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Wildlife Heaven!

Is Farming Doomed? 2 By: John Coit Date: 11/30/2000 John Coit has a lot of good ideas, including this one on how hunters can do their fair share for the nation's economy by helping to get farmers back on the track to a sustainable income. Don't worry, the hunters will make off like bandits, too, given the right farmer and the right circumstances!

By forming a conglomerate of ethical hunters, a club may be able to offer a farmer a chance at making a living commensurate with the hard work he expends upon his land.

A hunting club's yearly membership dues as well as an annual club contribution for seed and fertilizers can further help to make life a little easier -- and better -- for the farmer. The benefit to the hunter is obvious: more prime land to hunt, and knowledgeable, helping hands to manage the land for him -- all the time, not just when the hunter has a free weekend.

Farming for deer :

While row crops are hard to beat when you're planning where to hunt, some other choices not only put the land to a more efficient use, but also minimize cost and labor expended. A particular plat of land will always have one side that's better than another as far as wind direction is concerned. Another constant seems to be certain areas that simply don't produce crops as consistently as other areas.

Food plots planted in good-winded areas of the field where whitetails won't hesitate to feed will, in most cases, limit browsing in nearby row crop plantings. Simply by planting small one to two acre corner patches as well as borders in perennial whitetail clovers and aother food plot seeds will not only encourage deer to feed there, it will also limit crop losses along row crop edges.

The farmer, of course, will be instrumental since basic know-how, equipment on hand, and a ready source of labor will all heavily influence how far a club or outfitter will go to improve deer hunting in a certain area

Soil preparation is best undertaken at the beginning of normal fall or spring planting cycle. Providing seed and some financial help to defray your farmer's operating expenses will help speed the job along. Bush-hogging is a necessity when planting wheat or clover so plans for additional help -- sharing fuel costs, etc. -- should be made when the farmer is preparing such areas for planting. Any hunting club will soon learn, if it hasn't already done so, that to acquire, maintain and operate the equipment needed to maintain good deer

property and food plots costs a small fortune. To truly help out the farmer, a truly involved hunting club will provide both manual labor and extra compensation as the club sees fit.

When a particular tract of land doesn't produce as it should due to low water tables, poor soils, or other factors, perhaps planting fruit- or mast-bearing trees would be a more efficient use of resources. A tree's deep tap roots often allow it to thrive in areas where soybeans don't have a chance, at least not with heavy rainfall, every year. Plus, fruit trees serve double duty. Each year, several bushels of pears, figs and pecans can be taken home by the farm hands. Here at my own home, several times a year we load up coolers filled with venison and other game meat. We send this home to the farmers from whose fields this bounty has come. Believe me, our effort is always well appreciated.
 
 

CLICK here to find out what this is worth to everyone involved.