Catscratch House and Habitat build

[SD51555]

It's just a bag of milo seed front the local CO-OP. I'm interested in the stuff you're planting though. Some of those high sugar varieties sound pretty neat. Keep us updated on what they do with it. I doubt they touch your asparagus.

I dont' expect them to touch the asparagus. I never see the ditch asparagus browsed after it bushes out in the later half of the growing season.

I'm very excited for the dwarf BMR sorghum too. That is most likely the highest biomass producer. It's got more, wider, and longer leaves than the others. The WGF has put out the biggest grain head, but I know they eat the grain. I suspect they're going to eat the plants too, I just wanna make sure before I put in a half acre of it or more.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I pictured you and Cat getting together for the first time, cracking open a beer, and asking him that. Great conversation starter! It made me lol

That's why I posted it. Guaranteed reaction from a Jayhawk!!!

 

[Bowsnbucks]

The WGF has put out the biggest grain head, but I know they eat the grain. I suspect they're going to eat the plants too, I just wanna make sure before I put in a half acre of it or more.

We've planted WGF dwarf sorghum before. Our deer ate it and the seed heads while they were GREEN. Once the stuff turned brown and the seed heads dried down, deer had no interest - but turkeys, grouse, doves, and all sorts of birds moved in and hammered the seed heads. It did make decent cover in mixed plots for deer to feel comfortable. FWIW. YMMV.

 

[SD51555]

We've planted WGF dwarf sorghum before. Our deer ate it and the seed heads while they were GREEN. Once the stuff turned brown and the seed heads dried down, deer had no interest - but turkeys, grouse, doves, and all sorts of birds moved in and hammered the seed heads. It did make decent cover in mixed plots for deer to feel comfortable. FWIW. YMMV.

I've been chasing an observation I made probably ten years ago when I was using bird seed to do summer fawn counts in front of a camera. I had a bunch of that mixed bird seed germinate and grow into full stalks by fall. By December, the deer at the entire stalk of most of those volunteers. I just don't know exactly which sorghums and millets were in the blend.

 

[Catscratch]

We've planted WGF dwarf sorghum before. Our deer ate it and the seed heads while they were GREEN. Once the stuff turned brown and the seed heads dried down, deer had no interest - but turkeys, grouse, doves, and all sorts of birds moved in and hammered the seed heads. It did make decent cover in mixed plots for deer to feel comfortable. FWIW. YMMV.

Same. Deer like the berries when they are in the doughy stage but not so much after they harden. They can (and often will) wipe out an acre of milo heads in a weeks time. I can't say that I've seen much interest in the stalks. Now if SD comes across a forage variety that they do eat then I would be all ears! I like the bird seed and cover aspect of milo.

I'm having a little bit of a decision to make right now. I want to kill off my milo plots and do a fall planting of clover. I hesitate though cause I like the milo stalks. I've never done this but am considering broadcasting clovers and cereal into the milo without mowing on top of it until late winter/early spring. You guys think enough seed will germinate to make a good summer clover plot, or is it going to be dirty/weedy next year?

 

[Turkey Creek]

Same. Deer like the berries when they are in the doughy stage but not so much after they harden. They can (and often will) wipe out an acre of milo heads in a weeks time. I can't say that I've seen much interest in the stalks. Now if SD comes across a forage variety that they do eat then I would be all ears! I like the bird seed and cover aspect of milo.

I'm having a little bit of a decision to make right now. I want to kill off my milo plots and do a fall planting of clover. I hesitate though cause I like the milo stalks. I've never done this but am considering broadcasting clovers and cereal into the milo without mowing on top of it until late winter/early spring. You guys think enough seed will germinate to make a good summer clover plot, or is it going to be dirty/weedy next year?

No first hand experience but I think it would be worth experimenting with. Heck if you dont I will next season. LOL I don't think I would mow it though. Just broadcast it and let it work itself into the soil. Leaves on milo might smother the seed or prevent it from getting enough light to germinate is my only thinking. Could possibly be completely off base on my thinking though.

 

[Catscratch]

I'm thinking there would be enough light and the leaves wouldn't be any thicker than what beans drop. I've done this in beans plenty of times. I just might try it.

 

[Foggy47]

^ I'm still searching for that relatively tall cover for my clover plots.....to provide some level of security for the deer in daylight hours. Maybe a thin planting of Milo is what I need. I've had some success with Sorghum Sudan grass. Kinda into my Winter Rye and now the Yellow Sweet Clover to carry the day. I keep trying.

 

[Catscratch]

^ I'm still searching for that relatively tall cover for my clover plots.....to provide some level of security for the deer in daylight hours. Maybe a thin planting of Milo is what I need. I've had some success with Sorghum Sudan grass. Kinda into my Winter Rye and now the Yellow Sweet Clover to carry the day. I keep trying.

I tend towards tall cover around my plot less than in them. What are your deer used to Foggy? My deer live in cattle pasture with knee high grass as far as the eye can see. When they head to my plots that have some trees around them, some switch here n there, and some mithcantis rows they probably feel pretty concealed. Of course I think pressure ultimately has more say so than cover height.

How tall does your Yellow Sweet stay in the winter?

 

[Foggy47]

I tend towards tall cover around my plot less than in them. What are your deer used to Foggy? My deer live in cattle pasture with knee high grass as far as the eye can see. When they head to my plots that have some trees around them, some switch here n there, and some mithcantis rows they probably feel pretty concealed. Of course I think pressure ultimately has more say so than cover height.

How tall does your Yellow Sweet stay in the winter?

I doubt there will be much height to that sweet clover in the winter especially in the first year. In the second year it will be rolled and / or mulched prior to winter and the hunting season. The land surrounding my food plots is all timber and bushland.

 

[Catscratch]

Corn was cut today! I suspect that will change movement patterns.

 

[Catscratch]

Did some brushhogging today. Food plot is going to make some milo and even some sunflower seed. I couldn't mow it all down so I made some strips.


Even tried to spoke lanes out for a view from the house. This is from the kitchen window. Maybe make for some good views this winter? I think I'll fill those mowed paths with rye/wheat/clover.

 

[Catscratch]

Mowed another plot just to get a start on it. Hope to spray it next weekend and throw some clover seed on it.

And got some shooting in.

 

[Catscratch]

We'll see if this works (I'm not very Facebook literate). Little cat likes to play basketball. It actually cuts into hunting and fishing time some but we all love to do it so thats ok.
Coach posted this video after yesterday's tournament.

James Braun with a three to increase the lead to 25 points! 👌🏽🏀 | By Primetime Express | Facebook

James Braun with a three to increase the lead to 25 points! 👌🏽🏀

fb.watch

 

[Turkey Creek]

We'll see if this works (I'm not very Facebook literate). Little cat likes to play basketball. It actually cuts into hunting and fishing time some but we all love to do it so thats ok.
Coach posted this video after yesterday's tournament.

James Braun with a three to increase the lead to 25 points! 👌🏽🏀 | By Primetime Express | Facebook

James Braun with a three to increase the lead to 25 points! 👌🏽🏀

fb.watch

I can view the video. What team is he playing for? We have a 7th grader that we are trying to find a more advanced team to play for, but its tough to find a round here. Lots of club volleyball teams around which is great for the daughter, but boys seem to be drastically lacking in the basketball area. Might consider traveling to KC for him to do so once she graduates. However, driving 3 nights a week to KC is enough to make us cry as it is.

 

[Catscratch]

I can view the video. What team is he playing for? We have a 7th grader that we are trying to find a more advanced team to play for, but its tough to find a round here. Lots of club volleyball teams around which is great for the daughter, but boys seem to be drastically lacking in the basketball area. Might consider traveling to KC for him to do so once she graduates. However, driving 3 nights a week to KC is enough to make us cry as it is.

The club is in Winfield (PrimeTime Express if you want to look it up on the book of faces. If you come across the post season party pics that was at our place.). I'm guessing we're 3-4 hours from you? He does a great job coaching and is a fantastic skills builder. We're kind of a hodgepod group and don't really look like a ball team but they play pretty well. Most of our losses come from teams out of the Bahama's or from other states during National tournaments. We occasionally play a team or two out of Topeka but I don't really remember any KC teams.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

I think I'll fill those mowed paths with rye/wheat/clover.

That sounds like a good idea. Having milo cover close by ought to entice deer to feed on the greens in the strips. WIN!

 

[Catscratch]

That sounds like a good idea. Having milo cover close by ought to entice deer to feed on the greens in the strips. WIN!

I'm really hoping it will keep a covey or two of quail around the place. I love hearing them and having them around the house. The random surprise flush when walking the dog or doing a cooldown is a great part of life!

 

[H20fwler]

I love hearing and seeing quail too, very rare around here since the blizzard of 78.

Bobwhites are crack cocaine to my GSP, her favorite bird to chase.

 

[Catscratch]

I love hearing and seeing quail too, very rare around here since the blizzard of 78.

Bobwhites are crack cocaine to my GSP, her favorite bird to chase.

I wish we had more quail. I quit shooting them when coveys dropped below 10 birds. We used to have 4 coveys of 20+ birds on my parents 160, now there's a single covey that's there once in a while.

My dog has no clue about quail or pointing. I was hopeful but he just doesn't have it. I'd like to get another pup but I probably won't.