Improving habitat

[huntsd]

What are some things I can do to improve the habitat on my ranch for mule deer? I live in the very northwest corner of South Dakota and we have plenty of deer but I just want to try to make it better habitat for them. The terrain is pine tree covered hills, rolling prairie and some badlands. Any ideas?

 

[littlebighorn]

I have wondered lately if ranchers in mule deer country will start planting "food plots" like all the whitetail people to attract deer to their land. But it is a good question as far as what food you could plant for mule deer, which are mostly browsers. Perhaps planting some brush plots? For sure I would look at water sources on your property and try to improve them. Anyway, it's a good question for a wildlife biologist!

 

[Castnshoot]

I don,t know if does well in South Dakota, but Antelope Bitter Brush is great. It has 16 percent protein in the summer and 6 percent in winter.

Mule deer need forage with at least 6 percent
protein. Mule deer love the stuff, especially mature bucks.

There are places that can be found on the web that sell the seeds, but they ain't cheep.

 

[huntsd]

We have plenty of springs, dams, and water tanks for water as well as hayfields that they sure do enjoy but I 'm thinking more along the lines of the antelope bitter brush and whatnot. I'll definitely look into that and any other ideas you have send them my way.

 

[peak]

Contact your local Natural Resource Conservation Service office. They specialize in helping private landowners with habitat improvement planning and funding.

 

[swbuckmaster]

get rid of the pine trees

Archery is a year round commitment!!

 

[huntsd]

>get rid of the pine trees
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>
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>Archery is a year round commitment!!
>


A couple years ago we went through and had a logging company do a selective harvest to open things up and it did really help.

 

[mtnrunner260]

They best thing you can do is talk to the NRCS or the Habitat manager of the game and fish or division of wildlife, whatever it is in SD. They can also provide the plants, equipment and/or funding depending on the project.
Good luck and thanks for taking an interest in habitat improvement.