Native Forbs vs. Food‑Plot Crops: Why Wild Plants Still Feed Deer Better
Native forbs are the quiet workhorses of a healthy deer property. Hunters talk a lot about food plots—and they absolutely have their place—but the research is clear: a diverse forb community delivers higher protein, better digestibility, and a richer spread of minerals and vitamins than most planted crops. If you’re managing land for antler growth, doe nutrition, or herd resilience, native forbs are the foundation you don’t want to overlook.
The Real Nutritional Powerhouse: Native Forbs
Deer are selective browsers, not grazers. They’re built to target broad‑leafed plants that pack dense nutrition into soft, digestible tissue. That’s exactly what native forbs provide.
High crude protein — Common ragweed often hits ~18% CP, and species like clovers and vetch routinely outperform many crops. Protein drives antler growth, muscle development, and lactation.
Superior digestibility — Forbs contain far less lignin than grasses, meaning deer extract more usable nutrition per bite.
Mineral richness — Calcium and phosphorus—critical for antlers and bone structure—are abundant in many forb species, along with potassium and magnesium.
Vitamins and phytonutrients — Chicory, plantain, goldenrod, and others supply vitamins A, C, and K plus antioxidants that support immune function.
Season‑long diversity — A blend of annual and perennial forbs keeps nutrition available from spring green‑up through late summer, right when bucks are building antlers and does are feeding fawns.
How Forbs Stack Up Against Common Food‑Plot Crops
Food plots are valuable tools, but they’re not nutritional equals to a diverse forb community.
Turnips, radish, rape — Great winter energy sources, but typically lower in protein and less palatable during summer. Micronutrient diversity is limited compared to native forbs.
Alfalfa and clovers — Strong protein producers and excellent legumes, but alfalfa can be hit‑or‑miss for deer preference. Clovers are outstanding but don’t match the natural abundance or diversity of native forbs.
Chicory — A standout forb that rivals or exceeds many crops in mineral content and drought tolerance.
Rye and oats — Useful for bulk forage and attraction, but lower in protein and digestibility. Deer will eat them, but they don’t fuel peak performance.
Why Wildlife Biologists Call Forbs the “Forest Salad Bar”
A monoculture crop can’t replicate what a forb community does naturally. When you manage for native forbs, you’re giving deer a balanced diet built by the ecosystem itself.
Forbs:
Fuel antler growth with calcium, phosphorus, and high protein.
Support lactation through digestible energy and amino acids.
Boost immunity with vitamins and antioxidants.
Provide year‑round forage when paired with other native species.
This is why habitat managers often say: “Food plots feed deer for a season. Native forbs feed deer for a lifetime.”
The top-performing native Midwest forbs for white‑tailed deer are those that consistently deliver high crude protein, adequate phosphorus, and digestible calcium—the three nutrients most limiting for muscle growth, antler development, and lactation. Broadleaf forbs are the most nutritious plant category deer select during the growing season, with young forb leaves averaging 18.6% crude protein and 0.28% phosphorus .
Our next blog will provide a Missouri/Midwest–specific Top 10 list, each with nutritional relevance and propagation guidance.
Why Late‑Season Prescribed Burns Boost Native Forbs in Midwest Wildlife Habitat
Late‑season prescribed fire—typically applied in late summer through fall—often tilts the plant community toward native forbs rather than warm‑season grasses. This pattern shows up across much of the Midwest and is rooted in plant phenology, resource timing, and how different species recover after fire.
1. Forbs Reach Their Reproductive Stage Earlier
Many native forbs enter flowering and seed production well before warm‑season grasses do. By late summer, species like prairie clovers, asters, and coneflowers have already set seed or are close to it. Meanwhile, dominant grasses such as big bluestem and indiangrass remain in vegetative growth.
When a burn occurs during this window, forbs are positioned to take advantage of the newly opened space. Their seeds are ready to drop into freshly exposed soil, giving them a head start before grasses transition into reproduction. This timing difference—phenology—is one of the strongest drivers of forb success after late‑season fire.
2. Fire Opens a Short‑Term Resource Window
Late‑season burns clear away accumulated litter, exposing bare mineral soil and increasing sunlight at ground level. Forbs respond quickly to these conditions because many are adapted to germinate or re‑sprout under partial shade and lower competition.
Warm‑season grasses, by contrast, rely heavily on stored root energy and typically need more time to initiate new growth after fire. Their slower response means forbs can occupy the newly available space first, capturing nutrients and light before grasses rebound. This brief period of reduced competition creates a resource pulse that favors forb establishment.
3. Reduced Grass Competition Immediately After Burning
Because warm‑season grasses have not yet completed their annual growth cycle, a late‑season burn interrupts them at a vulnerable stage. Their shoots are fewer, shorter, and less competitive than they would be in spring or early summer.
With grasses temporarily suppressed, forbs face less crowding and shading. This allows them to germinate, flower, or expand root systems before grasses regain dominance the following year. This short‑term advantage is a classic example of competitive release.
4. Historical Fire Timing Supports Forb Persistence
Indigenous communities across the Midwest frequently used fire in late fall, often after vegetation had cured with frost. These burns encouraged wildlife movement, improved hunting visibility, and maintained open plant communities.
This historical pattern of late‑season fire aligned closely with forb reproductive cycles. Over centuries, many forb species adapted to this disturbance rhythm, reinforcing their ability to thrive when fire arrives after seed set. Understanding this ecological context helps explain why modern late‑season burns still favor forbs today.
5. Grasses Recover More Slowly After Late‑Season Fire
Warm‑season grasses respond most vigorously to fire in spring, when soil temperatures rise and daylight increases. Burns conducted late in the growing season do not provide enough time for grasses to rebuild above‑ground biomass before winter.
Meanwhile, many forbs can germinate rapidly or overwinter as viable seeds ready to sprout early the next year. This mismatch in recovery speed gives forbs a temporary—but meaningful—advantage in the following growing season. This difference in post‑fire recovery timing shapes the plant community for months after the burn.
For Habitat Managers, this means that late‑season prescribed burning favors native forbs because:
Forbs have already produced seed and can immediately colonize post‑burn soil.
Grasses are still in vegetative growth and respond more slowly to late‑season fire.
Reduced grass competition creates a short window where forbs establish more easily.
Historical fire patterns reinforced forb adaptation to late‑season burns.
While warm‑season grasses often regain dominance later in the growing season, the early advantage given to forbs can significantly increase forb diversity—an important benefit for pollinators, ground‑nesting birds, and overall wildlife habitat.
Late‑season prescribed burning creates conditions that directly benefit white‑tailed deer by increasing forb diversity and improving seasonal nutrition. When burns occur after forbs have already set seed, these plants gain a temporary competitive advantage over warm‑season grasses. The result is a flush of broadleaf plants the following spring—species that produce high‑quality browse, tender growth, and nutrient‑rich forage deer rely on throughout the year.
Because grasses respond more slowly to late‑season fire, deer enter the next growing season with greater access to early successional vegetation. This includes young shoots, wildflowers, and herbaceous plants that offer higher protein content than mature warm‑season grasses. Increased forb abundance also supports insects, which in turn improve fawn nutrition during the critical early weeks of development.
In short, late‑season burning strengthens the forb component of a plant community, and that shift enhances food availability, improves fawn‑rearing habitat, and supports overall herd health. For landowners managing deer, understanding this timing can help shape a burn plan that aligns with wildlife goals.
Forest and Woodland Management for White-tailed in September.
It may be 95 degrees in the middle of August, but many avid deer hunters are already thinking about the fall hunting seasons. Some landowners may be preparing to plant their favorite food plot mixes between late August and October; there are still some habitat practices to carry out on cooler mornings in September. In wooded areas, September is a good time for timber stand improvement (e.g., selective harvesting, thinning) and edge feathering to increase habitat diversity. These actions can enhance mast production and early successional vegetation, both important for deer.
Management Practices That Improve Deer Habitat
Healthy deer populations depend on diverse, productive habitat. Two of the most effective woodland management tools are timber stand improvement and creating forest openings. Both practices increase sunlight, stimulate plant growth, and boost the availability of natural forage.
Timber Stand Improvement (TSI)
Timber stand improvement is a mid‑rotation forest treatment that removes low‑value or unhealthy trees to favor desirable species like oaks and hickories. By thinning crowded stands, TSI:
Allows more sunlight to reach the forest floor, increasing native browse and herbaceous growth.
Improves oak regeneration, supporting long‑term acorn production.
Gives remaining trees more space, resulting in larger crowns and higher mast yields.
TSI ultimately creates a more open woodland structure rich in deer forage and seasonal food sources.
Creating Openings in Forests and Woodlands
Large, unbroken tracts of timber often lack the diversity deer need. Strategic openings increase plant variety, sunlight, and food availability. Landowners typically aim for five to ten openings per 100 acres, each ranging from 1 to 5 acres.
Temporary Openings
Temporary openings, or group cuts, are small clearcuts designed to jump‑start early successional habitat. These areas quickly fill with sprouts, shrubs, grasses, and forbs—prime deer forage. They also encourage regeneration of shade‑intolerant oaks.
Permanent Openings
Permanent openings remain open year‑round and can be planted in perennial food plots or maintained in herbaceous vegetation. Irregular shapes create more edge habitat, and ridge‑top or flat locations help reduce erosion. These openings provide predictable forage and complement surrounding woodland cover.
Why These Practices Matter
Both TSI and forest openings increase sunlight, stimulate plant growth, and diversify habitat structure. The result is a landscape with:
More browse and seasonal forage
Better oak regeneration and mast production
Increased edge habitat
Improved deer nutrition and visibility
Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii). Belonging to the white oak family, being less bitter, deer and other wildlife prefer these acorns over those from the red oak family. Good forest stand improvement can help this oak species mature for future acorn production. Photo by Tim Russell
Together, these practices form the foundation of deer‑focused woodland management.
If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to us here at Antlers & Oaks Stewardship Services, to assist you in planning habitat practices that will continue to draw deer year round on your property.
Missouri‑Focused Summary of the Public Lands Rule Repeal
The debate over the Public Lands Rule matters for Missouri because our state depends heavily on healthy oak–hickory forests, working farms, and wildlife habitat across both private and federally managed lands. Energy development, grazing, recreation and conservation all intersect here—especially in the Ozarks, where federal lands influence water quality, wildlife populations and local economies.
Energy vs. Conservation: A False Choice
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum’s comment that energy industries are “customers” oversimplifies the issue. In Missouri, all citizens are the customers, because public lands and their resources belong to everyone. Treating conservation and energy as opposing forces creates unproductive conflict and weakens the ability of Missouri biologists, foresters and landowners to reduce impacts on wildlife and habitat.
What the Public Lands Rule Did
The rule formally placed conservation on equal footing with grazing, mining, energy and recreation. It strengthened ecosystem‑health standards and introduced tools like restoration leasing—a mechanism that could have supported large‑scale habitat work in Missouri’s oak woodlands, glades and riparian corridors.
What the Repeal Actually Changes
Despite strong rhetoric, the repeal does not erase conservation from federal law. The Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA) still requires the Bureau of Land Management to:
Protect ecological and wildlife values
Prevent unnecessary degradation
Manage for multiple uses—not just the highest revenue
Conservation remains a legal mandate. What’s lost is the explicit regulatory framing that elevated conservation as a named “use.”
Real Implications for Missouri
The repeal creates several practical challenges for Missouri’s wildlife and land‑stewardship community:
More pressure on local decision‑makers to ensure wildlife and habitat concerns are included in federal planning.
Loss of new conservation tools, such as restoration leasing, which could have supported glade restoration, woodland thinning and riparian recovery.
Greater risk of imbalance, as political rhetoric may push agencies toward extractive uses unless professionals actively advocate for ecological values.
Inconsistent regional interpretations, potentially affecting Missouri differently than western states with larger federal land footprints.
Still, Missouri conservationists are not starting over. FLPMA’s foundation remains intact, and professionals have long worked effectively within it.
Moving Forward in Missouri
The repeal is not a reason for discouragement. Missouri’s wildlife and forestry community can maintain conservation’s role by:
Leaning on science and field data in every planning process
Strengthening collaboration among MDC, NRCS, private landowners and NGOs
Advocating clearly for oak–hickory forest health, glade restoration, riparian protection, and wildlife habitat needs
Rejecting narratives that diminish conservation’s legitimacy
Missouri’s stewardship tradition—from Aldo Leopold’s influence to modern woodland restoration—reminds us that conservation is a long‑term commitment, not a political moment.
Public lands belong to all Americans, and Missourians share the responsibility to steward them wisely. If we are all customers, then we are all stakeholders in the outcome.
Black bear being fitted with a GPS collar and collecting DNA for the Missouri Black Bear Project. 2015. Photo by Tim Russell
Sacred Expectations of a Landowner
What God Expects of a Landowner:
A Story of Stewardship, Calling, and Responsibility
A perspective of Biblical truths, commands, and responsibilities that Scripture places on a landowner as a steward of God’s Creation.
If you’ve ever stood at the edge of your property—oak leaves rustling overhead, soil crumbling between your fingers, maybe a ridge line stretching out in the distance—you’ve probably felt something deeper than simple ownership. Something ancient. Something sacred. Scriptures found in both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant of the Holy Bible have a name for that feeling. It refers to the word stewardship.
Many passages in the Bible never treats land as a mere asset. It treats land as a trust—a gift from God placed into human hands with purpose, responsibility, and accountability. And if you’re a landowner, you’re part of a story that began in Genesis and continues through every acre you manage today.
I want to share a perspective that I have developed over the course of being a landowner, but also from other landowners during my youth, and landowners I have had the honor of being asked to provide guidance to manage their properties.
The majority of these landowners had multiple goals and interests in the management of their land. Most of those had the conservation of wildlife habitat as an equal priority to making their land profitable through sound forest management for wood products, or grazing livestock, or growing agricultural crops. Regardless, I rarely ever had a landowner who did not have a very personal sense to be a good manager of the land they owned. These folks usually had a sense of spiritual conviction, a calling really, to be a good steward because they really saw their land was in reality only being entrusted to them during their lifetime, and if they made good decisions, they could leave the property as a legacy to their children. These individuals and their immediate family understood that the Creator God expected them to be responsible stewards of His Creation.
🌱 1. The First Truth: The Land Belongs to God
The Bible opens with a simple but world‑shaping truth: God made the land, and it belongs to Him. Humans were placed in Creation not as conquerors, but as caretakers.
Key Biblical Passages
Genesis 2:15 — “The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden to work it and keep it.”
Psalm 104:24–25 — God’s wisdom is displayed in the diversity of creation.
Jeremiah 2:7 — God condemns those who “defile the land,” affirming the call to protect it.
Scripture describes humanity’s first job or vocation this way: to “work” the garden and “keep” it. Those two words—work and keep—form the backbone of Biblical land stewardship. In the original Hebrew language “work”(עָבַד ʽābad) and “keep” (שָׁמַר šāmar) literally meant to manage well to, cultivate, develop, and bring forth fruitfulness and emphasized the responsibility to keep watch over, observe it, or guard. In modern terms, God expects landowners to be producers and protectors at the same time.
Owning land is not about possession. It’s about participation in God’s ongoing care for His world.
🌳 2. The Command: Stewardship Is Not Optional
Throughout Scripture, God gives direct commands about how land is to be treated. These commands fall into three simple categories:
A. Care for the Land So It Can Rest and Renew
God commanded Israel to let the land rest every seventh year. Why? Because soil, like people, needs renewal.
Today, that principle looks like:
· Allowing forests to regenerate
· Avoiding practices that exhaust soil
· Managing wildlife habitat responsibly
· Protecting water sources from contamination
This isn’t just good conservation—it’s obedience.
B. Avoid Waste, Destruction, and Neglect
Scripture repeatedly warns against needless destruction of trees, fields, and resources. God hates waste because waste dishonors His provision.
For a landowner, this means:
Harvesting responsibly
Avoiding erosion and degradation
Managing fire risk
Preventing invasive species from overtaking native ecosystems
C. Provide for Others Through the Land
God commanded landowners to leave the edges of their fields for the poor and the stranger.
The principle is simple: Your land is a blessing meant to bless others.
That might look like:
Allowing responsible access for neighbors
Sharing firewood with someone in need
Offering habitat that benefits the broader community
Supporting conservation programs that protect shared watersheds
Stewardship is always outward‑facing.
🌾 3. The Responsibility: You Are Accountable for What Happens on Your Land
The Bible teaches that God watches how each person uses what He has entrusted to them. Jesus’ parables about stewardship make it clear: God expects increase, not indifference.
For landowners, this means:
A. You are responsible for knowing your land
A landowner should understand:
What species of trees grow there
What wildlife depends on the habitat
What the soil can support
What threats (erosion, pests, disease) exist
What management practices will improve the land
This is why taking inventory of a landscape’s natural resources is so important. It’s simply the modern version of “knowing the state of your flocks and herds.”
B. You are responsible for improving your land
Biblical stewardship is active, not passive.
God expects landowners to:
Restore degraded areas
Improve forest health
Enhance wildlife habitat
Protect water quality
Manage for long‑term sustainability
C. You are responsible for future generations
Scripture repeatedly emphasizes generational blessing. A landowner’s decisions today shape the land their children and grandchildren will inherit.
Planting trees you may never see mature is one of the most Biblical acts a landowner can perform.
🌄 4. The Heart of Stewardship: Gratitude, Humility, and Worship
When a landowner manages their property well, it becomes an act of worship.
Why?
Many of the landowners I have worked with is because they saw their stewardship as gratitude in action.
When you protect a stream, you honor the God who created water.
When you restore a forest, you honor the God who designed ecosystems.
When you manage wildlife habitat, you honor the God who delights in biodiversity.
When you care for soil, you honor the God who formed humanity from dust.
Stewardship is not just a job—it’s a spiritual calling.
🌤️ 5. A Narrative Picture: The Landowner God Smiles Upon
Imagine a landowner taking a walk on their property at sunrise. (I know many who do).
They pause to listen to the birds. They notice new saplings emerging where they cleared invasive plants last year. They check the health of the oaks, the condition of the soil, the flow of the creek after last week’s rain.
They’re not just managing land. They’re tending a small piece of God’s Creation.
They make decisions based not on convenience, but on conviction.
They harvest responsibly. They plant generously. They protect diligently. They share freely. They plan for the future faithfully.
This landowner understands something profound:
The land is God’s. The responsibility of a caretaker is theirs. The praise goes to God.
🌻 6. The Biblical Bottom Line for Landowners
Here’s the entire Biblical stewardship message in one sentence:
God owns the land, and He expects landowners to care for it with wisdom, justice, generosity, and love.
These landowners that have made the greatest impression on me, is that they strive to manage their land with those four qualities, they are living out one of the oldest and most sacred callings in Scripture.
The Health of Your Forests & Black Bear Conservation.
Solitary black bears and females with one-year-old cubs are becoming active and are on the search for food in the Central Hardwoods. The springtime habitat for black bears provides the diet of newly emerging grasses and insects. Primarily, the larvae stage of insects (e.g. grubs) is a favorite on the menu. Searching under and within decaying logs on the ground and under rocks, a bear will eat all the insects they can find. Throughout the growing season of spring and summer, insects and vegetation can make up as much as 80% of a bear's diet. Later as summer progresses, soft mast such as blackberries, persimmons, and spicebush berries are also part of a bear’s diet. When the hard mast of oaks develop and start to fall, bears will gorge themselves on acorns packing on pounds of body fat for the winter before they enter their dens. Bears have been known to consume >20,000 calories in 24 24-hour period while feeding on acorns. Research studies (Pelton -1989) explored the fascinating relationship between the production of acorns by oak trees and black bears in the southern Appalachians. Key findings from his research included the link between a diet of acorn production and the Black bear’s survival and reproduction. Physiologically, bears are adapted to digest the fats and carbohydrates found in acorns. Their systems are equipped to handle this specialized diet. Another finding was to cope with food shortages during non-mast years, bears have developed behavioral and ecological adaptations. Despite these adaptations, upland hardwood forests in the Southeast as well as throughout the forest and woodlands of the Central Hardwoods have declined in quality due to factors like the loss of the American chestnut, high-grading (selective logging of only the best trees), soil degradation, and other changes. Forest management practices, fragmentation, and oak decline further threaten the capability of southeastern uplands to support bears (“Oak-Black Bear Relationships in Southeastern Uplands”). In summary, the intricate relationship between oak mast and black bears underscores the critical role of acorns in supporting bear populations and influencing their survival and reproduction. For landowners interested in the conservation and management of Black bears, it boils down to being a good manager of oak-hickory forests and oak woodlands on their properties. This means evaluating the forest for health, diversity of species of various oak trees, the age/size classes of the trees, and their density. A healthy, highly diverse oak forest and oak woodlands will provide a sustainable production of soft vegetation, native insects, fruit, and acorns for a population of black bears. Acorns are an important source of fats and carbohydrates in the diets of not only bears but also critical for nearly 200 other wildlife species as well. (“OAK-BLACK BEAR RELATIONSHIPS IN SOUTHEASTERN UPLANDS”). If you are interested in evaluating your oak forests and woodlands for the management of black bears, contact us by email. We would be happy to discuss a plan for managing black bear habitat or other species of wildlife on your property. It can begin with wise management of the oak trees.
For the wise stewardship of wildlife and forest resources.
TR
Eastern Wild Turkey Diet: Managing Vegetation for Protein-packed Insects
Besides being a ground-nesting bird where a clutch of eggs is vulnerable to predators, cold rain, or untimely ground fires, the wild turkey chicks that do hatch and become poults continue to depend on a critical protein-based diet of insects. Being a conservation-minded steward of the land that provides habitat for these beautifully feathered game birds, it is important to manage vegetation in a manner that produces a plethora of insects throughout the growing seasons. Some of the top insects in an eastern wild turkey diet are:
● Grasshoppers: These are large, jumping insects that have long hind legs and antennae. They are found in grasslands, fields, and meadows, and feed on plants. They are a good source of protein and fat for turkeys, especially in the summer and fall.
● Beetles: These are insects that have hard wing covers and chewing mouthparts. They are the most diverse group of insects, with over 400,000 species. They can be found in almost every habitat, and feed on various things, such as plants, fungi, carrion, dung, and other insects. They are also nutritious food for turkeys, especially in the spring and summer.
● Ants: These are social insects that live in colonies and have a caste system. They have elbowed antennae and a narrow waist between the thorax and abdomen. They can be found in various habitats, such as forests, fields, gardens, and houses. They feed on different things, such as seeds, nectar, honeydew, insects, and fungi. They are common prey for turkeys, especially in the spring and summer.
● Spiders: These are arachnids that have eight legs and two body segments. They have spinnerets that produce silk for making webs or cocoons. They are found in almost every habitat, such as trees, bushes, grasses, rocks, caves, and buildings. They are a favorite food for turkeys, especially in the spring and summer.
These are some of the top insects in an eastern wild turkey diet. Insects provide turkeys with essential nutrients, such as protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, and vitamins. Insects also help turkeys digest plant matter by breaking down cellulose in their crops. Turkeys usually forage for insects by scratching the ground or pecking at low vegetation. Antlers & Oaks can provide you with an assessment of your property to provide this critical element of wild turkey habitat. I look forward to hearing from you and seeing what opportunities to provide habitat for the wild turkey population in your area.
Eastern Wild Turkey Habitat: Managing Your Oak Woodlands for Mast Production
The fall season is quickly approaching. Many outdoors enthusiasts’ favorite time to get afield is during this season – especially hunters. From the opening days of dove season in September, through fall deer season, we seek out these diverse habitats where we hunt. Avid hunters know and appreciate the importance of the food produced in our oak woodlands. Nearly all game species we pursue in the Midwest depend on the acorn crop from our oak trees.
Fall is also a time to observe and plan for management practices of these critical habitats. The habitats of eastern wild turkeys are no exception. A common question for managing oak woodlands, is “What is the best density of oak trees in the woodlands on my property?”
This is an excellent question for two reasons. One is the health of the trees in these habitats, and two is for the benefit of wildlife that depend on the food produced by these trees. As for the best density for oaks in turkey management, there is no definitive answer to this question. However, depending on soil types, topography, aspect of the land, and the composition of the various oak species, it is best answered in a range of densities. “Basal area” is a measure of the cross-sectional area of trees at breast height (4.5 feet above the ground) per unit of land area (usually an acre). It is used to estimate the density and volume of forest stands. The basal area can vary depending on the size, number, spacing, and distribution of trees in a stand.
Generally speaking, lower basal areas (40 to 60 square feet per acre) allow more light to penetrate the woodland canopy and reach the forest floor. Doing so, stimulates the growth of understory vegetation that provides food and cover for turkeys. Higher basal areas (80 to 120 square feet per acre) provide more mast (acorns) production from oaks and other hardwoods but reduce the understory diversity and quality. Therefore, a balance between these two extremes is desirable for the turkey habitat.
One way to achieve this balance is to use uneven-aged management techniques that create a mosaic of different age classes and sizes of trees within a stand. This can be done by using selective harvesting methods such as single-tree selection or group selection that remove individual trees or small groups of trees based on their diameter or quality. This creates openings or gaps in the canopy that allow light to penetrate and stimulate understory growth while maintaining a continuous cover of mature trees that produce mast.
Another way to achieve this balance is to use even-aged management techniques that create stands of similar age and size classes of trees within a stand. This can be done by using clearcutting or shelterwood methods that remove all or most of the overstory trees in one or two harvests. This creates large openings or clearings that allow abundant light to reach the forest floor and stimulate the rapid regeneration of new trees and understory vegetation. However, this also requires leaving some residual trees or creating adjacent stands of mature trees that can provide mast production and roosting sites for turkeys.
The choice between uneven-aged or even-aged management depends on several factors such as landowner objectives, site conditions, stand characteristics, market opportunities, wildlife preferences, and aesthetic values. A professional forester or wildlife biologist can help you decide which method is best for your situation and goals.
At Antlers & Oaks – we can help you learn more about the mast-producing trees and shrubs for eastern wild turkeys. We can also develop recommendations for the best density of oak trees in turkey management on your property. If you have any other questions about wild turkeys or their habitat on your land, send us an email and we can explore some of your options. I look forward to hearing from you.
White-tailed Deer Habitat: September Management Practices
While some folks are trying to beat the heat of these August dog days of summer, other folks are longing for the crisp, clean, and cooler temps of autumn. This is especially true for us who enjoy autumn days sitting in our favorite deer stand with bow and arrow in hand.
Between now and through September, hunters can enjoy conducting deer habitat management practices that are best done during this time frame:
● Planting food plots: While the availability of food, in general, is not the limiting factor in white-tailed deer habitat, the quality, and seasonal availability is often the issue. Food plots can provide supplemental food sources for deer, especially during times of stress, such as late summer to early fall and mid-to-late winter. Green-browse food plots can be planted with a variety of crops, such as clover, alfalfa, wheat, oats, rye, and brassicas (e.g. turnips). Legume plantings such as clover and lespedeza are excellent for improving the nutrients in a does milk. This is a critical need for does nursing their fawns at a time they need to grow as fast as possible. For the same reasons, clover and lespedeza are often inter-seeded into cool-season pastures for cow/calf pairs. When landowners have shared goals for cattle grazing as well as a healthy deer herd, inter-seeding hayfields and pastures is a great example of integrating agriculture and wildlife management.
Grain food plots such as soybeans (another legume), milo, and corn can also be planted for food availability in winter. These can be utilized during years of poor acorn production in oak woodlands, or in lands that are lacking in oak woodlands within the local deer population’s range.
Food plots should be located near cover, water, and travel corridors, and should be at least 1/4 acre in size. Food plots should be planted according to the soil type, fertility, and pH and maintained with proper fertilization, weed control, and mowing.
● Strip disking for forbs: Strip disking is a technique that involves using a disk harrow to disturb the soil and create bare ground. This stimulates the growth of desirable forbs (broad-leaved non-woody plants), such as sunflowers, croton (dove weed), and ragweed. Forbs provide food and cover for deer and other wildlife species. Strip disking can be done in grasslands, prairies, old fields, woodlands, and forests. Strip disking should be done in strips that are 50 to 100 feet wide and spaced 100 to 200 feet apart. Strip disking should be done every two to three years to maintain early successional vegetation.
● Haying or grazing: Haying or grazing can be used to reduce the height and density of grasses and increase the diversity and availability of forbs. Haying or grazing can also improve the quality and palatability of grasses for deer. Haying or grazing should be done at a light or very moderate intensity to avoid overgrazing or soil erosion. Haying should be discontinued by mid-September to allow grasses to recover before winter.
These are some of the deer habitat management practices that can be done in September to enhance the quality and quantity of food and cover for deer on your property. Antlers & Oaks - Land Stewardship Services can help design proper food plot strategies and recommend seed blends and seeding rates best suited for the soil conditions on your property. We would like to tour your property and design a comprehensive stewardship plan for deer and other wildlife that depend on your land’s resources. Send me an email for more information, I look forward to hearing from you soon!
Critical Turkey Habitat Elements – Understanding your property’s limiting conditions to improve eastern wild turkey use.
The top habitat elements for eastern wild turkey conservation are:
● Openings: These are areas of grasses, forbs, and shrubs that provide food and cover for turkeys. Openings can be created and maintained by, burning, disking, or planting and under certain conditions, mowing at specific times and under specific conditions. Openings in forest or woodland habitats also attract insects, which are important for poult survival.
● Mast-producing trees and shrubs: These are plants that produce nuts, fruits, berries, or seeds that turkeys eat. Examples are oaks, hickories, dogwoods, blackberries, and blueberries. In particular, Post oaks have great benefits since the mature acorns are typically small enough that turkeys can eat the acorns whole. Planting and managing these species well can enhance food availability for turkeys throughout the year.
● Protective roosting and nesting cover: These are areas of dense vegetation that provide shelter and concealment for turkeys. Roosting cover is usually tall trees with horizontal branches that turkeys can perch on at night. Nesting cover is usually low-growing plants that hide nests from predators. Examples are pines, cedars, native honeysuckle, and briars.
● Native warm-grasses and forbs: These are plants that grow naturally in the region and provide food and cover for turkeys. Native grasses and forbs can be established by planting seeds or plugs, or by reducing competition from invasive plants. Examples are switchgrass, bluestem, clover, sunflower, and milkweed.
● Timber stand improvement (TSI): This is a practice that involves thinning, pruning, or removing trees to improve the health and diversity of the forest. TSI can benefit turkeys by increasing sunlight penetration through the tree canopy and reaching the forest floor, stimulating understory growth, creating openings, and enhancing mast production.
These are some of the ways to improve wild turkey habitat and conserve this amazing bird species. I would be honored to assess your land and develop a custom management plan to help you be a critical steward of this amazing native game bird and conserve this species into the future. Send us an email to schedule a tour of your property.
How Ecological Elements are Used in Successful Wildlife Habitat Management
Ecological elements are the physical, chemical, and biological factors that influence the structure and function of an ecosystem. They include climate, soil, water, vegetation, animals, and human activities. Antlers & Oaks – Land Stewardship Services understands how these elements interact and affect wildlife habitats, and use them to benefit wildlife habitat management strategies for various properties.
Some examples of how we use ecological elements to benefit wildlife habitat management are:
● Climate/Weather: By monitoring the effects of shifting climate trends and seasonal transitions on wildlife habitats, we can plan for adaptation strategies. For example, you can plant native species that are more resilient to drought, heat, or flooding, or create corridors that allow wildlife to migrate to more suitable habitats.
● Soil: You can improve soil quality and fertility by using organic fertilizers, composting, mulching, or especially cover crops. This can enhance plant growth and diversity, which in turn can provide more food and cover for wildlife.
● Water: You can also protect water quality by reducing runoff, erosion, or pollution from various land uses within your property’s watershed. This can help maintain aquatic habitats and wetlands that are vital for many wildlife species.
● Vegetation: You can manage vegetation by using practices such as mowing, burning, grazing, or planting. These practices can create different types of habitats that suit different wildlife needs. For example, you can create forest openings, edges, or corridors that can benefit birds, mammals, or insects which are the foundation of any natural landscape community.
● Wildlife: You can manage wildlife populations by using practices such as hunting, trapping, or reintroduction. These practices can control invasive or overabundant species that may harm native wildlife or habitat that rely on your property’s land and water resources. They can also restore endangered or threatened species that may play important roles within the ecosystem where your land is located.
● Human activities: You can reduce human impacts on wildlife habitat by using practices such as designating recreational areas, refuge areas and access corridors. These practices can limit unnecessary infrastructure, fragmentation of habitat, or disturbance of natural areas. They can also increase awareness and appreciation of wildlife and their habitats among those that use and enjoy the property.
Antlers & Oaks – Land Stewardship Services has the ability and expertise to take these ecological into account and develop appropriate management recommendations to conserve, improve and protect the natural resources of wildlife and forest resources on your property.
Why a Land Stewardship Plan?
It all begins with goal, the journey starts with a plan.
Effective land stewardship starts with a well-developed management plan. This plan is critical to achieving your property goals, be it for agriculture, wildlife, or forest benefits. Management plans serve as written guides that outline current conditions, desired outcomes, and specific actions to improve the quality and diversity of your property for your goals.
A wildlife habitat management plan, for instance, offers numerous benefits, including identifying the wildlife species present or desired on your property and their habitat requirements. It also helps prioritize and schedule the best practices such as planting native vegetation, creating water sources, controlling invasive species, or conducting prescribed burns. Additionally, it allows you to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of your actions and adjust your plan as needed. You can also access financial and technical assistance from various programs and agencies that support wildlife conservation on private lands.
A land stewardship plan is a valuable tool that can make your property more attractive and beneficial for wildlife. By creating a plan, you can manage your land proactively and enjoy the rewards of seeing more profitable agricultural practices, healthy wildlife populations on your property, and higher-quality forest resources. These benefits translate to wildlife, watershed protection, and sustainable income from your investment in property for both you and your family into the future.
As your professional consultant, I can help you develop a sound and successful stewardship plan for the land entrusted to your care. I am confident that with my assistance, you can leave a wise heritage and achieve your property goals. Don't hesitate to contact me; I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Tim Russell