563]

Special place with a special connection. That’s awesome.

[@rogersamson7952]

You will be a pheasant habitat specialist in about 3 years as you will be studying them to death now you have them. There is food in the switchgrass seed as well.

[@PFHabitat]

It's fun to see them around and yes, I'll be watching very closely to see how they adapt to the new landscape!

[@artbrennhofer8283]

You are probably seeing more rabbits too.

[@PFHabitat]

Yes! That same day I walked around looking for deer beds in the switchgrass and I jumped a pile of cotton tails. Very fun to see!