I got a new farm coming in the next month. I've liked how other members have posted their farms up for others to come up with ways to lay it out, so I figured I'd give it a shot on this one to see differing opinions. It's got a few ponds on it and a small running creek. 115 total acres, had a small amount of cattle on it up until 2022. Right now, it's a blank slate. No food or anything. Pretty big AG to the South and West. Big timber North and East. Let me know what you guys think!
Trapshooter1
Well-Known Member
A lot of questions, Where can you access from? What's timber land made up of? Oaks? Huge mature trees?, a lot of young growth?
What's the forest floor look like? Like the bottom 6-8 feet?
With the AG to the south being your main destination food source. I would try to concentrate the deer with a different food source(so their hitting your food source in daylight,(before they head to the big AG at night) (That doesn't mean I wouldn't have beans on the farm) My best hunting has been over beans late in the year.
I have about the same amount of acres as this farm and my goal is to hold the deer during daylight. It's unrealistic to think I can hold them 100% of the time, but if their on my farm during day light they have a good chance at surviving. How hidden is the big field to the north hidden from the road? If it's wide open I'd screen that thing with a line of pines. Or switchgrass.
If it were mine all those openings would be food.
I enjoy projects like this, with a blank slate.
What's the forest floor look like? Like the bottom 6-8 feet?
With the AG to the south being your main destination food source. I would try to concentrate the deer with a different food source(so their hitting your food source in daylight,(before they head to the big AG at night) (That doesn't mean I wouldn't have beans on the farm) My best hunting has been over beans late in the year.
I have about the same amount of acres as this farm and my goal is to hold the deer during daylight. It's unrealistic to think I can hold them 100% of the time, but if their on my farm during day light they have a good chance at surviving. How hidden is the big field to the north hidden from the road? If it's wide open I'd screen that thing with a line of pines. Or switchgrass.
If it were mine all those openings would be food.
I enjoy projects like this, with a blank slate.
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Good questions and I honestly haven't set foot on the farm yet. Bought is sight unseen so trees I can't give much response to. Looked like some walnuts and a lot of cedar pockets and hedge from the pictures. The North field is screened OK but I would for sure add 20' row of swtichgrass there to help even more. Also was going to do a lap around that entire field edge where it meets the timber with 10'-20' of switchgrass, just to create more edge. That whole field will be a diversity of food in some manner.
I've got several ideas of what I want to do by looking at the aerial but I will know more once I get on the ground.
Access is from the West mainly and I am pretty sure I can get walking/bike access from the South AG field.
I too love projects like this, it's honestly just as much fun as hunting to me anymore. Gotta love a blank slate to see what you can make it into!
Trapshooter1
Well-Known Member
Its about maximizing and minimizing. Minimizing your impact of hunting pressure on the farm. And maximizing your current space.
If you can access from the south, you can hunt the southern plots of the farm with very little impact. But if you have to walk through from the west there will definitely be impact.
I didn't realize how big of a deal access is to a farm until I started killing some good bucks. Every time, the access was almost perfect.
It's interesting that you bought it sight unseen, before I bought my farm, I covered it a lot. I wanted to know what I was getting. Everyone definitely has a different comfort level.
If you can access from the south, you can hunt the southern plots of the farm with very little impact. But if you have to walk through from the west there will definitely be impact.
I didn't realize how big of a deal access is to a farm until I started killing some good bucks. Every time, the access was almost perfect.
It's interesting that you bought it sight unseen, before I bought my farm, I covered it a lot. I wanted to know what I was getting. Everyone definitely has a different comfort level.
I agree, low impact and good access are key on smaller farms. I don't mind buying without seeing it in person if I know the area somewhat and it's priced right.
smithhunter1975
Active Member
Congrats that looks like a great farm and a fun project!