My 160 acre getaway...


dogdoc

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When did u plant? I planted two weekends ago and our stuff is only coming up near the tree line. We r in Oklahoma as well. It's been very dry

I planted over labor day weekend. It has been dry and September is usually one of our wettest months of the year. We do need some rain pretty bad.

todd

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  • 4 weeks later...

A couple of nice bucks have shown up also this week. I rarely have mature bucks call my place home but I have several doe groups that do--so where the girls are the boys will evenutally show up.

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=Black powder opens this weekend but temps are going to be in the upper 80"s so I am not super optimistic but you never know.

todd

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long time reader..1st time posting:D

Great thread . It looks like a lot of work but very enjoyable work. Hope the results are enjoyable also.

:rockon:

Thanks Nut---I think I enjoy the habitat work more than the hunting part. It has almost become an addiction--my mind is always thinking on what I can do next to improve the quality of my hunting land.

todd

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Calvin---that is a nice looking spot. Germination was tough this year due to the decrease rain we have had. However, without an exclusion cage it's hard to tell just exactly how much browsing pressure may be playing a role in the food plot. Your deer may be plowing it down quicker than the plants can grow. Keep the does around though and the bucks will follow.

todd

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It's always nice when a plan comes together. Some times you question yourself if all the time, money, and effort is worth it. Seeing the big smile on my daughters face after she killed her first deer during youth rifle season:

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And then after a long days hunt and harvesting a beautiful mature buck:

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makes me realize that it is worth it. However, I think i get just as much enjoyment out of imiproving my land and seeing what it is capable of producing--in both forage production and deer--as the actual hunt.

till next time

todd

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  • 3 weeks later...
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Todd - have u had luck with any species of clover in very sandy soil in Oklahoma?

I don't have any real sandy areas that i plant on so no. However, I know some guys that have decent luck with planting Durana clover as well as Ladino clover. If you can get it established your good. it all depends on how much moisture we get and rain in Oklahoma that past 5 years or so has been very unpredictable. What you might want to do is plant buckwheat this spring and try to work on building up some organic matter in the sand and then attempt to plant your clover in the fall with some oats and wheat.

todd

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  • 3 months later...

Haven't done an update in forever it seems like.

Spring has arrived--actually a little too early which is a little risky for the fruit trees. Any freeze now will result in another loss of my native plums and pear trees as they are starting to bud out.

Fall food plots are doing awesome. We have been getting some decent moisture (no pond fillers) but at least some moisture.

My boggy bottom 2 acre plot is coming along nicely. The rye and wheat are out of winter dormancy and the crimson clover is in overdrive. I frost seeded some red clover in this plot about 3 weeks ago. No spring planting on this plot. I am hoping the clover will keep me going all summer and provided a great cover crop for next falls planting.

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And the deer are enjoying the tender plants

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Planted 3 pear trees on the edge of the plot. Protected from deer and rabbits. Weed fabric and hay mulch to give the trees the best chance of survival.

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Four more apple trees. Two goldrush and 2 Liberty. One of each on my 2 main plots.

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Should we worry about soil health--heck ya!! Healthy soil results in healthy plants which results in more nutrients going to the critters. Now this is a beautiful site. You got worms??? If so then you probably have some good OM in your soil.

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Hired a dozer to come out and enlarge my duck pond and dig it deeper. Once full it will be a little over 4 acres and a good 2 to 3 feet deeper. I know shallow water is better for ducks but with the 5 year drought the shallow water strategy hasn't worked out.

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Finished it up on Monday so I went out yesterday in a soft rain and broadcasted a couple hundred pounds of rye to get something germinated as fast as possible to help prevent any erosion and soil run off back into the pond.

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