How To Create Diversity Pockets For A Wildlife Explosion

Creating whitetail diversity pockets can be a fast and highly attractive way to enhance your deer hunting parcel. Diversity pockets surrounded by an effective base form of cover can turn out to be your most powerful old field conversion tool. Whether for whitetails or wildlife, there are many great ways to create a diversity pocket! Enjoy this "How To" explanation of one of my favorite, original deer habitat strategies...
You can create diversity pockets that strategically fit within your entire parcel design, by enrolling in my latest land design web class, at:
www.whitetailh...
Make sure that you are getting the most out of your deer hunting and deer habitat design, by following my weather forecast hunt predictions. Check out HuntCast, at:
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[@phonecops]

Nice to bring a young "buck" on board with the same passion! Dylan, you will do well! You had a great mentor. You will be able to bring better deer hunting to twice as many people. Tip of the hat to you guys for all the great info!

[@ronbonofiglio7654]

Excellent timing, I was just laying out how to handle a 6 acre field I know get to use. My main concern is a neighbor on one side. This video got me jump started !

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

That's great to hear Ron, and good with the neighbor!

[@mxcatkiller]

Mornin Jeff and crew, just a suggestion for your once a month series. If you have a drawn up plan of a cattle farm with multiple sections of woods that surround the pastures where the cattle (or other livestock) mainly stay. It would be extremely helpful to see how you design parcels that are also used for livestock. We have multiple wooded sections that we don’t run livestock on, which is where we hunt for the most part. Just a suggestion brother, I’m happy watching anything you put out nonetheless. Much respect to y’all, stay safe out there! Thanks! I know it’s impossible to have any 2 parcels identical but anything along the lines of a someone that farms their land as well as hunts....

[@joshuahammond4452]

Jeff, I started this process a few years ago and it’s finally starting to pay off!!! I’ve seen multiple deer per sit in the early afternoon just walking around… thanks for the tips!!

[@chriskylenixon]

As a novice Hunter who just completed his first deer season in northern Illinois, your video content is EXTREMELY valuable. Thank you for putting out consistent content and explaining a lot of the basics.

[@mike81399]

Thanks Jeff👍 Good bit of snow in Michigan this morning! Appreciate the knowledge sharing!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks Mike...I BET!! I came home from my MI client trip last Thursday...already had quite a bit and it will be a while before a big melt

[@jackhuffman2268]

Jeff, I was glad to hear that you work with clients in the southern states. I am in north central Texas and have been trying to figure out what to plant for browse in diversity pockets and was curious whether or not switch grass survives here with the heat. Your videos are a wealth of information and a great help to those of us who desire to attract and hold more deer and wildlife on our properties. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and wisdom.

[@perposterous1]

Thank you so much for this video!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are very welcome Sam I truly hope that it helps you out!

[@hunterdolanch8725]

Here it is exactly what I'm doing to my small 8.5 acre slice of PA heaven lol. You guys are some hard working fellas thanks for all the free information 🙂

[@davidtisch5237]

Can we see a video on before n after pictures of the work Dillon is doing on client projects can we see a picture of diversity pockets too the diagram is fine but I need a visual pls

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Our clients do the work...we design the habitat.

[@tonycasagrande4103]

Jeff you are scheduled to my farm in May. Ahead of that I am planting SG in ag that was in beans last year. With in the SG

[@marks5757]

Love the videos, love the dedication...much appreciated!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thanks a lot Mark...really appreciate it! We love bringing them to you!

[@ksdoubledrop]

Great stuff as always Jeff! I am glad I found your page about a year ago. I don't miss an episode. Thanks for the great information!

[@HermansHabitat678]

Excellent topic! Something that’s sorely lacking on my parcel. We’ll fix that soon.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Nice...it doesn't take long either!

[@bradleymartin8499]

Great video!!! It answers my questions I had for you.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Great to hear Bradley...really hope it helps you this season!

[@mattkingsley3556]

I’m guessing Dillon is smart on his own, but sure looks like he’s had a good teacher.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Dylan is a very smart cookie! He will visit clients in at least 12-15 different states this season alone and I trust him 100%. Lots of folks don't realize that Dylan went to his first client in 2017 🙂 He also has a wildlife management degree. The years are flying by...we have been working together for almost 5 years. I feel bad he has to listen to me so often 😁 we have hunted together at least 150 times and we have created over 650 videos and my web class together. He is almost like a 4th son to me

[@mattkingsley3556]

Sorry Dylan.

[@kurtcaramanidis5705]

GREAT video. Couldn't it make sense to plant switch around a new field conversion and switch pockets inside so you don't have to waste all the switchgrass for diversity pockets.

[@emanuelpeachey7266]

Oh my! Thanks again. I will have to get Dylan a shirt. 😊

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Ha, thanks for everything Emanuel! Dylan loved working with you guys!

[@emanuelpeachey7266]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 👍

[@Buck_Norris]

Any chance of Dylan telling us what sort of things he uses for filming or giving some filming tips?

[@mitchellshirk2533]

Excellent video. How do you feel about cutting down larger trees (beneficial) outside the converted area and dragging them into a small percentage of diversity pockets to add immediate side cover and also act as a utilization cage to allow briars and brambles to get established when birds indefinitely nest in the tops and defecate seeds to the soil? All relative to size of converted area..

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Mitchell, great question! Depending on the habitat, size of the area and a landowners resources it can be an excellent practice...my favorite is pulling cut box elders or red maples with seeds on them 😊 Also, pulling trees from South facing wood edges allows sunlight to enter into the woods...or you can hing or drop those trees into the area for pockets which is something else I often recommend.

[@jessemoore7696]

I know this video is a little older, but if you happen to remember what Jeff said or even what you can tell me what you think. How big should you make the diversity pocket if the the main field of switch grass is 2-5 acres?? Does it need to be a certain shape or any other information you might have. Thank you. I just bought all Jeff's books, but my wife won't let me buy the on-line courses he puts out. Thank you.

[@rodneywager2142]

Jeff these videos are great. I was wondering if you offer your books in audio version? I'm on the road a lot and would be great to listen to

[@chadhoretski9506]

Jeff can you share a list of tree / plants you use in diversity pockets in switchgrass.

[@turkeyslayer69]

As we are looking to harvest a larger poplar area. Have you ever tried clearing some of the leftover limbs and frost seed switchgrass to create diversity pockets?

[@OffRoadPlanetChannel]

I love this i have a 3 ac area that i will be doing this too! Just need to get the farmer off of it! 🤣🤣 thanks for the great advice as always. Quick question what can i do when i have half my land under water its over knee high with lots of trees falling down? 10 years ago it was dry..

[@SuperWhitetail1]

Find and destroy the beavers down stream.

[@OffRoadPlanetChannel]

@@SuperWhitetail1 funny thing is we don't have any beavers in the area.

[@scottmckenna9164]

Jeff, good buddy,

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Appreciate you watching Scott!

[@TheOhioOutdoorsman1]

I am struggling with this on a small parcel. I have a 20-acre property fully wooded and have been looking to opening-up for some diversity pockets, most bedding is currently about 1000 yards off my property which does work. In order to open things up for full sun, I end up having to remove way more trees than I feel comfortable with given the layout of my parcel. Any advice for diversity pockets on skinny parcels (400' wide by 2500')?

[@RickLarsonPermacultureDesigner]

I'm thinking teaching these young men your experiences, starting from virtually zero, like standing on a tree limb hoping for a deer to walk by, to the present, will fast track their development. They will probably become even better designers than you overtime having the time.

[@scottmckenna9164]

I hope you have your good health.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Definitely trying! Thanks Scott

[@robertforss8881]

Jeff, would you ever plant lilac in diversity pockets that were opened up in planted pines?

[@whitetailhabitatandhunting]

Thanks so much Jeff and Dylan! I have a question about how close to a bedding area should I put my stand. I found a tree about 25-30 yards away from the bedding area. Is that to close?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are very welcome! 25 yards us not too close when you pre-determine and define deer movement somewhere else in the morning...the bedding area stand would have to be morning unless you access scent, sound and site are hidden for an afternoon stand access.

[@whitetailhabitatandhunting]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Thanks!

[@BrianBartholomewChiro]

Any pointers on swamps?

[@sethhause1781]

Red Osier Dogwood grows great in swamp or wet areas and deer love to browse on them like Jeff said!

[@benkurkowski6597]

When putting in the diversity pockets, should you grow switch grass in the whole area for 1-2 years then kill those pockets out?

[@tonycasagrande4103]

You are scheduled to my farm in May. I want to frost seed switch grass in ag that was in beans last year. Can I broadcast the seed over the stubble or do I need to prep the ground? Can I seed on top of the snow or should I wait?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Tony...thatbtime will be here fast!! Broadcasting on bean stubble is perfect...one of the best-case situations. I would wait until just after the snow melts...I have seen some disasters broadcasting in snow. You do not need to prep the ground. Make sure to get some quality seed! You want to make sure that you hit the area with 3 quarts per acre of simazine prior to spring green up too...and 2 quarts per acre of glyphosate and 1 pint per acre of 2-4D, 2-3 weeks after spring green up. Can't wait for the snow to melt soon...thanks Tony!

[@tonycasagrande4103]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Thanks Jeff

[@tonycasagrande4103]

To achieve the ratio's of quartos per acre what

[@tonycasagrande4103]

Is the mix of simizine, glyphosate and 24D what is the mix to gallons of water?

[@jaysonkeller2182]

Thank you for all your information, I just have one question, when converting partial of an ag field (4 acres) out of 18 to habitat/brows is it a good idea to mix in food plots in with the cover. I do not want to make this all food because its completely surrounded by decent cover timber/cedar, but a diverse habitat would be very nice? thank you Jeff

[@Quinn4999]

How do you suggest making pockets within red osier dog wood and willow that hold a lot of water?? I have about 50 acres like that... with food plots through in on the higher grounds.

[@dscottmccaig9156]

any suggestions for a plantable browse in an area in NE Nebraska that is primarily pasture and eastern red cedar?......planning on creating pockets in switchgrass on 120 AC

[@anthonymalueg3520]

Consistent content

[@jamesstewart4966]

Does Northwoods sale browse plants

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

They do not, but they working in a pollinator blend which can be an incredible addition to browse pockets!

[@johncholin943]

Oops! I screwed-up the spelling of Dylan's name. My apologies. JMC

[@mikekempin7917]

Great video until I heard honeysuckle and autumn olive. Do not plant these invasive species, at least in the upper midwest. Bad stuff!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

No one said to plant it...but if you remove and kill the wildlife species that rely on it...you are far worse than those that plant it. Shameful, actually.

[@mikekempin7917]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Better yet remove the honeysuckle and replant native species or you'll have nothing but honeysuckle in a few decades

[@scottb6098]

I love honeysuckle. ..shot a bunch of p/y bucks in it -