Deer bedding habitat work.
#8069007
02/04/24 06:25 PM
02/04/24 06:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 8,592 western mn
bucksnbears
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Been chipping away at an acre area. Although it is a great travel corridor, I decided to make it into a bedding area. It was mostly small boxelder,elm, Hackberry and basswood. Not much browse growng because of the shaded canopy. There is still some BIG burr Oak and Ash. Will see how well things look after this summer to decide if the need to come down. I did cut one big oak down. First 4 pics are what it looked like before starting.
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069014
02/04/24 06:36 PM
02/04/24 06:36 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 8,592 western mn
bucksnbears
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These 3 pics are spots i really thinka big buck will seek out for a bed so I carved out these spots with a hand pruner ,raked them clean and added 1/ 2 or a square bale of straw and old grass hay. The first pic, deer were bedding it it after 2 days. Lots of work but enjoyable. Great weather to be outside.
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069020
02/04/24 06:44 PM
02/04/24 06:44 PM
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Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 36,279 Central, SD
Law Dog
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I did a lot of wildlife cuts for the Michigan DNR many years ago that consisted of cutting any tree over 3 inches at chest hight except fruit or nut trees. Anything that was considered dangerous was just girdled at the end. I’d go back for firewood if it was accessible with a cutting permit.
Anytime I do cuts I make brush piles with the branches.
Last edited by Law Dog; 02/04/24 06:46 PM.
Was born in a Big City Will die in the Country OK with that!
Jerry Herbst
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069063
02/04/24 07:25 PM
02/04/24 07:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 20,642 MN
160user
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Geez that looks GREAT! I will take a good bedding area over food any day. That should pay you huge dividends for years. Mine is around 20 years old and I stay out of it all year long but the deer know they are safe in there.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069103
02/04/24 08:00 PM
02/04/24 08:00 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 8,592 western mn
bucksnbears
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Thanks Rob. Deer can walk 300 yards most directions and be in corn,beans, beets and of course PUMPKINS. jerry, did you hinge cut those trees?
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069155
02/04/24 08:55 PM
02/04/24 08:55 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,829 N. Carolina
Scout1
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It would be interesting to put a cell cam on those beds. There are some good series of video’s on youtube by some professors at Mississippi State U. One of them stated if you can see more than 30 yards it’s not prime deer habitat.
------------------------------------- DJT in 2024!
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: Scout1]
#8069180
02/04/24 09:18 PM
02/04/24 09:18 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 8,592 western mn
bucksnbears
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And I'll call those researchers liars. I've been making deer beds using straw for probably close to 15 years now.
But I always make sure there is more then one way out of them.
I've had MANY deer almost explode at my feet in cattails where viz is in 3 feet.
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: Spike369]
#8069188
02/04/24 09:21 PM
02/04/24 09:21 PM
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I can't see cutting down trees just so you can kill a deer. Deer aren't that scarce. Neither is stunted, poor value timber.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069194
02/04/24 09:29 PM
02/04/24 09:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 417 Wisconsin
Average Joe
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And I'll call those researchers liars. I've been making deer beds using straw for probably close to 15 years now.
But I always make sure there is more then one way out of them.
I've had MANY deer almost explode at my feet in cattails where viz is in 3 feet.
I think you mean you are feeding deer straw in the winter. I don’t believe straw would last long enough out in the elements to be useful for long. The cut trees should be helpful though.
Last edited by Average Joe; 02/04/24 09:44 PM.
I’ve been sayin yes sir all day at work, I’ve been sayin yes ma’am at home…
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069197
02/04/24 09:36 PM
02/04/24 09:36 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 11,613 Marion Kansas
Yes sir
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Bedding habitat varies from region to region. Go to western ks and u will see plenty of whitetails bed in areas that if u are setting on your but u can see for miles and count the trees in sight on your fingers. Deer will seek the safest place to bed they can find in there area.
Last edited by Yes sir; 02/04/24 09:41 PM.
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: Spike369]
#8069205
02/04/24 09:52 PM
02/04/24 09:52 PM
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Posts: 8,592 western mn
bucksnbears
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Spike, basswood,elm,boxelder have zero value for deer. All it does is shades out the plants deer prefer. And yep, deer here are easy to kill. Not doing it to make it so. Joe, I live in extreme winter conditions. Never seen a deer eat straw. have you? Yes Sir, iffn I lived in the open plains, after holiday Christmas trees would be stockpiled in strategic places.
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069209
02/04/24 09:57 PM
02/04/24 09:57 PM
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Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 417 Wisconsin
Average Joe
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Yup, grew up in northern Wisconsin. One bad winter the deer ate the fake wood paneling off Ma’s station wagon. They eat woody browse, and they’ll eat straw. You should just put old mattresses out in the woods, make them real comfy.
Last edited by Average Joe; 02/04/24 09:57 PM.
I’ve been sayin yes sir all day at work, I’ve been sayin yes ma’am at home…
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069223
02/04/24 10:08 PM
02/04/24 10:08 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 8,592 western mn
bucksnbears
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Joe, that's the main reason I did this project, there is no woody browse. Pay attention! Browse doesn't grow in a 100% shaded canopy.
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069226
02/04/24 10:11 PM
02/04/24 10:11 PM
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Joined: Aug 2021
Posts: 417 Wisconsin
Average Joe
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Yes, tree cutting part is good as I said. I’m just skeptical of the straw being useful for bedding, but have at it.
I’ve been sayin yes sir all day at work, I’ve been sayin yes ma’am at home…
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Re: Deer bedding habitat work.
[Re: bucksnbears]
#8069230
02/04/24 10:15 PM
02/04/24 10:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 8,592 western mn
bucksnbears
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Joe, that's the main reason I did this project, there is no woody browse. Pay attention! Browse doesn't grow in a 100% shaded canopy.
swampgas chili and schmidt beer makes for a deadly combo
You have to remember that 1 out of 3 Democratic Voters is just as dumb as the other two.
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