Tractor for Deer plots

aerospacefarmer · Oct 29, 2003

NO I havent test driven the Long yet as a matter of fact have never driven a tractor so I will probably be driving one for the first time when I get it based on the noble posts from all you great guys in here. I am also looking to keep the tractor in the basement of my garage that only has a double door and not a garage door so width is a consideration so it should be less than 72 inches. I will prob build an shelter eventually but it will keep my atv company in the basement until then.

SPIKER · Oct 29, 2003

areospacefarmer:

here is a link to steve puma's web site and also the ctoa site where there are lots of dealers in you're area more than jinmas but other things too century, DongFe AM, Futan and a few others. check the web sites drop a few e-mails and get some seat time in as many tractors as you can. The imports do require a bit more knolage to work on them but they are easy to fix , just need metric tools. lol

http://www.puma-machinery.com/pages/810877/index.htm

this is Johnm's site which is great resource for new perspective buiers he is not a dealer just a tractor user and likes to organize things well.

http://johnstractor.homestead.com/

here is CTOA (chinese tractors owners board) BB for the import croud nice resource, lots of posting to help out new people and with you will see the common problems you MAY have to deal with, good resource, but remember it is set up to help one a nuther out so some people read the posts and thing lots go wrong but in reality the board was set up to help troubleshoot problems from lots of different tractors.

http://wc1.worldcrossing.com/WebX?14@19.SD2ZanoHX4H.1@.eec20e0

here is CTOA home page with dealers links phone #'s ect.

http://www.homestead.com/ctoa/tractors.html

Hope that helps now how aobut some Log Cabin Photos!?

Mark M
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Slamfire · Oct 29, 2003

Deer really go for beans, but they are an annual. Red clovers, there are a couple of kinds, and buckwheat all work, and don't break the bank. A bit more expensive, and aimed a bit closer to turkey is chufa grass. You can get all this stuff at a regular ag supply, it won't cost as much as dealing with some outfit with outdoors in their name. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

leaddog · Oct 29, 2003

I planted 3 acres last year of whitetail clover and 3 more this year. The deer really like it but they mainly feed at nite in it. I planted 3 acres of rye and they like that as well as the clover and it is a lot cheaper. Only thing is the clover has more nutrition over all year than the rye. I live in farm country so the deer have lots of food so I am trying to maxamize the food to try and keep more of them here. When you figure how much I spend on food plots I could buy a lot of hamburger but cows just aren't as much fun to shoot as deer /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

aerospacefarmer · Oct 30, 2003

Spiker

Thanks for the links and as soon as I find a way to load the pics onto this website I will do so. the cabin has been my connection with sanity and the kit was about 62K with all but the finish work, plumbing, electrical, well and septic. With all that and a road into the property of $10K and the electric drop of $ 7 K and the septic of $12K and a foundation of 11K and the finish work around 5K and the furnishings about another $ 2k ended up with a palace in the woods including 2 baths a loft dishwasher, fridge, full poured concrete basement and views that would give you wood (if you know what I mean) for about $130K total and you feel like you are living in the lap of luxury. Its a great place and I will get some pics but if you get a chance to do a log home the smells and the mornings when you wake up are awesome

Thanks

Paul

aerospacefarmer · Oct 30, 2003

Thanks for the info leaddog and I know our 2 states are at the top of deer population so I will try to use your comments as a guide. We had a great football player from our area at the U of M ... Greg Skrepenak who was an all american and then a pro with Raiders and Panthers who was a big hunter... i will let you know what i plant. Keep in touch
Paul

Docsknotinn · Oct 30, 2003

Hey if you have any 10 point cull Bulls my frezer is getting LOW ! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif In regards to the wildlife blends I think a lot of it looks very expensive on the surface and it is. BUT, if you buy the same types of clovers etc at the co ops etc here its about the same price. Annuals are only a couple bucks a pound but perennial clovers run $4.95# easily. Plus a lot of this stuff has other added plants that are more drought resistant. I had zero luck with Bio logic. The first year poor luck with the white Tail institute but my plots this year are in fine shape. I too use Rye grass. Especially to establish a new plot and get nitrogen into the soil. The biggest mistake I see others in my area makeing is turning a plot once, dropping a perrenial plot and thats it. No mowing, no fertlilizeing, no overseeding etc. Plus a lot of guys are doing food plots and not hunting plots or havelittle or no sanctuary on their land. Its definately a LOT of hard work to get it right. I have a brochure on my desk I got at the feed store this week. The company is called Bier Ridge. They are a Michigan company with seed from Michigan State University. I intend to try this in the future. My hope is that it will be a better blend for our climate that a lot of the stuff put togethjer in the south. I have also tried tecomate. VERY expensive, fair results. I do have a sandy soil but chemicly its darn good. I just neeed a consistant water supply. A pond is in my long term plans. When you get to test Driveing those tractors dont over look the big brands. Thest drives are free and you might be suprised to find the cost differences are not always that significant. Are you after 4wd ? Dont forget to drive a Hydro Vs the others. All the advice in the world is fairly small potatoes to what you like when you drive it and finding a good dealer is the real key. Dave

Laminarman · Oct 31, 2003

I'm posting this question within this topic since I'm planning on purchasing a tractor for deer plots as well. Here it is: I have 99% committed to a NH 40D, but am having second thoughts after driving a Deere 4510. Here's the rub: I like the Deere, not the price and longevity is a major concern, and I don't want to be underpowered. Although these are comparable machines, I have had many people tell me the Deere will "outwork and outlast" the blue machines. I'd look at Kubota but I don't like the dealer. Specifically I know I will have to get a BH some day and that's where the problem is as well. I'm having difficulty finding out if either the Deere or NH are better for this application. I will be maintaining approximately 35 out of 77 acres of my land with some in food plots, most of needing brush hoggin', will get a FEL and post hole digger. Any advice is appreciated.

aerospacefarmer · Nov 1, 2003

What else will you be doing with all those acres I will be turning up soil and planting so I want enough power to do that and am thinking I need between 40-45 pto and 50 engine hp. If there is someone who can comment on this I am having the same problem as you mister NH40 I am looking at a Long 45-55 4 WD.

EddieWalker · Nov 16, 2003

I have a 35 hp Century 4X4 that I used to make food plots this year. Things I learned was the need for 4X4. You must have it, especially if the area has never been tilled. I have a 5 foot disk. Bigger would have been much better! Look for a comfortable seat. After a few hours of going round and round you will get sore from just sitting. It took three times longer to disk my land than I expected.

I'm experimenting with different seeds. The imperial whitetail clover is way too expensive and doesn't seem to be much of a draw. Winter oats bring in the hogs and deer seem to like it alright. Winter rye is a pass through food. They nible as the pass through. Wal-Mart has a mix that is mostly rye grass and a few other things, not a great one either. My local feed store had a 50lb mix with peas, oats, clover and a dozen other seeds that really seems to be the winner. It was only $14 per bag, which is almost a cheap as Wal-Mart, but a better blend.

I planted the beginning of September and my fields are all about 8 to 12 inches tall. Clover is around 4 inches.

Good Luck,
Eddie