Hey guys, I know it’s early, but I want to lay out our game plan for my dad’s place for next spring/summer/fall. I’ve attached a crude picture of the farm with some bullet points. We have 240 acres total, a 160 piece and an 80 piece that is kiddy-wampus to it. Both outlined by the white line. I view the farm as 3 sections that I’ll describe/breakdown with my thoughts & questions. FYI: North is to the right as you are looking at this picture. The trees on this place are all less than 10 years old.
Section 1 – The prairie grass to the west side of the 160. It’s pretty much off limits for now as Dad has a verbal agreement with the renter. Long story, but someday I have lots of ideas for it. As you can see, the main road runs east and west along the south side of the property. There is a small food plot that runs east to west along the north side of this property. I would guess in the 5-8 acre size. Been corn the last 2 years.
Section 2 – Main place with house and barns and food plots. This area is the most heavily utilized on a day to day basis by dad for his pheasant business. But it also contains what I consider the honey hole of the property. A small dug out we keep full of water. The dug out is surrounded by tall “wheat” grass, about 4 foot tall. Thick stuff. The pheasants love it. We have a 20 acre area we generally plant corn in. We also have a small 4 acre area that is currently planted brasicas. I have a ladder stand at the end of the tree grove overlooking the water. We also have our 1st of 3 box blinds being built right on the north, center of the small plot. This is likely a rifle only spot for dad, but it may work out for bow also. Time will tell.
Section 3 – Mostly CRP with 3 nice strips of trees. This area is what I consider the bedding area for our deer. It’s bordered by a flat barren pasture do west(which is good cuz that neighbor forgets what property lines are). To the east is another section of CRP that is only hunted during rifle deer season by another neighbor. To the north is pasture, typically has cows in it. Same goes for the south. We NEVER go into this 80 acres. We do plan to build box blinds on the borders of it in the next couple years.
My Plans/questions:
Section 1 – Not much to work with here other than the small 8 acre plot. Has been corn the last two years, thinking soy beans this year?? Will need soil tests.
Section 2 – 20 acre plot been corn the last two years. Thinking of putting in a soy beans, milo and alfalfa or clover. On the small 4 acre plot, we consider this our kill plot. I’m looking for suggestions for both spring and fall in this plot. Again soil tests need performed.
Section 3 – We have a limited area to work with due to CRP guidelines. However, we can add some very small, narrow plots along the tree groves. I would like to add 3-6 plots with a mixture options. Looking for any suggestions. This is a bedding area and we only want to enter it a few times a year to plant/work the ground. Currently it hasn’t been accessed in over a year. These plots should provide high nutrients to the bucks to help with antler growth.
Keep in mind, this is central SD and it’s rather dry compared to MN and WI. The soil isn’t nearly as rich as you have either.
I’m looking forward to your thoughts and suggestions so I can start laying out our plan with a timeline etc…
