Anybody have luck growing switchgrass or some other tall grass as bedding cover? Would like to convert some area in old pastureland to cover for deer. Open to other ideas.

Thanks

Lou

It will take a little bit more time, but what about just letting it go fallow for the next many years and letting it grow? Are there any cows on the place?

There are a lot of seed blends for deer cover grasses, don’t know how any of them do as I have never bought any but this year I did buy some conceal from whitetail institute for more screening rather than cover, but it would work both duties. I haven’t planted yet, but plan to sooner rather than later.

Is the field just a pure open field or are there any areas where deer go now? Some of the best deer cover is simply early successional growth, and it also serves as great food too.

I'm asking this for 2 different places. One place I currently own in Comanche. There were cows on it a year ago but they are gone and do not plan on putting more. I can let go fallow - was not sure how long it would take for decent cover to materialize naturally so was looking to boost it:). The other is a property I am looking at buying that has had cows in the past but does not look like recently so starting to go fallow. Again, I was looking to try and speed things up. On north and south ends there is mesquite thickets and the deer use them. In the middle it is more open with some sparse/small mesquite. There is creek bottom with brush running through middle that splits the open pastures, but was thinking about add some grass or something along the creek in the open areas to widen spots along the creek bottom for more bedding/loafing area.

Lou

I have seen Switchgrass, Blue Panic, Indian Grass, Klein Grass and several other grasses planted for cover. I would call Turner Seed Company in Breckenridge and get their input for your area. I might look at adding some native forbs to the seed mix to allow it to be cover and food source together.

I did a 26 acre project, where we took out mesquite and cedars to plant little and big bluestem, switchgrass, indiangrass and some local forbs.

I worked with my local NRCS group and they had a program which helped offset the costs (EQIP). I would give them a call. Sometimes you can get financial support, equipment to use, or at the very least they can come out and give you some pointers (for free) on the scope of your project. Turner is who I used for the seeds. Good folks there!

Thanks for input!

Lou