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Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat #3088610
04/03/20 11:13 AM
04/03/20 11:13 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 262
Sylacauga, AL
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Bama_Bow_Hunter Offline OP
4 point
Bama_Bow_Hunter  Offline OP
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Sylacauga, AL
I've got approx. 50 acres of pasture that is broken into sections of approx. 30/10/5/5 acres. It’s split up via small creeks and old fence rows that have grown up. I’m interested in improving the habitat for deer and turkey, mainly. The remainder of the property is hardwoods and some cutover.

What are my options on converting the pasture into quality habitat for deer and turkey? I’m leaning towards turning it into early successional habitat via burning and herbicide. Then, once established, I’d like to break the early successional habitat into smaller blocks using firebreaks of say 5-10 acres each and managing with prescribed fire and planting the firebreaks in the fall. Does anyone have experience doing this? I’ve read it can take several years to establish the native grasses and forbes from the seed bank. Again, this is what I’m leaning towards but am certainly open to other suggestions.

Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Bama_Bow_Hunter] #3088676
04/03/20 12:40 PM
04/03/20 12:40 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,543
Awbarn, AL
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Dances With Weeds
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Dances With Weeds
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Awbarn, AL
What are the current conditions like? Is it all a monoculture of grass right now?


The Corn Crash!!!
Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Bama_Bow_Hunter] #3088993
04/03/20 05:42 PM
04/03/20 05:42 PM
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USA
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Remington270 Offline
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I'd row crop as much as I could, and burn the rest on a rotation.

Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Bama_Bow_Hunter] #3089235
04/03/20 08:42 PM
04/03/20 08:42 PM
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Awbarn, AL
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Dances With Weeds
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Dances With Weeds
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Awbarn, AL
Another question to add.....What type of soil are we dealing with?


The Corn Crash!!!
Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Bama_Bow_Hunter] #3089284
04/03/20 09:26 PM
04/03/20 09:26 PM
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PDL, Fl
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timbercruiser Offline
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I was talking to a client in Mississippi today about native grasses, etc. He said he got a lot o help from the NRCS office. Can't hurt to ask, but often it is who is in charge of the office.

Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Bama_Bow_Hunter] #3090361
04/05/20 08:48 AM
04/05/20 08:48 AM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 63,355
Luverne, AL
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Call your local NRCS office and they can give you a lot of options from Native grasses, to longleaf restoration and they will help you pay for it. Parts of the property that qualify for WRE program could also be an option which means they will cut you a nice check.


Never Trust Government

"You can be broke but you cant be poor." Ruthie-May Webster
Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Remington270] #3091324
04/06/20 11:08 AM
04/06/20 11:08 AM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 262
Sylacauga, AL
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Bama_Bow_Hunter Offline OP
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Sylacauga, AL
Originally Posted by Remington270
I'd row crop as much as I could, and burn the rest on a rotation.


Row crop is out of the question... too much elevation change and honestly not anywhere near "row crop country" unfortunately.

It's currently a mixture of what appears to be fescue/centipede/bahia with a lot of broadleaf weeds as well.

Did not even think to speak with the NRCS folks... great information and will reach out to them shortly.

Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Bama_Bow_Hunter] #3091395
04/06/20 12:23 PM
04/06/20 12:23 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
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Montgomery, AL
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Forrestgump1 Offline
10 point
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Montgomery, AL
For turkeys you’ll need some roost trees, at least a drainage or two of mature trees. The hens love to nest in the tall grass you speak of. Deer love the overgrown pasture stuff as well. A childhood friend of mine has some land in west Montgomery county that was all cattle pasture and use to be AG land. The land was neglected for several years and allowed to naturally grow on its own. There are now more deer stacked in there than anywhere else I’ve ever had the opportunity to hunt. I think the biggest concern with that type land is keeping the unwanted trees out. Everything else about it was great.

Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Bama_Bow_Hunter] #3091458
04/06/20 01:27 PM
04/06/20 01:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,751
USA
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Remington270 Offline
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Joined: Nov 2011
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Originally Posted by Bama_Bow_Hunter
Originally Posted by Remington270
I'd row crop as much as I could, and burn the rest on a rotation.


Row crop is out of the question... too much elevation change and honestly not anywhere near "row crop country" unfortunately.

It's currently a mixture of what appears to be fescue/centipede/bahia with a lot of broadleaf weeds as well.

Did not even think to speak with the NRCS folks... great information and will reach out to them shortly.


I just meant you planting a bunch of corn and/or beans. And yes the NRCS can help you a lot, if you talk to the right folks.

Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Bama_Bow_Hunter] #3091534
04/06/20 03:14 PM
04/06/20 03:14 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,543
Awbarn, AL
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Dances With Weeds
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Dances With Weeds
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Awbarn, AL
I agree.with contacting the NRCS.....Just for the sake of conversation though.....

I'd go in the there the first fall and spray the grass with Clethodim to at least stunt it and then I'd spread crimson clover pretty heavy on it. You could spray gly but if you have a good amount of broadleafs then I'd leave them in the mix and use a grass select herbicide. The reason for going with the clover like this is to bring in a nitrogen supply to help get the soil system back in balance and properly functioning. This is taking somewhat of a guess but there's a good chance that your soil system is bogged down with carbon and needing the N to decompose it and get the system cycling like it should...Without doing something like this you're likely going to have anything you try to grow run N deficient until the balance is restored. I just got through dealing with the same exact situation. Old pasture land overwhelmed in a monoculture of bahaigrass. We tried establishing cereal grains the first year. They germinated pretty well but thrsn N deficient all year. We would add N.....they would start to perk up and then bam back to yellowy...The build up of bahaigrass wasnrobbimg the N to use in decomposition....it gets what it needs first and when those needs are met....then the plants are fed. You may likley deal with the same situation and is why I'm throwing out the idea of a rotstiom of crimson clover to get started


The Corn Crash!!!
Re: Converting Pasture to Quality Habitat [Re: Bama_Bow_Hunter] #3097400
04/12/20 04:03 PM
04/12/20 04:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 7,155
In The Stack
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General Offline
14 point
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In The Stack
Converting it to native grassland can be done with herbicide but you have to get rid of that pasture grass. Maybe some native grassland and some plots?


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