dbltree
Super Moderator
October 12th, 2013
The Truth is important to me, both spiritually and in everyday life, so when I open my mouth or let words flow onto paper I want those words to be truthful, factual and not opinion. To do otherwise opens the door to being made to look like a fool, and...no one hates that more then I.
We took over a new farm this past winter where the landowner was sure that hinge cutting would scare all the deer away and convinced that without soybeans he would have no deer. No greater skeptic have I ever met so our credibility was on the line to say the least,but like trusting Gods word I trusted in our tried and true habitat building blocks.
He was adamant that we plant at least some soybeans and since it all pays the same to us, we happily obliged, knowing full well what would happen. Jesse asked permission to sit in his blind and capture the truth on camera.
One field has beans, rye mix and brassicas...all other fields rye/brassicas and corn adjacent on neighbors land
As expected, one by one deer walked thru the beans...
straight to the lush rye/oats/peas mix
The beans are fully dried down and ready to combine
But other a quick nibble on the way thru, deer showed no interest in them
Keep in mind that these deer have never tasted the rye mix nor brassica mix...ever
In other fields deer came straight to the rye and oats
If they preferred corn or beans, both were only a short walk away
Deer came and went
Including from the standing corn
but not one deer left the green forage for the grain crops and I watched deer walk thru standing corn in December as well, going straight to the rye and brassicas
Make no mistake, eventually they will clean up any and all food sources but coons, squirrels, turkeys and a host of other wildlife will consume the lions share of the grains leaving nothing left to hold deer thru the winter into spring.
The rye/brassica/clover rotation provides more tons per acre then grain crops and feeds deer year around, not to mention building soil organic matter that grain crops rob from our soils....
The Truth is important to me, both spiritually and in everyday life, so when I open my mouth or let words flow onto paper I want those words to be truthful, factual and not opinion. To do otherwise opens the door to being made to look like a fool, and...no one hates that more then I.
We took over a new farm this past winter where the landowner was sure that hinge cutting would scare all the deer away and convinced that without soybeans he would have no deer. No greater skeptic have I ever met so our credibility was on the line to say the least,but like trusting Gods word I trusted in our tried and true habitat building blocks.
He was adamant that we plant at least some soybeans and since it all pays the same to us, we happily obliged, knowing full well what would happen. Jesse asked permission to sit in his blind and capture the truth on camera.
One field has beans, rye mix and brassicas...all other fields rye/brassicas and corn adjacent on neighbors land
As expected, one by one deer walked thru the beans...
straight to the lush rye/oats/peas mix
The beans are fully dried down and ready to combine
But other a quick nibble on the way thru, deer showed no interest in them
Keep in mind that these deer have never tasted the rye mix nor brassica mix...ever
In other fields deer came straight to the rye and oats
If they preferred corn or beans, both were only a short walk away
Deer came and went
Including from the standing corn
but not one deer left the green forage for the grain crops and I watched deer walk thru standing corn in December as well, going straight to the rye and brassicas
Make no mistake, eventually they will clean up any and all food sources but coons, squirrels, turkeys and a host of other wildlife will consume the lions share of the grains leaving nothing left to hold deer thru the winter into spring.
The rye/brassica/clover rotation provides more tons per acre then grain crops and feeds deer year around, not to mention building soil organic matter that grain crops rob from our soils....
dbltree
Super Moderator
October 17th, 2013
Pics taken on 7th and 11th , planted 9-6, two 1/2" rains about 9-13/15 none before or since
Doesn't take much rain to get the rye mix up and growing
Even the peas are doing great!
Highly palatable, high in crude protein and very dependable in drought years
and most importantly...irresistible to whitetails!
Action will soon pick up on the cams...get one set on field scan and see what's feeding in your plots...
Pics taken on 7th and 11th , planted 9-6, two 1/2" rains about 9-13/15 none before or since
Doesn't take much rain to get the rye mix up and growing
Even the peas are doing great!
Highly palatable, high in crude protein and very dependable in drought years
and most importantly...irresistible to whitetails!
Action will soon pick up on the cams...get one set on field scan and see what's feeding in your plots...
dbltree
Super Moderator
dbltree
Super Moderator
I would leave as is at this point Steve
dbltree
Super Moderator
November 8th, 2013
Trail cams are so inexpensive these days that there really is no excuse for not having them on food plots to monitor deer numbers, time of day, crop species usage and as a general pictorial diary. Field scan mode allows us to get a broad view without a deer triggering the cam.
We can keep track of crop growth at various stages to help us form next years nutrient requirement plan, which may mean more, less or no additional nitrogen
Cams record what deer are eating at different times, note deer walk thru the brassicas to get to the rye/oats/peas combo
Be sure to place cams on the line between crop species, whitetails are creatures of the edge and will walk the line...
We use small steel posts and mount the cam to it allowing us the option of placing it where we wish
Bucks tend to be very nocturnal...
but cams reveal their presence
All kinds of things from weather, moon phase, dogs etc. affect whitetail movement so some days, field scan reveals an empty field which is why observation alone is unreliable. Cams however keep a silent, 24/7 vigil and record what is really going on and when
Cams don't lie and live deer utilizing habitat confirms that it's working and that takes the guesswork out of the equation
We use cams to cover food sources and hinged funnels in the timber, the combination of year around food sources and thick cover have been, for us and the landowners we work for...an unbeatable combination. Use your trail cams to keep an ongoing habitat improvement diary that will allow you to tweak your program and verify progress...
Trail cams are so inexpensive these days that there really is no excuse for not having them on food plots to monitor deer numbers, time of day, crop species usage and as a general pictorial diary. Field scan mode allows us to get a broad view without a deer triggering the cam.
We can keep track of crop growth at various stages to help us form next years nutrient requirement plan, which may mean more, less or no additional nitrogen
Cams record what deer are eating at different times, note deer walk thru the brassicas to get to the rye/oats/peas combo
Be sure to place cams on the line between crop species, whitetails are creatures of the edge and will walk the line...
We use small steel posts and mount the cam to it allowing us the option of placing it where we wish
Bucks tend to be very nocturnal...
but cams reveal their presence
All kinds of things from weather, moon phase, dogs etc. affect whitetail movement so some days, field scan reveals an empty field which is why observation alone is unreliable. Cams however keep a silent, 24/7 vigil and record what is really going on and when
Cams don't lie and live deer utilizing habitat confirms that it's working and that takes the guesswork out of the equation
We use cams to cover food sources and hinged funnels in the timber, the combination of year around food sources and thick cover have been, for us and the landowners we work for...an unbeatable combination. Use your trail cams to keep an ongoing habitat improvement diary that will allow you to tweak your program and verify progress...
dbltree
Super Moderator
Bushnell 119436C Trophy Cam 8MP Night Vision Trail Camera
Ebay best price but make sure it says...
Brand NEW !! Factory Fresh !! NOT refurb !!
and free shipping
Use lag for trees or 2 1/4-20 eye bolts for steel post attachment
One Big Buck
OBB
Here is a link to a blog that talks about creating both the screw-in camera mount as well as the mount on a steel stake.
http://cambushcamo.com/blogs/news/9586237-do-it-yourself-trail-camera-mount
dbltree
Super Moderator
November 22nd, 2013
Generally VNS (variety not stated) winter/cereal rye seed is less expensive and easily obtained, so we do not seek out named varieties. We purchase all our seed locally from Aaron Palm who owns Iowa-Missouri Hybrids in Keosauqua Iowa, and he offers both VNS and varieties that farmers grow for forage and cover crop soil building. This fall Aaron asked Jesse to test and compare Elbon rye and forage rye.
On the left is forage rye, planted at a higher rate so it appears thicker
Forage rye and oats were developed for haying/haylage more so then grazing and develop wide leaves and put on tremendous growth, good in heavily grazed areas but not so much with moderate to light grazing. Rapidly growing plants can become unpalatable if not kept in check by grazing whitetails.
In the test areas there is no preference and both forage rye...
and Elbon are being grazed heavily
Winter peas are the irresistible candy in the mix!
If deer don't eat peas...you don't have deer! Unlike late planted soybeans that die at first frost, these tender tasty morsels thrive in cold fall weather and with sufficient snow cover often survive till spring. Note the feathery leaves of hairy vetch seedlings, not a favored deer food but an outstanding source of nitrogen and organic matter...
Everything gets grazed, nothing is significantly higher then another...
Mixing legumes like peas, red clover and hairy vetch with the rye and oats not only provides a high quality food source, spring and summer but can also eliminate the need for synthetic nitrogen sources such as urea. Often the legume part of the mix is overlooked but including them can help avoid the hassle and expense of dealing with bags and allow for no-till planting where applicable.
We list general fertilizer recommendations, but always soil test every year in late winter to avoid over/under applying fertilizer/lime and for best results check micro nutrients as well. Many soil testing options but here is one we use:
Waters Ag Labs
Once nutrient levels are corrected they often can be maintained simply by using the crop rotations listed below. Crops like winter rye and forage radish help mine subsoil nutrients and the increased soil organic matter helps keep moisture and nutrients from leaching...a win win for landowners managing for whitetails. :way:
Generally VNS (variety not stated) winter/cereal rye seed is less expensive and easily obtained, so we do not seek out named varieties. We purchase all our seed locally from Aaron Palm who owns Iowa-Missouri Hybrids in Keosauqua Iowa, and he offers both VNS and varieties that farmers grow for forage and cover crop soil building. This fall Aaron asked Jesse to test and compare Elbon rye and forage rye.
On the left is forage rye, planted at a higher rate so it appears thicker
Forage rye and oats were developed for haying/haylage more so then grazing and develop wide leaves and put on tremendous growth, good in heavily grazed areas but not so much with moderate to light grazing. Rapidly growing plants can become unpalatable if not kept in check by grazing whitetails.
In the test areas there is no preference and both forage rye...
and Elbon are being grazed heavily
Winter peas are the irresistible candy in the mix!
If deer don't eat peas...you don't have deer! Unlike late planted soybeans that die at first frost, these tender tasty morsels thrive in cold fall weather and with sufficient snow cover often survive till spring. Note the feathery leaves of hairy vetch seedlings, not a favored deer food but an outstanding source of nitrogen and organic matter...
Everything gets grazed, nothing is significantly higher then another...
Mixing legumes like peas, red clover and hairy vetch with the rye and oats not only provides a high quality food source, spring and summer but can also eliminate the need for synthetic nitrogen sources such as urea. Often the legume part of the mix is overlooked but including them can help avoid the hassle and expense of dealing with bags and allow for no-till planting where applicable.
We list general fertilizer recommendations, but always soil test every year in late winter to avoid over/under applying fertilizer/lime and for best results check micro nutrients as well. Many soil testing options but here is one we use:
Waters Ag Labs
Once nutrient levels are corrected they often can be maintained simply by using the crop rotations listed below. Crops like winter rye and forage radish help mine subsoil nutrients and the increased soil organic matter helps keep moisture and nutrients from leaching...a win win for landowners managing for whitetails. :way:
I am excited to start planting the dbltree rotation on my southern Iowa property next year. I was wondering, do you have a specific variety of oats that you would suggest to use (both following brassicas in the spring as well as with the grain combo in the fall)? Thanks for all of the information that you provide!
dbltree
Super Moderator
Most any common, VNS oats will do but I prefer Jerry oats if available
Jbohn
Well-Known Member
Paul- what if I don't want to rotate the grain mix to turnips , I like the grain they don't exhaust it, I planted 2 acres of Turnip Mix they are exhausted already.. If I don't rotate the grain mix will it cause problems I like it better than the brassica's, I do have some fields I plan to rotate but some I want to keep to grain. I know you like to plant in strips but my plots are small (2) acres and smaller. Thanks buddy
dbltree
Super Moderator
If you include red clover with the cereal mix, it can be planted every year
dbltree
Super Moderator
December 4th, 2013
Fertilizer and lime are expensive and surely not as much fun as spending money on a new bow or ATV, but a new bow isn't of much use if your food sources are eaten to the dirt and deer are at the neighbors. No need to waste money either so yearly soil tests are very important....
These fields have been limed and PH corrected and needed only 60 lbs P&K per acre to bring nutrient levels up
Jess also applied 150 lbs of urea to promote rapid, lush and palatable growth
Growth was outstanding
Deer are beating a path to the lush feed which is holding up despite heavy grazing
In stark contrast are fields where the landowner wasn't crazy about spending money on lime and fertilizer and only 1/4 the needed fertilizer was applied...
We applied pellet lime in past years but need yearly applications or better yet, 3 ton per ac ag lime applied
Low PH ties up needed nutrients...
Soil PH explained
Drought didn't help but both cases experienced the same lack of rain and lacking nutrients deer grazed it faster then it could grow
Peas and rye are still hanging there but barely
Other fields where fertility and PH were kept up...look great
and bucks lap up the buffet of cereal rye, oats, peas and forage radish
Building soil organic matter is also crucial so planting cover crop food sources and where possible, no-till planting help immensely
Amounts listed below are very general recommendations based on expected annual nutrient removal by crops such as brassicas, but always soil test annually to determine actual nutrient requirements...
Fertilizer and lime are expensive and surely not as much fun as spending money on a new bow or ATV, but a new bow isn't of much use if your food sources are eaten to the dirt and deer are at the neighbors. No need to waste money either so yearly soil tests are very important....
These fields have been limed and PH corrected and needed only 60 lbs P&K per acre to bring nutrient levels up
Jess also applied 150 lbs of urea to promote rapid, lush and palatable growth
Growth was outstanding
Deer are beating a path to the lush feed which is holding up despite heavy grazing
In stark contrast are fields where the landowner wasn't crazy about spending money on lime and fertilizer and only 1/4 the needed fertilizer was applied...
We applied pellet lime in past years but need yearly applications or better yet, 3 ton per ac ag lime applied
Low PH ties up needed nutrients...
Soil PH explained
Drought didn't help but both cases experienced the same lack of rain and lacking nutrients deer grazed it faster then it could grow
Peas and rye are still hanging there but barely
Other fields where fertility and PH were kept up...look great
and bucks lap up the buffet of cereal rye, oats, peas and forage radish
Building soil organic matter is also crucial so planting cover crop food sources and where possible, no-till planting help immensely
Amounts listed below are very general recommendations based on expected annual nutrient removal by crops such as brassicas, but always soil test annually to determine actual nutrient requirements...
Bone Slayer
Member
Winter rye and September planting are perfect for starting either red or white clovers! Weather is usually not a problem as it can be in the spring and any annual weeds that emerge will quickly die with the first frosts of fall, leaving the clover to grow with out any competition.
On good soils where PH and soil deficiencies have been corrected the clover will thrive and grow quickly during the warm days of early autumn.
These are pictures of clover where we still have some soil improvments to make this winter and growth is a little slower
I start white clover that will be a 3-5 year plot this way and red clover that will be used for a green manure plowdown the following year, all in the fall. In the spring I clip the fast growing winter rye when it gets 12-20" high and then clip as needed to maintain any clover plot.
I disc or till around September 1st, broadcast or drill the cereal grains and peas and any fertilizer/lime, cultipack, then broadcast the tiny clover and forage radish seed and re-pack to cover.
I usually use some combination of the following clover varieties and Welter Seed is a great place to learn more about these clovers and compare prices with local sources.
Welter Seed - Clover Seed List
and I plant them with the following grains and forage radish that provide all winter quality forage along with great soil building attributes.
Welter Seed - Cereal Grain and Pea seed
Those combinations work well in my 3 way plot rotations that include seperate strips of clover, brassicas and cereals in each plot.
Avoid fighting the weather and weeds in the spring and establish clovers in the fall with your winter rye...
Does $112.30 an acre sound right for the seed here?