From forest to food plot, suggestions?

[Tororider]

Eddie,
Yeah, I had tried to convince my dad we needed a backhoe, which would have made getting them out much easier, but the one we were looking at on Ebay got to rich for him. I think I am going to try and get it cleared out as much as possible this year, create some shooting lanes and then in the spring clean it all the way up, hopefully by that time the stumps and roots have rotted a bit.

 

[Tororider]

Here are a couple pictures. Midway through the process, still trying to find a backhoe attachment as I think this is the only way to get the process expediated.

 

[Tororider]

Another try. Also a pic with the tractor and the Wallenstein.

 

[MikeD74T]

Tororider, I'm working with 3 others to create food plots on 1100 acres for bow hunting. Land is logged with raspberry brush, new growth hardwoods, & ROCKS.
The landowner doesn't believe in posting his land so the roads get a lot of hunter foot traffic. I don't hunt but have permission for ATV use in exchange for my efforts. We're creating strip plots 10'x100' in rays from good tree stand locations, 3 to 5 per stand. The theory is in heavily hunted areas the brush between the rays gives deer cover to just step out of sight as other hunters pass & makes them less spooky. Haven't witnessed this yet.
The strips are easy to build with a bucket w/toothbar as we just root stuff loose & toss to the sides. We work around the difficult stumps & large rocks. Maintenance is mowing a couple of times each year, lime & fertilizer, and keeping hanging brush back. Planting with deer mixes. We try to leave some brush or let it grow back to where the strips are visable from the stands but not obvious from the road. Last season the landowner struck out, mostly for lack of participation, but the other 2 took a 180 lb 8 pointer & a 230 point 12 pointer. MikeD74T

 

[Tororider]

Mike,
That sounds like a great idea. We only have just under 20 acres and it is all private land around us, the guy closest to where we are putting this food plot doesn't hunt so we really don't have to worry about other hunters, but I can think of another place where that tactic would work perfectly for me next year around another stand.

I actually think that we are going to get a box blade with scarifiers and should be able to get most of the roots from the smaller trees out and we will just work around the big ones. Possibly take a sawzall and cut a circle around the stumps and then use the tractor with a chain to pull them out, unless I can convince my dad soon to buy a backhoe for it.

I think if we can get that done, we should have it prepared enough for seed and hopefully can be sucessful this fall. I saw an 8 point last fall that I didn't hear anyone shot so I am hoping he is bigger this year and can get him during bow season. I will try to post a picture of him.

Let me know if you all have any more ideas.

 

[MikeD74T]

Tororider, In New Hampshire all private land is open to hunting, fishing, non-motorized travel by statue unless prohibited by the landowner. There are other statutes that regulate safe distances from dwellings, livestock, etc that must be maintained when shooting. Written permission is required for fixed trees stands but not for climbing stands. This landowner has spent a lifetime hunting, fishing, & trapping on others' lands so wishes to give something back now that he can afford his own land. In order to benefit from our efforts without giving everything away the plots locations are kept as secret as we can. Keeping them small also cuts maintenance effort and cost. I like being in the woods & working my tractor, to do both at the same time is a great day.
MikeD74T

 

[Tororider]

Mike,
In Michigan it would be trespassing if you hunted on private property without permission I believe, marked or not. I think it is awesome that the guy you are working with wants to give back now that he has the means to do so.

Found a 6.5' disc on craigslist last night, Dad went to pick it up south of Toledo this evening, so now we have that ready if we can get the area ready.

Also going to look at a used boxblade later this week, which I think will work to tear out most of the roots from the smaller trees we pulled out.

Going to try and get the larger stumps popped out, will be interested to see how it goes as the soil is pretty loose. I know it would be easier if we had a tooth bar on the FEL but haven't gotten one yet. Any suggestions on where to get a good one would be greatly appreciated.

Hope to get it more cleared later this week if I can find time. Hope to have pictures if we can get this close. Still holding out hope that we can have this planted before hunting season and maybe have some growth before at least gun season which is Nov 1st. I think Bow season and Oct. 1st is a total loss.

 

[MikeD74T]

I know it would be easier if we had a tooth bar on the FEL but haven't gotten one yet. Any suggestions on where to get a good one would be greatly appreciated.

Markham Welding - Home I got mine from Markham Welding & highly recommend them. My Kioti dealer, one of the 2 hunters, sold Woods tooth bars which I didn't know at the time but for much more money than Markam. He's since switched to Markham. I did have to grind mine slightly to get the end teeth to fit the cutting edge properly. MikeD74T

 

[Tororider]

Got a chance to get out to the property for a bit this afternoon. Was able to make some real headway. Getting closer to having all the trees down. You can actually see the water a bit now. Once I get the rest of the trees already cut down chipped, I can bring in a string trimmer to cut down the grass. Should actually look pretty nice once we get it done. Next year we will have to bring in an excavator to clean out the pond a bit.

Here are some pictures.

The last picture is of the new toy we picked up to work on this plot. A 6.5' king kutter we picked up for $250.

 

[kbiddle]

Tororider,
I will throw out another ideal taht may have you able to hunt i yet this year... There are several no till products out that that will germinate with minimal to no working required... I had similar issues as you here in Souther Indiana when I first bought my place... So the quick remedy was no till... worked great for the first year... And then went with the full plan the following spring...
Just another ideal...and I remember one thing that my DNR Biologist told me that never has rang so true... Is when doing improvments like this... patience is the most important Ingredient...
Good luck.. and keep us posted