HOLLANDALE - Billed as a Food Plot Field Day, the Uplands Branch of the Quality Deer Management (QDM) Association put on an event resembling a graduate-level seminar July 12 at Bret Peterson's Ramblewood Acres near Hollandale.
More than 60 QDM enthusiasts from several surrounding counties learned about food plot installation and management, tree stand placement and prairie restoration. They heard tips on trail camera placement, hinge cutting and girdling, apple orchard improvements and pond construction.
Ramblewood offered the perfect setting for the event with 193 acres of purposefully developed wildlife habitat. Peterson and his wife, Jennifer, purchased the property in 2002.
Soon thereafter, Bret joined with several neighbors to form Bur Oak Deer Management (BODM). The group now claims more than 5,000 acres of QDM-inspired land management and can serve as a model for other neighborhoods. Prior to a tour of the Ramblewood property, BODM members reviewed their success as a neighborhood co-op.
The group establishes harvest goals for each property based on one deer for every 10 acres of habitat and harvesting two to three does for every buck taken. With the exception of novice hunters, members agree to pass up bucks younger than three-and-one-half years of age.
"It's hard to shoot too many does," said Uplands Branch president Joe Brunker.
The group also urges adherence to archery hunting within the season structure established by the Department of Natural Resources, but suggests limiting gun hunting to the traditional nine-day season. Compressing the season, members contend, creates more hunting pressure and a bigger harvest, thus keeping the size of the herd in check.
Food plots employed at Ramblewood include turnips and other brassicas, corn, soybeans, chicory, winter wheat and various clovers such as ladino, red, Burnet and Haifa white.
The Uplands Branch offers several varieties for sale at cost to QDM members and provides advice on when and how they should be planted.
Branch member Bob Benson reported on experiments with several types of soybeans that could be even more beneficial as food plots.
"We hope to provide options next year that will provide more forage over a longer period of time," he said.
Peterson also plants sunflowers.
"They're great for attracting birds," he said. "And, my wife likes them."
Presenters offered other tips. Hinge cutting - part way through the trunk until it falls - a black cherry or box elder provides excellent cover for deer. Branches of the tree will continue to grow upward where it rests on the ground.
Water, being an ongoing need for deer, can be supplied by small dug out ponds that will catch and hold rainwater throughout the summer. Jaden Sigg of Sigg Landscaping, LLC, demonstrated how such ponds are constructed.
Kevin Winkler of Monroe was one of those who found the field day both enjoyable and informative.
"I sort of like the (Aldo) Leopold landscape idea," he said.
In addition to raising crops, Winkler manages his 175 acres west of Monroe for all manner of wildlife habitat. Improvements include shallow scrape ponds, wetlands, tree plantings and prairie restoration.
Like many of those attending the field day, Winkler enjoys hunting pheasants and other game species in addition to deer.
"I've been hunting since I was 12," he said.
He doesn't shoot a buck every year but usually takes several does.
He also operates an archery business, Broken Arrowhead Acres, at N2745 Ullom Road, Monroe. The business offers archery lessons, bow tuning and the sale of bows and archery supplies such as strings, cables, arrows and other accessories.
Winkler can be reached at 558-9641. For more information about food plots, contact Bob Benson at 635-8444 or at www.uplandsdeer.org.
More than 60 QDM enthusiasts from several surrounding counties learned about food plot installation and management, tree stand placement and prairie restoration. They heard tips on trail camera placement, hinge cutting and girdling, apple orchard improvements and pond construction.
Ramblewood offered the perfect setting for the event with 193 acres of purposefully developed wildlife habitat. Peterson and his wife, Jennifer, purchased the property in 2002.
Soon thereafter, Bret joined with several neighbors to form Bur Oak Deer Management (BODM). The group now claims more than 5,000 acres of QDM-inspired land management and can serve as a model for other neighborhoods. Prior to a tour of the Ramblewood property, BODM members reviewed their success as a neighborhood co-op.
The group establishes harvest goals for each property based on one deer for every 10 acres of habitat and harvesting two to three does for every buck taken. With the exception of novice hunters, members agree to pass up bucks younger than three-and-one-half years of age.
"It's hard to shoot too many does," said Uplands Branch president Joe Brunker.
The group also urges adherence to archery hunting within the season structure established by the Department of Natural Resources, but suggests limiting gun hunting to the traditional nine-day season. Compressing the season, members contend, creates more hunting pressure and a bigger harvest, thus keeping the size of the herd in check.
Food plots employed at Ramblewood include turnips and other brassicas, corn, soybeans, chicory, winter wheat and various clovers such as ladino, red, Burnet and Haifa white.
The Uplands Branch offers several varieties for sale at cost to QDM members and provides advice on when and how they should be planted.
Branch member Bob Benson reported on experiments with several types of soybeans that could be even more beneficial as food plots.
"We hope to provide options next year that will provide more forage over a longer period of time," he said.
Peterson also plants sunflowers.
"They're great for attracting birds," he said. "And, my wife likes them."
Presenters offered other tips. Hinge cutting - part way through the trunk until it falls - a black cherry or box elder provides excellent cover for deer. Branches of the tree will continue to grow upward where it rests on the ground.
Water, being an ongoing need for deer, can be supplied by small dug out ponds that will catch and hold rainwater throughout the summer. Jaden Sigg of Sigg Landscaping, LLC, demonstrated how such ponds are constructed.
Kevin Winkler of Monroe was one of those who found the field day both enjoyable and informative.
"I sort of like the (Aldo) Leopold landscape idea," he said.
In addition to raising crops, Winkler manages his 175 acres west of Monroe for all manner of wildlife habitat. Improvements include shallow scrape ponds, wetlands, tree plantings and prairie restoration.
Like many of those attending the field day, Winkler enjoys hunting pheasants and other game species in addition to deer.
"I've been hunting since I was 12," he said.
He doesn't shoot a buck every year but usually takes several does.
He also operates an archery business, Broken Arrowhead Acres, at N2745 Ullom Road, Monroe. The business offers archery lessons, bow tuning and the sale of bows and archery supplies such as strings, cables, arrows and other accessories.
Winkler can be reached at 558-9641. For more information about food plots, contact Bob Benson at 635-8444 or at www.uplandsdeer.org.
