January deer habitat projects
January deer habitat projects
January is a big month for deer managers. The hunting season is over and it’s time to get back to work. January is the best time to learn from last year, and prepare for next fall (it’s coming quick). Scouting is a big priority this time of year. It’s also time to pull, maintain and inspect our stands. It’s time to check our food sources and see if we are planting enough to maintain a year round deer herd. The ground is frozen in most of the midwest, and it’s the best time of year to bring equipment across wet areas for winter discing, timber harvest, habitat projects. It’s a lot to keep track of, and our P&Y members get emails reminding them to stay on track. A valuable tool. This months P&Y video tip is comprehensive overview on hinge cutting. Learn the why’s and hows of one of the few timber projects anybody with a chainsaw can accomplish.
For those of you who have established a solid working property plan, the in depth articles and calendar based videos in the Booner package illustrate the proper way to execute and realize your dreams of a high quality, and highly huntable property. We have identified 9 unique projects for the month of January, all geared toward optimizing your whitetail herds needs.
Welcome to the new year, and a new set of expectations for your property. Whether you own and lease, one thing is consistent. Everybody needs a solid working plan to realize those goals. We are here to help, and ready to start.
Winter scouting (Dec, Jan, Feb, March, April)
January deer habitat projects
Find bedding, feeding and connecting routes
If lack of snow, find rut sign
Tear apart sanctuaries
January deer habitat projects – Remove stands (Dec, Jan, Feb)
If leaving out, we do not recommend this, loosen and remove seats
January deer habitat projects include food evaluation
Evaluating year round nutrition(Dec, Jan, Feb, March)
Gauge woody browse production
How much grain is left
How much brassicas
January deer habitat projects – Tree dropping for browse (Dec, Jan, Feb)
TSI
Plan for undetected entrance
Forester for tree IDing
Don’t go half way
ID best mast producing trees
ID undesirable trees
Tagging trees to keep for loggers
Do it yourselfers
Know your limits
Hinge cut trees to be left
Lean/notch/angle cut
Girdle technique on large trees
Seldom heard of January deer habitat projects
Winter tillage (Oct, Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb…do fall tillage in studio at same time)
When winter tillage is the right choice for January deer habitat projects
Over grown areas
Food plot failure
Food source depletion
Great for breaking down debris and lime
Disadvantage when any food is present
Disc (If spraying isn’t an option, repeat 5 days later)
Lime
Light Disc
Frost Seeding
Best in previously planted, low weed areas
Cultipack
Frost seed
Applying fert on top
Traditional planting
Best in thick grass/heavy weed areas
Fert
Light disc
Cultipack
Spray
Seed
Cultipack
Shed hunting (Jan, Feb, March)
Inspect planted food sources
What condition
Will annuals require replanting
Spring rejuvenation
Is frost seeding an option
Amount of exposed soil
Crawling weeds
How much is left
Inspect woody browse areas
Following trails
Inspecting bedding areas
Are they in good locations
Do they provide adequate cover
Is there a shortage of thick bedding areas
Providing ground cover through hinge cutting
Providing ground cover through TSI
Is there a shortage of thermal cover
10’ staggered spruce
10’ staggered cedars
White cedars
Red cedars
Are there advantageous areas to establish bedding areas
Inspect sanctuaries
Do they provide adequate cover
At least 60% ideally thick and nasty blocks w mature 50 yard wide strips
Is TSI or hinge cutting in order
Do they provide adequate woody browse
Water sources