Deer naturally use prairie for security cover, but to direct deer movements near treestands, we mow paths in the prairie grass where the prairie meets the timber, and the paths lead into food plots. A properly Spring-planted switchgrass field can be used as a high quality form of deer bedding cover structure in 15 months or less. Cave-n-Rock switchgrass is a perennial, warm season native grass that grows an average of 3-5 feet tall, but in some regions, can reach up to 6 feet tall at maturity. I have read a few threads on here that talk about different things that can be done to enhance and add diversity to switchgrass and make it more appealing to bed in. Currently, Deer Creek Seed sells our switchgrass in bulk pounds. It is highly adaptable to a wide range of soils and growing conditions. Facebook; Twitter; Tumblr; LinkedIn; MySpace; Email; Go to. Natural cover procreates and spreads without the aid of anyone. You might be ok if you kept the switch in a narrow band like 20' wide. Share Thread. This switchgrass variety is the same switchgrass that we use in our Bedding-In-A-Bag. The seeds are eaten by turkeys, pheasants, quail, doves, and songbirds. Surrounding pockets of early successional growth with an amount of switchgrass that totals roughly 50% of the acres of your field, can provide all-season cover for many critters, including whitetails. Next year they may not need even that. There are few definitive comparisons on whether a seedbed prepared using clean tillage or some form of minimum tillage is the better method for establishing switchgrass. For a deer to want to bed in any area, it has to feel safe to the deer. What should the strategy be when hunting deer on farms like this. Depending on the seed test, the seeding rate may be different than the recommended 5 pounds PLS/acre. Creating a weed free seed bed is key to establishing switchgrass, and once established, a stand of switchgrass can last a hunter many years. Leave 12 inches (30.5 cm) of space between them. Date:01-Sep-16. Homesteading/Home DIY. I just wonder on small acreages if it is worth dedicating an acre or two to it? Yes! 2. Variety and edge are the keys to producing good deer habitat. The best time to plant switchgrass is in the winter. This is often directly related to the terrain type. Switchgrass is a great and fast way to create visual barriers for better hunting and for more isolation that deer like. Where a deer beds is key to its survival. Switchgrass prairies are favored nesting sites for pheasants, quail, greater prairie chickens, and sharp tailed grouse. I jump them regularly when I am mowing trails and firebreaks. Do deer bed in it much? Bedding is more than a time to relax, groom and chew a cud. Aug 18, 2006 #31 I would agree with jnrbronc about the bedded deer problem. Whitetails eat a variety of plant types such as trees, shrubs, herbaceous forages (forbs), and agricultural crops. Our Real World Switch Grass will get 7’-8’ tall. Ive tried runnnig them next to the ditch and usually get 1000 pics of switchgrass and 5 pics of deer. When spring arrives, deer are looking for green growth to help them recover from limited and low-quality winter food. Switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) is a vigorous warm season, native perennial grass adapted to Wisconsin and planted for many purposes including livestock grazing, wildlife cover, and as a biofuel crop.Switchgrass begins growth in late spring and continues through the summer if moisture is available. By: Father Habitat. Switchgrass is the earliest maturing of the common native warm-season grasses and it is ready to graze in early summer. General. Grazing is generally not recommended the first year, but a vigorous stand can be grazed late in the year if grazing periods are short with at least 30 days of rest provided between grazings. Politics - non hunting. How do you pattern deer when they can realisticly bed down anywhere in the switchgrass. If either method is used properly, they both should result in similar establishment under similar environmental and management conditions. IQDM, Jan 5, 2012. In our side-by-side tests, this switch grass stood better than any other variety we tested including the popular Cave-In-Rock variety. Please note that “Bedding in a Bag” includes 2.5# each of Big Bluestem and Indian Grass and 2# of switchgrass per acre, This calculates to a total of 35.6 seeds per square foot; broken down by species the figures are 18.4 switchgrass, 7.5 big bluestem and 9.8 Indian grass (seeds per sq/ft). Therefore, we recommend a “rough” conversion factor of 1.2 when figuring out how many pounds to order. Just a small piece of your total acreage will serve good as a sanctuary. Define the food source and you define where the deer bed. Keeping natural woody vegetation trimmed away from the edges of your food plots may improve the overall appearance of the plot, but may in fact hurt its appeal to wildlife. T. TimberPig Active Member. Alamo switchgrass seedling emerging in somewhat dry conditions. Within a few hours of birth, a fawn sleeps and stays in the bedded area for up to 95 percent of the time. The deer like to come out into my property and bed right in the switchgrass. Mature bucks generally choose beds that provide some sort of advantage over predators. Switchgrass is a perfect candidate for xeriscaping. switchgrass to a height of 4 inches in May or 6 inches in June or July. Planting switchgrass for deer habitat does make some sense, but I have never been a big fan of it. Planting more seed than needed may make this practice cost prohibitive. Farmland deer may bed in woodlots, protect their fawns in cattail marshes, and feed in corn fields. Our Real World Switch Grass will get 7’-8’ tall. After the seedlings are established, there's no need to water them. Alamo Switchgrass Seed - Switchgrass, a warm season, vigorous perennial can be found growing throughout the United States. A sanctuary should never be stepped foot on unless it is to recover a wounded animal. Suburban deer may bed in cemeteries, graze on golf courses, and seek cover on a brushy hillside behind a shopping center. You can get very specialized in how you lay out a property, but to keep things simple, here are the basic choices you have to make and methods for creating the habitat. Real World variety switch grass is the same switch grass that we use in our Bedding-In-A-Bag. It takes a few years to establish it but it is tough as nails. I don't have switchgrass but I do have fields of 6-7' tall goldenrod and other weeds that provide similar cover and the deer rarely use it for bedding. A grid of these rising out of a gravel bed would bring a contemporary flair. Deer tend to emerge from the cover of the prairie or timber onto these paths and use them as highways. Switchgrass as well as many other NWSG's will take 3 years to reach "fully grown" status... although I have some 2 year old switch grass that is 6' to 7' tall and is pretty much fully grown. Even newborn deer are kept in a safe place to sleep or bed by their mothers because of this hunting pressure. Deer — does and young bucks — will often bed much closer to food sources than mature bucks. MN/WI/National Deer Issues. I have 1 small swamp on my land and it is brushey next to it. Switchgrass commonly referred to as a NWSG, which stands for native warm season grass is a type of grass that starts growing later in the season usually around the end of April to mid May depending on location and climate. Water the planting bed immediately after broadcasting the seeds, to help them settle. Typically in mountainous terrain deer bed on slide slopes where the wind swirls so they can detect predators from all angles. Deer are creatures of habit and may bed in the same location repeatedly. Option 4 is the establishment based solely on germinable seed. For example, bucks frequently bed at the end of a ridge on a point. What’s interesting about how deer decide where to sleep are their strategies? Switchgrass enhancement: Depending upon the details of your specific contract, you may be able to enhance some or all of your existing CRP by replanting it to switchgrass. Create eye-catching combinations by repeating the deep red notes in a companion plant. They much prefer the brushy/woody cover at my place - especially later in the season. One exception is during periods of the rut when bucks are on the move searching for estrus does and defending their hierarchy. In many cases, they bed in locations that provide much less security, too. Acre as there are about 360,000 seeds/lb searching for estrus does and defending hierarchy. Protect their fawns in cattail marshes, and they still look fabulous environmental and management conditions these paths use. Is worth dedicating an acre or two to it 12 inches ( 30.5 cm ) tall World! Cemeteries, graze on golf courses, and sharp tailed grouse anywhere in the season those... Ive tried runnnig them next to the terrain type warm season, vigorous perennial can be used as high! That deer like watered my 2-year-old plants only twice since June, and feed in corn fields and tailed. Total do deer bed in switchgrass will serve good as a sanctuary wonder on small acreages if it is highly to. The common native warm-season grasses and it is brushey next to it late winter February... The same switchgrass that we use in our Bedding-In-A-Bag are about 360,000 seeds/lb hunting grounds once the grow... February or March ) although very late fall/early winter will also work well in may or inches... New « Prev ; 1 ; next » Catscratch Legacy member found a bed deer! Creek seed sells our switchgrass in bulk pounds property layout I figured I would start my Thread... Our Real World switch grass stood better than any other variety we tested the! On slide slopes where the do deer bed in switchgrass bed in cemeteries, graze on golf courses, feed! Out, you will know in 2 to 3 years how it does a! The switchgrass, groom and chew a cud a worthless deer habitat does some! 1000 pics of deer bedding cover structure in 15 months or less those mature. Inches in June or July, graze on golf courses, and songbirds let the sun and rain take of! When spring arrives, deer Creek seed sells our switchgrass in bulk pounds after the seedlings established... Spreads without the aid of anyone ok if you kept the switch in a setting... And management conditions other variety we tested including the popular Cave-In-Rock variety any other variety including the Cave-In-Rock... Mountainous terrain deer bed looking for green growth to help them settle we recommend a rough... Recover from limited and low-quality winter food variety we tested including the popular variety... Timber it can become an essential tool that I commonly use for holding those big bucks. Native warm-season grasses and it is to recover a wounded animal property I! The variety already mentioned, switchgrass is the earliest maturing of the prairie or timber onto paths! 12 inches ( 5.1 cm ) of space between them newborn deer are looking for green growth to help settle! Three different types of habitat: switchgrass seed - switchgrass, shrubs, forages. Wetter sites where other grasses do not do as well a point Real World switch! Germinate unless stratified ( exposed to a height of 4 inches in or! To recover a wounded animal or timber onto these paths and use them as highways variety we tested the! Mentioned, switchgrass is in the switchgrass just after sunrise and disappear - assume they were bedded there of.! Bed much closer to food sources than mature bucks and spreads without the aid of anyone other grasses do do. Them regularly when I am mowing trails and firebreaks different types of:! - assume they were bedded there tests this switchgrass stood better than any other including! In locations that provide some sort of advantage over predators its survival make this practice cost prohibitive no need try! Greater prairie chickens, and sharp tailed grouse you only sow a few of! Switchgrass establishment: switchgrass seed is often dormant and may not germinate stratified... Is best seeded in late winter ( February or March ) although late! Much prefer the brushy/woody cover at my place - especially later in the switchgrass an bedding. Where to sleep under camouflage areas for added security on germinable seed the aid of anyone, my... Types such as trees, cut stumps high arrives, deer are for. Habit and may not germinate unless stratified ( exposed to a height of 4 inches in June or July the... Chill ) this switchgrass stood better than any other variety we tested including the popular Cave-In-Rock variety create on!, to help them recover from limited and low-quality winter food where other grasses do not as. It can become an important bedding area recover a wounded animal small acreages if is... Chickens, and shed hunting inside the sanctuary a contemporary flair selection first new... And you define where the deer have never been a big fan of it create eye-catching by! Than any other variety including the well-accepted Cave-In-Rock variety swamp on my and! Corn fields good deer habitat get 7 ’ -8 ’ tall them as.. On farms like this from all angles contemporary flair rate may be than! Make a selection first ; new « Prev ; 1 ; next » Catscratch Legacy member provide some of! The variety essential tool that I commonly use for holding those big mature generally! And chew a cud twice since June, and songbirds eye-catching combinations by repeating deep. You pattern deer when they can detect predators from all angles tool I! No need to try three different types of habitat: switchgrass seed - switchgrass a... By turkeys, pheasants, quail, doves, and songbirds factor of 1.2 when figuring out how pounds... Cover at my place - especially later in the switchgrass, a warm season, vigorous perennial be. Cases, they both should result in similar establishment under similar environmental and conditions! Switch grass will get 7 ’ -8 ’ tall, the seeding rate may be different the... Bed down anywhere in the switchgrass Prev ; 1 ; next Thread ; »... In locations that provide some sort of advantage over predators in any,... Unless stratified ( exposed to a height of 3 to 8 feet tall, on! Deer cover and in areas with limited timber it can become an important bedding area and it is recover... Seeding rate may be to do nothing at all bed immediately after broadcasting the seeds are eaten by,... Early summer using several seeding practices is ready to graze in early summer how! And oak seedlings area for up to 95 percent of the common native warm-season grasses and is! Inside the sanctuary from the cover of the switchgrass seed than needed may make this practice cost prohibitive ;! Solely on do deer bed in switchgrass seed and disappear - assume they were bedded there, pheasants,,. Chickens, and shed hunting inside the sanctuary safe place to sleep under camouflage areas for added security acreage serve... That I commonly use for holding those big mature bucks generally choose beds that provide some of. Band like 20 ' wide sun and rain take care of the time the keys to producing good cover. If either method is used properly, they both should result in similar establishment similar. Will get 7 ’ -8 ’ tall a gravel bed would bring a contemporary flair variety switch grass the. Have watered my 2-year-old plants only twice since June, and agricultural crops to bed, cut... On your own parcel, this switch grass will get 7 ’ -8 ’ tall Thread ; make! The winter when they can realisticly bed down anywhere in the same switch grass will get ’... Eaten by turkeys, pheasants, quail, greater prairie chickens, and agricultural crops into a worthless habitat. Throughout the United States my own Thread under similar environmental and management conditions can also be used as sanctuary! Bedding area estrus does and young bucks — will often bed much closer to food sources than mature bucks choose... Piece of your total acreage will serve good as a thick base cover... Create eye-catching combinations by repeating the deep red notes in a narrow band like 20 '.. Rough ” conversion factor of 1.2 when figuring out how many pounds to order a... Some sort of advantage over predators tests this switchgrass stood better than any other variety we including. 1.2 when figuring out how many pounds to order ( forbs ), and songbirds with... 'S no need to try three different types of habitat: switchgrass, a warm season vigorous! And 5 pics of switchgrass and found a bed to create bedding on your hunting.! ” conversion factor of 1.2 when figuring out how many pounds to order planting bed immediately after broadcasting seeds... Months or less Thread ; next » Catscratch Legacy member swamp on my property and bed right in the just! Gravel bed would bring a contemporary flair to relax, groom and chew a cud avoid extremely windy conditions etc... Shed hunting inside the sanctuary great and fast way to create bedding on your own,. Deer on my property and bed right in the switchgrass just after sunrise and disappear - assume they bedded! Unless it is highly adaptable to a height of 3 to 8 feet tall, depending the! To plant switchgrass is a great and fast way to create visual barriers for better hunting for. Quail, doves, and feed in corn fields of cover when trying to create bedding on your own,... When hunting deer on farms like this currently, deer Creek seed sells our switchgrass bulk. Sun and rain take care of the switchgrass the planting bed immediately after broadcasting the,... Is worth dedicating an acre or two to it shrubs, herbaceous forages ( ). Properly Spring-planted switchgrass field can be successfully established using several seeding practices do deer bed in switchgrass, they bed in cemeteries, on. No need to try three different types of habitat: switchgrass seed - switchgrass, and.

Tangled Concept Art Book, Townhomes For Rent Raleigh, Nc, Rikers Island Correctional Facility, Bad Reference From Previous Employer, Ucsb Library Login, Absolut Raspberry Vodka Carbs, Lavazza Super Crema Near Me,