Grown up field options ?

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fishboy1

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Have a hilly (old cow pasture) field probably 25 acres (rectangle) that hasn't been bush hogged in 3 years. It is surrounded on 2 sides by active cow pasture. On the South --smallest side it drops off into a creek bottom butting a 5 acre wooded hill. North/west long side butts up to an old nursery that has been neglected and is overgrown jungle.

Last year the does bedded in the tall grass/sage mid season enjoying the sun on cold mornings.

This year its higher than the canopy on the 55hp ford tractor with lots of blackberry and sapling trees.

I bush hogged around the perimeter and cut some trails through the interior leading to 3 good stand trees. ( I wish there were more/better trees to put a stand in).

I was going to bush hog a small food plot between 2 of the stand tree locations but got into some yellow jackets on my second pass and set a new speed record running a bush hog getting out of there.

So....What would you do with that type of cover/field?

Would you just broadcast some winter wheat in the mowed paths?
Only plant tasty stuff close to the stand locations?
Plant further away from the stands?

The only good stand trees are on the N/W fence line abutting the old nursery, One tree on the south West corner of the field.
and one tree on the Eastern perimeter. Accessing the stands will be problematic as there is almost no good way in except through the creek bottom to the south, up another creek bottom on the Eastern perimeter, or though the cut paths.
 
I'm new to plots myself and I unfortunately have no recommendations for you. However, your project is very interesting. Please post pics and keep us updated on your progress.
 
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Its going to get bush hogged completely before green up next spring. Otherwise saplings will take over and it will be a disaster to reclaim as pasture.

We will probably bush hog in the spring and let it grow back then hit it with brush killer to kill off the thorny wild pear trees.

I would like to let it grow back up into a weedy field in time for deer season next year and cut lanes through it again.
 
Update.

Walked part of the trail this morning while out squirrel hunting.

Most of the mowed path is carpeted with dead blackberry canes and has nothing growing in it or just some grass in places. Skipped the corner with the yellow jacket nest :D

Im thinking of broadcast spreading some winter wheat and maybe a little clover in the lanes. No acorns on the white oaks this year so a little buffet might be good as a shooting plot later in the season.

Now I just have to figure out where the yellow jacket nest is and gas those booogers out so I can mow/disc.
 
I'm no expert but a 8 or 9 year old grown up field with some saplings reaching 20+ ft tall is an awesome deer haven. I'm talking everything from fescue to blackberries to red cedars and 25 foot tall sycamores.
 
I would leave it as is till you bush hog it. Native wild grasses weeds ,blackberries , honeysuckle, ect. will provide plenty of food and cover.If your stands are overlooking the trails and the edges you have a perfect setup.Try to stay out of there till you're ready to hunt it.Bad year for yellow jackets hope we get a early hard freeze to get them settled down.
 
I would strip mow it in successions. Maybe three year rotation.

It may require mowing and cutting the tallest trees now so that you can keep it under control now.
 
Outdoor Enthusiast said:
I would strip mow it in successions. Maybe three year rotation.

It may require mowing and cutting the tallest trees now so that you can keep it under control now.
Click to expand...

That is what I have been thinking. Want to maintain cover, but keep the trees under control. Eventually it may be converted back to pasture for cattle and it will be EXPENSIVE to hire a dozer to clear it back out.
 

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