Foggy's Deertopia Proving Grounds - Happenings

[TenPoint]

It looks like the new pond is right in the middle of your trail system or am I looking at it incorrectly?

That's my thought/question as well. Will we get a bridge build next? Could double as a fishing pier. ;)

 

[Foggy47]

It looks like the new pond is right in the middle of your trail system or am I looking at it incorrectly?

You're seeing correctly. The pond is in the middle of that trail......but I do have a trail you do not see that loops around this pond. I plan to plant this trail in switch.....and just use one side for a small travel lane. About the only thing it will lead to is my blind. I am abandoning several other trails and planting them to switchgrass. Thus, you can always drive thru the switch if you need the access the trail(s) provide.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Great looking job, Foggy. Switch next spring??

 

[Brian662]

You need 80% sun to grow a decent stand of switch from my experience. Stuff that fights for sunlight and competes with tree roots for nutrients rarely gets taller than 3' and is very slow to establish.

 

[Foggy47]

You need 80% sun to grow a decent stand of switch from my experience. Stuff that fights for sunlight and competes with tree roots for nutrients rarely gets taller than 3' and is very slow to establish.

I've already seen the effect of the sunlight on the switch this year. Some I can get good sunlight to....and it thrives. Does take a little common sense to find the better places for switch. I've done "ok" in many areas.....and better in others. Strange stuff that switchgrass.....still learning on it.

On some of my abandoned trails......I really do not care if the switch does not "thrive" .......about the only reason to plant these trails is to prevent trees and bushes from growing in the trails...so I have some abilitty to use these trails for moving equipment or blinds at some point in the future. I just want to keep some access to other areas. At my place.....if you don't grow crops....you WILL have trees and bushes very soon (or worse than that you could get thistles). The natural regeneration here is crazy. The old saying goes: "Nature abhors a vacuum"

 

[Foggy47]

That road really does look great Foggy! Throw some topsoil/binder down. Plant some vegetation/shrubs and you'll have a killer crossing.

You have captured exactly what I need here. That sandy soil used to put this road in place really should have some clay or black dirt in it. We had hoped to find some better clay in the area of my pond dig....but it was not there. Just sand.

I do have several piles of dirt that were scraped from the log landings over several logging efforts in time gone by. Next summer I plan to deposit some of that material over the sand base to stabilize that sand (now that I can drive my tractor across the swamp). Plan on doing this early and planting winter rye and ??? other stuff to get some vegetation going here. Looking for suggestions.....but I suppose any grass will do to get some roots happening here after getting some top soil over that sand.

If I have to.....I will buy some clay or top soil to add to this sand....I got too much time and effort involved to let the weather deteriorate the efforts made.

the good thing is....they really worked the sand into the logs...( They even packed it with a vibratory roller on the front of that bobcat - not shown in pics) and placed almost a foot of sand over the top of those Tamarac logs (which were laid on top of a geo-fabric base).....so I got a very good base....one that will be there for a few centuries, or more. The contractor really did a first class job. Now....I just gotta keep it in h place with some binder.......and with some plant roots. With the water nearby.....vegetation should grow. Then I can add to the whole affair over the next years......maybe some cuttings and maybe a few "peninsulas" emanating from the road? Hope I live long enough to see a good result....lol. As I have said: " Plan plans....not results".

This project has been a long time in coming. It was just a dream once........now it's a dream come true. smile

Some day...waaay off in the future.....some relative of mine may wonder....."WTF was this old bastard thinking?" .....lol

 

[SD51555]

You could spread 4-6" of black dirt. Easy enough to write the check and have the same dude do it whenever he can get to it. If you didn't want to go that route, you could also just unroll some round bales on that road. You'll get plenty of grass seed from the hay, and it'll cover the sand long enough that it should take hold. Then just mow it once a year, or as you see undesirables filling in. I bet you could cover that whole road with 4-6 round bales. Just cut the twine and start pushing with the tractor.

Might not be a bad idea to do a soil test on that road. You really only need a pH reading on it. You know it's sandy, but if you need some lime, dolomitic would be a good opportunity to add some magnesium.

 

[Foggy47]

You could spread 4-6" of black dirt. Easy enough to write the check and have the same dude do it whenever he can get to it. If you didn't want to go that route, you could also just unroll some round bales on that road. You'll get plenty of grass seed from the hay, and it'll cover the sand long enough that it should take hold. Then just mow it once a year, or as you see undesirables filling in. I bet you could cover that whole road with 4-6 round bales. Just cut the twine and start pushing with the tractor.

Might not be a bad idea to do a soil test on that road. You really only need a pH reading on it. You know it's sandy, but if you need some lime, dolomitic would be a good opportunity to add some magnesium.

Got me to thinking.....I may use my lime spreader to spread black dirt over the road edges. My lime spreader holds about 1000 lbs of material.....and can be pulled by anything.. Loading it with my loader and deposting a thin layer of dirt may work quite well. That spreader has been sitting idle for several years......it's time it paid its way. I'd pull it with my UTV. Likely a down and back -reload'- repeat. May take a dozen trips or more to get enough top soil evenly spread.....but this will work.

 

[TenPoint]

I’d probably just throw a logging trail mix down when you get some black dirt on it. You’ll have plenty of sun hitting it.

 

[Newbie]

*disclaimer* I’m no expert (hence the username)

I’d take the last few posts and boil them down into 1 gameplan. Take the dark soil you already have and splash it over the road (supplement with some purchased soil or help from the contractor if needed). Buy a couple round bales or straw to spread to prevent erosion in the short term. Spread an easy to grow blend over top to jump start succession on top (maybe some rye, white dutch, and SD’s fav thistle). Let nature take over after.

In the end, I can’t imagine a scenario where you don’t have a long term swamp crossing that benefits both you and the critters.

 

[Foggy47]

*disclaimer* I’m no expert (hence the username)

I’d take the last few posts and boil them down into 1 gameplan. Take the dark soil you already have and splash it over the road (supplement with some purchased soil or help from the contractor if needed). Buy a couple round bales or straw to spread to prevent erosion in the short term. Spread an easy to grow blend over top to jump start succession on top (maybe some rye, white dutch, and SD’s fav thistle). Let nature take over after.

In the end, I can’t imagine a scenario where you don’t have a long term swamp crossing that benefits both you and the critters.

The critters never crossed on the logs. Had a camera hoping I see a bear or coyote or anything cross on the logs. It was like a cattle guard, nothing wants anything to do with walking on the Timbers. It’s all gotta wait till spring now, because I am in AZ for several months. In spring I will try to get some organic matter or the sides of this road…then plant it in some grasses. Will develop more plans over winter. I think some cuttings will happen next spring. More development will happen in time.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Will develop more plans over winter. I think some cuttings will happen next spring. More development will happen in time.

Since it's wet all around the crossing - any ROD cuttings?

 

[Skeeter]

Do you have access to enough wood chips to put down one side? Would be a neat comparison.

 

[Foggy47]

Do you have access to enough wood chips to put down one side? Would be a neat comparison.

??? comparison to ???

 

[Skeeter]

??? comparison to ???

Black dirt or whatever dirt you had mentioned having some of left over after logging or something.

 

[sandbur]

So my friend Sandbur (Art) so kindly came to my land to help me locate a pond....which I will have dug immediately after rifle season this fall. We did move it slightly to the east of where I had planned.....which will afford a better stand site....and the stand will be located downwind and in a better spot than I originally intended (or so it is hoped). This pond will help create a pinch point between several ideal habitat spots and travel routes the deer like to use. THANK YOU!! so much Art for providing another set of eyes on this project and your valued opinion. I think it's going to work out quite well. And.....we did not seem to deter the deer from our romp though my land this time of year. Nice deer and this buck was back on camera after our look around. It was a very informative and FUN afternoon!!

View attachment 84735View attachment 84736

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and visit.

Your property has vastly improved since the logging.lots of cover.

You should have some nice pinch points by that pond.

 

[sandbur]

Should something be done to stabilize the steep banks around that pond?

Fabric? Bundles of brush or willows that are staked in place?

Has anyone observed the stabilization of trout stream banks with bundles of willows?

 

[Foggy47]

I thoroughly enjoyed the tour and visit.

Your property has vastly improved since the logging.lots of cover.

You should have some nice pinch points by that pond.

It was a fun day when you came to my place Art.....always enjoy your company.....and your experience. You provided some good insight into that pond placement. I think it's gonna work out pretty well. Already placed some timber to divert the deer from a current travel path and to that pond. More to do.....but I already have a start. Glad you mentioned digging that water hole in my rifle range plot. That was quick and easy. It's a natural spot for that water hole. Almost had another dug nearby....but figured that would simply give too many choices for water in the same area.

Lots to do next spring / summer at Deertopia. Getting harder to do the work myself....so gotta plan wisely and find a few good kids to help with the physical parts of this. Getting up and down is getting hard for me. My strength is a fraction of that a few years ago. A couple trips in and out of my tractor's cab....slows me down somewhat. I'm learning to pace myself. A few years back I would have thought little to planting those cuttings. Now?....not so much. Gotta keep on keeping on tho.....just picking my battles.

 

[Foggy47]

Should something be done to stabilize the steep banks around that pond?

Fabric? Bundles of brush or willows that are staked in place?

Has anyone observed the stabilization of trout stream banks with bundles of willows?

I'm thinking those banks will be ok by themselves. Will throw various seeds at this....and some may collapse a bit. I do not need to have a huge water hole here.....just enough to drink. I feel good about the banks.....but it may take a bit more effort to stabilize the soils. Definitely steeper and different than anticipated at the start. We will see.

I figured we would find water at 5 feet deep or less. It is what it is. Crazy stuff.

 

[TreeDaddy]

It was a fun day when you came to my place Art.....always enjoy your company.....and your experience. You provided some good insight into that pond placement. I think it's gonna work out pretty well. Already placed some timber to divert the deer from a current travel path and to that pond. More to do.....but I already have a start. Glad you mentioned digging that water hole in my rifle range plot. That was quick and easy. It's a natural spot for that water hole. Almost had another dug nearby....but figured that would simply give too many choices for water in the same area.

Lots to do next spring / summer at Deertopia. Getting harder to do the work myself....so gotta plan wisely and find a few good kids to help with the physical parts of this. Getting up and down is getting hard for me. My strength is a fraction of that a few years ago. A couple trips in and out of my tractor's cab....slows me down somewhat. I'm learning to pace myself. A few years back I would have thought little to planting those cuttings. Now?....not so much. Gotta keep on keeping on tho.....just picking my battles.

Attaboy

Keep moving

mentally and physically

bill