Tips for Better Deer Hunting through Habitat Management: Boots On The Ground (

An in-depth look at a property with advice and a plan to improve the deer and turkey hunting through habitat management changes. Topics include food plots, hunting strategies, glade restoration, cedar trees, timber stand improvement, native forage, cover, water sources and much more. Hunting and food plot products shown in this video: Eagle Seed, www.growingdeer...
Reconyx Trail Cameras, www.growingdeer...
Redneck Hunting blinds, www.growingdeer...
LaCrosse hunting boots, www.growingdeer...
Scent Crusher, www.growingdeer...
Morrell Targets, www.growingdeer...
Nikon Hunting Optics, www.growingdeer...
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Goliath crimper & Genesis drill, www.growingdeer...

[@aloutdoorsmen2039]

By far the most educational program you can find on any platform of outdoor entertainment. Love seeing all that you guys do at Growingdeer and find myself looking forward to every video/show that you release. Being an Alabamian, it will always be a dream of mine to meet you personally and tour the “proving grounds”.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thank you! Grant will be speaking at several Bass Pro Shops in August (we will post the schedule on Facebook soon). We also plan to have our annual Field Days at The Proving Grounds during late March or Early April. This would be great opportunity to tour the ranch and talk deer! Hope our paths cross soon. -Daniel

[@benwalker2417]

Hey Dr. Woods, awesome video. Thank you so much for the advice you gave me. It was great to see how you interacted with the client. Thanks again. Hope to give you an update on my business soon.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks Ben! We look forward to the updates! Good luck with your business. -Daniel

[@whartonoutdoors7493]

Great vid, I've shared it with some friends that want to increase deer n turkey numbers. Keep up the excellent work.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks! Appreciate the shares!

[@NelsonCobb]

One of the most beneficial videos for my application! Thank you!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Awesome! Thanks for sharing! -Daniel

[@jonbabiowski6678]

Awesome video, love the growing deer team!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks Jon! -Daniel

[@droptinejunkies6559]

Season is getting close! I can smell the backstrap cookin!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

I hear ya! -Daniel

[@huntwarbukz4117]

Awesome video love the improvement tips

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks! -Daniel

[@timmccomish1531]

My best friend just shipped to fort Leonardwood for basic training. Hope Missouri's not too hot this year!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thank your friend for his service! I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it has been very hot and humid recently... Hopefully we get a cool down :) -Daniel

[@mainenorthwoodshunter3265]

a lot of great information thanks.

[@coleanderson3802]

Great video, did you ever go back to this property for a visit?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Cole - We have returned and filmed there! In fact, I talked to Dave last week about his prescribed fire plans for this year.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Cole - We have returned and filmed there! In fact, I talked to Dave last week about his prescribed fire plans for this year.

[@carsonreynolds7721]

Hey Daniel great to see you again! This is my first year for archery deer hunting! Do you have any tips on looking for a place to hang a stand? I live in Nebraska so lots of timber,fields,crp grass, and creeks. Thank you so much and God bless!

[@jackc.3079]

HIs name is Dr. Grant Woods btw

[@jackc.3079]

Makes sense

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Hey Carson! It is exciting to hear that you are taking up archery deer! Sounds like you have some great hunting locations. In ag country, bottlenecks are often very easy to find. Where timber narrows down, whether a finger near a crop field or into a creek bottom, is usually great hunting. I like to look at aerial maps to identify these areas. You can see creek bends, field edges, and timber. Identify the narrow spots and start there. Remember to consider how to enter, hunt, and exit without alerting deer. Let me know if you have any questions! Good luck scouting! -Daniel

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks for helping out Jack! - Grant sometimes gets on here, but Daniel and Tracy respond to most comments. Thanks for watching, too! - Tracy

[@jpnc4053]

Another amazing video. The buffalo system is far superior and I hope to get in a position to where I can utilize it one day. I currently have a lease that is year by year and 45% of it is in hay fields and Grasses. How would you recommend going about planting in that situation, would you still recommend no till ? Would the seeds of my food plot of choice be able to penetrate the think grasses of the field once sprayed with round up ? Again great video love your work and message.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Jared - Sure! I've helped many folks that terminated pasture grass and then drilled food plot seed directly into the duff and had a great crop! The decaying vegetation becomes mulch and slow release fertilizer. - grant

[@thebowhunter8405]

Love this channel!!!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks! I checked out your channel. Great fishing info! I hope you are getting a lot of fishing in this summer. -Daniel

[@jacobpurvis8809]

I’m ready for deer season guys how about you

[@GrowingDeerTV]

YES!!! Can't wait! -Daniel

[@wbsurfer123]

I have a very small parcel. About 15 acres. Not very good growing conditions with it being in a swampy area but it does have lots acorn trees, a decent amount of them seem to have been “stunted” by all the sweet gum trees. Would it be a good idea to clear out trees that don’t produce acorns that are blocking oak trees sunlight?

[@DSadowski88]

The Doc knows his stuff through and through. I wonder what he would say if he stopped by a Florida WMA.

[@calebscott1175]

Man I love this show I hope I can afford to buy my own peice of land in the future I'm pretty much limited to putting in food plots, don't think the land owner would would appreciate a fire lol

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Caleb, I hope you can purchase your own place int the future too! Every little bit helps. If you're doing all you can do, then thats awesome! Enjoy creation. -Daniel

[@TheGuyFromWI]

Excellent video! Enjoy the content as always. What would you suggest I plant over top of last years brassicas/clover/alfalfa? I didn't get a burn in this spring but have mowed most of the tall growth on my plot. God Bless!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

If there are lots of weeds a plot will need to be sprayed before the weeds go to seed and planted 45-60 days before the expected first frost of the fall. We've had great luck with Eagle Seed's Broadside mix or Fall Buffalo Blend. Remember, if broadcasting, it is important the seeds make contact with the soil. - Grant

[@TheGuyFromWI]

Would either of those blends require a rake or drag for soil contact? I'm afraid to damage the brassicas/clover/ and alfalfa that came back.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

You can simply drill right through it. IF you do not have a drill, spray the weeds with glyphosate and simply broadcast the seed 45-60 days before the first frost. We like broadcast right before or even during a rain. The rain helps the seed get soil contact. Raking or dragging the soil disturbs it and you want to keep all the organic matter in place that you have from the previous crop. -Daniel

[@jeffhamblin7644]

What do you think of griddling cedar trees and allowing them to die for a year or two so that I can push the tree over with the frontend loader of my tractor so that I clear the stumps from the food plots instead of cutting them and letting them lay?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Jeff, If you are simply clearing the area to create a food plot, it would be best/easiest to simply doze all the timber into the middle of the plot, burn the pile, bury the stumps and plant. If you are broadcasting the plot, I would simply cut the cedars, let them dry, burn them and broadcast seed. The stumps will slowly break down and will not be a problem for planting. Daniel

[@jeffhamblin7644]

GrowingDeer.tv I use a no till drill. The plots are not that overgrown so it doesn’t need a dozer. I just thought I could brush hog the smaller brush and kill the bigger trees with girdling and drill around them for a year or two.

[@603Hunting_Fishing]

when should i plant clover and chicory for this September season ?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Summer seeding is best done 45-60 days before the first frost. One of our favorite seeds to add to clover is clover winter wheat. The wheat offers great forage during the cool season and helps the clover establish. In the spring, simply let the wheat mature and fall over and become slow releasing fertilizer. This also helps keep some weeds out. -Daniel

[@jackc.3079]

White Cedar are valuable for deer browse and cover in here in Michigan are they not? I know you have mentioned you guys have red cedars which are different. Do deer browse red cedar at all?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Deer only browse red cedar if they are starving. Red cedar is totally different from white cedar. White cedar is a great winter food in the northern states! - Grant

[@jackc.3079]

Thought so, thanks and God bless

[@LAIG803]

Is there a reason to not use a skid steer with a mulching head for the cedars? Cutting all those cedars seems very labor intensive.

[@rydaddy2867]

The ranchers in Kansas I know don't because even the cedar mulch prevents the grass from growing, so you take a spot the size of the tree canopy that won't grow grass and you spread it out to 10x bigger. They use a shear head on the skidsteer, then only a spot the size of the stump doesn't grow grass.

[@chasingthehunt2015]

I want to help my grandfather improve the habitat on his 20 acre property. What could I do? What beans would be best to grow in moist soil in northern West Virginia?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

I evaluate each property by identifying the best sources of food, cover, and water in the neighborhood. Deer may be traveling through your Grandfather's property to reach one of these resources. Soybeans do not like wet "feet." If there is standing water during the growing season they probably won't work. If the soil doesn't have standing water (not saturated) I would use Eagle Seed's wildlife management blend. - Grant

[@JohnRobinson_Oklahoma]

I just got 40 acres next to the Oklahoma Keystone WMA. I share 2 sides. I have 3 game cameras up and see deer, turkey, hog, and every once in a while a coyote. Heavily wooded but i have cleared about 2 acres for a food plot. I have noticed this is a staging area and bedding area for deer in the morning and evening. Should i use buffalo blend?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

John, The buffalo system works on any size of property. It may take several seasons to see the results (like most good things it takes time. getting physically fit etc). However, it is much better for the soil and wildlife. The soil is becoming healthier each year, you are literally building soil! Nutrients are held and recycled and forage is higher quality and palatable for deer. I think you would also enjoy the process! -Daniel

[@GrowingDeerTV]

The Buffalo Blend not only helps build soil but it offers many forages for critters. -Daniel

[@JohnRobinson_Oklahoma]

Great thanks for the feedback Daniel.

[@Skw769]

Hey guys I haven’t been in here commenting a lot been busy but I’ve noticed our deer in vt have got their antlers and in velvet early this year, have you guys had any odd behavior from your deer? Also our doe herd has dropped all their fawns about a month early this year I just thought this was interesting and makes me wonder if we will see rut behavior early as well please let me know your thoughts thanks guys god bless

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Good to hear from ya! Hope your summer is going well! The timing of the rut should remain the same year to year. However, there is often a "second rut" or a spike in rutting activity when doe fawns reach about 75-80 pounds. At this time, doe fawns reach puberty and can be bred. Hot doe fawns can make for some great hunting. They are usually on feeding patterns later in the season and will bring bucks in! Can't wait to hear your observations. -Daniel

[@whitetailfreak4309]

What brand of lighted nocks does the growing deer team use

[@GrowingDeerTV]

We use Nockturnals -Daniel

[@masonsayler9658]

Hi Growing deer. I manage a property in central Minnesota and I’m having a tough time keeping deer off of the highway. There has been 4 deer killed on the highway bordering our property in the past couple of months. Is there a way that I can shift their behavior to stay off of the highway? Thank you. God bless. -Mason

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Mason, it is possible that this area is a travel corridor. It may be likely that deer are traveling across the road to reach a destination such as a bedding area, or large food source. If you could identify which resource is on the other side of the highway and increase that resource on your property, you may be able to hold deer on your property more. -Daniel

[@whitetailfreak2071]

What brand of lighted nocks does the growing deer team shoot

[@GrowingDeerTV]

We use Nockturnals. -Daniel

[@samuelberrong3127]

Is it worth managing only 8 acres?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

I'm sure there are things that you can do to improve you property! When hunting small acreage, it is important to not educate deer when hunting (entering, hunting, and exiting without alerting deer). Also, looks at your neighboring properties and try to have a resource (food, water, cover, security) on your property that is better or that the neighbor doesn't have. -Daniel

[@samuelberrong3127]

GrowingDeer.tv Thank you I will try this.

[@Digger927]

I hate to disagree with Grant here (it's a very very rare occurrence) but my opinion is that dozed off area should have been worked. Those weeds would have emerged anyway, they always do and subsoiling it after brush removal prevented resprouting of brush from the roots. Better to get the field in shape and then go to the zero till program. A dozed off field is always rough as a cob, the brush and brush removal already altered the soil structure from a natural state, just do it in one hit and get it out of the way, you'll have a far easier life for the next several years.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks for the comment! The area where Mr. Free established this plot had been covered by mature timber. This allowed a large layer of organic matter to form. This layer was several inches deep and covered most weed seeds. It probably would have been a better strategy to remove the timber, fill the stump holes, and smooth the surface enough for a drill and then plant. The deep soil tillage exposed weed seeds that are often buried too deep to germinate. We have very little weed pressure in plots created using this strategy. Plant roots and various soil life (worms, etc.) will fracture any hardpan and keep the soil "tilled"much better than mechanical tillage is managed properly. Enjoy creation, Grant

[@Digger927]

Sure but taking out mature timber stands with a bulldozer always does deep tillage anyway when the root wads come out. Ripping it really isn't going to do any more damage than the brush removal to start with. It helps kill a lot of the roots that are always left over. Filling in the holes from the removed root wads already has any weed seeds exposed. I guess it's a potato/potato issue. The best way to fight those weeds is to go ahead and get it prepped in the fall and plant a heavy cover of rye on it before the weeds have a chance to grow. Brush removal is always a highly intrusive, yet necessary, farm improvement where it's a choice between brush or deer habitat/food.

[@tobyjohnson3067]

🇺🇸HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA🇺🇸

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Yes! We are very blessed to live in this nation! -Daniel

[@Libertyranches]

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