Converting a Hay Field into a Buck Rutting Zone With Switchgrass and Trees

Habitat Plans and Deer Hunting Setups - StrategicHabita...
Randy VanderVeen - 616-560-7488 - [e-mail]
Turning an old field into great deer habitat with switchgrass and trees for great deer cover and security.

[@sandych33ks1]

I had an open field like that. My easy fix was planting corn for road blockage and deer security. I leave it up all winter .Then closer to the woods i added my food plots and wow what a difference.. The deer have cover and security. Now I have deer coming put to my food plots like never before.

[@BinHigh-g4w]

I just enjoy listening to all the experiences, and trials of growing in certain soils ,Iv a.d.d so this great 😃

[@ALT_RIGHT]

I'll say it again. This is by far my favorite white tail channel

[@craigbisson7360]

Nice informative ! Comparisons ! Easy too listen too ! Thanks randy ! Helped alot !

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Thanks Craig

[@Mustachio63]

Great job again Randy. Season coming fast.

[@briansupermag3918]

Just amazing the work you do to improve the ground. If I ever get the land that I want you are my first call. Just fantastic

[@RandyVanderVeen]

Thanks Brian

[@intheshedwithred5067]

You’ve got a subscriber. I just purchased 68 acres in Georgia. Although the climate is different the concept is the same.

[@courtofficermcilvaine7928]

I have been planting MxG and Cave in Rock SG for 7 years- on my NJ 22-acre deer habitat hunting area with fantastic results. Thanks for posting, Randy.

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Thanks Chris

[@gospelbarndoraalabama6821]

I have a big open field like this in West Alabama and I’m in the process of buying a Gen 5 seed drill. This spring I’m planting the whole field in corn for starters then slowly progress towards a few other things

[@bch5513]

Nice job. Wish I was further north to try some of that. I'm WAY down south but still love watch these. Am incorporating some of the same strategies on my land I bought a couple years ago though. Surrounded by 1000s of acres of planted pines around these parts... Used to be beautiful mixed hardwoods. But greed took over. I still have some of the 25 acres of native habitat. But it is too mature. So Thinning dramatically, creating edge cover, making depth of cover, tons of access, even experimenting with various central bedding cover options . Man it's fun. Keep up the good work. 👍🏻

[@kurtpearson2793]

Fantastic video. I appreciate the design theory and honest take on success and failures with the plantings.

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Thanks Kurt

[@michaelgangadeen8013]

Randy - this video is so rich with great information. One of your best and appreciate the honest assessment of the drill. My Tar River drill can’t plant corn either. .

[@rsmythe13]

What model do you have? I’m hoping to plant corn next year with mine. I assume the issue is that you can’t plant it deep enough?

[@michaelgangadeen8013]

@@rsmythe13 Tar River 507. The problem is that the corn gets caught in the tubes and then dumps out in bulk on the surface.

[@rsmythe13]

@@michaelgangadeen8013I have the Saya 505, I wouldn’t have guessed that the tubes would be the issue but I can see it happening. Thanks for the info, this will give me a few months to figure out if I can come up with a solution.

[@heavenlygamefarm2037]

Excellent information Randy! Really great project!! Look forward to seeing updates as things develop.

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Thanks Keith

[@aidenwindham9390]

Good luck on your journey with Horsenettle. My Grandpa has gotten rid of it. In several fields it is possible.

[@ScottJenkins-vq5gx]

Great information Randy keep up the good work

[@brianzoeller391]

So excited to test out a reolink camera!

[@thedryairguy9005]

Great Video, lots of great information to apply to a property

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Thanks Buddy

[@gregallman3715]

Randy, videos like these provide a great wealth of knowledge and insight to those of us working on our own habitats. Thanks for the great video....btw where do you get rizomes for miscantha?

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Maple River Farms or Lacy Creek Growers

[@michaelanthonyoutdoors]

Good stuff. Lots of great insight.

[@terryquinter8499]

I drilled RC Bigrock 1st of June & its 5+ feet tall, it’s amazing stuff, I’ve 3 acres of 2 year old cave in rock & it doesn’t even compare, I nuked it with R/U 2 weeks ago & it’s getting drilled with RC bigrock next June, that stuff is the BOMB!

[@SeeMoreBucks]

For sure

[@CentralMississippiWhitetail]

Great vid

[@thomashalonen4732]

Nice vid!

[@JayN4GO]

Can you all down some thick trees for the car stoppers ? I’ve always wondered what to do. So many poachers around here.

[@toddbaer8634]

Pinoaks grow fast n keep their leaves for a long time

[@travissmith-wz5nc]

Could u put a little sorghum or rye, oats in with the fall planted switch???

[@SeeMoreBucks]

Sure could Travis. We almost did.

[@gil850]

Isn’t Miscanthus invasive? The landowner is considering cutting down mature, native black walnuts so that the invasive miscanthus can grow better?

[@elkmo41]

Thought same thing, just thicken the rc big rock out from walnuts. Walnuts….last to produce foliage and first to drop.

[@NeilHaugerLandSpecialist]

How do you manage this once you get the grass growing and fruit trees and pines established? Just mow? I assume you can’t burn.

[@SeeMoreBucks]

In SG fields with not many trees you could use a weed eater to trim away the grass fuel. But this SG field will have way too much structure for burning. Lots of planting ahead of us.

[@chadilacnissen9717]

Where was this video taken? Wondering how you’re getting Mischa this to stay alive in places like Wisconsin and Michigan and minnesota

[@SeeMoreBucks]

SW Michigan. Does very well

[@robertherringshaw2597]

Randy what ph do you need for sandy soil for switchgrass to grow

[@SeeMoreBucks]

The pH in this field is 6.0 but I've seen SG grow in the mid 5s.

[@TravisPerry-k9g]

What is the seeding rate for the 5 grain blend?

[@SeeMoreBucks]

50# Oats 50# Winter Rye 40# Winter Peas 15# Crimson Annual Clover 5# Tillage Radish

[@gregcavender7798]

How close to the house does the cam have to be to receive Wi-Fi signal Randy?

[@SeeMoreBucks]

It's not Wi-Fi. It's a cellular just like any other cell cam. Comes with a solar panel so no batteries needed. Get a SIM card from the EIOTClub online. About $10/mo for almost unlimited video AND..."live viewing" on demand 24/7 with the app on your phone. Absolutely made for food plots.

[@gregcavender7798]

@@SeeMoreBucks Thanks Randy. For some reason I thought you had something about Wi-Fi connection.

[@farmerjoebrown2189]

Keep the walnuts and plant around the dead area

[@sledge7583]

Plant willow trees 🌳...

[@thedryairguy9005]

Where is the link to purchase the Rep-Link Camera

[@SeeMoreBucks]

reolink.com/product/reolink-go-pt-plus/

[@toddshippee7162]

Oh no! The dreaded doe factory!!! 😅😅😅

[@SeeMoreBucks]

LOL @@toddshippee7162

[@markhammett5072]

First

[@kurtpearson2793]

Nice!

[@abramzoschg4983]

Shouldn't be planting miscanthus grass. It's an invasive species. So many better native screening options.

[@MrTimthetoyman]

Your suggestion would be?

[@thomasdahlberg4497]

Much better choice would be hybrid willow and silkey willow.

[@daveulrich4623]

The miscanthus salesman must be really good. I’ve never seen much success with that stuff.

[@elkmo41]

Noble intentions and fantastic job…….But its Michigan, you stated brown its down neighbors, going to be about impossible to produce 150” bucks. Take all that money go on a guided hunt a week and actually kill big bucks. Come home hunt and watch small bucks and hope for a miracle.

[@HuronRiver-ke8xn]

It's because corn doesn't grow antlers, protein not carbs grow bones in fawns and antlers. I like corn, it's definitely a killing machine, it just doesn't offer the best habitat without other plants and shrubs. Not saying Miscanthis or Switchgrass is as well. Spruce trees white or blue offers screen security even late season when other trees, bushes lose leaves and the snow doesn't flatten it. It also provided windbreak, bedding, travel corridors and thermal cover. I didn't mention Norway's because in high deer density they get topped, lost to many if not all. Also a dry sand area if you have it screened small burnet. Offers growth in drought conditions and high protein to build antlers. Another bad about corn that doesn't get discussed is they need roughage to digest it. So yes if they are not use to corn a lot of information out there where it can cause deer to die. What I have found is they destroy anything around trees, shrubs pine needles etc just to digest the corn. Yes I still plant some because of the carbohydrates and the cover. I just opt for other or diversity. I highly suggest soft mast trees especially crabapples that do not need sprayed or pruned. Another option for wet areas is Kieffer pear. So I agree somewhat about corn just a property needs more if they are growing antlers.

[@BinHigh-g4w]

Round bails hay,grass?? Brush,limbs pile, real cheap and real fast ,ok ,I'll be quiet❤your ideas 💡 funner😊🌅☕🪕