Damn Washita Ranch

[armadillophil]

I am super excited to get started on projects on this property I bought last January. It is 85 acres in southern Oklahoma along the Washita river. Washita is a indian word that means "river of good hunting grounds" It certainly was for me this year as I killed my best buck. I rattled him up on November 21.

The 85 acres is a combination of river bottom and upland hardwoods with quite a few steep drainages/ridges. It has a 15 acre bermuda and johnson grass hay field with the rest of property being mostly wooded. I love having property along the river but it doesn't seem to take much rainfall to make it pretty high and wild aka the "Damn Washita". My first project of the this year is to plant about a 1000 willow livestakes along a section that has some bad erosion. I also plan to convert the hay field to a 5 acre food plot and the rest to native grass/ forbs.

 

[Bill]

Congratulations! Lots of mass there.

 

[scott44]

Congrats!

 

[armadillophil]

I also plan to hinge cut about 3 acres of bottom ground that is next to field. It is has a dense canopy so not much at deer level but I did see a a American Beautyberry in there so I know if I can get sunlight on floor it will make a great staging area. My last habitat project is to clear about 2 acres up on top for another food plot. I was planning to do it with a chainsaw and sweat but might hire a forestry mulcher for a day to knock it out since time is so limited.

 

[buckdeer1]

I know what you mean about erosion.My ground is on the Arkansas in SC Kansas.I have tried the willows and will try again but will dive deeper and only leave a couple buds above ground.I have had the best luck cutting trees or even better finding a tree that fell and cabling back to standing tree this seems to help hold the bank.

 

[Bassattackr]

Awesome! Would love to see more pics of your property.

 

[armadillophil]

I know what you mean about erosion.My ground is on the Arkansas in SC Kansas.I have tried the willows and will try again but will dive deeper and only leave a couple buds above ground.I have had the best luck cutting trees or even better finding a tree that fell and cabling back to standing tree this seems to help hold the bank.

 

[armadillophil]

Here is my fall planted clover getting ready to take off.

 

[armadillophil]

I didn’t realize I had so many cedars. I’m having a guy come in with a tree saw attachment on his skid steer. Plan to open up about 3 acres and the go to town on any cedar he sees.

 

[armadillophil]

Had the skid steer with tree saw in last week.

 

[armadillophil]

Made it to farm today to try finish up my food plots. Seems like I’m always rushed and everything gives me a problem. Was able to get 3 acres disked one last time. My cultipacker has not arrived so I went ahead and planted eagle soybeans and used chain drag. Suppose to get rain on Friday.

 

[armadillophil]

Next week I’m going to mow the rye/clover plots and then plant 3 acres next to soybeans in sun hemp.

 

[Bill]

Seems like I’m always rushed and everything gives me a problem.

so now that you know that you have two choices. Keep getting frustrated because you can’t actually accomplish what you thought you could. Or just be glad you got done what you did.

I’m a work in progress.....

 

[armadillophil]

so now that you know that you have two choices. Keep getting frustrated because you can’t actually accomplish what you thought you could. Or just be glad you got done what you did.

I’m a work in progress.....

I always pull into gate with 10 projects for day. Pull out of gate with 2 projects completed and 5 new projects to list!

 

[Bill]

Damn. You’re doing better than me.
But I’m trying...

 

[buckdeer1]

It's crazy that you are planting beans already.I just sprayed and am in no hurry to plant.I usually plant beans and milo at least 2 weeks after they plant ag beans and milo

 

[Bassattackr]

You can plant beans fairly early if they're coated. Milo needs to be 60+ F soil temp however..

 

[armadillophil]

Here some videos from a mineral lick this past month.

Nice bachelor group.

These pigs are gonna regret pushing my deer around.

 

[armadillophil]

Planted 3 acres in sun hemp yesterday. They just got broadcast in dead sod and I rolled over with cultipacker. Getting 2 inches of rain the next 48 hours so we will see. The soybeans I planted last Monday are getting ready to pop. They got 1 inch on Friday and we will hit 80 end of week.

 

[armadillophil]

My livestakes are doing great