Deer Habitat Plan and Hunting Strategy Holds More Bucks on 40 Acres In High Hunting Pressured Area

Habitat Plans and Hunting Strategy Setups - StrategicHabitat.com
Whitetail Habitat Consultant - Randy VanderVeen - 616-560-7488
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Back in 2017 a landowner in MI contacted me to come look at his property so he could have a roadmap on how to improve the habitat and hunting on his square 40 acre property.
Before he bought the property from his family several years ago, this was your typical MI deer hunting property where the hunters all had their favorite blinds and stands regardless of wind direction. He also has 17 different landowners who touch his property border.
He mainly saw does and small bucks during the hunting season. If he was lucky he might get a glimpse of a 3.5 yr old buck passing through during the rut.
This landowner was getting tired of the same ole same ole and he wanted to make some changes for the better.
A year before contacting me he did some hinge cutting with a friend to create some cover for bedding. But like what happens with many landowners, he started to 2nd guess himself on where to continue, how many trees to cut, and is this the right location for a bedding area.
So instead of making any mistakes he couldn’t fix later, he decided to get a plan in place with a hunting strategy that he could work from with the confidence that he wasn’t screwing up his property.
Fast forward 5.5 years later to today, now he’s passing really nice bucks he rarely even saw before.
The last few years he’s been texting me daytime trailcam photos of bucks to get my take if they’re 2 or 3 yrs old. He achieved his goal a few years ago by taking his first 3.5 yr old buck with a bow.
So since his property and situation was very typical in MI, we decided to do a quick overview of the work and changes made to his 40 acres the last 5 years in order to give other struggling landowners hope that better hunting is possible if you have a solid plan to execute.

[@mitchwelin548]

I’m lucky enough to own my own land. Through work, I went from nighttime passing through pics to seeing bucks during daylight, and my neighbors wonder where the turkeys went. Stewarding the land and seeing the animals wanting to live there is even more rewarding than pulling the trigger. And there’s more opportunities for that, too. Win-win!

[@rogersamson7952]

He got the results because he didn’t just get any old plan. He got a comprehensive plan, understood it, and did a fabulous job implementing it. Nice job all around.

[@headwatersfarm175]

I remember when you shared the initial plan for this property. It is great to see the follow up several years later.

[@grantgemlo7348]

Keep doing walk through videos like these it was great!

[@FullQuiverOutdoors]

If you build it, they will come! Great job Randy on putting together a great plan for the landowner and teaching how to hunt it effectively.

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

Cool video. Liked the blinds being brushed in and the 70 % cereal grains concept. Not the only guy who has problems growing buckwheat

[@Mike-nt1to]

Great job Randy, I’m seeing similar results after one season. Can’t wait to have you back to continue our work. Keep those Follow up videos coming.

[@missourimongoose8858]

One thing we did was plant peanuts, they make there own nitrogen so it's good for the soil and thr deer absolutely love them Edit peanuts grow really good in sandy soil as well

[@kapperoutdoors]

Most excellent documentation of taking a parcel like that up several levels! Congratulations!

[@stacytripp7885]

The most informative and detailed explanations on deciphering your shot and deer recovery.

[@leepickler7286]

Great land management. All wildlife benefits.

[@KeithWBales]

Great follow-up video Randy. Really nice to see results.

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Thanks Keith

[@briansupermag3918]

That was spectacular. Loved it.

[@learning_the_outdoors]

Awesome video. Full of great information. Thank you for putting it together.

[@kovang6075]

This is a great informational video where I can use and learn from for my property. Thank you.

[@shanewilliams6790]

I’m just about to close on 84 acres in southwest mississippi. Property has small creek on west side with pipeline,power lines with small substation also a gas plant on east side. This video has gave me some ideals thanks

[@HuntingCarterHill]

Great content! Keep em coming!

[@outdoorztime2923]

It is something how the laws differ in different states. Where I live you can bait, but only on private land. Looks like you're doing a great job with your deer habitat!

[@stevegermain1222]

Congrats, build it and they will come

[@davidcarriere5667]

Wow! Precious info, thanks.

[@kevinsmith4853]

Tip for increasing your sandy soil is try to stock pile any yard waste you have and let it decompose and spread and till an old manure spreader will work great

[@dolphingirl12885]

I watch whitetail habitat solutions channel and it looks like you have followed all the advice of that channel in your property and it is game changing 10/10 advice

[@SeeMoreBucks]

My plans are actually very different from his.

[@bowhunter7565]

this is a great Video. I definitely feel like more people can relate to this guys same situation. being lots of hunters near and alot of different land parcels in a tight area. If you make your property stand out there will be improvements in deer numbers.

[@plebny]

awesome information here . . .thanks

[@toddcanterino3376]

Great video. Thanks for sharing.

[@George-ro6bw]

First-class video coverage of these property improvements. I really like the fruit trees down the center of the plots. Good attraction and separation. Great food plot food choices also. How often does Bill rotate the plantings in the plots? Curious as to what Michigan county the property is located in?

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Kent Co

[@richardhuebner4144]

Fabulous work!

[@rabbitkillah5937]

Great info for me to implement on my land I have 40 to play with. Time is my friend on these types of land improvement I see after watching how you improve your land in Michigan how I can do the same to mine. I also live in Michigan so sandy soil is my enemy but me and my family have been working on soil improvement and different types of plants to plant to make the soil darker and healthier. Clovers and greens plus beans have help to improve our soil and still acting as food plots entries into our stands. We have deer but just like he said they moved nocturnal and keep tight to food lands.

[@ampersandmcvinegar5681]

Sweet video! Thanks for the information. 🦌

[@user-yo4it6tx5e]

Great video thanks for sharing

[@deerslayeraudio2441]

Excellent video.. I am in year 2 of my ongoing habitat project. Your channel has really helped

[@williamkamp9162]

That was a fun video it makes me want to know more to try out!!

[@lincolnminor4665]

I own 490 acres of land. The only thing is at night all the deer on our property are going out to cornfields and bean fields. I have this ground In Pennsylvania and it’s pretty good hunting. Planning on planting food plots.

[@brianconway3448]

Awsome story and I'm encouraged 😊

[@decaturridgebees8761]

Awesome! Impressive stuff

[@publiclandhunter3896]

The black capped chickadee on the crossbow is the best!!!!

[@johnathanoneil243]

This is freaking AMAZING!!! I am in process of getting a 20 acre property together in South Carolina. I love the success you have had, serves as great motivation and a bright light at the end of my tunnel! What types of trees did you plant?

[@johnathanoneil243]

Also curious as to what your soil PH was when you first started. Im also dealing with EXTREMELY sandy soil but have a lot to do to get my PH up before I start planting plots. Last thing, my property is mostly all pines. I know they dont hinge cut well so Ill have to knock them down to start my bedding improvement. My question is, will natural undergrowth come up through all of the fallen pine straw once the pines are down and the canopy is open????

[@allonesame6467]

Do elk respond to this kind of land management? If not, how do they differ and what are their needs? Thanks for a great video!

[@HokieFi]

great testimony

[@PullStartStables]

Wonderful work fellas! Do you have any video suggestions of transforming ag fields into premium hunting lands? We are surrounded by fields, no timber adjoining. I recently purchased some ag land next to my 10 acre strip. The back 6 of my 10 is my hunting grounds and I’ve been growing grasses, mowing travel corridors, etc for the last 5 years with improvements to deer population. I used to be lucky to see a deer or two traveling through my field, now 5+ mainly does are bedding there and attracting bucks. I’d like to add another 10-20 acres of the ag land to my hunting dedication in the next 5 years. If I could learn from your videos I’d appreciate it!

[@marcomccrearyyy1207]

Great video

[@calebmahala4263]

Do you have any tips on hunting steep wooded mountain land? Love your videos👍🏻

[@markpiersall9815]

Install a Screech Owl nest box. They will eat mice and reduce the ticks.

[@soeffner6833]

I once proposed in anthropology class that agriculture had its start for just this reason. Hunters have never been stupid. I mean seriously, we are the laziest primate on the planet. Thats why we are so inventive.

[@Silverhawk56]

Very Nice

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

Curious if you had info on the 3 strip and 2 strip system?

[@jarrodlambert3914]

Awesome vidoes

[@howardhooley3408]

I have a 126 acre farm that I’m trying to improve the deer habitat on would love for you to come look at it

[@dennisdorazio5600]

like the info in your videos i"m just starting out and any help is appreciated

[@grantjamrock3812]

Probably seeing more bucks come October from pressure on the adjacent properties

[@mikevaccaro2191]

Try cereal rye vs rye grass.

[@jarrodlambert3914]

If I mow the cereal rye every year will it keep coming back or do I have to replant it every year

[@Tinybear001]

What type of trees were planted in the food plot rows?

[@JakeOutdoorz]

Whoever’s reading this, I pray that whatever your going through gets better and whatever your struggling with or worrying about is going to be fine and that everyone has a fantastic day! I don’t need you to subscribe I just need you to be happy, amen 🙏🏽

[@dylanritter3660]

What would you do with 4 acres of cedar and pasture surrounded by 350 acres of corn right next to a river as well but river is 800m from my land. Should I build a water source?

[@com53]

Just a suggestion but you should try to plant sugar beets.

[@aos7194]

How would you approach this style of land management on 20 acres if you have a hog problem in your area of Florida?

[@craigwagner327]

How much do you charge for a land consultation?

[@dannybrowning2068]

Best food Plot

[@joshanderson1901]

Maybe I missed it, but what was the row of trees he planted in the middle of his plot? Apple trees?

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Apples and pears

[@robertward9533]

That's what it looks like to me I can tell yo u it's good

[@kevinsmith4853]

Allowing local landscapers to dump there leaves and garden plants helps use it to your benefit

[@ThomasShue]

How much do you charge to consult?

[@CodyVinson]

How much do you charge?

[@zr20s]

Yeah but how close is ag food?

[@TR-sj9fp]

Check your thumbnail, hopefully a typo last word right side

[@JayN4GO]

Wonder how much lime he had to use

[@SeeMoreBucks]

2 ton#/ac

[@geofgradler2766]

The habitat guy sounds like Pat Miletich.

[@ericshipman9496]

How much money do we have into this fellas? I've got 50acres in Bay County, MI and have taken a couple good bucks. One is in my profile pic there. Tough year this year. Interested in any improvement opportunities.

[@eugenelaky1993]

I killed a 7 pointer opening morning, second morning killed a nice ,9 pointer.thdn killed a spike..

[@MyVisualRomance]

Passing bucks? Is that like passing a stone?

[@WiiHunt95]

What would you do for a property with 40 acres of field used for hay and about 35 acres of trees around and through?

[@toddbaer8634]

Sell to me at at a really good price.😊 Lol

[@kevinfry5461]

I'd call Randy or Jake for a plan

[@WiiHunt95]

Already have some big bucks just trying to get them to feel comfortable moving during the day

[@jared7809]

@@WiiHunt95 screening on the edge of those fields and small 1/4 acre kill plots in areas the deer already like to move between 50 and 200 years of those hay fields. Thinning out the woods and allowing it to grow up thicker would also make them feel comfortable. Mature bucks love cover and security

[@nickhorn681]

The way to get deer to not be nocturnal in MS is to turn the dogs loose on them.

[@dannybrowning2068]

What is the best Tree to plant? upstate SC

[@eugenelaky1993]

Chestnuts or saw tooth oaks

[@garyburgess3829]

I have land that has mostly sandy soil and it's hard to get food to grow.. What have you found that will grow in the sandy soil for food plots. Thanks

[@michaelarrington988]

I have sandy soil as well and getting it where things will grow is a process and get expensive if your not careful . Best thing is to send a soil sample to get tested so you know exactly what your soil needs then go from there . Not all sandy soils are the same you may need tons of lime and fertilizer to have anything grow successfully planting a annual that grows in sandy soil also helps too .

[@dennismartin7664]

In our sandy soil areas we drill in Canadian winter rye mid August. Follow Jeff Sturgis Rye plan and you will have plots that are cheap and effective.

[@JC-ld5tl]

Can something like this be done on land you lease and can’t cut trees down on it?

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Too many factors to consider to give an opinion

[@JC-ld5tl]

Good information in this video

[@chaserogers373]

This is my problem. I have a 200 acre lease in Louisiana, but can’t cut anything. Very little room for food plots.

[@davidredford3111]

No way you can do it on forty acres I'm in new York and these guys shoot everything even doe and fawn we have fifty with corn and swamp and don't see mature bucks because whole neighborhood shoots all the spikes and four points

[@garyvoit5132]

how much to review or make a plan

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Send me an email at the address in the description

[@themechanic4953]

Me and my uncle been trying to get our 57 acres right for 2 years this year it's even worse then the past years

[@69jbr69]

Biggest mistake people make is trampling all over their property. Stay out of the bedding areas and if you don't have any open some areas up and let the natural grasses/brush grow and plant a few spruce. Two corners of property works great and put food in middle. We have 100 wooded acres and I almost never go in 40 of them, that is theirs. The rest I walk often to make myself a part of the landscape staying at least 75 yards away from their bedding areas. I can often see them watching me. Dozen does/fawns every year and with them comes the bucks. Biggest buck I ever hunted I tracked to one of his beds just behind does like an idiot because I had to know where he hid out. He never used that bedding area again. I know because I glassed it almost daily for years. He remembered. Half tame the does and make them feel comfortable and good things will happen.

[@eugenelaky1993]

Add water. Plant chestnut trees in your clearings.put out some trophy Rock

[@gibsonlife573]

Why would you cut the trees off that high why would you not cut them at ground level that way they could stub up off of the stump and not just happened why would you want it so thick in there they have no exit Route One Trail through the middle dear can't even use it I don't understand that process at all like I understand you cut drills in there but like I don't understand why you would want that thick in there you want them to build a seat Predator you know you want it thick but not so thick you can't even walk in it

[@rroz4762]

That chainsaw work , although effective, was dangerous , way too many barberchairs !!!!

[@montuckyman4982]

Grow bucks huge,give em plenty of supplements, minerals, name them, video every single animal ever on the property...why? Production, production, production, more inches, more bone. Sit in heated shooting house , pull trigger. Why? I dunno...I guess not everyone can roam and track and stuff.

[@patrickanderson5727]

If you own land why would you not make it the best it can be?

[@lawrencefranck9417]

Mustard green 10x kale, rape, turnip greens.

[@swampdonk3y712]

So all I need to do is get hundreds of thousands of dollars to buy a ton of land and a few tens of thousands for the equipment to make then land and a few tens of thousands more for the stands and a few thousand for for the feed crops. Sounds reasonable.

[@user-vq2rg2ts2r]

"We don't bait any more in lower Michigan" is laughable. Nearly every gas station sells packaged "wildlife" feed.

[@georgeshotrodbarn2113]

You can win the war if you can keep the deer on your property when the sun is up that means food and cover.

[@eugenelaky1993]

Plus add water

[@joshuanelson7986]

When I hunt I move around and usually get a buck at 7:05 am. Sitting is dumb!

[@davidredford3111]

That's another thing I don't like about hunting they hinge cut trees to create travel pattern so much for saving environments and forty acres is not enough to manage baiting is cheating

[@FarmallFanatic]

I bet his PH is acidic

[@ProjecthuntanFish]

LOL I love to here horn hunters whine! Its a pine goat get over it and you cant eat those antlers.

[@chadbredbenner1555]

It's great that you're seeing and attracting all kinds of wildlife. But the biggest thing I don't agree with is the hinge cutting of valuable timber. If you wanted to cut trees to improve the cover, at least sell the marketable portion of the trees for lumber and firewood. Not making the most of your forest products is a crime against nature. By not taking advantage of the marketable value of the timber, you have left potentially several thousand dollars just lying on the ground or piled into a impenetrable hedge row to force the deer to walk around. A true hunter works with the way nature grows, the rock cliffs, the gullies the hills, swamps and sand hills, not by reshaping it to suit his desires or blueprint.

[@peternelly3879]

There's always something that benefits. Leaving loads of dead wood around will have positive effects on wildlife. Might be a crime against his wallet, but it's not your wallet. Place looks about as hilly as my dinner table. And about as stony too. Building corridors with wood looks like a sound strategy there. And I bet a lot of small critters are very happy about it too.

[@90pi548]

Hinge cutting is done to 6" trees, which aren't valuable

[@michaelarrington988]

he's creating a funnel and pretty much directing the flow of traffic by hinge cutting cutting a fire brake works really well to as deer tend to take the path of least resistance.

[@rogerramjet7567]

You can NEVER get big bucks if adjoining properties kill everything with antlers. Conservation departments allowing two bucks a season is ridiculous. Michigan has everything required for a great herd EXCEPT MANAGEMENT. 😡😟👎👎

[@6by6by6]

Lol these hunting plot owners and their idea that they are somehow hunting when in fact they are simply harvesting animals the feed and coddle year round the same as raising a beef cow and slaughtering it in the fall😂😂😂

[@sureguy8124]

Spends 200k on land to be able to harvest 90 inch buck. 😂

[@RGT8388]

Terrible land management

[@patrickanderson5727]

Timber management yes. Wildlife management no.

[@pjplumber2146]

Meanwhile I dodge 16 point bucks every drive home. But let’s turn this into a science. 🤦🏼‍♂️morons

[@thechestnutking736]

Spending all of that money and then takes a 3.5 year old 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@buckydavis9434]

It’s not about eating the antler brother it’s about the challenge and becoming close with Mother Nature your missing it

[@darryladams519]

Lol. To many people only care about the trophy ruining our tradition. Making it hard to hunt local land by a hand shake like we used to do. Instead of a way of life they turn it into a sport

[@joeys8317]

Nobody wants to shoot 100 pound yearlings either. Giving deer a better environment and becoming a steward of your land is as close to nature as one can get

[@rachet0708]

Yeah thats what people say when they can't kill mature bucks. For someone to say that they're a "meat hunter" when they're killing 80 pound yearlings is hilariously ridiculous. A 175-200 pound mature buck gives you a hell of a lot more meat than a 80 pound baby. It just takes actual skill, ingenuity and patience to accomplish that.

[@shanedavis2554]

Amen

[@jaystanley2827]

Speak for yourself!!😂😂😂

[@georgewalker4481]

When you plant feed plots and plan your hunts around your feet plus it's called a canned hunt it's not even a real hunt so stop with your bulshit

[@scottdenoncour6418]

Not killing all the Does is a big help

[@serenityplantation7638]

Crazy that ppl have to do so much to bring deer in. I’m not near ag fields and deer practically come right up to our doorstep. Day or night

[@jeddiajones4570]

People need to lean some freaking discipline! The simple fact is that dead deer don't grow (Grant Woods). If legal, harvest antlerless deer for venison and let the immature bucks grow. Seriously, how may mediocre racks do you need to prove what a great hunter you are?

[@johncuccurullo50]

Can u give me the guy that helped u number