LAND MANAGMENT

Forest nursery has quail cover bundles
HYBRID SUNFISH MYTH
Order Tree Seedlings Now

LAND MANAGMENT

CHUFA WHAT MISSOURI CAN DO FOR YOU DON'T DO FESCUE
WEEKEND HUNTER/WILDLIFE/LAND MANAGER = WEEKEND WARRIOR FOOD PLOTS WHY USE MINERAL SUPLEMENTS WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE
WILD TURKEY MANAGEMENT SEMINAR    

WHITETAIL DEER MANAGMENT

GAME CAMERAS KEEPING TRACK DON'T HUNT THE FOOD PLOTS
Take More Does 

Take Them Early
Why you should pass on
 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 year old Bucks.
How to Estimate Age of Whitetail Deer on the Hoof

 

Land Managment Radio
with your hosts
Horntagger and Bassbuster
You will need Real Player to view / listen to this video.  Download from this link.
You may have to look around a little bit to find the free version, don't worry it is there.  Look for the simple hyperlink small blue text that says.
Install the free RealPlayer here

Interview with Steve Scott on 3-22-2002- With your host horntagger and bassbuster about  whitetail clover, with the Vice President of Whitetail Institute - Steve Scott.

Segment One Listen On-Line with Real Player
Segment Two Listen On-Line with Real Player


Wild Turkey Management Seminar with Mike Hubbard on 2-20-2001- With your host horntagger sitting in while Missouri Department of Conservation Wild Life Biologist give the first half of seminar - Dr. Mike Hubbard

Segment One Listen On-Line with Real Player
Segment Two Listen On-Line with Real Player
Segment Three Listen On-Line with Real Player
Segment Four Listen On-Line with Real Player


Wild Turkey Management Seminar with Larry Heggemann on 2-20-2001- With your host horntagger sitting in while Missouri Department of Conservation Private Land Conservationist give the last half of seminar - Larry Heggemann

 Segment One  Segment Two
Segment Three  Segment Four

WILD TURKEY MANAGEMENT 

Need help working the ground?  Your local Department of Conservation office keeps a list of people that are willing to take their tractor and do the work for you.  Give them a call and see what is available.

Want to Lease your land for hunting?  List it on our Lease page

This section is dedicated to the needs of landowners.  Where to get fish for your ponds, seeds for your food plots, how to build blinds and stands.  It will also be the place you can let the world know you are interested in leasing your land for hunting, fishing, or camping.

If you have any interest in any of this Email Us.
 


NEW!
Articles about
managing your land
for more and bigger
deer
 

MO
SPORTSMEN.COM

HUNTING
FISHING
CAMPING
SHOOTING
ATV'S

ORGANIZATIONS
LAND OWNERS
LINKS

LAND FOR LEASE
LOCAL WEATHER
TAXIDERMISTS
SPORTING GOODS

MDC'S LAND OWNER TIPS

email_us

Forest nursery has quail cover bundles
Plants that provide food and habitat for quail are among the wide variety of native trees and shrubs available from MDC nursery.

LICKING, Mo. –This year's bumper crop at the Missouri Department of Conservation George O. White Nursery provides state residents with endless land management opportunities.

Nursery Supervisor Greg Hoss says 2001 has been a very productive year for virtually everything the nursery planted. 

"The number of trees and shrubs available are as high as I have ever seen produced in a single year," says Hoss. "We have lots of oaks, pines, plums and many of the other popular species that are produced annually, as well as new species that can be used for everything from windbreaks to wildlife cover."

The new offerings include a Quail Cover Bundle. Each bundle contains 10 wild plum seedlings, 10 fragrant sumac seedlings and 10 silky dogwood seedlings, 10 rough-leaf dogwood seedlings and 10 false indigo seedlings. Quail Cover Bundles also come with planting tips for maximum benefit to quail. 

Another new species available this year is the Norway spruce, an evergreen that makes great windbreaks and shelter belts for wildlife. One of the Norway spruce's most attractive features is that it is less attractive to deer than other evergreens.

Those interested in wildlife management also may consider ordering roundheaded bush clover and slender bush clover. The species provide food and cover for turkeys and small game species. 

Landowners who have lost oak trees to oak wilt or oak decline have many options for replacing trees. The nursery has an abundance of several varieties of oaks. 

Most are sold in bundles of 25 that cost $3 to $10. Order forms, including lists of available seedlings and bundles will be available November 15 at Conservation Department offices throughout the state, or online at www.missouriconservation.org. Use the keyword seedlings to access the seedling order form.  If you would like to be placed on the mailing list for an order form call the George O. White Nursery at 573/674-3229. 

Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's best to order early.  In addition to spelling out which plants you want, the order form allows you to specify when you want the plants delivered by mail, or whether you prefer to pick them up at the nursery.  MDC sends you a notice two weeks before the delivery date stating what plants it can furnish.  This notice also serves as a billing statement.  Seedlings are shipped after payment is received.  Deliveries take place from February through May.

- Arleasha Mays  - 
 
 

Here is a good link to a story on the MDC page about how to grow minows.  Why would you want to grow minnows?  Bass like to eat em!  MINNOWS WHY USE MINERAL SUPPLEMENTS

Need fish for your pond contact Harrison Fish Farm
and tell them you got their number 
here in The North Missouri Sportsmen's
Information Network.
Harrison Fish Farm
RR 2 Box 61A
Hurdland, MO.  63547
660-423-5482

Allen Morris
Land Management Editor for the North Missouri Sportsmen's Information Network

About the Author
Allen is a 21 year deer hunting veteran who has spent most of his hunting time in the Missouri Ozarks.  He hunts on a piece of land called the Turkey Buzzard Inn.  He has studied deer management and increasing deer populations and has improved this piece of ozark wilderness to a point where seeing deer is not a problem any more.  He has been published in a variety of deer hunting magazines with several articles about deer management and deer hunting.

We figured if he can turn around a piece of Ozark rock and clay just think what his methods could do for your North Missouri property.


Articles by Allen:
 Staying Scent Free
 WHAT MISSOURI CAN DO FOR YOU?
WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE

Did you know? Your local MDC office usually holds a list of area farmers who are willing to hire out their services and equipment to help you work the ground, plant food plots, or what ever you might need done.  Call your local MDC office and ask about help you might need.


WEEKEND HUNTER/WILDLIFE/LAND MANAGER = WEEKEND WARRIOR FOOD PLOTS

By: Allen “horntagger” Morris

DRIVING FACTORS

Each piece of land has it’s own special driving factors of how much manipulation is necessary in management of wildlife. Driving factors can range from location of the land, condition of the land, the current wildlife population, to human preferences which the most influential driving factor out of them all.

Since in the current modern day environments, there is no true natural state any more for the land or wildlife. Manipulation will be a must, but all of the driving factors mentioned, all will determine how much.


LAND MANAGEMENT then DEER MANAGEMENT
That is the key to success. The picture above proves this theory since it was taken in my food plot, on my mock scrape in the next to worse county in Missouri to hunt in.

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS

The first question each landowner has to ask him or herself. What is going to be the main animal they are going to manage the land for? This is where the human relationship and one of the first and most influential driving factors starts.

This human relationship even has different driving factors inside this most influential driving factor. What the person enjoys watching, hunting, or even has decided to try to make the almighty dollar on some type of wildlife and wildlife management, which entails land management and manipulation of the current situation.

The human relationship and it’s manipulation of the land and wildlife is like dropping a rock into water the ripples or what we call affects and the land and it’s wildlife constantly move outward and onward. Never returning back to the source.

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS - VIEWING WILDLIFE

This part of the human relationship with land and the animals takes the least amount of manipulation to the land, and requires the maximum manipulation of the wildlife itself, which could cause the most negative impact on the wildlife if not monitored.

With the main purpose of viewing wildlife being the driving factor in the person’s mind. A central location, such as a salt lick, feeding station, or water source will be all that is required. This type of manipulation can make the lowest of population of animals seem like a huge population. By bringing all the animals to on central location for viewing. Other than free access to the central location no other manipulation of the land is necessary.

This can be seen with every bird feeder in the world. Which give bird watchers, something to enjoy and even bring a little of the natural heritage of enjoying nature back in to their lives. That may have been buried in the modern day times of computers and work environments. This central location of a feeding station can be enjoyed from the big city to the small farm.

The more rural the location, the more wildlife that will be viewed from a feeding station, salt lick, and watering hole, but with a cost. This type central location is the most covenant for the person, but is the most un-natural state in which all wildlife can exist. This type central location can increase population to an un-natural state by providing food when no food may be available. Can make wildlife dependent if not other food source is as easy to consume. Can condense existing population in smaller areas to obtain this food source.

This type of human manipulation must be monitored to keep a balance, even if a natural state can never be obtained, it still needs to be monitored to keep negative effects from occurring.

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS – HUNTING

Every highway, road, city, building, school, subdivision and house in this modern day has had an affect on the wildlife. The wildlife today has either been eliminated because of social un-acceptance like large predators or has been condense to smaller ranges.

Hunting may be the closest thing to a natural state and the manipulation of the land and its wildlife.

With humans taking place of the natural large predators that have been eliminated keep the current wildlife population in check.

Hunting organization, license, and fees put money back into improving habitat for wildlife which has manipulated some of the current wildlife population like White-tailed Deer and Wild Turkey to populations over and beyond what biologist believe ever existed.

The effects that have to be monitored in hunting are age structures, sex ratio’s and harvest totals of different wildlife species to make sure that they are in balance with the current habitat.

HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS – ECONOMICS

When land and wildlife managers use the current resources as a source of income. This is when it becomes the most natural or un-natural state. Both the land and the wildlife can be manipulated to an age structure, sex ratio or population that is the most economically profitable. This may or may not be the ideal situation for the wildlife or the land. With money being the driving factor, the wildlife population can be made to surpass the habitat. The age structure can be skewed to the majority of mature adults. Age structure can be adjusted that is the most beneficial to the owners.

With a monitored system that is in tune with the current habitat and the biologist best guess at a natural state the wildlife and it’s land can be brought to the closest natural state of age structure, sex ratio, and population. With money still being the driving factor, and with ethics as an secondary driving factor coming into play for a true wild state of existence. The human relationship can in this case, be the best or worse and is a narrow road to follow.

ENVIRONMENT, ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS

Once a road has been determined by the person about his land and the wildlife that he or she chooses to manipulate on the land that they will have to manipulate for the desire results. For example if the choice is, the manipulation of the land and wildlife for hunting.

Under the current environment of a busy lifestyle and social attitudes of instant gratification that this has come out of this lifestyle. Being able to get back to a heritage lost has come down to a few weekends here and there for eighty percent of the hunting population. Weekend Warrior for the lack of a better term.

Since this human behavior of hunting on weekends is driving by modern lifestyle factors and management attitude that benefits wildlife has instead of an option a necessity for enjoyment of the hunting heritage. So enters the manipulation of habitat to bring the highest population of animals in front of the hunter in the shortest amount of time.

MANAGEMENT TACTICS

Manipulation of habitat to bring the highest population of animals in front of the hunter in the shortest amount of time, take a certain type of management tactics that also has to be accomplished on weekends.

The NO. 1 question the hunter/wildlife/land manager must ask him or herself is. Why does the wildlife need and want to be on their land? This question needs to answered and ask multiple times. Until multiple food sources, mineral requirements, water sources and cover are all in the answers. The objective will always be just out of your reach, because every time you change something to the habitat, the wildlife will adjust and then you will have to adjust. Along with education of what the habitat will require.

MANAGEMENT TACTICS - EDUCATION OF THE LAYMAN

In today’s modern times most don't have a lot of free time due to family and work.

Taking books to work and reading over a lunch hour is the first part of educating one’s self to what and the habitat will require. Most will be amazed how much can be read and learned over time. These are some of the better resource for food plots that will be required to bring in the most wildlife like deer for the weekends when in today’s environment the hunter will be hunting.

GUIDE TO ABUNDANT WILDLIFE, by Randall Rogers

QUALITY WHITETAILS by Karl Miller and Larry Marchinton

WHITE-TAILED DEER ECOLOGY and MANAGEMENT by Lowell Halls

FOOD FOR GAME by Dan Moultrie and Tony Kinton

HOW TO ATTRACT WHITETAILS by Larrry Weishuhn

GAME MANAGEMENT by Aldo Leopold

Also Wildlife Organization like National Wild Turkey Federation, Quail Unlimited, Quality Whitetails and the tons of other organization that are out there. All have tons of free brochures on improving habitat.

Also in today’s world there are ton’s of video’s on starting food plots, and they will provide base to start with.

Along with the Internet, which is a modern day biologist on-line. You can find unlimited amount of information from, states game and fish agency including all the other great Internet hunting and hunting organization sites.

MANAGEMENT TACTICS - LOCATION OF FOOD PLOTS

Which leads us to the first step as a hunter/wildlife/land manager all wrapped up into a weekend warrior. Food plots are by no means an over night fix but after a just one year, most will probably start noticing a difference.

This will improve weekend hunter chances when they get to hunt by concentrating deer and turkey around a central location and improve the habitat by improving the quality and quantity of the wildlife.

Late Winter or Early Spring is a great time of the year. No leaves on the trees, no ticks or chiggers to worry about and you can see a long ways through the woods. Of course depending on what part of the country the landowner is in they will have to adjust to the month that is best for them.

One thing to look for are trails if you haven't seen the deer travel through your area you should be able to find trails a little easier this time of year. Due to the fact that leaves have been off of the trees for good amount of time, which makes them, lay down more on the forest floor, so the paths are little easier to find.

Taking color-marking tape, which is used when tracking deer during the hunting seasons. Find that area in the woods that is not to steep, and you believe to be next to game trails. Don't make the trail part of your food plot make it next to it find two parallel trails try to make it between them. Also rake the leaves away to see if you have some soil to work with or rock not to.

Before marking off the food plot. Now is time to decide how to remove the trees. The best way is with a bulldozer, it removes the stumps, and is the fastest but cost the most, shop around find out how much they charge per hour and their minimum amount.

If this works for you can have a little bigger food plot.

The next way is with chain saws and limb saws. This is labor intensive and may take a few of addition individuals to help. Small plots and may take a few weekends to be ready to plant, one weekend to cut and remove trees, one weekend to rake leaves to have to soil exposed to plant.

Either way now it is time to mark off the trees, mark off the big one's to keep. Then step two the next big tree to keep, the area that is going to be cleared, try to keep the small trees in that area. Making a circle, semi-circle, figure eight, L-shape and Boomerang shapes just always keep the orange markers in site which will allow them to end where it started.

Stranger the shape, better the deer like it. Also by keeping the bigger trees, that produce acorns; will produce better due to less competition for water and light.

When cutting trees down or bulldozing. Make like a fence around the clearing, leaving opening in place you would like to hunt or fences that guide them to narrows on food plots for shooting lanes. These areas the first year will be like funnels into the food plots. The piles will also providing cover for the deer, turkey, rabbits and any other wildlife that needs cover. Why manage for one when you can manage for all in a good wildlife plan.

MANAGEMENT TACTICS - FOOD PLOT

Now its time to plant, we plant around the end of February. Things like red clover, which can take the heat and cost less. Ladino clover which the deer and turkey prefer but cost more and does not like dry areas.

Planting different seeds like Whitetail Clover, No – Plow, Red Clover, Ladino Clover, White Dutch Clover, Corn, Soybeans, Wheat, Milo, Sunflowers, Turnips, Winter Peas, Biologic, Alfalfa, Lespedeza, Mr. Whitetail Products and Tecomate seed. Each weekend hunter/wildlife/land manager – weekend warrior will have to decide what works best for the area.

Helpful hints ask some farmers if they have any seed left over, might just get some cheap or free. Even if the seed is a last years or older, who cares most are not trying to grow it for harvest, they are trying to draw in the wildlife to your area. Also, you can get free seed from your Conservation Agents. Most of the time it is first come first served. Along with Wildlife Organization have some great seed prices.

 Everyone recommends testing the soil. But, sometimes only having the weekend to plant, and don't have time to send off for test. Buying your own testers at local lawn and garden stores.

Most will not able to put as much lime or fertilizer as need but at least they know if you need to add some. Lawn and Garden stores sell Pellitized lime that works great. If you find an old metal bed frame that you can drag after seeding, that will give just enough to cover for the seed to take hold. Don’t worry about over planting between the birds and the turkey they will start thinning it out. Then the deer will start eating as soon as it comes out of the ground.

Small food plot under an acre, plant heavy the deer will and turkey will concentrate on a small area food source.

Other things that can be planted like, Dwarf Apple trees in area without can provide additional food sources. Sooner they are planted then the sooner the wildlife will have another food source in a couple of years. Don't forget to put chicken wire around them or the rabbits and deer will eat the trees. Mulch will help the trees from drying out during the summer.

WEEKEND WARRIOR EQUIPMENT

What I use to do by hand that took several weekends to accomplish can be done in just a weekend, with today ATV’s and ATV Equipment. Seeder that goes around your neck and crank is can be replaced by the ATV seeder can now make planting even faster. One of the most impressive pieces of equipment for ATV’s is the Heavy Duty 64” inch Tandem Disc with Electric Actuator which is a must. With one pass the ground is now something you can work with.

 

ATV and equipment has gone beyond the weekend warrior dreams. Just to list a few, Tandem Disc, 60” Rear Blade, 60 inch Cultivator, Trailer Sprayer, Spreader, Utility Trailer, and Brush Cut Mowers. Most local area store’s do not carry these items. So I will give you a place to get your start looking for what you might need. WEEKEND WARRIOR www.weekend-warrior.com or call 1-866-539-8944. I suggest you get a catalog

MANAGEMENT TACTICS - THE OASIS

Also if you don't have any pine trees in the area which deer prefer to rub because of holding their scent better. You can get them from the forestry division of the conservation department for little to nothing.

Just like apple trees if every year you say I need to plant these and don’t that is one more growing season you have missed.

Adding a water source in your area will be the best thing you could ever do after establishing food plots.

Remember a good watershed is needed to keep it filled and use sakcrete concrete to make a little spillway. Then planting clover around it will be an added benefit.

This watering holes become a drive through for most of the deer and turkey in the area. This is even with Rivers a ½ mile away and a large pond ½ mile away in the other direction. All this does is putting this in is now the deer and turkey don’t have to travel that ½ mile to get a drink. Instead they come to a little oasis. Just think about it this way, if gas is the same price would you fill up next door or around the block if you had that choice.

This will give the deer and turkey a reason to be in that area, something they can't live without, food and water.

MANAGEMENT TACTICS - FINAL THOUGHT

Food plots are a trial and error project and it depends on the area of the country. By getting a surveillance game camera, will tell if things are improving and can hunt the 5 days most don’t get to. But if weekend hunter/wildlife/land manager – weekend warrior don't try then they won’t succeed.

With success will come the only weekend most have to hunt and most will get to watch just one deer or turkey eat or drink the hard work within bow range will be the most gratifying feel they will have as an weekend hunter/wildlife/land manager – weekend warrior

ETHICS IN MODERN DAY MANAGEMENT

Since there is no turning back time and there is no true natural state of wildlife or land because of human factors. Everything we do has to be driving by what we see in the mirror. That is the draw to hunting and management of wildlife. It is not a sport with fans cheering or booing, it is a heritage that is only celebrate by what you don’t do or do when we as hunters/wildlife/land managers and human care takers of the land do when stand alone in the woods.

Ethics in management can not be forced, or in-forced with laws, it can only be taught by example by one’s own actions. When one landowner shows improvement most will follow. That is way it so important to start. 

The human relationship and it’s manipulation of the land and wildlife and the ethics involved in doing so, is like dropping a rock into water the ripples or what we call affects and the land and it’s wildlife constantly move outward and onward. Never returning back to the source.

Hope to see you in the woods or on the water. Horntagger.

 Back to Top

Order Tree Seedlings Now
Conservation Department nursery encourages Missourians to go nuts.

LICKING, Mo.--Each year the Conservation Department's George O. White Nursery near Licking offers approximately 60 species of trees and shrubs for reforestation, wildlife habitat improvement, windbreaks, erosion control and other environmental uses.

Large-growing tree species available this year include 12 species of oak, black walnut, pecan, hickory, green and white ash, bald cypress and many more. The nursery also grows a variety of small trees and shrubs, including three species of dogwood, wild plum, redbud, aromatic and smooth sumac and hawthorn.

In addition, they offer three special bundles, each containing several species. This year, for the first time, the nursery is offering a bundle of extra-large nut trees. This bundle includes 15 pecan seedlings two feet and taller, and 15 black walnut seedlings measuring three feet or more.

Missourians can order seedlings from now through May 1. Most are sold in bundles of 25 that cost $3 to $12. Order forms, including lists of available seedlings and bundles, are available from Missouri Department of Conservation, 14027 Shafer Road, Licking, MO 65542, 573/674-3229, or you can order on line at www.conservation.state.mo.us/forest/nursery/ starting November 15.

Orders are filled on a first-come, first-served basis, so it's best to order early. In addition to spelling out which plants you want, the order form allows you to specify when you want the plants delivered. The trees will be shipped to you or you may prefer to pick them up at the nursery from February through May.

-Jim Low -


WHAT MISSOURI CAN DO FOR YOU?
Private Land Ownership Program
By Allen "horntagger" Morris

  My Best Guess

  For the last several years' family and friends have helped me cut in food plots with limbs saws, chain saws, bulldozers. Then we started planting food plots with everything from Imperial Whitetail Clover, Suchtash, Mossy Oak Biologic, Alfalfa, Wheat, Sunflowers, Soybeans, Corn, Milo, Regal White Clover, and Medium Red Top Clover. Also added 8 apple trees and pine trees along with 3 salt licks, 30-06 licks, and Deer Cane licks. Two years ago we added an isolated watering hole and started supplement feeding during fawning and antler growth periods of the year. All this is on my Grandma's farm of 47 acres in Ripley County, Missouri.
All this was accomplished with the help of reading numerous books, my best guess, camtrakker surveillance camera to see how many and quality of whitetails using the area, a lot of trial and error, which cost me money and valuable time in the long run.

  A New Program

  In 2000 the Missouri Department of Conservation announced the Private Landowners Assistance Program. This peaked my interest.
So a few months into the year I e-mailed MDC and with a very prompt reply they forward my name and number to Brad Mckee a Private Land Conservationist who would be getting in contact with me in a short time.

  Just before turkey season Brad called and we had a very nice talk over the phone about the MDC program and the farm in Ripley County and what my goals are for the wildlife. Brad noted that they had a few more weeks of training to do and of course a small break for Spring Turkey Season. I always appreciate a man with my same priorities. Brad said he would give me a call back as soon as possible so we could set an appointment. So in June, Brad called and we set July 8th at 9:00 a.m. as our first meeting.

  Walking the Land

  I did not know what to expect. But at 9:00 a.m. right on time he showed up. Giving Brad a few general introductions of the history and lay of the land and the surrounding the farm. We started the tour.
We walk to our food plot on the ridge, then to the food plot in the valley that is now planted with white and red clover. Then we went by the watering hole, pine trees, and apple tress and the supplement feeding area. He asked a few general questions about our up keep and planting, fertilizer and feeding routines.
He noted how well the food plots look and gave me the suggestion of keeping the ph, potash, and phosphorous up to the needed levels and not allowing other plants to compete to much. He also stated how some of the Missouri Biologist recommend, instead of trying some marketed products,  mixed white and red clover works well in Missouri food plots.  Something that had taken me several years to figure out, he told me in about a minute.
Also, one part of the habitat I have known about but did not have any experience in (and more than likely never will) is timber management. Brad showed me an example in one part of the woods on how the small whiteoaks are competing with other small trees and what could be done.
After about two to three hours of showing him the farm, pictures from the camtrakker and meeting the adjacent landowner we parted ways. But before Brad left he told me that he would gather some information together and get it in the mail to me.

  Follow Up

  A few weeks later, I received a very nice letter and three Missouri landowner management books that I had never seen before. I have read all three and learned something from all of them. About a week after that he sent a Deer Mineral Recipe from a Missouri Biologist which I have tried and have had some outstanding results with the use of since August.
Also after the letter Brad dropped off a couple of bags of wheat, mixed clover and lespedeza.
Also he has offered three times to come back over in the beginning of 2001 and help with the marking of  timber to cut, to help the white oaks.
We have also talked on the phone a few times and have exchanged a few letters and e-mail back and fourth. To the point I believe I have found someone I can trust and call a new friend.

  High Marks

  I believe with people like Brad Mckee along with the Missouri Private Land Assistants Program that Missouri Landowners and Missouri Wildlife can do nothing but benefit from this program.
What I believe the Missouri Department of Conservation is going to do for the landowner, is to cut the time and wasted money we all spend by using their concentrated experience from their Conservationist, Biologist, and other resources which we can not afford or do not have the time to acquire.

  Bonus (Deer Mineral Information from Don Smith to Brad Mckee to Allen Morris and now to my friends Missouri Deer Hunters)

  Here is a little information I put together on this deer mineral and minerals in general. This recipe mix was given to me by Don Smith, Wildlife Management Biologist out of West Plains. As for credit, I'm not sure who came up with this first since I've seen this recipe on the web since we started talking about this. I guess what I'm saying is don't give us credit in the article for coming up with this mix, were just passing on the info.

  Thanks,

Back to Top

HOMEMADE DEER MINERAL RECIPE
by Allen “horntagger” Morris
This was passed to me from a private land conservationist from Missouri Department of Conservation in the county I have land in. This is just one example of how working with any game and fish department can benefit you. So now I am passing it along to you. You will be amazed on how well this works.

The ultimate goal of mineral supplements in deer management is to increase antler size and improve overall health of deer herds by providing minerals or trace minerals that may be lacking in a given area.

Although the jury is still out on effects of mineral supplements on wild deer populations since most studies have been on pen raised deer. Studies on wild population have been inconclusive and to a degree the same on pen raised deer due to other variables such as supplemental feeding that takes place in these areas. The direct benefits will probably be far greater in certain regions that lack certain trace minerals in the soil and plants.

One mixture or home recipe of deer minerals we recommend to landowners is a mix of one part Dicalcium Phosphate, 2 parts trace mineral salt (loose), and 1 part loose stock salt. All of these are available to purchase at most local feed and farm supply stores.

Just to give you a little background on these minerals and what they are designed to do lets start with the Dicalcium Phosphate.

Dicalcium phosphate is used primarily as dairy cattle feed additive and other animal feeds. It promotes feed digestion, weight gain, and milk production, which is obviously beneficial to a lactating doe deer. Dicalcium phosphate contains roughly between 18 and 21 percent phosphorus and 19 to 23 percent calcium.

You're probably asking why this is important by now. Well if your talking about growing antlers on deer you need to take a look at what is the make up of a deer antler.

Hardened antlers contain 40 to 50 percent organic matter from mostly proteins while the most abundant minerals consist of calcium and phosphorus. The demands for these minerals on a daily basis can be significant for antler production.
In addition, a lactating doe's milk contains high percentages of both calcium and phosphorus to pass on to their young, also causing a significant mineral drain on the doe. What makes all this significant is the fact that phosphorous cannot be synthesized by the body so it must be provided in needed levels in the animals diet. This is where a mineral mix such as this could be very valuable if an area is lacking in these naturally.


August 18th, 2001
Trace mineral salts do two things for deer. The first and foremost is it does have the salt/sodium to attract the deer and promote the use of the mineral. Secondly, it provides the trace minerals such as magnesium and potassium that are very important to herd health but are not found in significant quantities like others.
Stock salt is again like part of the above. It has the sodium to attract deer to the minerals. Most mineral mixes have salt as their most abundant ingredient since a mix of just phosphorus, calcium, and other trace minerals have little attraction to deer once mixed with the soil. 
As for directions of use we suggest using a 3-pound coffee can to measure out 1 part dicalcium phoshate, 2 parts trace mineral salt, and 1 part stock salt. Mix all these together once ready to use but keep components separate during storage. Dig a hole in the soil about 36 inches wide and 6 inches deep and mix the mineral well with the soil. This should be replenished after 6 months and then once a year thereafter. Most use seems to be during the spring and summer months on mineral licks. It's a good idea to keep these areas replenished and stocked in the same spot to maintain use.
Because of shedding of the summer coat begins this time of year, the deer need the salt, and maybe next year you will get this out early in the year to help with antler growth and fawn health.


Mineral Lick November 14th, 2001

WHITETAIL DEER HOMEMADE MINERAL MIX RECIPE
Printable version
  Ingredients: Makes 200 lbs. for about $23.00

  1 part Di-calcium phosphate, this is a dairy feed additive bought at feed stores.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $11.00 you need one bag.

  2 parts Trace mineral salt, the red and loos kind without the medications.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $5.00 you need two bags.

  1 part Stock salt, ice cream salt.
Comes in 50lb Bags at around $2.00 you need one bag.

  Directions:

  -Use a 3 pound or similar size coffee can to use as your measure for each part of the mix.

  -Mix all together well but not until read to use, keep ingredients separate until ready to put to use.

  -Dig or tear up a circle in the soil about 36 inches wide and about 6 inches deep.

  -Mix your mineral mixture with the soil.

  Maintenance:

  -Replenish in 6 months with fresh supply of mineral, and then each year there after.

Hope to see you in the woods this weekend. horntagger


This picture was taken June 30th of 2001 - The homemade mineral had been in this since late fall of 2000.

This picture of the same homemade mineral lick was taken August 18th, 2001.

Back to Top


Scroll back up and look at the two pictures. The condition of the barb wire is getting worn down.

KEEPING TRACK
By Allen “horntagger” Morris

DESK HUNTING

One of the best things a deer hunter can do is keep track of his hunts. That is something that could make all the difference before next year starts.
You don’t have to be a biologist to learn more about your deer herd in you area. By keeping track of the hunting dates, location, time, temperatures, barometer, moon phases, and weather. You can from two to three years start to learn a pattern that you may be unaware of.
By putting this together with all the new surveillance cameras for hunting. You can have a large pool of information to learn from.

YEARS PAST

What can you learn from years past? For example the land I hunt on in Southern Missouri. I have learned that out of 188 whitetail deer sighted during the daytime, that 144 or 76% have been seen from sunrise to noon. Compared that with 44 or 24% whitetail deer sighted from noon to sunset.
Also I have learned by keeping track of my free ranging deer herd how many different deer pass through the small 47-acre farm. This tells me if my food plots, watering holes, apple trees, deer minerals, etc. are working or if I need to make some type of change.In 1999 we had a total of 19 different deer sighted. In 2000 we had a total of 31 different deer sighted.
This is just not for turkey this can also be for turkeys to. It can give you a generally feeling on how each years hatch was and also what the general population, roosting and eating habits of your wild turkey population.
This can also tell you after a few years if stands need to be moved or new one put in.
After keeping track for 12 years some interesting facts have floated to the top at the end of the year 1999. I have also learned what percentage of the daytime movement occurs with each moon phase.
New Moon – 17 %


Full Moon – 19%
First Quarter – 29%
Last Quarter – 33%

Now if we add the year 2000 to the percentages of the daytime movements the percentages change but the moon phase don’t.

New Moon – 14 %
Full Moon – 16%
First Quarter – 33%
Last Quarter – 39%

Now what I find interesting about the numbers above is that 188 deer sighted only account for 20% of the deer movement. The other 80% occur at night. When firearms season starts the daytime movement goes down to 10%.

HOURS SPENT HUNTING

Here are some examples of turkey and deer viewed while hunting after 6 weeks before Missouri Firearms season takes place. In 1999 after 73 hours of hunting, I viewed 36 whitetails and 153 wild turkeys. In the year 2000 after 76 hours of hunting, I was able to view 33 whitetails and 86 wild turkeys.
Below is the observation record I keep in the Cabin so each hunter that visits can see what the last hunter has viewed and helps the next guy coming into the woods.
Also this is a great way to keep track of which stands, times, and moons, etc are the best to hunt.
Putting all this information together after several years will help you understand the deer movements in your own back yard.
Also this is a great thing to pass along to your kids. To show them what to look for when they first head to the deer and turkey woods. I hope this helps you come up with one of your own observation records. Also adding other animals can be fun also. Fell free to make copies

OBSERVATION RECORD FOR YEAR ________


TIME

MOON

DATE
HUNTER
STAND/LOCATION
VIEWED
TURKEYS
PHASE
DOES
FAWNS
BUCKS
UNKNOWN
SHOT


 

BACK TO TOP

CHUFA

Chufa is a sedge, a native of Africa and Southern Europe. Its leaves are grass-like and grow 18-24 inches high.Chufa produces small, sweet, underground tubers, commonly called nuts, usually not over ½ inch in diameter and one inch in length.They weigh 44 pounds per bushel.Yields vary from 1,000 to, rarely 5000 pounds per acre.

Varieties: There is only one commercially available.

Uses: Wildlife. Tubers are a choice of geese, and ducks, wild turkey, deer, raccoon, and squirrels.The seeds have little or no value as wildlife food.

Soil adaptation: Well drained to poorly drained soils.

Cultural Specifications:

Methods of establishments:By planting the tubers.

Fertility requirements: Moderate, chiefly nitrogen.Fertilize with 200-300lbs. 13-13-13.

Calcium need: Low

Best Planting Time: May-August.

Rate and spacing to plant:30 to 40 pounds per acre, in rows 2 ½ to three feet apart at six to 11 inch spacing in the row, or wider, with several tubers per hill. If broadcast, plant 40-60 pounds per acre.

Cultivation: Keep clean as for any row crop. Land may be rotated with other crops.

Maintenance of planting: Some volunteering will take place on larger planting for one or more years but replanting is advised for continual crops. Rotate to new site after three to four years.

Size of planting for wildlife: Plantings less that three acres in size are often destroyed by raccoons. Turkey, deer, and other wildlife dig the tubers. Chufa planting is not recommended near large raccoon populations unless control programs are carried out unless your are managing for raccoons.

Chufa are highly used by turkeys, but Chufa are usually eaten by the time the spring turkey season rolls around.


Back to Top
WHAT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN HUNTING?
By Allen “horntagger” Morris

MOST SIGNIFICANT CHANGE IN HUNTING

For several years we have had huge advances in the type of camouflage we wear, the shotguns we turkey and deer hunt with, the bows we use, arrows we shoot, and of course the ammunition that has made us a better shot and more environmentally conscious. With all these changes it has helped us become a better hunter in the field.
But out of all the things I have listed, I have not listed the most significant change that has taken hunters by storm, and has affected the hunter in unlimited amount of different ways. 
You may be curious but I believe you already know what it is. The surveillance game cameras has taken the average hunter and turned him into the professional guide and taken the average landowner and turned him to a wildlife biologist.

YOUR OWN PROFESSIONAL GUIDE

The service a professional guide provides us is the fact that he scouts the land and the animals before we arrive in a place we have never hunted before or cannot scout before we hunt. That now has become the job of the surveillance game cameras on our own land.
They have turned the weekend deer hunter into a 365-day hunting pr