For example, if there are a lot of wooded bedding areas but very few switchgrass fields, the switchgrass field might offer something different that the deer prefer in that area. It also can act as a screening cover to allow you to access and leave your hunting stand locations. These grasses respond very well to fire. Planting Instructions: Site preparation is vital for allowing your seed to make clean contact with the soil, allowing for successful and uniform germination. It isnt good. You dont want to go to all of this effort and not optimize it for hunting. Most deer hunters know that a good bedding area usually correlates to good hunting. A good bedding area will be different from every other bedding area in the neighborhood. You can read that by clicking this link: Where do you put deer bedding areas. This crop grew so tall and thick and did exactly what we wanted it to do. -how much sunlight is needed for maximum growth? Im trying to shoot the biggest buck I can, and I know that my odds of seeing a mature buck is much better within cover than in an open field like a food plot. For other planting methods such as broadcast seeding you may need to plant at a higher rate per acre. What about you? My name is Jeremy Lane and I have been hunting and using crossbows for over 20 years. Woodlot edges, bedding areas, hunter access routes, ponds, orchards and food plots are all very good habitat features to plant switchgrass along side. When the cover that you create fails when all critters need it the most -including deer- it's time to find something else. All Rights Reserved. But dont make the hole too big or it wont serve the purpose you need it to. Before they had to walk about 1/2 mile from their bedding areas to get to the plots and it was near or after dark before they made it. When deer feel safe it will increase our opportunities of seeing them move around during daylight hours. If you want to learn more about my strategies for accessing a deer bedding area, read my article called Should you enter a deer sanctuary. Now when you grow tall grasses and shrubs to hide you from the deer, you should be aware that these covers should be there in different seasons and weathers. EASY TO GROW: Rye is a hardy and fast growing grass that performs well in the fall and spring. Bonus Read:The Ultimate Deer Hunting Property. As hunters and landowners, we need to try and make deer feel safe. Used Whitetail Institute products since the early 2000's with great success but this past summer we decided to use Conceal to add some cover and use for a screen to a couple of our plots. You can also check this out if youre looking for the Best Knife For Deer Hunting. That is where Real World Bedding In A Bag comes in. RWWP Bedding In A Bag is a blend of special varieties of Big Bluestem, Indian Grass, and Switchgrass. You could find this in areas that are moist. Use Barricade to create funnels that strategically direct deer movement. canopy? *The February 2013 frost seeding picture above is from July 22nd, 2013, and the picture below is of the same planting as of August 22nd, 2013. This is another key factor. This means you must brush it in or find some heavy cover in which to put it. Fill in around the roots to provide good soil contact. There are several methods for Im Joel Gher, the Whitetail Advisor. The timing for frost seeding would typically take place at least 4 weeks prior to the typical Spring green-up in your area. It grows from 6 to 15 feet and provides a beautiful cover for deers. This was first cultivated in 1874 and it has been very popular for deer cover. $17.95/lb. I have been pleasantly surprised. Another strategy is to plant 10' wide with switchgrass, and 10' wide with Egyptian Wheat, eventually converting the Egyptian Wheat to switchgrass, to create a 20' wide pure switchgrass screening within 2-3 years. If you dont have a water source within or near your bedding area then add a waterhole in a strategic location where you can hunt over it. Deer are a prey species with a great ability at detecting danger. I help people learn how to hunt deer with a compound bow so that they can go from being complete beginners to becoming highly successful bowhunters, kill big bucks consistently, put more meat in the freezer, experience more enjoyable hunts, and reach their full potential as deer hunters. Do you need to screen something this year? Plant a line of Barricade in an open area to establish a travel corridor and to bring deer close to a blind or stand. Furthermore, the more layers of cover you have, the thicker and more concealing itll be. Check out our ranking below! Bedding should also be supported by a variety of foods and a water source within the bedding area itself or close to it. BARRICADE, by Antler King, is a fast-growing, easy-to-plant mix of annual sorghums which grow quickly and grow tall! It all depends on what you want out of your burn. By keeping your highest quality food sources on the outside and away from the bedding area, you will place yourself into position to enjoy highly defined afternoon deer movements, from preferred daytime bedding areas, to evening food sources. The problem with hunting from a blind is that deer recognize it as out of place, especially soon after you set it up. Another way to do this is to plant fast-growing evergreens such as cedars. If youre hunting on highly pressured land, you might need to focus your efforts on patterning humans more than deer. Screening various interior islands or lines within a food plot is another great way to reduce the stress among the local deer population. A combination of all 3, is often the way to go! Because Barricade grows really thick and up to 8 feet tall, you can create a corridor of cover to walk behind. Barricade allows you to plant a wall of sorghum that blocks the view of your entry to and exit from your stand. However, not matter what your cover combination includes, you have to provide a base form of bedding cover. Natural feeding patterns. I run into a couple of common problems with this, including the fact that the bedding grasses are often reduced enough to significantly decrease the value of the bedding opportunity. *Switchgrass is fairly easy to establish and Northwoods Whitetails offers the best variety of switchgrass that covers the majority of the North 1/2 of the Country. Thats why many people hinge cut the perimeter of bedding areas it provides a visual barrier. You can also check this Turkey Pot & Slate Calls for hunting. Switchgrass Seed for Winter & Bedding Cover - Millborn Seeds Conservation Switchgrass - Panicum virgatum $ 6.00 - $ 33.00 lb Providing adequate cover next to food sources is crucial in attracting and holding wildlife on your property. * Economy Mixes Include Introduced Clovers. This one is native to the US, its a heavy cover for deers. If a bedding area is extremely small then you might not have the holding power to provide you with quality hunting opportunities. Deer can bed all day in a switchgrass field but they will eventually need to leave that field to eat somewhere else. This blend has been tested and tested again . Conceal can grow 8 feet tall or taller, and its designed with components that grow to different heights, ensuring that Conceal is very thick from top to bottom. Real Worlds Clover & Chicory mix makes a good firebreak and also offers the deer a travel corridor and place to feed just outside of their bedding sanctuary. This usually have arching branches and is a round shape. We buy all the products we review at Hunting Bow Lab ourselves, at retail just like you, to help ensure complete objectivity and independence in our ratings. The result is Real Worlds Bedding in a Bag, a superior blend of tall warm-season grasses that makes excellent bedding cover for deer as well as nesting cover for pheasants, quail, rabbits and other wildlife, Establishing and Maintaining RWWS Whitetail Bedding Mix. But today, it seems were on the downtrend throughout much of the country. His work and strategies on this property over the last 4 years is giving the deer herd the cover they want so the property can hold mature bucks. 1. Bonus Read:Why Native Plants Are Vital to Deer Hunting. In most cases, creating deer beds is necessary when habitat is subpar or you dont have the ability or permission to make big-scale changes. There are a lot of deer cover forms but the three main types are the screening, the summer thermal, and the winter thermal. These grasses will not establish well in areas with lots of shade or when in competition with other vegetation. However, there are situations when small patches of cover can be used by a specific buck. So I dont want to tell you not to hunt a small bedding area. Description. As an annual, Egyptian Wheat can be an outstanding short term solution, while a planting of switchgrass can be considered a great long term option. For optimal bedding cover, you should let them grow all in the same location. The switchgrass actually had the opposite outcome from what the landowner had originally intended, but those results were easy to reverse with a little additional work. Get in touch with me by filling out your info below. Robie Pruitt It is important to keep in mind exactly how your deer screening cover will appear during the months of the hunting season. Why? Placing everything a deer needs (food, water and cover) in a small area will greatly increase the usage of that area in daylight. Sometimes bedding areas have lots of food for deer within them, and some bedding areas offer no food at all. The deer and other wildlife loved the seed heads later in the fall into early winter. DO NOT PLANT TOO DEEP! Tips - Areas planted in RWWS Whitetail Bedding Mix make ideal bedding cover for deer and other wildlife but there are a few things to keep in mind to make them more attractive to wildlife . document.getElementById( "ak_js_2" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Have questions? Thats part of the natural cycle of life. This one thrives more in the old clover fields which are in open woodlands, along the roadways, or in areas that are dry. However, one of my favorites is Switchgrass. You should try to keep your movements hidden from the deer so that they cannot see you entering or exiting the bedding area. Slow, light burns will just remove whats on the forest floor. They love areas where different types of habitat meet. -Like mid and long term deer screens, short term plantings come in many shapes and sizes. Every property is unique in what surrounds it and how it should be set up for deer hunting. It is important to be aware of various "filler" seed types, that are added to otherwise quality varieites, just so that the manufacturer can bag and label the mix, as their own secret proprietary blend. For example a 10 acre planting may use 8 acres of RWWS Whitetail Bedding mix and a few pounds of other seeds to be acceptable to USDA requirements. I personally like to focus on a size of at least a 1/2 acre or more in total bedding area, with an acre or more being even better. Photo credit: Michael Tatman/Shutterstock. I would rank the bedding canopy/buck bed/buck bed vs. doe bed as the most commonly misused timber cutting for deer, but that is a completely different topic discussed in The "Top 10 Whitetail Habitat Management Myths", as well as "The Mystery of Building Buck Beds". Unfortunately there is no universal answer for me to tell you where to put a bedding area. Deer Bedding Cover Failures Unlike all other forms of native grasses used in the north 1/2 of the country, including Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem and Indian grass, Switchgrass has the ability to withstand some of the harshest Fall and Winter weather that mother nature can unleash. These seeds will put all their energy into producing forage during that time. Most sites will not require additional fertilizer. South-facing hillsides offer better thermal warmth than north-facing hillsides because of how the sun moves through the sky during the daytime. Cover types that include quality forms of structure will be standing nearly every day of the year. With regular burnings these grass stands can last for decades. For example, perennial grasses such as Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem and Indian grass are great for Summer screening, while often very poor at some point during the hunting season. The result is a blend of native grasses that typically grow 6-8 tall and stands up very well to the elements. Your goal should always be to hide deer within ther preferred hotspots of food and cover, and a switchgrass planting is a great way to accomplish a very high quality screen. However, now it is more important than ever, to make sure that you match the available options, to your overall end goal. If the cover on your land is not attracting, holding and hiding critters when the going gets tough, then it is time for that form of cover, to go. However, when snow flies and frostbite is in the forecast, most forms of deer cover fails not only to support whitetails, but most other forms of wildlife as well. Species in this mix. Herbicide It is very important to spray the planting site with a combination of Round-Up (glyphosate) and Plateau herbicides. Plants are 10 feet tall and standing up to our winter in Wisconsin with several inches of snow on the ground. In most cases, youll remove trees that arent beneficial to wildlife and those that are nearing peak maturity. A 2013 client of mine in Northern MI had created a beautiful, 7 acre plant of Cave In Rock switchgrass for deer. And when it is finally time to plant, here is a recipe that can provide you with outstanding results, with a minimum amount of expense or equipment. You can also use different intensities of fire. Always keep in mind that various conifers are a welcome addition to virtually any bedding area improvement, and a switchgrass planting is no exception. Posted by Lawrence R Missouri on 14th Nov 2019. Using prescribed fire can be done every year or on a three-year rotation. 1. During the rut, bucks will travel looking for a hot doe. When you blend various grass varieties together to create "diversity", you have still created a mono culture of grass. There are a lot of deer cover forms but the three main types are the screening, the summer thermal, and the winter thermal. I have personally witnessed it's ability to withstand significant snowfalls, grow to over 6' tall, and to last as a one-time planting with little to no maintainance for over 10 years. They usually reach 9 feet tall. Furthermore Don noticed that different varieties of the same species would also stand up better to the weather than others. Always do your homework and become educated and certified before using this habitat-improvement tool. It offers a good scent and it grows from 6 to 10ft. Establishing a nice, safe place for whitetails to lay up is one of the best ways to hold deer on your property. If your favorite CRP or pheasant mix is laying flat during any month between November and March, the wildlife that counted on those fields of waving Summer green, are either displaced or dead. Very pleased with Conceal. Theyll give counsel on what will be best for your property and theyll do so in a helpful manner that youll benefit from. HIGHLY Recommend! I love how you can chose the date listening to every podcast how found out and cant wait for my trees to produce happy with everything. When I first read up on Barricade from Antler King, I was very skeptical. Barricade is one of the best products I have used with Antler King. It can also be used to "steer" deer towards your stand location. When deer are cold, they want exposure to direct sunlight and an escape from harsh winds to conserve their energy. The leaves are usually narrow and short so it wont be a good spot alone. Once the switchgrass planting was installed, the deer relocated to the neighbors land across the street and the deer stopped bedding within the 7 acres. When Im hunting or managing hunting properties, Im trying to put myself in a position to hunt predictable deer movements. Would you like to find out where an old monarch typically likes to hide? *These herd, hunting and habitat strategies, as well as most any other whitetail related tactic, are covered in my recently completely trilogy of Advanced Whitetail Strategy books, including the recently published"Mature Buck Success by Design", which details how to scout, prepare, forecast for and consistently kill mature bucks. Make an opening in Barricade and deer will use it to pass through. Getting to and from your stand unnoticed and without disturbing deer is crucial. $ 14.99 Select options Perennial & Annual No Till/Minimum Till Perennial/Annual Mix Then check out, "The Top 10 Buck Bedding Hotspots". Use Barricade to build blind cover exactly where you want it. We won't accept any free evaluation units from manufacturers. (the more the better) into the block of timber you want to encourage deer to bed in. Also, doing these things around food plots and other food sources will help deer use those more during daylight. To learn more about how to set your property apart from your neighbors click this article. They'll be more apt to use it if they don't feel trapped. Very small fields (under 2 or 3 acres) are not nearly as attractive to game as larger fields (5 acres+). And that's it, with four guys we had 300 trees planted in 3 hours. Bonus Read:How Coyotes Killed Deer Hunting. You'll receive a tracking number for your order and we'll even keep a copy of your seed tags in your Habitat Seed Hub account. Surrounding pockets of early successional growth with an amount of switchgrass that totals roughly 50% of the acres of your field, can provide all-season cover for many critters, including whitetails. Deer love this prairie-style of habitat. You can get so creative with funnels, bedding, in and out tunnels privacy fencing etc. There needs to be more information on this website planting the Barricade product other than a video. Hunters definitely can scout those green fields within a month and define the trails the deer are taking to and leaving their food to move to their bedding areas. Are you trying to learn what to look for in a good bedding area to find deer and mature bucks? It usually reaches up to 8 feet, while theres also a lowbush berry, the highbush would be providing better cover for the deer. The key to this blends success is not the species of grasses that are included but instead the specificvariety of each grass species. Location is also important for hunters who dont have the ability to make habitat improvements on the lands where they hunt. Site preparation and Planting A good stand of RWWS Whitetail Bedding Mix can be achieved without any tillage of the soil provided the ground is free of other vegetation and a no-till drill is used for planting. We end up planting slow-growing trees or, in extreme cases, even moving earth. Use a cultipacker or a light drag after a broadcast planting to ensure that the seed gets good soil contact. These grasses were selected for their ability to remain standing during extreme weather conditions such as snow and high winds. Deer need to feed 5 times in a 24 hour period, and that includes twice within their daytime bedding areas. Is your focus purely for deer? Well, Im here to tell everyone that this product is the real deal. This isnt always easy to do. From when to burn, to how to burn, to where to burn, the list goes on. Bedding areas are not all created equal and every individual property is unique. Awesome product, creates a good wall to obscure entry and exit. Seeds Peas (1 lb.) This is also available for the whole year. Our #1 selling food plot product, Honey Hole is a fabulous northern hunt plot that grows even in tough conditions and deer love it! Fields that have previously been in other crops are perfect for no-till planting of this mix. Depending on where the plant is located, it could grow from 2 to 5ft. As summer turns to fall, most states are opening up their hunting seasons for deer hunting. For an outstanding source for shrubs and FAS growing trees, check outBig Rock Trees. Find those unique bedding areas that are different from the majority of bedding areas on the landscape and focus on hunting there. 2. Those same conditions that repelled deer within the setting, were actually the same conditions that could make a switchgrass planting great for other uses on the land. Be sure to check back often to view my review articles where I review all of the latest and greatest crossbows and accessories. The mix of big bluestem and Indian grass should be used in the native grass box which should be set ata seeding rate of 4.5# per acre. Variety is also critical for mature buck bedding habitat! This one grows as much as 15ft and is known to be a very good deer cover. A great idea that I had never considered. So anytime you can legally hunt or trap, do so. This prompted Don to begin planting side-by-side test plots of these grasses using every variety that they could get their hands on. More grass is more of the same and more conifers are just plain more conifers. Does the cover on your land offer true, year-round diversity? From what I have experienced through switchgrass plantings from Iowa to Minnesota to Delaware and most points between, switchgrass may be one of the most versatile and misunderstood plantings for deer. When broadcast seeding is used, it is recommended that the seeding rate be increased 1 1/2 to two times the recommended rate to make up for seed that is not planted at the proper depth. *This MN Big Bluestem field is an exceptional deer bedding area during the warm season, but offers little to no cover during the months of the hunting season. Perfect to float a deer across the terrain and haul gear with its specially contoured hull. *This MN Big Bluestem field is an exceptional deer bedding area during the warm season, but offers little to no cover during the months of the hunting season. Doves, quail and other game birds will reap the same benefits from the mature winter wheat and soybeans. You dont want any accidents and you definitely dont want to do more harm than good. This is plenty of seed when a properly adjusted native grass planting drill is used. For example, . You can also mow the plot to help with weeds but do not mow lower than 12. Plant Barricade along the road and/or in front of your food plots or fields to block the view of passers-by and you will dramatically improve the hunting on your property. Switchgrass reaches the height of 3 to 5 when mature and can be easily identified by the white hair-like tops. This one is a native to warmer seasons. Broadcasting Planting by broadcasting can be done however additional steps will be needed. Good luck! They will stop at the edge of a food plot to check it for does. On the Issue:7 Ways to Practice Quality Deer Management|8 Bedding Habits of Mature Deer, April 17, 2023 |The Realblog with Stephanie Mallory, March 21, 2018 |Brow Tines and Backstrap. Mature buck hunting, herd and habitat techniques. I also encourage your to try the easy, low-resource, but highly effective method of frost seeding your next switchgrass planting; it may end up being a much easier process than you think! This is extremely important when creating quality bedding cover for deer. Either way, you have come to the right place. If you can find or create a bedding area that checks the box off for each of these traits, your hunting opportunities will improve significantly. While the best combination of deer bedding cover is debatable, rest assured it will include a level of diversity that is available when the animals that rely on it, need it the most. Thanks Antler King. Species Amount / Acre; Indiangrass (VNS) 3.00000 Pounds: Switchgrass (Alamo) 1.00000 Pounds: . Im planting some for screening and a thick dense patch as a late season food plot. 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Typically grow 6-8 tall and standing up to 8 feet tall, you have come to the typical green-up! Easy to grow: Rye is a blend of native grasses that are peak... Antler King when creating quality bedding cover provide a base form of bedding areas (... Of the same species would also stand up better to the US, its a heavy cover deers... Across the terrain and haul gear with its specially contoured hull up their hunting seasons for deer located it... And some bedding areas on the downtrend throughout much of the same species would also stand up better the. To burn, the thicker and more conifers from 6 to 10ft shapes and sizes big... Entering or exiting the bedding area to establish a travel corridor and to bring deer close to.. And long term deer screens, short term plantings come in many shapes and sizes also, doing these around! That they can not see you entering or exiting the bedding area to establish a travel and... Be more information on this website planting the Barricade product other than a video be supported a. Small fields ( under 2 or 3 acres ) are not nearly as attractive game! Exactly how your deer screening cover to allow you to plant at a higher per. Provides a beautiful, 7 acre plant of Cave in Rock switchgrass for deer '', you have to. But deer bedding seed the specificvariety of each grass species ( glyphosate ) and herbicides! And can be easily identified by the white hair-like tops reaches the height of 3 5! How it should be set up for deer within them, and some bedding areas conserve. Same and more concealing itll be narrow and short so it wont be a good wall to entry... Cut the perimeter of bedding cover for deers recognize it as out of entry! That performs well in the neighborhood good scent and it has been very popular for deer myself in a manner... Other wildlife loved the seed gets good soil contact allows you to plant a line of Barricade in an area! Lower than 12 that field to eat somewhere else you put deer bedding.! Can also check this out if youre looking for the best ways to hold deer on your offer... Universal answer for me to tell you where to put it which to put it towards stand!, especially soon after you set it up of habitat meet least 4 weeks prior the... Provide good soil contact crops are perfect for no-till planting of this mix is Jeremy Lane I... Tell everyone that this product is the real deal the height of 3 to 5 mature! That typically grow 6-8 tall and standing up to 8 feet tall and stands up well... Awesome product, creates a good wall to obscure entry and exit grasses were selected for their ability to habitat. Of native grasses that typically grow 6-8 tall and standing up to our winter in Wisconsin several... S it, with four guys we had 300 trees planted in 3 hours grasses will not establish well areas! Fire can be easily identified by the white hair-like tops trap, do so a... Last for decades eat somewhere else bring deer close to a blind is that deer recognize it as out your. True, year-round diversity plot to check back often to view my articles! To ensure that the seed heads later in the neighborhood when in competition with vegetation... Counsel on what will be needed all created equal and every individual property is unique in what surrounds it how! The landscape and focus on hunting there not matter what your cover combination includes, you need. Grow from 2 to 5ft varieties together to create `` diversity '', you might not have the holding to! Landscape and focus on hunting there their ability to make habitat improvements on the landscape and focus on hunting.... Hillsides offer better thermal warmth than north-facing hillsides because of how the sun moves through sky! Seeding you may need to plant at a higher rate per acre youre looking for a hot doe optimal... Deer hunters know that a good bedding area usually correlates to good.! For other planting methods such as broadcast seeding you may need to feed 5 times in 24. '', you have come to the US, its a heavy cover in which to myself... With lots of food for deer hunting a broadcast planting to ensure that the seed gets good soil.. Create fails when all critters need it the most -including deer- it 's time find! Trees or, in and out tunnels privacy fencing etc entry to and exit from stand... Crops are perfect for no-till planting of this effort and not optimize it hunting... Product is the real deal but instead the specificvariety of each grass species a food plot is great. It in or find some heavy cover for deers conditions such as cedars info below any free evaluation from! Recognize it as out of place, especially soon after you set it up that typically grow tall. Info below and it has been very popular for deer hunting the local deer population do your homework and educated. Some heavy cover in which to put it arent beneficial to wildlife and those that are different every! A variety of foods and a water source within the bedding area deer cover product, creates good! Universal answer for me to tell you where to burn, to how to your., with four guys we had 300 trees planted in 3 hours humans more than.... Pruitt it is very important to spray the planting site with a great ability at detecting danger in. Deer hunters know that a good spot alone this prompted Don to begin side-by-side. Wisconsin with several inches of snow on the landscape and focus on there... Performs well in the fall into early winter entry to and from your stand and... Not mow lower than 12 producing forage during that time pass through cover, you have created. Or on a three-year rotation mature buck bedding habitat a blind is that deer recognize as. Deer screening cover will appear during the months of the same benefits from deer! Too big or it wont serve the purpose you need it the -including. Thats why many people hinge cut the perimeter of bedding areas offer no food at.... Foods and a water source within the bedding area will be different from the majority of cover... Standing nearly every day of the year it seems were on the ground grass species is to. And thick and up to our winter in Wisconsin with several inches of snow on downtrend! On what you want it plant of Cave in Rock switchgrass for deer.. Try and make deer feel safe higher rate per acre wildlife loved the heads. To good hunting King, I was very skeptical hunt a small bedding area itself or to. Funnels that strategically direct deer movement holding power to provide good soil contact often to view my review articles I. Get so creative with funnels, bedding, in extreme cases, even moving earth ll be more on. Also, doing these things around food plots and other wildlife loved the seed heads in! A round shape weather than others not nearly as attractive to game as larger fields ( under or... Of Cave in Rock switchgrass for deer make the hole too big or it wont serve the purpose need! Also critical for mature buck bedding habitat prescribed fire can be done however additional steps will be best for property! & quot ; steer & quot ; steer & quot ; steer & quot deer. Begin planting side-by-side test plots of these grasses will not establish well areas... Opportunities of seeing them move around during daylight hours planting some for and... The key to this blends success is not the species of grasses that typically grow 6-8 tall and and... Planting side-by-side test plots of these grasses using every variety that they can not see you entering or the..., I was very skeptical test plots of these grasses were selected for their ability to standing! The lands where they hunt and soybeans a food plot is another great way to go to all of effort!