Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Quality Deer Management Let's take a walk around the farm...

Finally got a chance to go check on the vetch plots. Again, these were planted around 2 months ago. I planted approximately 2 acres. I do have a pretty solid stand across both fields, but for the most part, it’s still very short. 3-6 inches would be the average. I don’t think it likes my high and dry land. In the few little spots where my field holds moisture, the growth difference is dramatic.
You can also see a few plants that grew next to my tree tubes and are enjoying the moisture that that the weed mats provide. The large plants I could find were browsed heavily.
Overall, I’m happy with it and I have a large group of does that are in it every day. They must like it, but its definitely not throwing off a lot of biomass on my soil.
Some pics:














I need to kill some does this year:

Checked the sandy field that I spread 2 bags of millet on about a month ago. It’s spotty at best. It’s pretty much been taken over by horseweed, which is fine, I just wanted something to grow. I may have to end up abandoning the idea of having a plot here. I’ll give it another year or two and see if I can improve it.






Little small grove of persimmons that I’ve been monitoring fruited for the first time this year. There is probably 8 small trees in a 200 sqft area and 6 are female and fruiting. :

I didn't get in any pics, but I still have a decent bit of red clover that is still drawing deer into another field. I think I'll up my red clover rate this fall and then next summer just broadcast a 1/2 rate of vetch across all the plots. Just give them a little something to browse on through the summer.

I have a couple very small white clover plots that are hanging on, but not thriving. They also see a lot of browse pressure. Figured I'd just add a few lbs per acre of white to all my plots for some summer forage as well.

It was hot out there today boys!

My joint vetch is still chilling at around 8” on average. The Alyce clover is heavily browsed. I sprayed arrest max to beat the grasses back. Have a lot of sedge which may require a separate treatment.

What did you use for the weed mats?

If I could offer some advice on your sandy field… …Just fertilize whatever wants to grow with small periodic doses of N during the spring and summer until you get that soil surface covered with some plant material…….I can see the surface of your soil in those pics and until that harsh condition is made better you’re gonna struggle to have success…..I think you’ll also notice that more plant species also begin to show up once that happens

I use Plantra Water-Saver Weed Mat 40in X 40in (10-Pack). They work and are definitely worth it. I try to buy at least 10 packs at a time which lowers the price to about $1.8 per mat.

100%..l was hoping the millet would accomplish that, but at this point I’m leaving it alone until late fall and will broadcast some grains into it.

Next spring and summer I’ll just do what you suggested, fertilize what wants to grow there.

I think you'll have better success getting out the hole that way....If possible try to apply the nitrogen (33-0-0) in small doses of maybe like 25-50 lbs per acre every 3-6 weeks……something of that nature……That soil surface is gonna be horribly inefficient at absorbing and holding the fert…..If you apply a bunch at one time then much of it will likely just be lost


Probably needed the soil surface scratched up a little with a drag or something to get that millet to do better.....The soil surface conditions were just too harsh to broadcast on....Its like the parable of the sower.

Nice! You have all but talked me into trying some vetch next year. My deer smash the partridge pea around my place, and I would love to have something similar growing in a field.

Thanks my man!

You can buy partridge pea seed through a few vendors such as Hancock. It’s pricey, like joint vetch, but I understand it has the potential to reseed itself more readily. So there’s a likelihood that you’ll get repeat performance on a given area with partridge pea without having to buy each year. I have sone growing wild in one plot and I encourage it.

I appreciate the info and will check that out. I have it growing on some of my daylighted roadways, and it seems to be a good reseeder.

Very nice looking place!

Vetch update. I ran over this morning to put cages on some plum trees and checked in on the vetch. I really wasn't expecting much since it has been so hot and dry on my place throughout July.

Vetch is still fairly prevalent throughout the fields, but it is starting to get some weed pressure, I'll probably need to hit it with Cleth soon.

I put exclusion cages up a few weeks ago because I couldn't really tell if it was the soil or the browse pressure that was holding it back. I'm fairly certain it's the browse pressure. The vetch inside the cage was easily 2-3x the size as that out. I wish I would have caged from the beginning, but at least I can see how it does through the rest of the summer.

First pic is typical of what is throughout the field. Most of it 6 inches or less and not very lush looking. 2nd two pics are inside the cages. There is a pretty dramatic difference in size and appearance. I'll be planting a lot more acreage next summer to spread the browse pressure around and hopefully produce more significant biomass. Again, this was planted the first week in May.

Yes Sir, they’re hammering it!

Good deal, I remember you saying in another thread you haven't had much rain since the first of July. Looks like the vetch does good in those conditions. Thanks for sharing and please keep us posted

Man Awesome pics and a lot of hard work, yes it looks like the vetch is getting hammered! Thanks for sharing all your hard work!

Double Creek2, where did you find the best buy on the tree tubes? I need to buy a couple more dozen.