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The Back 40
United States
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2020
A channel to chronicle our deer hunting and habitat improvement projects, along with a variety of work we do out on our 42 acres in Michigan, which we call "The Back 40".
We'll also share 20+ years of experience on a variety of other topics so you can learn from my mistakes (and a few successes), along with product reviews to help you determine what is best for your situation.
We'll also share 20+ years of experience on a variety of other topics so you can learn from my mistakes (and a few successes), along with product reviews to help you determine what is best for your situation.
Hunting Season Food Plot Observations - Commit to Structure!
After a couple seasons of testing sorghum/sudan grass/corn in the foodplots, I am committing to always having some kind of structure, or height, in my foodplots every season, and carving trails, shooting lanes, and small circles inside. The daytime deer activity has really picked up for us in this high hunting pressure area, and I think it is because of this. No more wide open flat food plots for me.
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Fall Foodplot Update: Sorghum, Weed Control, Steering Trails, and more...
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We had to terminate our original summer planting because weeds, mainly Horsenettle, had to be controlled asap. So we planted some sorghum late, really hoping it gets tall enough to provide screening, mixed with clovers and grains. Here is a summary of how they have responded.
"LIQUID LIME" - What you need to know, plus a food plot update
มุมมอง 3.9K4 หลายเดือนก่อน
A very helpful university "Liquid Lime" publication: extension.psu.edu/beware-of-liquid-calcium-products
Don't Let This Happen To You! Our Biggest No-Till Foodplottery Mistake So Far...
มุมมอง 7K4 หลายเดือนก่อน
Six years of no-till food plotting has brought a lot of benefits, but my mistake....BIG mistake....was not having a plan to control weeds, and now I am paying the price. Please don't let this happen to you!
5 Seasons of No-Till Foodplotting Conclusions, Weed Control, & 2024 Plan
มุมมอง 9K6 หลายเดือนก่อน
Latest lessons from no-till food plotting, thoughts on weed control, and the plan for this year.
Free DIY Step-by-Step Property Planner & Long 40 Acre Example
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Link for free DIY Habitat Planner download: markvwal.systeme.io/ If you have thought about putting together your own property plan, or maybe a re-design to improve your hunting, check out this step-by-step planner for help.
Free DIY Step-by-Step Property Planner & 20 Acre Example
มุมมอง 7757 หลายเดือนก่อน
Link for free DIY Habitat Planner download: markvwal.systeme.io/ If you have thought about putting together your own property plan, or maybe a re-design to improve your hunting, check out this step-by-step planner for help.
Free DIY Step-by-Step Property Planner & 80 Acre Example
มุมมอง 1.3K7 หลายเดือนก่อน
Link for free DIY Habitat Planner download: markvwal.systeme.io/ If you have thought about putting together your own property plan, or maybe a re-design to improve your hunting, check out this step-by-step planner for help.
FREE DIY 15 Step Habitat Planner with 40 Acre Example
มุมมอง 2.7K7 หลายเดือนก่อน
Link for free DIY Habitat Planner download: markvwal.systeme.io/ If you have thought about putting together your own property plan, or maybe a re-design to improve your hunting, check out this step-by-step planner for help.
Should You Hire A Habitat Consultant?
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Sharing my experience with three habitat consultants to help you decide if one is right for you.
How To Improve Your Hunting Property With Tree & Shrub Plantings
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Our annual shipment of trees and shrubs showed up, and this is how we are using them....
The #1 Deer Habitat Improvement (It's Not What You Think)
มุมมอง 25K9 หลายเดือนก่อน
The best habitat improvement does not require expensive equipment or ongoing time and money, just simple tools and some of your time. Marketing has influenced us to think it's about food plots, but it's not...
How to Make & Prioritize Your Deer Hunting Property To-Do List
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If you were listening during the hunting season, you already have the answer...
Cuddeback & Bushnell Trail Camera Multiple Season Review
มุมมอง 1.8Kปีที่แล้ว
Update on Cuddeback and Bushnell trail cameras after a few years of use.
Does Structure in Foodplots Help Daytime Deer Movement? After Season Update.
มุมมอง 3.5Kปีที่แล้ว
We tried testing another foodplot theory this year, which was having structure, or plant height, in the foodplots to make older bucks more comfortable moving around in our shooting lanes during daylight (the ultimate goal).
Your Habitat Work Will Pay Off - Oldest Buck Ever!
มุมมอง 1.4Kปีที่แล้ว
Your Habitat Work Will Pay Off - Oldest Buck Ever!
Your Habitat Work Will Payoff: 2023 Crossbow Buck #2
มุมมอง 1.6Kปีที่แล้ว
Your Habitat Work Will Payoff: 2023 Crossbow Buck #2
Your Habitat Work Will Pay You Back - Successful Crossbow Buck Hunt
มุมมอง 1.3Kปีที่แล้ว
Your Habitat Work Will Pay You Back - Successful Crossbow Buck Hunt
Answer to Organic Matter Soil Testing Inconsistency in Foodplots
มุมมอง 1.3Kปีที่แล้ว
Answer to Organic Matter Soil Testing Inconsistency in Foodplots
Foodplot Update, Irrigation Decision, & August Chores List
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Foodplot Update, Irrigation Decision, & August Chores List
No-Till Foodplot Spring Planting & Results
มุมมอง 9Kปีที่แล้ว
No-Till Foodplot Spring Planting & Results
Grain Drill: How to Set Planting Depth and Seed Rates
มุมมอง 10Kปีที่แล้ว
Grain Drill: How to Set Planting Depth and Seed Rates
Unexpected Soil Sample Results After 5 Years of No-Till Foodplotting
มุมมอง 5Kปีที่แล้ว
Unexpected Soil Sample Results After 5 Years of No-Till Foodplotting
3 Important Lessons About Planting Trees & Shrubs for Deer Habitat
มุมมอง 4.9Kปีที่แล้ว
3 Important Lessons About Planting Trees & Shrubs for Deer Habitat
How To Convert Reed Canary Grass to Deer Habitat
มุมมอง 2.4Kปีที่แล้ว
How To Convert Reed Canary Grass to Deer Habitat
Start Your Chainsaw Now For Perfect Habitat Later
มุมมอง 4.3Kปีที่แล้ว
Start Your Chainsaw Now For Perfect Habitat Later
What bolts and length are you using ?
How does the chair maintain the height setting when you're swiveling, without raising or lowering. Thanks
Hey Edward, it maintains 100% because it is a screw adjustment, not an air adjustment. This is assuming you're not swiveling 360 degrees. If just looking and swiveling back and forth, the height change is negligible. All the best to you.
I knew a lot and the consultation was validation of what I was going to do after years of listening watching and reading and I learned along his walk as well
Hey Anthony, thank you for sharing your experience. All the best to you.
Get a bottle of mineral oil And rag and wipe your seals down with that
Hey Howard, thanks for the tip! All the best to you.
Deer in the south love pine stands. There s cover in them and they eat the briars
Young pine stands are great! Had that on my property when I first bought it back in the 90's, it was a deer magnet. Then they grew, lower branches started dying, and the shade killed everything underneath, and it turned into terrible deer habitat. Had to open it up with the chainsaw to get light on the ground to get the briars going, and now it's much better. All the best to you.
Good post
Thanks. It's almost chainsaw season too. I'm ready to get out there NOW! All the best to you.
I have an elevated blind up 20 feet in the air . Wood stove really is not a great option as getting wood up there would cause a host of issues. I got a propane heater out of a camper and installed it . Perfect heating option ! Hot and dry and no moisture from the propane ! A tank last all hunting season !! It warms for three weeks on one tank ! Hands down best heating idea !
Hey Garry, never even thought about hauling wood up to an elevated blind like that. It's usually just a small bucket with chunks in it, but still, not an ideal situation. Another guy posted on here that a VENTED propane heater would work because the moisture from the burned gas goes up the exhaust pipe, not out into the blind, which is the same as your camper heater. That is making me think about giving that a try. All the best to you.
I also forgot to mention that when I said a tank last all hunting season, I forgot to say 2 things . #1 I’m in Manitoba it’s cold and #2 I actually leave the heater on all the time during the hunting season . Once it’s warm from the initial heating I put it on low and it’s warm the rest of the season . It is really nice after you been walking for couple hours in the cold and you don’t want to go back to the shack to warm and stop hunting while you warm up. Cheers everyone and Merry Christmas!
@@GarryJones-bn9rv Yeah, you know real cold! When you say "a tank", are you talking a 20 pounder? Merry Christmas to you, too!
I have known this for sometime now and it’s a bingo
And it's almost chainsaw season now, yeah! All the best to you.
TSI. GrowingDeerTV has been saying this for years. They also believe in fire which rejuvenates the growth/food.
Question Sir- I’m in the process of starting my first blind. 6X8 sealed up tight, no insulation. Going to have a little stove made. Do you think a stove 8x8x8 will heat it with temps in the 20’s & 30’s?? Or is that a little small?
Hey Robert, congrats on the new blind, so much fun heading your way. Yes, I think that size will heat it well. We have one that size in a 4x6 blind and it has more than enough power, we never run it at full capacity, so you'll be all set. All the best to you.
@ Thank you very much sir. Really enjoy your content.
No wolves period!
That helps for sure. All the best to you.
As usual your comparison test, like most on you tube, was not reliable nor accurate because you changed bolts. You didn't show how you cocked the bow each time probably because you removed the crossbow from the sled thus, affecting accuracy. I've never had a problem shooting the expandable broadhead I use out of any crossbow nor compound bow. The ethical thing to shoot is the most accurate broadhead out of your bow period. I just don't accept "accurate enough".
Yes, I was so disappointed with the bolt that got damaged. Ugh. I disagree that the most important thing, "period", is the accuracy of the broadhead out of your bow. What if that broadhead only expands 1% of the time, and the other 99% it never opens, but it hits exactly where you want it to? I would rather have a broadhead that opens 99% of the time, and hits within 2" of my aimpoint at 30 yards. This will be a clean kill every time. This is the ethical one to shoot. So as hunters we need to find the best combination of both accuracy and reliability. All the best to you.
@@theback40 The mechanical I use has never not opened and has never opened during flight and has killed big game animals all over N. America some weighing up to 1,700 pounds. It is the most accurate broadhead for me and my setup and that's why it kills. Bow hunting is not a weightlifting contest nor a speed contest it's an accuracy contest. I often ask shooters at the range if they've tested multiple broadheads to find the most accurate one for them and I always get a puzzled look and the answer is almost always no.
Could you put a little Vaseline around that window gasket to prevent that noise when you open it?
Hey Brian, haven't tried that one, but put some automotive seal conditioner on it, seems to have helped?
You are correct,but you'd be surprised how many people think clear cuts are bad.
Hey Dave, agreed. I wish there was an easy way to educate the masses with the truth. All the best to you.
30+ years ago I didn't even know consultants existed. Had some ideas, made a plan and worked hard. I got lucky, really. Great productive land now. I followed a few ideas: mix up my species, a variety of conifers, hardwoods, mast and fruit trees, and shrubs. Vary the plantings in location, directions, spacing and mixing. Look at land contour and natural travel. Plant as many natives as I could. Leave a bunch of open areas and edge. Take into consideration surrounding properties. But I got lucky. I could have wasted all those years if I guessed wrong. If I could offer one tip: variety. A second one would be: as Jeff says- it's either for deer and wildlife or for lumber production but not both.
Thanks for sharing with us. Better lucky than good they say! Glad it has all worked out for you. All the best to you.
Going back watching your hunting playlist looking forward to this years videos. Fellow michigan hunter with 36 acres trying to have similar success. Had a great couple hunts last few days. Hope you’ve had a successful season!
Hey Andrew, great to hear about your success this season! All the best to you.
Excellent demo of both fixed and mechanical! I like the rage broadhead myself! Ive taken 13deer in 4yrs w/my x-bow! Complete pass thru on all but i waited until they were all broadside! My farthest tracking was approx 80yards..thank you for the test results.
Hey Tommy, sure thing. I've come to the conclusion that both styles work really well. At this point, it's about personal preferrence. All the non-functioning mechanicals have pretty much been pushed out of the market. All the best to you.
1:40
Hey Mike, I'm not sure what this comment means? All the best to you.
The deer have been hammering the food plots this year. I think part of the reason is because the lack of rain early fall.
Had good moisture mid-summer so if you had the right plantings you're right, would hold that moisture through that dry late summer/early fall we had and transfer to the deer upon consumption. All the best to you.
Thanks fo the vid. Good honest presentation and love the way you don't over complicate it. My son is just now 12 and becoming increasingly interested in hunting. I just purchased our first blind, was watching vids on set up, ran across your vid on heating. Thanks again, subscribed and look for more.
Hey Pete, congrats on the new blind. Set it up right, and it will be a source of joy for many years to come. All the best to you.
if you were to see my deer blind you would take them down
LOL! Hope you're having a great season.
Just sprap like wd40 on the window seals and they won't stick
Hey Mike, I keep forgetting to bring it out there. I'm making a note right now. Hope you're having a great season.
Thank you for sharing this, I been thinking of one for wildlife and the tube is so smart it suggested this today, perfect timing, great info, thank you.
Thanks. Sometimes I think those algo's are inside our brains and we don't even know it. All the best to you!
Quieter than a sunflower also
Hey Alex, good point, I just have taken that for granted, but should have mentioned it. Hope you're having a great season.
You have to have vented heater.
Hey Jake, good point. I've been using unvented, like the Little Buddy heaters, but something with a vent would take out all the moisture, right? THAT might be the best answer. Now you got me thinking.....All the best to you.
Another Michigan man.. me as well petoskey area. Good videos man.
Hey Jake, thanks. Love that area up there, God's country. Hope you're having a great season.
Enjoy your videos. What type of sorghum do you plant in your food plot? I am in NW Wisconsin shorter growing season I also have a mix of high ground and low wet ground on my 40 acres. Thanks!
I wouldn't say that I'm at the point where I know the best sorghum variety to plant yet. I'm still experimenting, and will be doing a lot more research this winter. I used "Super Cover" sorghum sudan this year, and it has done average I would say. It grew really well, but here in late November in Michigan it has broker over, which has degraded the screening properties. It's still "okay", but I'm trying to find a strain that is a bit more stout for next year to try. All the best to you!
Sweet heater. That sure came a long way from the old days where you push the cardboard tube out of a roll of toilet paper then put the entire roll of toilet paper in a metal coffee can. Fill it up with alcohol and light it. We never had sealed windows so no worries about fumes.😊
Hey Russell, yes, a long ways indeed. Hope you're having a great season, and staying WARM!
"How it works" MAGIC! Great explanation 😂
Thanks! All the best to you.
Chemicals !😮
Yeah, I'm not a fan either. But this one is derived from a natural compound in flowers to repel insects, so it's kinda ok??? All the best to you.
I have these on my blind. They open inside, with a near airtight seal. No water. No bugs. No noise when opening or closing. Superior build.
I'm a big fan of them, too. A few years later, they are still great. Hope you're having a great season.
Orchards. Apple orchards are the answer. Forget the annual food plots. Plant a half acre of apple trees. Highly addictive, lots of cover. I've never not seen a deer in an apple orchard. Once they're established (3-5 years), they're relatively low maintenance, PLUS, you can eat from it too. Toss some clover seed out amongst it and BAM!, you've got yourself most everything you just talked about.
In what part of the country do you live? It seems like here in Michigan the apples are done dropping when the season really gets going and you want strong attraction in mid November? Or is that what the clover is for? All the best to you.
That's a great idea! The propane is handy but I always worry about carbon monoxide
Hey Zac, works great. All the best to you.
@theback40 you as well!
What size tractor is that? I have a 1025r....do you think it could handle that drill?
Hey Greg, my tractor is a 3046R and can easily handle. You could get the DRL048 (4 foot wide instead off 6 foot) that weighs in at 568 pounds since the 1025r rear arms are rated for 681 pounds. The tractor will easily pull it, that's not the issue. The only issue is if the tractor can lift it. But I have found adding a few hundred pounds of weight to the drill help it perform better, so if you did this it could be marginal. But, if you're looking for an excuse to get a bigger tractory, this is it! All the best to you.
Built my first box blind back in 84, 4’x8’. I’ve always used osb, just get an outside primer, outdoor medium to dark gray paint, back then probaby $16 to $ 20. Black, dark green, tan spray and creat some trees. Asphalt shingles, tar paper for the roof. Ask around if your neighbors have any laying about. Color doesn’t matter. Done.
Hey Keith, thanks for the feedback. I needed to go one step further instead of just hoping tar paper would be the quick and easy way. All the best to you.
Excellent video. I learned a lot.
Thanks, glad I could help. All the best to you.
Is there a reason you went with sorghum sudan instead of grain sorghum? I'm looking to replace corn with something, as I am a believer in structure instead of a wide open plot.
Sorghum sudan gets taller, and I didn't want anything the wildlife would pull down to get at the grain and thus take down the screening. Not saying I'm right, just what was in my mind at the time. Hope you're having a great season!
Good info Mark! The older I get the closer to the cabin I hunt!
That's great to hear, I'm not alone on this one. Hope you're having a great season.
Mark.....thanks for the update. My grandson passed a really nice 3 yr 12 point and shot no brows, an 8 yr old, but hit him in the shoulder and did not recover him. We saw him afterwards on camera and he is doing well. My grandson is pursuing him this weekend. I think your idea of planting sorghum for adding structure and security in your food plots is great. What type are you planting and are you planting 5lbs. per acre over the entire field. Do you plant it over the entire field and then mow down areas so you can shoot a bow through parts of the field where the clover/brassica are growing through the sorghum. I have been enjoying the hunts through my grandson as I still have limited mobility. thanks, Bob
Hey Bob, good to hear from you and the success out on your property. Yes, we plant everything together at the same time, then mow as needed. Hope you get healed enough to get out. But, hunting through a grandson is pretty damn good too! May God bless you!
@@theback40 Mark...thanks for the kind words. I have heard there are different kinds of sorghum, which type do you plant and how many lbs. per acre? Thanks, God bless, Bob
@@rfb7117 It was 5 lb/acre with Sorghum Sudan Super Cover from Green Cover Seed.
@@theback40 Thanks and good luck to you and your family.
One of my best blinds is just outside my front yard lol. I live on my 30 acres in west michigan and my house in on the back end of the property.
Thanks for sharing, that's great to hear. Blinds close to houses and cabins is a real thing! Hope you're having a great season.
Thanks, hoping to get my future son in law his first buck and daughter back in the blind with me for the first time in several years.
I hope the same for you! How satisfying to help someone get into hunting and harvest their first buck....man I hope it happens for him. All the best to you.
Right there with you with the age and grandkids. I did plant some Sorghum as well this year and the bucks hang out close to it. Good luck, go Lions.
Go Lions indeed! Good luck this season.
do you harvest a lot of does...what's your buck/ doe ratio? as always a great video..look forward to every new one...God bless
Hey Brad, I'm embarssed to say that we haven't taken a doe in 5 years. Prior to that, does were all we took because that's all we had here. Rarely saw a buck, and 90% of those were 1 year olds. But since we started working the RIGHT plan for the property in 2016, we turned it around and basically had a buck harvest frenzy over the last few years, it's just been so much fun and something I could never have dreamed of. But now we're coming down from our "buck buzz" and it is clear to me now that we need to remember to takes does again, we owe it to our farmer buddies and neighbors and the herd in general. All that to say yes, we are taking does. I don't know our b/d ratio, but it is something I am going to start working to calculate to determine doe harvest numbers annually. My goal this year is at least three. What about you guys? Hope you're having a great season.
@theback40 yes its been a lot of fun..some real good bucks by me this yr...I see the need to harvest 10 does...it's out of control and my responsibility to manage it properly...good luck to you and God bless
@@bradbrockhaus633 10 does, you got a lot of work in front of you, but fun work. I like you're attitude about it too. God bless, go get 'em.
Thanks for the update. I told my wife today that I was getting worried that something had happened to you or your family. GLTA hunting.
Hey Tim, thanks. I actually got knocked out hard by pneumonia over the last two months, finally getting on the upswing now so should start getting out more videos. Hope you're having a great season.
@theback40 Glad you're feeling better. I've switched to more of a guide roll in my retirement. I'm letting my son have first crack around here, but his time is limited as a young educator. I'm looking forward to your family's success.
@@timjudge9910 Thanks Tim the guide. Hope you're son has good luck, tough job and he probably needs the lift.
Hoping all is well. Anxious to hear about your family's season. Merry Christmas
Hey Mark. Good to see your update. As you know I share the same thoughts on getting some "structure" in my plots too. I have not been very successful at getting sorghum to grow in my clover plots. The clover basically takes over and keeps the sorghum stunted to a foot or two tall. I "know" that more cover will get more deer in my plots in the daytime....but I have not been very successful. Tell me what your doing to get some better hight established. I'm all ears. Thanks my friend.
Hey Tom, I wish I could say how smart I am and that I did "X" to get thesse results, but that's not the case. I did luck out and got good rain for a few weeks after planting, maybe that helped it jump up above the clover? Or maybe it's because the plot was "clean", and the clover and sorghum were planted at the same time. If I remember right, you sometimes drill through growing clover? I'll check back on your ATH thread to get a reminder. We'll figure it out. Hope you're having a great season.
HOW MANY YARDS WERE YOU SHOOTING!!!
GOT IT 40 YDS!!
@@DEVILDOG1964 Yeah, I messed up and didn't write it on the shooting paper, that would have made it a lot easier. Hope you're having a great season.
Great idea to put a blind at the house. I tell folks I’m planting deer food to attract grandchildren, and it’s working. Fun to see how it’s all getting better over time. Good job!
Hey Curt, LOL, that's a great line! Hope you're having a great season.
Good info as usual & love when a plan comes together.
Thanks, hope you're having a great season.
Sure hope to see some hunts Mark. Love your content Cheers
We're getting there. I've been knocked out with pneumonia for the last two months and still have a ways to go, but I'm rallying now! Hope you're having a great season.
@theback40 ahhhhh that's terrible. We'll i hope you feel better soon. I did not get it recorded but I tagged out on a nice 10 pt 4.5 year old buck with the crossbow October 26th 5.30 pm And the best part was last winter I cut two run ways to my plot the same as your Sahara plot. Cut a buck trail to a water hole and branch 30 yards from the blind that I also built this spring And he came right out the 30 yard buck trail. Absolutely perfect 👌 Thank you for sharing your work
@@ianlilley6430 Thanks. That's a great buck, congratulations! Love it when they follow the script. Make a plan, work the plan, reap the rewards.
Thanks for not having a stupid long\annoying intro like so many others have now days.
That's funny, and I agree with you on so many long useless intro's. Almost thought about canning mine altogether in protest. All the best to you.