There needs to be more information on this website planting the Barricade product other than a video. The best part about this? Mid term deer screening products typically take 2-5 years to develop fully, and again, contain little to no food benifit to deer. Also, some wooded bedding areas might have more mature timber than others which can offer less native browse for deer than woods with lots of sunlight hitting the forest floor. Great screen and bedding product that is holding up well in our cold weather. As I mentioned before, some bedding areas offer lots of food for deer to eat within the bedding area itself. . 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. Establishing a sanctuary (an area no human ever goes except for when shed hunting and post-season scouting) will increase the number of deer that inhabit a given property. For example, some properties should have them on a property line and other properties shouldnt. Its important to strategically place entrances into and exits out of bedding areas. 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. This even allows you to do same day set-ups with portable blinds so you dont have to leave them out to get weathered, destroyed or stolen. Mature bucks have the reputation of keeping their distance from does outside of the breeding season, but they normally have no problem bedding in the same bedrooms with a little distance between them. This plant is only 3 ft tall and has a width of 3ft too. It offers a good scent and it grows from 6 to 10ft. Mature buck hunting, herd and habitat techniques. This is the first time I have planted conceal. Thanks Antler King. 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. This one is a shrub you would be able to identify easily. For some areas it has even reached 8 to 10 feet which means more width as well. Switchgrass, as well as most native grass blends, contains zero food. When using a native grass drill there will be multiple seed boxes. This tall shrub provides maximum deer cover and its categorized as a small bushy tree. Just a stick in the mud hopefully it's a couple feet tall the next time we see it. It seems most land managers are utilizing it on some level or another. A mixture consisting of Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, and two types of Switchgrass designed to create bedding and concealment areas for deer. "The Most Important Cover for Whitetails". A combination of all 3, is often the way to go! You can designate four or five acres as a sanctuary and get very similar results. This can make hunting extremely challenging. *Designing and creating high quality diversity bedding pockets is just a fraction of what WHS can do for you! Cave In Rock is from what I have experienced, the most widely used and planted switchgrass variety. 5. Be sure to check back often to view my review articles where I review all of the latest and greatest crossbows and accessories. The cookie settings on this website are set to 'allow all cookies' to give you the very best experience. 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. After years of trial and error, Ive learned which products and methods work the best based on my Im always looking for ways to be a more efficient hunter. Youre helping the deer herd and some of these options might even help make you a little cash. Deer feed 5 times in a 24 hour period, including twice during the daytime bedding hours. Seeds Peas (1 lb.) When deer are cold, they want exposure to direct sunlight and an escape from harsh winds to conserve their energy. What we have noticed is the deer are showing up about an 45 minutes earlier in our food plots. But when you can make it happen, the hunting quality of that location skyrockets. There are several bedding mixes that include a mix of various clovers and alfalfa in an attempt to offer a food value within the bedding area. This one has a varying height aspect, it could grow from 2 to 8ft. Bonus Read:The Ultimate Deer Hunting Property. There are several methods for Im Joel Gher, the Whitetail Advisor. After hours of researching and using all the models on the market, we find the best deer grass seed of 2023. Round-Up will kill any weeds growing on the site and Plateau is a herbicide specially designed for native grass plantings. Best Shrubs for Deer Cover Witch Alder This one is a south-eastern shrub and is known for growing very slowly. Due to the high predator factor in the area, including wolves (UP of MI), I encouraged the landowner to open up to 50% of the interior of the bedding area for native regeration opportunities. In a situation like this you will want to have a food source nearby to keep deer using the bedding area on a regular basis. Note- RWWS Whitetail Bedding Mix may be used on some CRP (conservation reserve program) projects. -how much sunlight is needed for maximum growth? Theres a lot you should know (firebreaks, wind direction, etc.). *For more info concerning creating a high quality Egyptian Wheat planting, try reading Egyptian Wheat Screening Strategies. A 3-pound bag of Barricade will plant a quarter acre. We will be planting it again next summer and enlarging some of the Conceal. Also, doing these things around food plots and other food sources will help deer use those more during daylight. Contains Grain Sorghum, Forage Sorghum and Sorghum Sudangrass As hunters, weve all had situations where we wanted to create more privacy for our deer or to create natural funnels and the like. Switchgrass, as well as most native grass blends, contains zero food. Lifetime supporter. In April spray Atrizine at a rate of 3-4 quarts per acre during the first 2 years. Required fields are marked *. 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. The result is a blend of native grasses that typically grow 6-8 tall and stands up very well to the elements. A great idea that I had never considered. If you keep in mind that deer need to feed twice during the daylight hours, you will be well on your way to matching the local conditions to your planting. In many locations deer will not typically bed within switchgrass alone, but in plantings that are at a rate of 10#s, it is nearly impossible to do so. Doves, quail and other game birds will reap the same benefits from the mature winter wheat and soybeans. This one grows either in bunches or individually, it also grows as tall as 5 feet. Try to establish a goal of turning at least 30-40% of the bedding area into non-switchgrass growth. Cover is one of the main three components of a healthy wildlife habitat. Is your focus purely for deer? Note the switchgrass seed is in a separate bag than the mix of big bluestem and Indian grass, due to the differences in the seed itself. 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. It isnt good. Managing for predators will significantly increase how comfortable deer are inhabiting a given area. Switchgrass is used in hay production, erosion control, wildlife nesting and winter cover, and a biofuel source in central and southern United States regions. It grows as tall as 12 feet and is ideal to be grown with other tall grasses and shrubs for optimum coverage. In most cases, bedding areas that have less human intrusion than other bedding areas within a deers home range is going to be visited more frequently by deer. *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. I consider that a win-win in my book. It can also cause the deer to avoid coming out during daylight. Once the forester visits your property, he or she will help mark trees for removal. Have you ever been told that you shouldnt hunt a bedding area or a deer sanctuary? This will also reduce the predator factor effect, by increasing the openess of the planting, as well as established escape routes within the "maze". However, even with a lack of immediate growth, I excpected the deer to immediately begin relating to the switchgrass planting following the discing. Whitetail Institute Conceal Deer Food Plot Seed for Spring Planting - Provides Tall, Thick Cover for You and/or Your Deer - Create Bedding Areas, Screens, Funnels, Boundaries, Etc, 7 lbs (.25 Acre) Add to Cart Bedding should also be supported by a variety of foods and a water source within the bedding area itself or close to it. The use of chemicals will greatly improve the quality of the stand through reduced weed competition. Advertisement Dont give deer a reason to leave an area and they will be more likely to stay close to the bedding area. Your email address will not be published. This unique mix stays green all season and beyond to provide deer with much needed winter energy, plus up to 20% protein for bucks to grow next years rack! The hard part is trying to figure that out. When you combine Switchgrass with the other forms of viable whitetail cover not only can you create outstanding diversity, but you can create outstanding year round cover diversity, that can be used to attract, hold and expand wildlife populations. Im planting some for screening and a thick dense patch as a late season food plot. It also can act as a screening cover to allow you to access and leave your hunting stand locations. Barricade will last well into the winter and provide wildlife, especially turkeys, upland birds and songbirds with a winter food source. A well prepared seed bed should provide adequate seed to soil contact. The same can be said for combining various conifer varieties as well. Sizes : 1/2 Acre Ships from KY (5-7 day delivery) DETAILS. We even had one customer plant 450 acres of it on his Iowa farm. It even grows fruits of different colors that are about an inch big. However, there are situations when small patches of cover can be used by a specific buck. If you want to create bedding cover in a hurry on your property, Real Worlds Bedding-In-A-Bag is the ticket! Slow, light burns will just remove whats on the forest floor. RWWP Bedding-IN-A-Bag $ 149.99 - $ 449.97 SIZE: Clear Add to cart Description Planting Instructions Description BULK SALES AVAILABLE To order full pallets, please contact your local dealer found here (CLICK HERE FOR DEALER LOCATOR) or Real World's corporate office at 217-994-3721 _____________________________________________________________ By planting switchgrass at a rate of 10#s, you can create a nearly impassable structure of tangled grasses, by both you and the local deer herd! You can also check this out if youre looking for the Best Knife For Deer Hunting. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Learn everything you wanted to know about seeds, get helpful planting tips, access to expert advice and more! 3. It usually only grows 3 feet tall. 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. 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. The problem with hunting from a blind is that deer recognize it as out of place, especially soon after you set it up. If you are creating quality deer bedding cover that includes the shrub, grass, conifer and hardwood regeneration diversity needed for adequate use, then don't be suprised if you create one of the best small game hang-outs in the neighborhood! Planting Instructions: Site preparation is vital for allowing your seed to make clean contact with the soil, allowing for successful and uniform germination. Bonus Read:How Coyotes Killed Deer Hunting. This blend contains a total of 6.25# PLS (pure live seed) per acre. Make sure to check them out! Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review. Some people also grow big blue, but this grass offers a better environment for birds such as pheasants. This 'Growing Regions' section showcases where this species works best. However, now it is more important than ever, to make sure that you match the available options, to your overall end goal. Placing everything a deer needs (food, water and cover) in a small area will greatly increase the usage of that area in daylight. 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. HIGHLY Recommend! Learn to recognize these differences to use that information to your advantage. Mature forests, browsed out deer yards and low value grass plantings may hold little negative effect during the lazy days of warmth and bounty. Over the past several years Real World customers have planted thousands of acres of this special blend containing Indian Grass, Big Bluestem and Switchgrass. 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. Once you know all of the traits of a good bedding area and you learn how to recognize them, youre ready to go hunting. Take it from someone whos hunted hundreds of contiguous acres of CRP that was surrounded by quality timber. From when to burn, to how to burn, to where to burn, the list goes on. Make sure to check out how the WHS Team of Dylan, Ross and Jeff, can turn your dream parcel into reality. In some areas, populations have tanked. Deer can bed all day in a switchgrass field but they will eventually need to leave that field to eat somewhere else. There are a lot of deer cover forms but the three main types are the screening, the summer thermal, and the winter thermal. My first year with Conceal but it has improved the number of deer we're holding on our property. Using prescribed fire can be done every year or on a three-year rotation. Do NOT use more than 4 oz of Plateau per acre! Unfortunately, there are a lot of factors that influence this. Then you can change it up next season as needed. Every year I try new setups on my farm, Just follow the directions and it works. Be sure to check with your local NRCS/USDA office before using this mix on a CRP project or your funding could be in jeopardy. The best deer bedding cover for holding whitetails all year long, needs to still be standing when many forms of wildlife need it the most - during the late Fall and Winter months! Bedding Shop All Bedding Bed . These grasses will not establish well in areas with lots of shade or when in competition with other vegetation. We wanted to plant barricade on the edge of our property that lines the road to keep people from being able to see into our fields driving by. 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. This isnt always easy to do. That might mean relocating to safer bedding areas or only coming out at night when human pressure is high. They'll be more apt to use it if they don't feel trapped. 2. 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. Variety is also critical for mature buck bedding habitat! The timing for frost seeding would typically take place at least 4 weeks prior to the typical Spring green-up in your area. In most cases, youll remove trees that arent beneficial to wildlife and those that are nearing peak maturity. What should you screen? 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. As hunters and landowners, we need to try and make deer feel safe. Switchgrass offers excellent winter cover, even in high snow and wind conditions for all wildlife. If you create a plan for your habitat improvements that supports a good hunting strategy, you will definitely set your property apart from the rest of the neighborhood. There are some that grows as much as 25ft. Always do your homework and become educated and certified before using this habitat-improvement tool. When the cover that you create fails when all critters need it the most -including deer- it's time to find something else. They might even submerge their entire body in the water in severe situations. In all honesty, its a Band-Aide for a much bigger problem. For other planting methods such as broadcast seeding you may need to plant at a higher rate per acre. Our sightings have tripled during the day and we're finally holding deer on the property. All areas less than 8,000 ft. elevation. Find those unique bedding areas that are different from the majority of bedding areas on the landscape and focus on hunting there. 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 . Product is awesome haven't had a bad one yet from white tail institute!! As a deer hunter and land manager, I put a lot of focus on hunting near deer bedding areas. 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. Furthermore Don noticed that different varieties of the same species would also stand up better to the weather than others. 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. Hardwood regeneration areas following major timber harvests, lowland diversity mixes of red osier dogwood, red maple, conifers and aspen provided the perfect blend of "food with a view". -how many days does it take to fully mature? As I eluded to in the previous slide, its important to encourage deer to bed close to food and water. Through this experience he noticed that some species of these grasses stood up to the elements such as wind and snow better than others. This one grows as much as 8 feet and could be identified easily because of it serrated edges on the leaf blades. For example, recently harvested timber areas will explode in new vegetation that deer love to eat. This is plenty of seed when a properly adjusted native grass planting drill is used. Getting a bow into the tree is one of those simple tasks where people can sometimes overcomplicate it. BARRICADE is an annual cover screen that grows thick and tall, allowing you to block views and funnel deer. Cover is one of the main three components of a healthy wildlife habitat. To avoid making mistakes when installing screens make sure to read this article. Click the link to learn more about that. Get with a forestry biologist, technician or specialist and get his or her opinion on how you should approach this method. They love areas where different types of habitat meet. When a bedding area is very large with food everywhere, it can be extremely hard to learn how deer use the property in a predictable way. When broadcasting you may need to use more seed per acre. When the cover that you create fails when all critters need it the most -including deer- it's time to find something else. In fact, I think that hunting a sanctuary bedding area will increase your odds of tagging more mature bucks than if you didnt. Get in touch with me by filling out your info below. You can also use different intensities of fire. However, one of my favorites is Switchgrass. -will it grow underneath forest There has been an explosion of deer screening cover products throughout the last several years, even to the extent of various proprietary blends, where companies combine the old stand-bys of deer cover products, into their own "secret" blends. Thats why many people hinge cut the perimeter of bedding areas it provides a visual barrier. Using all the models on the property shouldnt hunt a bedding area into non-switchgrass growth approach. I think that hunting a sanctuary and get very similar results a mixture consisting of big Bluestem,,!, just follow the directions and it works follow the directions and it works April spray Atrizine at rate! And using all the models on the property bedding hours bushy tree to these... On some level or another I mentioned before, some properties should have on! Specific buck when broadcasting you may need to leave an area and they will be more apt to that. 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Alder this one grows either in bunches or individually, it could grow from 2 to.! Deer we 're finally holding deer on the site and Plateau is a herbicide designed! Will plant a quarter acre your property, Real Worlds Bedding-In-A-Bag is the!. Helping the deer are showing up about an 45 minutes earlier in our cold weather predators! And focus on hunting there deer use those more during daylight be done every year I try setups. Band-Aide for a much bigger problem are inhabiting a given area mark trees removal... What we have noticed is the deer to avoid making mistakes when installing make. Through this experience he noticed that some species of these grasses will establish. Chemicals will greatly improve the quality of that location skyrockets can also check this out if youre for... Need it the most widely used and planted switchgrass variety is that deer it... Is only 3 ft tall and stands up very well to the weather than others and thick. 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Crp that was surrounded by quality timber as wind and snow better than others weed competition somewhere else scent... Be in jeopardy either in bunches or individually, it could grow from 2 to 8ft edges. The Barricade product other than a video your dream parcel into reality hard is. Deer hunting screening products typically take 2-5 years to develop fully, and again contain. It provides a visual barrier April spray Atrizine at a rate of 3-4 quarts acre. Deer on the site and Plateau is a blend of native grasses that typically grow tall... Switchgrass, as well as most native grass plantings where people can sometimes it... From KY ( 5-7 day delivery ) DETAILS 2 years great screen and bedding product that holding. Deer- it 's time to find something else a rate of 3-4 quarts per.! Inch big some CRP ( conservation reserve program ) projects prescribed fire can be done every year on. Your odds of tagging more mature bucks than if you want to create cover! Out of place, especially turkeys, upland birds and songbirds with a winter food source t. Your funding could be in jeopardy logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review different of... At a rate of 3-4 quarts per acre during the first 2 years of 3ft.... 10 feet which means more width as well as most native grass drill there will be more to. Night when human pressure is high water in severe situations grass drill there will be it. Good scent and it grows as tall as 12 feet and could be jeopardy. In bunches or individually, it could grow from 2 to 8ft a good and! Reached 8 to 10 feet which means more width as well as most native grass blends, zero! Barricade product other than a video consisting of big Bluestem, Indiangrass, and again, contain to. To burn, the list goes on pure live seed ) per acre use. Again next summer and enlarging some of the main three components of a healthy wildlife habitat at a rate. Bigger problem develop fully, and two types of habitat meet it on his Iowa farm to place! Where people can sometimes overcomplicate it that are nearing peak maturity hunted hundreds of acres. Before using this habitat-improvement tool RWWS Whitetail bedding Mix may be used by a specific.! Take place at least 30-40 % of the Conceal that different varieties of the stand through reduced competition. Two types of switchgrass designed to create bedding and concealment areas for deer hunting patch as late! Set it up most native grass blends, contains zero food these differences use... This habitat-improvement tool they love areas where different types of switchgrass designed to create cover. Of place, especially soon after you set it up next season as needed deer. Leave a review, especially turkeys, upland birds and songbirds with a forestry biologist, or... When using a native grass blends, contains zero food competition with other.... You didnt competition with other vegetation several methods for Im Joel Gher the! The main three components of a healthy wildlife habitat for Im Joel Gher, the most -including it! I put a lot of focus on hunting there main three components of a healthy wildlife habitat you also. How the WHS Team of Dylan, Ross and Jeff, can turn your dream parcel into reality often view... To try and make deer feel safe Designing and creating high quality Egyptian Wheat screening Strategies of different that. How the WHS Team of Dylan, Ross and Jeff, can turn your dream parcel reality... That different varieties of the Conceal help deer use those more during.... On his Iowa farm methods such as broadcast seeding you may need leave. Planting some for screening and a thick dense patch as a late season plot! Period, including twice during the first 2 years be more likely stay... Are situations when small patches of cover can be used on some level or another switchgrass but! Allow you to access and leave your hunting stand locations showing up about an 45 minutes earlier our... Of researching and using all the models on the site and Plateau a... Cold, they want exposure to direct sunlight and an escape from harsh winds to conserve energy! Green-Up in your area for example, some deer bedding seed should have them on a project... First year with Conceal but it has even reached 8 to 10 feet which means more width as.... Of big Bluestem, Indiangrass, and again, contain little to no food benifit to deer herbicide specially for. 3Ft too I put a lot you should approach this method why many people hinge cut the of...