To bushhog or not to bushhog

[svendawg]

I carry a brush in my tractor as well as a leaf blower in my truck if I'm too far from the shop.

Good tip. The leaf blower will save me trips back to the barn when I mow the back 40. I hate driving back to the barn to get stuff, when I in the middle of a project

 

[kevin37b]

Triple R did the tractor overheat with that much buildup ? Just curious .

 

[rekees4300]

My dilemma is should I bushhog the weeds or should I leave it growing wild. My only plan for these 40 acres at this time is for hunting

You should bushhog. Will be tough to hunt with head high weeds, not to mention getting covered by ticks/chiggers, stepping on snakes or in holes. Before you bushhog for the first time examine the property on foot to determine the location of hazards like logs, rocks, sinkholes, etc.

 

[TripleR]

Triple R did the tractor overheat with that much buildup ? Just curious .

It sure did, I turned the heater on to let it cool down before shutting it off.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would cut all the weeds but leave some undergrowth of thickets for deer to hide in. Getting rid of the weeds will also allow you to see the deer for hunting purposes. Mowing down the weeds a couple times a year will allow the grass to come back which should attract the deer especially if you have some thick timber area where they can bed down.

 

[RSKY]

We have some land signed up for wildlife habitat. Have it in a 10 year program. Have to disk it the first two years in alternating 60' strips. Then mow in alternating 60' strips for three years. Repeat the second five year period. Supposed to promote wildlife habitat while keeping the land available for crop production with little effort.

Betting y'all didn't know the U.S. government plans for prevention of famines.

RSKY

 

[roadhunter]

Sounds like a good opportunity to find someone to bale it for you. Won't cost you a dime and it looks great when finished. Another option that some prefer over brush hogging is letting a neighbor with livestock graze the land periodically.

 

[kidr]

We have some land signed up for wildlife habitat. Have it in a 10 year program. Have to disk it the first two years in alternating 60' strips. Then mow in alternating 60' strips for three years. Repeat the second five year period. Supposed to promote wildlife habitat while keeping the land available for crop production with little effort.

Betting y'all didn't know the U.S. government plans for prevention of famines.

RSKY

Discing will do more good than mowing. It allows native grasses to take over the hybrid grasses that choke out the ground. The bush hog has almost no place in serious land management for game. This according to for Va. conservation dept. guide lines for quail management. Manage for quail and you manage for all game. Check out quail management programs for various states, there's plenty of free info and videos.

 

[DrRod]

I brush hog my fields about every other year. I would do it every year but can't find the time to do it all. If I let it go three years, the briers, pine seedlings, and scrubby brush take over. I notice that whenever I mow a field there is a definite increase in game activity -- primarily deer and turkey. I think the mowing exposes the fresh growth and makes it easier to find.

And yes, my tractor grills are just covered with fluffy stuff from ripe goldenrod -- they come out looking like a sweater.

 

[kevin37b]

It sure did, I turned the heater on to let it cool down before shutting it off.

Some cooling systems deal with restriction better than others . That is some restriction . Merry Christmas .