Monoculture Deer Bedding Habitat Makeover

While great deer habitat comes in all shapes, sizes and diversity one thing is for certain - great deer habitat is NOT a monoculture of any kind. Too much of a good thing is not a good thing, and that can include even the best bedding base cover types of switchgrass, conifers and shrubs. However, if you love great deer habitat and great deer bedding areas, don't worry if you deer hunting land suffers from a lack of diversity. Here is how you can take your boring chunk of a monoculture wasteland, and explode it into a daytime mega bedding hotspot! Is your deer habitat and hunting land in need of a deer bedding area makeover? Then here is how to reach your whitetail herd and hunting goals by installing one of my original concepts of diversity pockets, to whatever variety of monoculture habitat that you currently have, on your deer land.

[MollyDogg]

This was sent to my YouTube notification today, older video, I know, but I watched it, and I 100% agree with every single word you

[kapperoutdoors]

It's good to hear someone else besides me with the same concept in reality. I always end up disagreeing with Foresters for all of the reasons you mentioned. Natural regen is what I've been working on for years in strategic pockets. Good info thanks man

[andyjones]

Great video. Wish I could get you to come to my property!!!!

[rudyvandunk]

Jeff, great discussion
as always, but.. just visited my property in Western Wisconsin and discovered my three patches of 5 year old Cave n' Rock switchgrass totaling one acre laying flat as a table top..
I also planted Autumn Olive over 15 years ago and found out the hard way that it's EXTREMELY invasive..
I really appreciate your information but obviously this should be shared..

[bradbrockhaus]

Excellent video...Have been doing this to my land the last couple of years...It will make a difference!!...My favorite video so far because it relates to my situation the most...

[ragnarw]

Read all your books and seen all your videos. I’be been saying a lot of what you’ve been saying for years, however I have a lot of non-believers at my deer camp. Own 70 acres and on 40 I’m implementing many of your concepts. The other 30 I can’t wrap my head around how to fix without moving camp. I also will be implementing your concepts up in Alger county on my 40 up there. Keep up the videos!

[billcretens]

Jeff, Your concepts of how to diversify these mono cultures are brilliant....it has worked to well for me and completely changed my land in just one season! Many thanks!!

[nicschaalma]

What type of tree seeds would you plant in sandier soils ?

[chrise.]

I’ve got 9 acres out of 40 that’s overgrown with briars and scattered cedar. Im hoping to implement this system if it’s not too far gone. Thanks for the info.

[keptoutsideproductions]

My woods has tons of ground cover ivy. What would you do?

[WHITETAILKINGS]

Excellent Jeff! Have you ever seen switchgrass added into a timber cutting?

[rfb]

Jeff, great comments as always. I sure wish I was able to manage my 15 acres of switch differently. I'll have to just wait for small pockets to die out. Just saw a nice buck with 5 still on one side. Hopefully the snow will start to melt this week. Hope you and Diane are doing well.
Bob

[dannjohnsonZ]

Jeff I dont think I own enough land to get bucks to bed on my property. What should I do with the 3 acres of hardwoods I own behind my 5 acre apple orchard? Clear cut for regeneration? Switch grass for doe bedding?

[tankandlaci]

Great video. Have a 5 acre and 4 acre field I will be do I g this with this spring. My plan is to mow the native habitat down, spray to kill the grasses only and then allow portions to regrow. As that's happening I plan to spray kill everything where I want switchgrass and plant that. Does that sound like the best way to accomplish this? There is also a couple sections that I don't want to spray or cut at all but will plant switchgrass around them as they are already attractive spots. Thx

[jessecoblentz]

Jeff I planted 1 acre plot last fall, half brassica/half in the other stuff u recommended with winter rye couple weeks later...wats ur recommendation for weed control until buckwheat in June? Chemical or frostseeding? I'm sure you covered that somewhere I jus couldn't find it...thanks

[saypuppy]

Will SG stand up to the snowfall of mid-northern WI? Snow is up to my kneecaps here. ATVs and tractors would get stuck if a trail isn't maintained all winter. Thanks Jeff. Your videos are my cocaine. LOL.

[MA-gbbm]

Hey Jeff, another GREAT video. I am learning so much from your site, so much im re-thinking everything I have been doing on my property for the last 23 years. i have 100 acre parcel and 25 acres of hay fields a local farmer takes off. i don't get paid for the hey he takes off, should i start using this 25 acres for deer management like what your saying in the video. Thank you for all your hard work and time you put into educating myself and others.

[normyoder]

Jeff, for years and all kinds of deer management theries that are mostly good, but you've taken it to the next level,
Awesome, thanks for sharing.

[truetourtillott]

Would allowing patches of blackberry to propagate within the base cover (grass, conifer stands etc) in a western property? Also, do you have any content specific to a property that is 100% Oak & chapparal?

[steveaveryrafteraranch]

I have a 2 year old clear cut planted in pine. Would you want to eliminate the pockets of pine on the ridges or down in the drainages to let it fill in with briars and shrubs?