Sconnie
5 year old buck +
Hi Guys,
I haven't put much on here so lets start.
Info: 80 Acres ex Dairy Farm in West Central Wisconsin. Sandy loam soil that produces well, soil tests done last in 2017. Limed to 6.3-6.5, gypsum because Cats, phased out synthetic fertilizer in 2018 . Area is heavy ag, Beans/Corn and some alfalfa. Cover is king. River bottom runs east to west. Farmland, creeks and woodlots to the north and south. Low population density for both deer and humans. Surrounding properties range from 10ac-400ac in size. Neighbors hunt hard and most will shoot anything. I do not expect to shoot a booner! We average one nice buck every other year between my uncle and I. I only live 30min away.
This area was cattle pasture from at least 1942 (when my family arrived) to 1998. Erosion is a constant problem with the sandy river (Cattle didn't help either). The seed bank was decimated with nothing but fescue, thistle, locust and buckthorn remaining. We did our first major planting in 2001 with row planted white pines, misc. softwoods and ROD. I started managing the land in 2007 with my first plantings in 2009. Started spraying invasives and fescue in 2015. Most plantings are 3-6' tall now
Plantings include: White Pine, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, ROD, Dogwoods, Ninebark, Arrowood, American Plum, Wild Crabs, Silver Maple, Birch, Cherry, Oaks, Serviceberry. I am a big fan of diversity and edge!
My food plot game has changed. I have had success growing great food but can't compete with the AG fields.
Due to getting married (I know... that's as controversial as those tubes in the pictures below, don't worry too much she hunts and there are cages too) and buying a house I didn't plant last year. The plots got overgrown with primarily Smart Weed that went to seed.
Plot A is my worst, it was a mound that was scraped flat for fill when we built a cabin in 2018. It has been in rehab!
Plot B is my first and best, soil is great.
Plot C is a newer and still a bit rough. 
All three were tilled and planted in 2019 and total nearly and acre combined.
The orchard is a hot mess but has clover and chicory along with dying apple trees. This is a future project.
As you can see the blind is set up for easy and hidden access.
It is at a major pinch point in the river bottom.
I no longer have a tiller. I do have a 33hp tractor with mower, and an ATV with sprayer and drag. This will be my first time with Throw and Mow. I plant diverse "cover/food" mixes that will also be used to train my new bird dog this summer. The mix this year includes: Sunflowers, Grain Sorghum, Sweet Corn, Radishes, 3 types of peas, barley and whatever else I throw in there.
Question is: Should I mow first then wait for the inevitable explosion of weeds? Spray twice? Something like mow, wait, spray, wait, throw/mow/spray?
I appreciate any and all feed back. Trying to keep these plots workable for the future. I think usage will go way up once the surrounding cover gets thick enough (which should be soon!).
I will say starting with pasture land is a fun project. Truly a "blank slate". Plus you don't have to beg a forester to do TSI!
I haven't put much on here so lets start.
Info: 80 Acres ex Dairy Farm in West Central Wisconsin. Sandy loam soil that produces well, soil tests done last in 2017. Limed to 6.3-6.5, gypsum because Cats, phased out synthetic fertilizer in 2018 . Area is heavy ag, Beans/Corn and some alfalfa. Cover is king. River bottom runs east to west. Farmland, creeks and woodlots to the north and south. Low population density for both deer and humans. Surrounding properties range from 10ac-400ac in size. Neighbors hunt hard and most will shoot anything. I do not expect to shoot a booner! We average one nice buck every other year between my uncle and I. I only live 30min away.
This area was cattle pasture from at least 1942 (when my family arrived) to 1998. Erosion is a constant problem with the sandy river (Cattle didn't help either). The seed bank was decimated with nothing but fescue, thistle, locust and buckthorn remaining. We did our first major planting in 2001 with row planted white pines, misc. softwoods and ROD. I started managing the land in 2007 with my first plantings in 2009. Started spraying invasives and fescue in 2015. Most plantings are 3-6' tall now
Plantings include: White Pine, Norway Spruce, White Spruce, ROD, Dogwoods, Ninebark, Arrowood, American Plum, Wild Crabs, Silver Maple, Birch, Cherry, Oaks, Serviceberry. I am a big fan of diversity and edge!
My food plot game has changed. I have had success growing great food but can't compete with the AG fields.
Due to getting married (I know... that's as controversial as those tubes in the pictures below, don't worry too much she hunts and there are cages too) and buying a house I didn't plant last year. The plots got overgrown with primarily Smart Weed that went to seed.
Plot A is my worst, it was a mound that was scraped flat for fill when we built a cabin in 2018. It has been in rehab!
Plot B is my first and best, soil is great. Plot C is a newer and still a bit rough. All three were tilled and planted in 2019 and total nearly and acre combined.The orchard is a hot mess but has clover and chicory along with dying apple trees. This is a future project.
As you can see the blind is set up for easy and hidden access.
It is at a major pinch point in the river bottom.
I no longer have a tiller. I do have a 33hp tractor with mower, and an ATV with sprayer and drag. This will be my first time with Throw and Mow. I plant diverse "cover/food" mixes that will also be used to train my new bird dog this summer. The mix this year includes: Sunflowers, Grain Sorghum, Sweet Corn, Radishes, 3 types of peas, barley and whatever else I throw in there.
Question is: Should I mow first then wait for the inevitable explosion of weeds? Spray twice? Something like mow, wait, spray, wait, throw/mow/spray?
I appreciate any and all feed back. Trying to keep these plots workable for the future. I think usage will go way up once the surrounding cover gets thick enough (which should be soon!).
I will say starting with pasture land is a fun project. Truly a "blank slate". Plus you don't have to beg a forester to do TSI!
