Foggy's Deertopia Proving Grounds - Happenings

[Foggy47]

Fire can play a role here. It will set back your specific areas and not let it progress into timberland. If you can maintain a few firebreaks by mowing, the burning gets easier. There’s a group in your area putting together a prescribed burn association. We have a burn trailer that has gas powered water pumps, ATV water pumps, backpack sprayers, hand tools, etc. to do the burn right. I have been involved in 3 burns including my own property where we burned roughly 20 acres in four different parts of the property. It set back my hazels. It’s a volunteer group that assists landowners in burns. Let me know if you are interested in learning more.

I might be interested in this.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I also get pissed when my food plots or tree plantings don't go as planned, but my hunting success doesn't seem to be tied to how good my food plots and trees do that year. My worst food plot years sometimes match with some great hunting, and the opposite is also true.

I'm betting you will see a bunch of switchgrass next year in those areas. You could always frost seed those areas early next spring to give them an extra shot of switchgrass seed if you aren't sure. My CRP blend that contained switchgrass was a solid mat of oats, clover and perennial grasses the first year. It was way thicker than your weeds pictured, and I couldn't clearly see any switchgrass in that thick mess of grasses, clovers and weeds. Then the next year the switchgrass really took off and it looked like I knew what I was doing.

 

[Foggy47]

I also get pissed when my food plots or tree plantings don't go as planned, but my hunting success doesn't seem to be tied to how good my food plots and trees do that year. My worst food plot years sometimes match with some great hunting, and the opposite is also true.

I'm betting you will see a bunch of switchgrass next year in those areas. You could always frost seed those areas early next spring to give them an extra shot of switchgrass seed if you aren't sure. My CRP blend that contained switchgrass was a solid mat of oats, clover and perennial grasses the first year. It was way thicker than your weeds pictured, and I couldn't clearly see any switchgrass in that thick mess of grasses, clovers and weeds. Then the next year the switchgrass really took off and it looked like I knew what I was doing.

Yep. I am still holding out hope on that to happen. My problem with frost seeding is that I am in AZ until mid May each year. Thus the need for this to go.

 

[Catscratch]

I'd jump on the offer to help burn Foggy! That's a very generous offer and... man does burning help! Increases plant nutrition and palability.

Very short video. Worth the watch. Living with cattle and deer I observe deer mimicking the cattle's love of burns.

 

[Foggy47]

We are in the middle of a significant change of our plans as we age. Our age and physical conditions are sneaking up on us very quickly. We need to downsize.....and our home here on the lake is likely going to go down the road.....it's really nice here....but way too much effort for what we can enjoy here these days. BTDT. We really like AZ and the winters that we have there.....and are considering a different "condo' type lifestyle here on the tundra of MN......OR a place in AZ in the higher country....where it only gets into the 80's in the summer. AZ is far cheaper and easier.....and gives us allot of options. Only 2 hours drive between warm or warm.....never too hot.

MN is better for health care in our situation. The Deertopia property hangs in the balance. Maybe it becomes the mow it twice a year and hunt it....kinda property. Dunno. Lots of option on the table now.....got some months to decide. I hope you all get old enough to have to go thru this chit.....lol. It's not easy.....but we are blessed enough to have decisions we can still make. It ain't easy. Smile.

EDIT: Here are the summer temps in Prescott AZ.....a few hours drive to a different elevation.......not to shabby.....and LOTS to do in and around Prescott.....which is not too far from Sedona.

Prescott Arizona Weather & Seasons

Find out what weather to expect when visiting Prescott Arizona at various times of the year, so you can plan a great trip.

www.allprescott.com

 

[Brian662]

Foggy, you can also frost seed in the late fall if your ground is flat. Biggest concern would be snow melt run off carrying seed away but that is mitigated with flat ground.

 

[Foggy47]

Foggy, you can also frost seed in the late fall if your ground is flat. Biggest concern would be snow melt run off carrying seed away but that is mitigated with flat ground.

Thanks....that is useful information on the fall frost seeding. My land is flat. I dont get much in the way of "run off" in most areas.

 

[Wind Gypsy]

We are in the middle of a significant change of our plans as we age. Our age and physical conditions are sneaking up on us very quickly. We need to downsize.....and our home here on the lake is likely going to go down the road.....it's really nice here....but way too much effort for what we can enjoy here these days. BTDT. We really like AZ and the winters that we have there.....and are considering a different "condo' type lifestyle here on the tundra of MN......OR a place in AZ in the higher country....where it only gets into the 80's in the summer. AZ is far cheaper and easier.....and gives us allot of options. Only 2 hours drive between warm or warm.....never too hot.

MN is better for health care in our situation. The Deertopia property hangs in the balance. Maybe it becomes the mow it twice a year and hunt it....kinda property. Dunno. Lots of option on the table now.....got some months to decide. I hope you all get old enough to have to go thru this chit.....lol. It's not easy.....but we are blessed enough to have decisions we can still make. It ain't easy. Smile.

EDIT: Here are the summer temps in Prescott AZ.....a few hours drive to a different elevation.......not to shabby.....and LOTS to do in and around Prescott.....which is not too far from Sedona.

Prescott Arizona Weather & Seasons

Find out what weather to expect when visiting Prescott Arizona at various times of the year, so you can plan a great trip.

www.allprescott.com

Can you get more help from your offspring and theirs on the land projects or are they not local?

I’ve spent a number of summers in the southwest, some of them at elevation where it’s cool. It’s nice! I think my parents would go into a depression if I left MN with their grandkids though!

 

[Brian662]

Foggy, can we get a switchgrass update?

 

[Foggy47]

Foggy, can we get a switchgrass update?

You don't want to know. I am really disgusted with ZERO results to show for my effort. I drilled brassica over some of it...and that is growing. I have not seen ONE blade of switchgrass. I think the Simizine just prior to drilling my seed was the culprit. grrrrrr

I would post about this on the switchgrass page on Facebook......but Roger Samson would not likely let it post. I asked him about the Simazine....and he reccomended just what I did. Pretty disgusted.

I did not have time to write much on this. More important irons in the fire at the moment.

 

[Brian662]

I have new planted switchgrass that is anywhere from 2' down to 3" this year. No failures, but the variability makes it difficult to use a consistent weed control method.

 

[T-Max]

I complained everywhere I could last year about my switchgrass failure. I too sprayed Simazine before planting. I found very little evidence of switchgrass anywhere I planted. I think Brian even messaged me privately about my failure as we talked through some possibilities. I replanted this spring and then discovered second year switchgrass all over! Lots of it to be found that I either couldn’t or simply didn’t see last year. Far from a total failure. Don’t give up just yet…


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[omicron1792]

Agreed. The seed is still there….you didn’t see it germinate and die.

Some hard seed and NWSG needs a cold period to break dormancy. I expect you will end up with a great stand.

 

[Bill]

Patience Foggy. It will grow.

 

[Foggy47]

I finally got to my Deertopia property today....about two weeks after drilling a brassica mix into my food plots. I think I planted about 3 acres.....maybe a bit more. It's comming along pretty well....tho I suppose I should fling some fertilizer on in.

Been so busy with my wife's health and our move to a new town home,....that I may not get to it this season. One way or the other....it is what it is. Here are some pics from today...each pic shown is a different food plot. I could not rotate to correct orientation....sorrry.

Not sure why I got some strips with no brassica growing? very strange, but I got enough going so......

 

[Foggy47]

So....I may finally have some switch grass growing? at least this stuff is all in rows and its grass....and growing like crazy. Does not have the little "hairs" when I pull the leaves from the stem as some say it must. Leaves look too wide....and I do not see little hairs...but it is all in a row. Go figure. Damned if I know.

 

[T-Max]

Would you look at that?! Most of what I see in those rows is switch. Some of that taller stuff I’m not sure on, but the little guys with the deep purple base? Yep! And they look to be tillering so they must be happy.


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[omicron1792]

Most of that is switch. Congrats!

 

[Foggy47]

Most of that is switch. Congrats!

It's like I just gave birth or something. lol. really was a big event for me yesterday! rollin, rollin, rollin.......

 

[Foggy47]

When should I mow the tops off of the weeds mixed in with that switch? I'm thinking pretty soon?