Habitat & Food Plots — Listener Q&A

Questions 177–320 of 556 in this category (page 3 of 5). ← previous · All listener questions · next →

Screening & Bedding Cover

Question: Ben Byler asked whether Real World sells any products they don’t personally think are the best, just due to customer demand. 59:26 — asked by Ben Byler — #330 - Can Supplemental Feeding Add 15”+ to a Buck? Don Higgins Answers

• Answer: Don admitted Real World sells an annual screen product due to demand even though he believes their Miscanthus screen is far superior. 60:49

Question: Kobe Curtis from Zealand, Michigan asked whether Don or Terry had tried dragging tree tops into switchgrass fields for added structure. 19:40 — asked by Kobe Curtis — The Biggest Mistake Food Plotters Make in June | Chasing Giants #328

• Answer: Don said he doesn’t know anyone who has tried it, since burning switchgrass fields is needed to maintain them. 20:03

Question: Terry relays a common listener question: after planting Miscanthus, weeds and grasses are taking over the rhizomes, so what herbicide should they spray? 10:16 — Why BIG BUCK Areas Often FAIL Deer Hunters | Chasing Giants 327

• Answer: Don says proper site prep before planting switchgrass or Miscanthus is essential; there’s no shortcut. 10:53
• Answer: Don adds that using a good pre-emergent to prevent weeds is far better than spraying over the top afterward. 11:45

Question: A listener asked whether a late frost that browned newly emerged switchgrass and Miscanthus after a warm spell was normal and would recover. 35:48 — asked by Benjamin Mains — Prayers, Peace & Planting Strategy | Spring Food Plot Advice | Chasing Giants 323

• Answer: Don confirmed he’s seen this happen multiple times, including this year on his own farm. 36:11
• Answer: Don said his own frost-browned wheat, switchgrass, and Miscanthus all snapped back and there shouldn’t be any lasting issues. 36:29
• Answer: Terry added not to worry about top growth stunting since the rhizomes keep working underground even during a cold snap. 37:11

Question: Max Joma asks why hunters further north insist deer won’t bed in switchgrass, despite Don’s own videos showing bucks using his switchgrass. 47:13 — asked by Max Joma — Cut More Trees! How Aggressive TSI Creates Better Deer Habitat

• Answer: Don says switchgrass bedding use likely depends heavily on hunting pressure, with switchgrass offering deer a place to escape pressure elsewhere. 49:28

Question: Tyler Swearingen asked what determines choosing to girdle versus clear-cut trees for deer bedding areas. 44:05 — asked by Tyler Swearingen — Permission Properties, Scrape Magnet Explained, and Our Health Journeys | Chasing Giants Ep. 315

• Answer: Don says the deciding factor is simply how much debris is already on the ground, since thinner timber allows dropping more trees than thick timber. 44:55

Question: Can I put pre-emergent herbicide on third-year Miscanthus before spring growth? 25:15 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don says you can, but a good established Miscanthus stand shouldn’t need it since it chokes out weeds itself. 25:21

Question: What is the most efficient way to plant Miscanthus? 25:52 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don says a special planter called a Naturally Native, which opens a trench and packs it closed as rhizomes are dropped in. 25:56

Question: The same audience member asks if a shallower north-facing bank with less water and sunshine would still work as well. 34:27 — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says it depends on the site, noting land managers get overly fixated on south-facing slopes. 34:46

Question: Once the sanctuary area is identified, how do you implement bedding, with or without switchgrass? 31:17 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: It depends on the surrounding area; you want cover that’s different from what’s found on neighboring properties. 31:24

Question: What do you recommend for switchgrass overgrown with foxtail: burning or herbicide? 37:23 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Burn it in early spring and spray Quinclorac, which controls foxtail without harming switchgrass. 37:33

Question: Brock Van Aslan asks whether creating specific bedding spots for bucks versus does is a good strategy, or if thickening cover and staying out lets deer bed where they want. 43:07 — asked by Brock Van Aslan — Kill More Deer. Feed Hungry Kids. | Boone Brothers | Chasing Giants 306

• Answer: Don says to forget internet advice and not overcomplicate things—keep it simple and listen to people who have actually succeeded at killing mature bucks. 46:16
• Answer: Don believes you can create a specific spot, like hinge-cutting a tree, where a deer would want to bed given the right wind and visibility. 45:45
• Answer: John Wise agrees and adds that staying completely out of bedding areas—avoiding any human scent or footprint—is key to keeping bucks patternable. 47:45

Question: Why do you keep food sources separate from bedding cover, and how impactful is that during late season? 2:27 — Late Season EXPLOSION! Why Giants Are Falling Everywhere | Chasing Giants #302

• Answer: Don wants a buck’s bed and food source separated so the buck must travel to feed, making him more vulnerable to hunting pressure. 2:55

Question: What are deer looking for in thermal cover, wooded sanctuaries, switchgrass, and topography for bedding when it gets cold? 4:26 — Late Season EXPLOSION! Why Giants Are Falling Everywhere | Chasing Giants #302

• Answer: Don says diversity of bedding cover is huge; deer need a combination of wooded cover and switchgrass, not just one or the other. 6:00

Question: What have you observed while shed hunting or burning switchgrass about how deer use cover to survive brutal late-season cold? 25:27 — Late Season EXPLOSION! Why Giants Are Falling Everywhere | Chasing Giants #302

• Answer: Don recalls a severe ice storm fifteen years ago that drove home how bedding cover is nearly as important as food this time of year. 28:30

Question: Without major landscape changes, how can I increase mature buck bedding on a permission property I don’t own? 49:02 — asked by Bryce Despain — Late Season EXPLOSION! Why Giants Are Falling Everywhere | Chasing Giants #302

• Answer: Don suggests proposing timber stand improvement to the landowner, which improves bedding cover and also boosts the growth rate of remaining timber. 49:36
• Answer: Don notes mature bucks aren’t moving to new range; they use the same range but shift to its most secure parts as they age. 51:39

Question: Jeff Schwager asked whether Miscanthus can serve as a windbreak to block snow, or if it’s easily laid down by wind, snow, and ice. 45:16 — asked by Jeff Schwager — #294 From Old School to High Tech: Don Higgins Reflects on 40 Years in the Deer Woods

• Answer: Don said he’s never seen wind knock down Miscanthus, and along property borders snow simply drifts and piles against it. 45:51

Question: Should Adam build a dirt-and-rock mound for screening instead of waiting for his struggling Miscanthus to mature? 54:45 — asked by Adam Kate — #292 - Public Land Busts, Big Timber Dreams, & Target Bucks

• Answer: Don recommends doing both: build the mound and plant Miscanthus on top of it. 54:57
• Answer: He suggests building the mound as high as possible and planting Miscanthus across the top for extra screening height. 55:00
• Answer: Terry adds that Miscanthus needs plenty of nitrogen, so topsoil and fertility matter when prepping the mound. 55:57

Question: Ben Sweeney asked how many consulted farms have true stands of switchgrass for deer bedding, versus scattered CRP too thin for big bucks. 51:42 — asked by Ben Sweeney — Deer Velvet Shedding & Fall Buck Shifts: Don Higgins Responds to Rumors | Chasing Giants Ep. 289

• Answer: Don said he has never consulted on a property that already had a good, established stand of switchgrass for bedding. 52:04
• Answer: Don added he’d rather have 40 acres of switchgrass than five, believing more bedding cover is always better if room allows. 52:54

Question: Randall Barr asks Don to clarify why Jack Houston’s thermal surveys reportedly seldom find deer in switchgrass. 37:48 — asked by Randall Barr — #287 “Predators, Food Plots & Cracker Barrel Woke?

• Answer: Don says every time Jack has visited his farm there have been deer bedded in the switchgrass. 38:01

Question: Have you seen raccoons or skunks dig up Miscanthus rhizomes, and how do you prevent it? 11:48 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don has seen it happen and jokingly says the only prevention he knows of is a 12 gauge shotgun. 11:55

Question: If Miscanthus planted last year fills in gaps in a stand due for its regular three-year burn, will burning hurt the one-year-old growth? 41:02 — asked by Grant — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don says it won’t hurt the young Miscanthus and it’s fine to go ahead and burn. 41:18

Question: What glyphosate rate was used before planting Miscanthus into burned switchgrass, and is it better than mowing? 44:11 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don thinks it was about two quarts per acre with a surfactant, sometimes adding clethodim, since one spraying is enough to hold back switchgrass long enough for Miscanthus to establish. 44:20

Question: What planting rate and row spacing is needed for growing bulk Miscanthus to harvest for chicken litter? 46:09 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don says large poultry operations grow Miscanthus for bedding because of its high tonnage per acre and lower dust compared to other options. 46:27

Question: Chris Tart from Preston, Minnesota asks whether his established Miscanthus stand can winter kill. 56:16 — asked by Chris Tart — #274 - Soil Health: The Foundation of Successful Food Plotting

• Answer: Don explains winter kill typically happens the first year, before the plant is well established. 56:44
• Answer: Don advises northern planters to cover first-year Miscanthus with straw insulation before winter. 57:37

Question: Darren Kent asks when to plant straight switchgrass versus bedding-in-a-bag on a flood-prone pipeline right-of-way. 58:33 — asked by Darren Kent — #274 - Soil Health: The Foundation of Successful Food Plotting

• Answer: Don explains bedding-in-a-bag mixes Indian grass, big bluestem, and the same switchgrass sold as Real World Switchgrass, which alone tolerates flooding. 59:16
• Answer: Don says Indian grass and big bluestem don’t tolerate flooding and are better suited to upland sites. 59:53

Question: Brett Petty asks whether Don’s stance on switchgrass bedding would change if his isolated farm were instead surrounded by timber that had received TSI work. 52:55 — asked by Brett Petty — Episode #271 - Cool Wet Spring Concerns for Antler Growth and Nutrition

• Answer: Don says bedding preference is highly individual — many mature bucks avoid switchgrass for wooded cover, so it comes down more to the specific buck than the surrounding habitat. 54:19
• Answer: Don cites the buck Smokey, who bedded in switchgrass day after day even with great wooded cover right beside it, as proof individual preference varies. 54:10

Question: Matt from Louisville, Tennessee asks why Don is planting cedar trees instead of giant Miscanthus for a screen. 40:35 — asked by Matt — Episode #269 - Genetics, Nutrition, or Age (which is more important)

• Answer: Don explains that Miscanthus would screen better and faster, but since this planting sits close to the property line near existing pines, cedars save more tillable ground here. 42:47

Question: For the Higgins Hot Seat, Terry asked whether Don would have laid out his three switchgrass patches the same way knowing the farm’s eventual boundaries. 33:08 — asked by Terry — Episode #268 - Thermal Drone Tells the Truth on Don’s Farm

• Answer: Don said he’d probably lay it out the same way, since he has no intention of changing much now that he’s bought surrounding ag fields. 33:21

Question: Michael Van Vortex asked whether Don has actually tried the switchgrass options he preaches against and could share his observations. 39:20 — asked by Michael Van Vortex — Episode #268 - Thermal Drone Tells the Truth on Don’s Farm

• Answer: Don confirmed he tried the diversity-pocket idea years ago, planting oak trees in his switchgrass, but ended up burning most of them. 39:56
• Answer: Don also confirmed he has tried mixing switchgrass with forbs/wildflowers but dislikes it because deer browse those forbs instead of bedding. 42:46

Question: Terry asks Don what percentage of his upcoming farm projects are bedding-related versus food-related. 15:59 — Episode #267 - Spring Whitetail Habitat Projects - Is it Go Time?

• Answer: Don says he has no bedding projects this year; his focus is entirely on turning good stands into great ones. 16:07

Question: Terry asks Don whether he’d plant Miscanthus or conifer trees to screen the new blind location. 39:37 — Episode #267 - Spring Whitetail Habitat Projects - Is it Go Time?

• Answer: Don says he’d go with conifer trees to screen the blind, no doubt about it. 40:05

Question: Ryan Higgins asks what to consider when resetting stands and access after a timber harvest on his permission farm. 42:43 — asked by Ryan Higgins — Episode #267 - Spring Whitetail Habitat Projects - Is it Go Time?

• Answer: Don advises making sure the logger takes every mature tree species rather than cherry-picking valuable ones. 43:03
• Answer: Don says the regrowth after harvest will create thicker cover and likely more, not fewer, deer. 44:03

Question: Matt Crouch asks whether periodically burning switchgrass sanctuary bedding contradicts the ten-year undisturbed sanctuary advice. 47:53 — asked by Matt Crouch — Episode #266 Making a Good Stand a Great Stand

• Answer: Don said his stay-out-ten-years advice is meant within reason, not taken to an extreme — switchgrass still needs periodic burning. 49:10
• Answer: Don noted no sanctuary is entirely switchgrass, so burning it still leaves the rest of the cover undisturbed. 49:47
• Answer: Don recommends burning only about a third of a switchgrass stand each year regardless of total acreage. 50:05
• Answer: Don rotates burning across three switchgrass patches on his own farm, torching one section per year. 50:10

Question: Should Miscanthus clumps be planted before or after drilling switchgrass seed over a converted field? 52:12 — asked by Josh Hers — Episode #265 - How To Plant Fruit Trees - Wildlife Orchards

• Answer: Don recommends planting the Miscanthus clumps first, then driving over the top and drilling the switchgrass seed right over it. 52:29

Question: Josh Hers asks whether his 100-acre grass conversion would be too wet for switchgrass. 11:22 — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says the Real World switchgrass variety does well in either bottomland or upland sites, even surviving flooding. 11:43

Question: John Gingerich asks what specific steps Don would take to add value to a small 25-40 acre hunting tract. 44:53 — asked by John Gingerich — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says the first step is creating the best possible bedding cover to get bucks bedded on the property, then staying out of it. 45:35

Question: Malen Born Sugar asks how well Miscanthus performs when planted in wetland. 56:24 — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says Miscanthus does not tolerate wet feet and shouldn’t be planted where it will get flooded. 56:30

Question: Jared Yoder asks whether Don intentionally plants switchgrass thinner in spots to encourage bedding. 57:08 — asked by Jared Yoder — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don instead plants Miscanthus within the switchgrass field, since switchgrass thins naturally against it and deer like bedding with Miscanthus at their back. 57:30

Question: If someone can’t safely burn switchgrass, should they still plant it and bush hog instead? 2:55 — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don says he personally wouldn’t avoid burning, though he acknowledges he’s more comfortable defying restrictions than most people. 3:04

Question: Is laying out a fire break strategically important when planting switchgrass? 6:44 — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don agrees, saying each of his three burn patches requires watching a different wind direction to protect his house and sanctuary. 6:53

Question: Does Don have any funny stories about switchgrass fires that got away from him? 9:56 — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don recounts that a runaway switchgrass fire is how a set of shed antlers he found got the name Smokey. 10:03

Question: A hunter with steep terrain asks whether bucks bed deep in thick cover or on the fringe near ridge tops. 35:42 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don says bucks use terrain to their advantage and often bed on ridge points where they can see out. 36:02

Question: Royce Corbin asks about an online expert promoting grain sorghum as bedding instead of switchgrass. 32:06 — asked by Royce Corbin — Episode #259 Apple Tree Spacing in Deer Plots

• Answer: Don notes grain sorghum is an annual that must be replanted every year, unlike switchgrass. 33:10
• Answer: Don concludes grain sorghum does not come close to matching switchgrass as bedding cover. 34:39

Question: If a three-year-old buck has claimed a bedding sanctuary you’d normally mow, should you still mow it? 60:34 — Episode #258 - Live Podcast from Mt. Hope Ohio

• Answer: Terry says as long as grass is still visible under thickening cedars and brush, the bedding area is still functional and doesn’t need mowing yet. 61:54
• Answer: Terry adds that grasses are the real indicator of usable bedding, and once grass is choked out, the sanctuary is lost. 62:23

Question: Would it be good or bad to mix Egyptian wheat with newly planted switchgrass? 50:49 — asked by John Taber — Episode #256 - Hard Winter and Early Buck Shed? Illinois CWD Announcement

• Answer: Don says never plant Egyptian wheat or any other crop with switchgrass, since it will outcompete and choke out the slow-establishing switchgrass. 51:12

Question: The listener asks why Don’s switchgrass bedding fields succeed while some well-known hunting personalities have had little success with the same tactic. 47:01 — Episode #255 - Deer Movement and Weather Fronts

• Answer: Don says his switchgrass success comes down to using a variety that stands up well through winter ice and snow, plus hunting in open ag prairie where cover is scarce so deer rely on it more. 50:28

Question: What should I plant along my road frontage to screen deer, since poachers shoot deer there and my screening keeps getting sprayed or driven over? 63:08 — asked by Benjamin Maines — Episode #252 - Don says, “THERE IS NO SECOND RUT!”

• Answer: Don recommended planting five rows of Miscanthus, calling it the best screen available, to block sightlines along the road frontage. 63:21

Question: A listener asks how to locate bedding areas on his pressured Indiana property without spooking deer through intrusion. 55:29 — Episode #246 - Don Says - Best November Hunting in 50 Years

• Answer: Don recommends waiting until a winter snow has sat on the ground for several days, then scouting beds without disturbing deer. 56:19

Question: A listener with a growing 75-acre farm asks what percentage of a property should be sanctuary and whether to add fruit trees. 61:52 — Episode #246 - Don Says - Best November Hunting in 50 Years

• Answer: Don says there’s no fixed rule, but his own preference is to make the sanctuary as large as possible. 62:29
• Answer: Don illustrates that on a 500-acre property he’d devote 450 acres to sanctuary and only 50 to food. 62:41

Question: Cody asks what he can do around his cattail swamp to encourage deer bedding there. 41:08 — asked by Cody Zimmerman — Episode 230 - Don says Switchgrass is not the best bedding.

• Answer: Don recommends building raised dry areas within the cattail swamp, saying deer will find and bed on them for safety. 43:00

Question: Raymond asks whether to leave his overgrown ag field as a weedy mess or spray it and plant switchgrass instead. 49:49 — asked by Raymond Troyer — Episode 230 - Don says Switchgrass is not the best bedding.

• Answer: Don says he prefers overgrown cow-pasture cover to switchgrass and would not tear out existing good cover to plant it on a small property. 50:12

Question: Casey asks whether Don has noticed a difference in antler size between bucks that bed in switchgrass versus timber. 28:40 — asked by Casey Larson — Episode #229 - Final Thoughts on the Buck Named Babe and Cameras are Out!

• Answer: Don says switchgrass has had no impact on antler growth for those deer since the bucks don’t summer there while growing their racks. 29:44

Question: Eric asks whether Giant Miscanthus could work as a screen to block a neglectful neighbor’s view of his yard. 60:05 — asked by Eric Bowles — Episode #229 - Final Thoughts on the Buck Named Babe and Cameras are Out!

• Answer: Don confirms Miscanthus has been used as a screen for many purposes and would work well for Eric’s situation. 61:17

Question: David Aman, a new Real World dealer from Highland, Illinois, asked how deer travel through a Miscanthus screen and whether to leave an opening as a doorway. 47:40 — asked by David Aman — Episode #219 - The Most Important Aspect of Hunting Whitetails

• Answer: Don told David a determined deer will push through Miscanthus regardless, noting deer make their own paths through thick stands on his farm. 48:44
• Answer: Terry added that Miscanthus takes about three years to thicken up, so young deer will initially walk through it like an open field. 49:23

Question: Brian Koehler asks how many rhizomes to use and what shape to plant Miscanthus pockets within switchgrass. 21:55 — asked by Brian Koehler — Episode #217 - Now Don wants to go fishing!

• Answer: Don plants x, T, and L shapes of Miscanthus, since deer like to bed in the corner pockets those shapes create. 22:21
• Answer: Don says there’s no right or wrong number of rhizomes to use, from 10 up to a thousand. 23:01

Question: Lance Lake asks whether he needs to spray Simazine again this spring on his second-year switchgrass, or just use Quinclorac and 2,4-D. 19:12 — asked by Lance Lake — Episode #215 - Could 2024 be a fantastic antler growing season?

• Answer: Don says it depends on stand quality — a good first-year stand may not need the pre-emergent, while a poor stand still needs simazine plus 2,4-D cleanup. 19:36

Question: An audience member asks what Don recommends for overseeding a Miscanthus stand that came in spotty the first year. 27:52 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don says to figure out what went wrong the first time, like drought or weed competition, before replanting. 28:09

Question: An audience member asks why Don recommends not fertilizing Miscanthus the first year. 28:55 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don compares it to a transplanted tree, saying the plant needs to regain its roots before fertilizer pushes top growth. 29:22

Question: Duane Hopkins asks whether it’s better to plant Miscanthus early and let it sit dormant in the ground versus a refrigerator. 36:37 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don says early planting works, but he now prefers waiting for soil temperatures to warm, comparing it to switchgrass. 36:58

Question: Duane Hopkins asks whether Atrazine or Simazine-type herbicides can be applied to an existing Miscanthus or switchgrass stand. 38:22 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don confirms yes, absolutely, those herbicides can be used. 38:31

Question: A Michigan dealer asks whether planting Miscanthus too early risks damage from a freeze following warm weather. 39:39 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don says young Miscanthus is susceptible to freeze, making the first winter the most critical period. 39:48

Question: Should switchgrass be planted instead of Miscanthus to screen a food plot from open ag ground? 33:48 — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don says he’d rather use Miscanthus for screening than switchgrass or a combination. 34:01
• Answer: Don says Miscanthus allows a narrower strip to do a better screening job than switchgrass. 34:12

Question: Adam Kersey asked how large an area is needed for effective bedding cover and whether one acre is sufficient. 48:30 — asked by Adam Kersey — Episode #207 - Was Don a Hippie?

• Answer: Don recommends using the whole property for bedding cover rather than a small patch, turning 40 acres into a 40-acre bedding area, not just one acre. 49:06
• Answer: Don suggests planting low-maintenance pear trees near stand locations to give deer an added food draw without annual upkeep. 50:06

Question: Jacob asked whether to replant oaks in newly-thinned wooded cover once sunlight reaches the forest floor, or let natural regeneration fill in instead. 64:39 — asked by Jacob Cooper — Episode#203 - Post Season Scouting and Project Advice

• Answer: Don recommends planting potted oak trees, protected with tube shelters, into thinned timber you plan to own long-term rather than relying on natural regeneration. 67:36

Question: Jesse Fromm asks why plant Miscanthus outside tall switchgrass screens instead of relying on seven-to-eight-foot switchgrass alone as the deer screen. 53:57 — asked by Jesse Fromm — Episode 199 - Dewormer in Deer Feed, Tractors, Screens, and Windmills

• Answer: Don says no screen compares to Miscanthus, whose bamboo-like stalks withstand ice, wet snow, and wind far better than switchgrass. 54:43
• Answer: Terry counters that switchgrass alone must be planted much wider to stay thick and screening, or the first several feet stay thin. 57:58
• Answer: Don adds that even a wider five-to-six-foot strip of plain switchgrass provides essentially no effective screening compared to Miscanthus. 59:38

Question: Justin Korsmeyer, whose frost-seeded switchgrass failed to germinate, asked when the best time is to seed switchgrass. 48:36 — asked by Justin Korsmeyer — Episode 198 - Buck Traveling Long Distances After The Rut

• Answer: Don recommends waiting until about May 1 to no-till switchgrass rather than frost seeding it. 50:41
• Answer: Don recommends spraying weeds with glyphosate mixed with atrazine or simazine before no-tilling switchgrass to prevent weed competition. 50:57

Question: Terry asked whether waiting until May to no-till switchgrass makes artificial freezer stratification more necessary. 53:01 — asked by Terry — Episode 198 - Buck Traveling Long Distances After The Rut

• Answer: Don confirms it matters more and recommends freezing and thawing the seed bag repeatedly to jump-start stratification of hard seed. 54:09

Question: Matthew Montag asked whether mixing switchgrass or surrounding wildflowers with Miscanthus could make plantings good for both bees and deer. 55:30 — asked by Matthew Montag — Episode 198 - Buck Traveling Long Distances After The Rut

• Answer: Don says he’d prefer wildflowers be mixed with some grasses if used at all. 55:51
• Answer: Don adds that from a hunting standpoint he prefers a straight stand of switchgrass rather than mixed wildflowers. 57:23

Question: Justin Rue asked why Babe and other bucks always exit through that same spot in the switchgrass field. 51:11 — asked by Justin Rue — Episode #197 - Don’s Grandson Kills His First Buck!

• Answer: Don explained the dominant buck beds in a swale within the switchgrass for security, exiting there with a favorable quartering wind. 53:01

Question: Eli Yoder asked what Don thinks about planting bamboo in a grown-up wheat field for bedding cover. 49:42 — asked by Eli Yoder — Episode 192 - End of October - Tactics and Plans are Changing - PRE RUT!

• Answer: Don calls planting bamboo a terrible idea for bedding cover because it is invasive, suggesting non-invasive Miscanthus instead. 49:57

Question: Drew Peterson asks for recommendations on using bulldozed berms with perennial grasses as a screen between fields and food plots. 48:54 — asked by Drew Peterson — Episode #189 - Season Opener and Tough Questions

• Answer: Don recommends simply planting Miscanthus instead of building a berm, calling it the best available screen. 50:05

Question: Jeremiah also asks whether diverse bedding cover is just as important as diverse food plots. 38:18 — asked by Jeremiah Kraft — Episode 175 - June Food Plot Update

• Answer: Don says he values diverse bedding cover, favoring thick wooded cover and switchgrass, though giant ragweed doesn’t provide comparable winter cover. 39:37

Question: What do people need to understand about patience as Miscanthus rhizomes come out of dormancy? 16:48 — asked by Terry — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don explains heat brings Miscanthus rhizomes out of winter dormancy, with roots growing first before sprouts, at different rates for each rhizome. 17:25

Question: For wetland areas, is red osier dogwood or switchgrass better for whitetails, and why? 35:47 — asked by Chris Warenberg — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don says if the ground is so wet it’s basically peat, switchgrass won’t thrive, making red osier dogwood the much better option there. 38:59

Question: For a single five-acre switchgrass field, would Don still add a fire break to burn half of it each year? 50:45 — asked by Terry — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don says it depends on plot size; a 15-acre field he’d divide into three five-acre tracts burned on rotation. 51:13

Question: Isaac Nelson asked whether he should leave diversity pockets of cover in his switchgrass fields, questioning popular YouTube advice. 51:04 — asked by Isaac Nelson — Episode #163 - The Hype of Chestnut Trees…

• Answer: Don said diversity pockets sound good in theory but fail because switchgrass must be burned regularly and the pockets can’t survive that fire. 52:06

Question: Has Don tried mowing a switchgrass field before burning it to control the fire better? 46:43 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Don hadn’t tried it but thought it would work, suggesting keeping the mower about a foot off the ground. 46:48

Question: Do bucks and does prefer bedding in wooded cover or switchgrass differently? 63:05 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Don said he doesn’t see a broad buck/doe preference, but individual bucks like Smokey strongly favor one cover type—Smokey bedded in grass over 80% of the time. 63:40

Question: Is Don’s Miscanthus planter available for rent? 64:05 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Don said it’s actually a tree-seedling planter he uses for Miscanthus, recently bought, and he probably won’t rent it out but can point buyers to one. 64:10

Question: What does Don think of the theory that does and bucks use separate, layered bedding areas? 80:44 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don doubts deer distinguish doe versus buck bedding zones, saying a deer simply beds wherever it feels safest. 81:19

Question: Can a good switchgrass stand establish if no-till drilled into winter wheat stubble after harvest, before a killing frost in Northeast Wisconsin? 24:11 — asked by David Sauer — Episode #158 - Is Hunting Contests Hurting the Hunting Industry?

• Answer: Don says drilling switchgrass immediately after wheat harvest works if there are at least 90 days before the first frost, giving a stand mature enough to survive winter. 25:32

Question: Are you recommending artificially stratifying the switchgrass seed if planting it that late in the season? 27:00 — Episode #158 - Is Hunting Contests Hurting the Hunting Industry?

• Answer: Don says yes, buy the seed early and cycle it in and out of the freezer for a couple weeks at a time until planting. 27:12

Question: Is there a suggested acre ratio of bedding to food, or does the focus shift between bedding and food depending on the property? 57:34 — asked by Jacob Schulte — Episode #157 Frost Seeding Clover - Soil Builder - Switchgrass

• Answer: Don says there’s no magic ratio; the plan is based on whatever is in short supply on the surrounding landscape. 58:26

Question: Zach from Hidalgo, Illinois asks whether spreading straw on south-facing hillsides for extra bedding cover is worth doing or a waste of money. 23:46 — asked by Zach — Episode #156 - Looking for a Buck Bed…

• Answer: Don calls laying straw out for bedding cover a ridiculous idea, noting deer have survived for years without it and human intrusion while placing it likely outweighs any benefit. 24:53
• Answer: Terry suggests heavy TSI cutting a south-facing hillside now to create thermal bedding cover near a food plot for next season, instead of spreading straw. 25:06

Question: Sean Richardson asks whether it makes more sense to focus on increasing native species and diverse bedding plots rather than solely worrying about nonnative species like miscanthus. 27:03 — asked by Sean Richardson — Episode #156 - Looking for a Buck Bed…

• Answer: Don explains that mixing browse with bedding cover lets a buck feed without leaving his bed, making him far harder to hunt, so he keeps food and bedding separate. 29:27
• Answer: Terry says the Miscanthus strip is only about 32 inches wide, meant to block a poacher’s shot into the food plot or screen a hunter’s approach, not to replace native plantings. 31:24

Question: Kent Taber asks whether Don has ever planted grass inside wooded cover on his farm, since the best public-land bedding areas he finds have grass among brush and briars. 34:41 — asked by Kent Taber — Episode #156 - Looking for a Buck Bed…

• Answer: Don says he hasn’t tried planting grass in wooded cover since it’s very difficult to establish there, but calls Kent’s observation about grassy bedding areas excellent. 35:09
• Answer: Don explains his favorite deer cover is an overgrown cow pasture where residual grass mixes with weeds, saplings, and briars after cattle are removed—that’s prime bedding cover. 35:20

Question: Micah Brubaker asks whether Don and Terry advocate diversity pockets for browse or recommend planting straight Bedding-in-a-Bag in an old ag field. 38:40 — asked by Micah Brubaker — Episode #156 - Looking for a Buck Bed…

• Answer: Don reiterates he keeps grasses separate from forbs to force bucks to travel a set distance to food when hungry, which makes them more killable than feeding right from their bed. 39:55

Question: Terry asks Don why he recommends straight switchgrass over a blend when people ask what to plant on their own farm. 43:22 — Episode #156 - Looking for a Buck Bed…

• Answer: Don explains their Real World Switchgrass variety was selected through research for the best standability, growing tallest and standing best of the three species offered. 44:35

Question: An audience member asked how to get a strictly nocturnal buck to move during legal daylight shooting hours. 12:52 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don said if a buck beds one property away from where you hunt, your odds of killing him drop to about 10% of what they’d be on the same property. 13:28

Question: An audience member asked Don’s preferred bedding area for deer during heavy snow in winter. 15:58 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don said mature bucks bed wherever offers the least human intrusion, regardless of snow. 16:08

Question: Dave Walls asked whether phasing habitat improvements — planting switchgrass in half a field one year and the rest the next — is a good idea. 37:00 — asked by Dave Walls — Episode #151 - Winter Scouting Tips

• Answer: Don said since those fields don’t offer much cover in winter anyway, Dave should just go ahead and plant the switchgrass in both fields now rather than phasing it. 37:07

Question: Terry asks whether deer bedding in thick switchgrass are insulated from frozen ground the same way straw rolled out for cattle insulates them. 9:15 — asked by Terry — Episode #149 Frigid Temps and Deer… Merry Christmas 2022!

• Answer: Don confirms it’s true, saying squatting down in switchgrass with terrain features makes a huge difference from the wind compared to open woods. 9:37

Question: Terry Roberts from Brooklyn, Arkansas asks how to find travel corridors, bedding, and funnels on unfamiliar rocky hill-country property with only cattle pasture and hay fields. 38:28 — asked by Terry Roberts — Episode #149 Frigid Temps and Deer… Merry Christmas 2022!

• Answer: Don says to learn to read terrain features that dictate deer movement and use the lay of the land to find pinch points, plus put out feed to concentrate travel. 39:52

Question: Chris Smith asks how to create screening to his bow stands without accidentally creating new bedding areas he’ll bump on entry. 42:33 — asked by Chris Smith — Episode #148 - Are Bucks Shedding Antlers Early This Year?

• Answer: Don recommends Miscanthus as the best screening cover, since only 3-4 narrow rows are needed, making a strip too thin for deer to bed in. 43:21

Question: John Soteros asks what he can do to get deer to use his five-to-seven-acre Real World Switchgrass patches for bedding more. 73:32 — asked by John Soteros — Episode #146 - Late Season Decisions and Tactics

• Answer: Don advises keeping food separate from bedding cover so bucks must move to feed—that forced movement is what makes them killable. 74:21
• Answer: Terry adds that the switchgrass bedding style they recommend should be so thick that nothing else could grow inside it. 76:11

Question: Bob Jones asks Don and Terry to weigh in on horizontal versus vertical bedding cover and how it relates to bedding grass. 44:13 — asked by Bob Jones — Chasing Giants Episode #142 - Heat Wave Rut - What will Don do?

• Answer: Don confirms Bob’s observation about horizontal bedding cover is accurate, though he’s unsure how it directly compares to bedding grass. 44:47
• Answer: Don recommends leaving felled treetops after logging since they instantly create excellent deer bedding cover. 45:33

Question: Troy Carper from Memphis, MO asks how many bedding locations a mature buck uses and whether bucks share beds with other deer. 37:53 — asked by Troy Carper — Episode #136 - EHD HITS AGAIN - DON’S FINAL BUCK FORECAST

• Answer: Don says a mature buck likely has dozens of bedding locations across his range, using different beds for different wind directions. 38:22
• Answer: Terry recalls drone footage of a bachelor group bedded with their backs to each other, each watching a different direction. 39:37

Question: A listener whose fall-planted switchgrass failed asks why switchgrass germinates in fall without freeze-thaw stratification. 28:27 — Episode #130 - Don buys a scent elimination device

• Answer: Don explains switchgrass can be fall-planted only if done very late, so the seed doesn’t germinate until spring. 29:31

Question: A Northern Wisconsin listener asks what to do to help newly planted Miscanthus survive its first winter. 68:13 — Episode #130 - Don buys a scent elimination device

• Answer: Don says Real World’s cold-hardy Miscanthus variety, already grown in Southern Canada, should be fine in Northern Wisconsin. 69:34
• Answer: Don recommends covering the planting with straw for insulation during its critical first winter after planting. 70:36
• Answer: Terry adds that ultimately winter weather and snow cover, not just insulation, determine whether Miscanthus survives its first year. 71:45

Question: Ryan asks whether to drill or broadcast Plot Topper into a mowed switchgrass stand this fall or if that would set the switchgrass back. 51:30 — asked by Ryan — Episode #129 - Lessons Learned from a GIANT TYPICAL - Story you haven’t heard!

• Answer: Don warns switchgrass does not tolerate any competition, so no other seed should ever be mixed into a switchgrass planting. 52:18
• Answer: Don states switchgrass should never be planted in fall since it’s a terrible time for establishment and young plants won’t survive winter. 53:44

Question: Ennis Miller from Sullivan, Ohio asks why Don says big bucks like small cover patches yet also recommends switchgrass plots of at least five acres. 36:40 — asked by Ennis Miller — Episode #122 - Extreme Heat Really Hurts the Doe and Fawns!

• Answer: Don explains small patches attract bucks in heavily hunted areas hunters overlook, while large switchgrass fields are for owned property where you control human intrusion. 38:35

Question: What’s the best way to define specific buck bedding areas on a swampy, hardwood-and-conifer property surrounded by ag? 59:41 — Episode #108 - Mind Blowing Deer Management with Dr. Bronson Strickland

• Answer: Don recommends scouting for deer beds in the snow, focusing on single beds rather than doe-group clusters, with ridge points as prime buck bedding spots. 59:46

Question: David Adams asks how to hunt a buck he’s watched on camera for three years, active around 5 AM and likely bedding in an unhunted 80-acre cutover. 40:49 — asked by David Adams — EPISODE #107 - Don Knows How To Fire Up Southern Folks!

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t believe any buck is nocturnal 365 days a year, and consistently killing big deer requires getting them bedding on your own property. 43:18
• Answer: Joe agrees bedding access is critical — if the hunter’s cutover sanctuary is on his own property, he can still kill the buck despite nocturnal pressure elsewhere. 45:38

Question: Joseph asks how Don structures Real World Miscanthus in his fields to create screening and bedding structure. 34:38 — asked by Joseph — Episode #106 - Don finds sheds of an 8-year-old buck!

• Answer: Don plants Miscanthus in an X pattern, and deer bed in the pockets the shape creates. 36:29

Question: Tristan Reed from McBain, Michigan asks whether to plant one large switchgrass field or break it up with open pockets, browse, and shrubs. 45:10 — asked by Tristan Reed — Episode #103 - Frost Seeding Tips and Tricks - NO SHORTCUTS!

• Answer: Don says he strongly favors bigger switchgrass fields and won’t recommend planting less than five acres, since small fields don’t put bucks far enough from the dangerous edge. 46:11
• Answer: He adds that bigger fields are better and he avoids breaking them up with trees and shrubs, since that makes prescribed burning much harder. 47:53

Question: Jackson Hurley from Northwood, Iowa asks how to speed up getting purchased switchgrass seed planted this spring if soil prep isn’t finished. 50:36 — asked by Jackson Hurley — Episode #103 - Frost Seeding Tips and Tricks - NO SHORTCUTS!

• Answer: Don insists there are no shortcuts for switchgrass site prep—skipping steps will make the planting project fail. 51:37
• Answer: He adds that unused switchgrass seed can be frozen for a full year and still lose very little germination when planted later. 54:01

Question: Andrew Jones asked whether Don believes in creating small bedding pockets around hardwood ridges lacking thick cover, for does, fawns, and mature bucks. 22:12 — asked by Andrew Jones — Episode 101 - Mowing Corn, Dead Coyotes, and Working in the Hunting Industry

• Answer: Don says he prefers cutting entire woods rather than small select bedding pockets, favoring big thick cover over little scattered thickets. 23:10
• Answer: Terry summarizes Don’s philosophy as holding as many deer as possible on the property rather than targeting specific individual deer. 23:47

Question: Mike Gruber asked whether switchgrass would work in the wetter areas of his property or if there’s a better ground-cover option. 44:23 — asked by Mike Gruber — Episode 101 - Mowing Corn, Dead Coyotes, and Working in the Hunting Industry

• Answer: Don says Real World Switchgrass tolerates wetter ground reasonably well, depending on how wet the site actually is. 44:44

Question: For a newly bought 100-acre property, should bedding cover typically be placed on a south-facing slope? 22:34 — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don said a south-facing slope is generally the best bedding location since it’s warmest in winter, though every property is different. 23:02

Question: Is the strategy to watch a buck check the wind near his bedding area, then slip in and wait for him to circle back? 69:49 — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don joked that the skeptical friend should show up to Don’s Monday morning coffee meetup to learn how it actually works. 70:02

Question: When deer are living in standing corn, how do you hunt them? 82:26 — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don said standing corn offers less human intrusion than woods, and mature bucks still use the edges even though it’s harder to hunt. 82:44

Question: On a 100-acre property, how should acreage be split between cover and food? 98:46 — asked by Gerald — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don said if forced to choose, cover wins every time because he wants the buck bedded on his property above all else. 99:54

Question: Nick Scarpino from Baldwin, Missouri asks whether switchgrass, Giant Miscanthus, or cedar trees is best for screening newly opened food plot edges. 53:55 — asked by Nick Scarpino — Episode #94 - Late Season is Here! Change Your Approach

• Answer: Don says Giant Miscanthus is hands-down the best plot screen, far outperforming trees. 55:05
• Answer: Terry adds that planting Miscanthus is more work than switchgrass but pays off better long term. 57:15

Question: Delmer Bontrager from Ligonier, Indiana asked if Don walked back his claim that switchgrass can’t be too thick, and how to handle foxtail in new switchgrass. 58:54 — asked by Delmer Bontrager — Episode #76 - Where are the big bucks? August is here! Final Prep

• Answer: Don said he has never walked back his claim that he’s never seen switchgrass too thick for deer to use. 60:02
• Answer: Don said quinclorac kills foxtail in switchgrass, but it only works while the foxtail is still young. 60:39
• Answer: Since it’s too late to spray, Don recommended mowing the switchgrass, keeping the mower deck about 12 inches high. 61:17

Question: Kyle Watson asks whether mowing cornstalks then no-tilling/broadcasting switchgrass is right, or if he should disk the ground first. 52:43 — asked by Kyle Watson — Episode #75 - Concerned about cell cams, when should i plant, and purple headed freaks…

• Answer: Terry advises spraying Roundup with a residual (Cimizine or Atrazine) on cornstalks, then immediately no-till drilling switchgrass seed without disking. 56:49

Question: Andrew Jones asks whether mature bucks prefer an oak flat with Russian olive bushes or an overgrown cow pasture with old hedge trees for bedding. 57:13 — asked by Andrew Jones — Episode #71 - Trail Cam Deployment, Giant Bucks of Social Media Misused, Raffle Closing Soon!

• Answer: Don says both bedding types can be great, and it ultimately comes down to which has the least human intrusion. 57:39
• Answer: Don states his personal favorite bedding cover for big bucks is an overgrown cow pasture with scattered big oak trees. 57:57

Question: Gary Redman asks if it’s too late to order Miscanthus and whether he can randomly spot-spray Roundup in existing vegetation before planting Miscanthus plugs. 36:49 — asked by Gary Redman — Episode #68 - Germination, Browse Pressure, When To Spray - DON PICKS IOWA UNIT…

• Answer: Don says it’s too late this year, and instead of random spot-spraying he recommends killing and tilling a clean six-foot-wide strip where the Miscanthus will be planted. 38:18

Question: Wesley Lucas asks what sign Don looks for on a new property to find where a mature buck spends daylight hours. 48:19 — asked by Wesley Lucas — Episode #67 - WATCH OUT FOR FAWNS! Don and Terry both have a close call!

• Answer: Don says he assumes the thickest cover on a property is where deer will be bedding. 49:05
• Answer: Don says the first thing he looks for on a new property is sign of other hunters, which affects whether he’ll hunt it. 49:51

Question: Nolan from Minnesota asked whether to drill or broadcast switchgrass seed after a spring burn, and whether stratifying helps. 40:26 — asked by Nolan — Episode #65 Spring Plot Herbicide Discussion and Fawns dropping

• Answer: Don recommends drilling switchgrass after a burn rather than broadcasting, keeping seed depth shallow—no more than a quarter inch, ideally about an eighth of an inch. 42:21

Question: A listener from Michigan asks how much stress occurs between bucks and does over shared bedding areas. 25:20 — Episode #61 - Live from the Midwest Sportsman Show - TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM LIVE CROWD

• Answer: Don says both bucks and does primarily want freedom from human intrusion and a bed where they feel safest, so bedding together isn’t a problem. 25:43

Question: A listener asks whether Don prefers Miscanthus grass or switchgrass. 48:00 — Episode #61 - Live from the Midwest Sportsman Show - TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM LIVE CROWD

• Answer: Don says he likes both Miscanthus and switchgrass and prefers planting them together. 48:04
• Answer: Don has found deer like to bed against taller Miscanthus grass planted within switchgrass fields. 48:22

Question: John Jay asks whether Don would choose switchgrass or trees to create cover. 50:24 — asked by John Jay — Episode #61 - Live from the Midwest Sportsman Show - TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM LIVE CROWD

• Answer: Don says he’d choose whichever cover type is scarcer locally, comparing a property to one square on a giant checkerboard that must stand out. 50:41

Question: Shane Finch asked whether to keep American beech alive for cover in his bedding area or remove it, since deer don’t eat its beechnuts. 38:27 — asked by Shane Finch — Episode #59 - Habitat Projects like Water Holes, Food in Bedding, Structure in Bedding along with other topics

• Answer: Don says he strongly prefers separating food and bedding, since the travel a deer must make between bed and food is what makes it vulnerable to hunting pressure. 38:54

Question: Jeff Neal from Brownstown, Indiana asks how to convert fescue acreage to switchgrass, including whether to plant soybeans first. 52:18 — asked by Jeff Neal — Episode #56 RELOAD - Great discussion live from 2021 Master Class #1 - Terry answers some questions on cell cam test

• Answer: Don recommends planting soybeans first this year rather than switchgrass immediately, since site prep is critical for warm-season native grasses. 53:03
• Answer: After harvesting the soybeans, Don recommends either frost-seeding or no-till drilling switchgrass directly into the soybean stubble. 53:57

Question: Joel Morris asks whether one type of bedding is king above all else for holding mature whitetails on his diverse 125-acre property. 49:24 — asked by Joel Morris — Episode 51 - Serving the Hunting Community instead of using the Hunting Industry

• Answer: Don says the number one key to holding mature bucks is freedom from human intrusion, more important than the cover type. 50:05
• Answer: Don reiterates that freedom from human intrusion matters more than the specific kind of cover on a property. 51:22

Question: Nathan Kelsey from Kirksville, Missouri asks how to determine whether a property has enough quality bedding cover or needs added switchgrass. 44:39 — asked by Nathan Kelsey — Episode #44 - New Year’s Resolutions, Bedding Cover, Hunting Cold Temps, and Sharing Hunting Property with Family

• Answer: Don answers that freedom from human intrusion is the most important factor in bedding quality, more so than any specific cover ratio. 46:52

Question: Terry asks whether there’s a standard acreage ratio between food and bedding, or if it depends on the property and deer density. 47:42 — Episode #44 - New Year’s Resolutions, Bedding Cover, Hunting Cold Temps, and Sharing Hunting Property with Family

• Answer: Don answers simply that there needs to be a balance between bedding cover and food rather than a fixed ratio. 47:58

Question: Ryan asks for the difference between Real World Switchgrass and Real World Bedding in a Bag. 47:10 — asked by Ryan Unlore — Episode #41 - Don and Terry start a new December Series called “Make A Good Spot Great!”

• Answer: Don explains Real World Switchgrass is a single grass species, while Bedding in a Bag mixes switchgrass with Indian grass and big bluestem. 47:48

Question: Ryan asks what to plant for bedding in bottom ground that floods in spring but is dry the rest of the year. 48:04 — Episode #41 - Don and Terry start a new December Series called “Make A Good Spot Great!”

• Answer: Don recommends switchgrass, noting it can tolerate brief flooding of a few days but not extended weeks-long flooding. 48:17

Question: Ryan asks what seed rate to use for switchgrass bedding versus screens, and whether it differs from Bedding in a Bag. 48:49 — Episode #41 - Don and Terry start a new December Series called “Make A Good Spot Great!”

• Answer: Don recommends four pounds of switchgrass seed per acre regardless of whether it’s for screening or bedding, mixed with pelletized lime for even spreading. 50:10

Question: Ryan asks why Real World’s website recommends at least five acres before planting a switchgrass bedding area. 53:13 — Episode #41 - Don and Terry start a new December Series called “Make A Good Spot Great!”

• Answer: Don explains five acres gives bedded deer enough buffer from the dangerous field edge, unlike smaller patches. 53:24

Question: Ryan asks whether he should frost-seed switchgrass into a recently clear-cut, wide-open timber area for bedding. 55:25 — Episode #41 - Don and Terry start a new December Series called “Make A Good Spot Great!”

• Answer: Don says never plant native grasses like switchgrass or Miscanthus under timber canopy; they need full sun, comparing it to trying to grow corn in the woods. 55:36

Question: Bob asks what to plant before signing a CRP contract requiring periodic mowing, so bedding cover isn’t completely wiped out for deer. 40:00 — Episode #27 Season is closing in. Final prep work is being done along with addressing some hurt feelings.

• Answer: Don recommends dividing grass plantings into thirds and burning only a third per year, so most bedding cover always remains standing rather than being wiped out at once. 44:37
• Answer: Terry adds that Don only burns one of his three native grass fields per year, rotating every three years, so bedding always remains on the property. 45:52

Question: Joe Barker asked whether to convert 20 acres of ag field to switchgrass or let it revert to old field with heavy regrowth to hold more deer. 45:06 — asked by Joe Barker — Episode #23 - Spring Plots, Trail Cam Test, and the first adversity of the 2020 season for Terry as he suffers serious injury

• Answer: Don said the claim that deer avoid switchgrass once established is absolutely false, citing his own thick 15-acre switchgrass field full of deer trails and beds. 45:41
• Answer: Don recommended enrolling the ag acreage in a CRP program for income, as a switchgrass planting or a tree program, while keeping enough food acreage for deer. 49:18

Question: Zach Schrock asked how important bedding cover is for harvesting a nice buck, and whether switchgrass or small-tree cover is better. 66:42 — asked by Zach Schrock — Episode #23 - Spring Plots, Trail Cam Test, and the first adversity of the 2020 season for Terry as he suffers serious injury

• Answer: Don said bedding cover is extremely important for harvesting a nice buck. 66:55
• Answer: Don said if a hunter is just one property removed from where a target buck actually beds, their odds of killing him drop to about 10% of on-property odds. 67:18

Question: Zach asks whether burning switchgrass benefits habitat, whether it regrows on its own, or whether replanting is needed. 43:20 — asked by Zach Roller — Episode #21 - Working on Food Plots and Watching the Weather - Lots and Lots of Questions

• Answer: Yes, burning switchgrass is beneficial and accomplishes three things for the stand. 44:07
• Answer: Switchgrass will grow back on its own after burning, without needing to be replanted. 46:01
• Answer: For a new planting, Don’s favorite method is preparing the plot a year ahead and frost-seeding it. 46:32

Question: Can too much bedding create a doe sanctuary where mature does drive out mature bucks, and would those bucks return during the October rut? 25:57 — asked by John Dockendorf — Episode #18 - Taking Advantage During The Bad Times

• Answer: Don said his property keeps its does and fawns through summer, but by the October 1 season opener a ton of bucks, including mature ones, are also present. 27:42

Question: When planting switchgrass, is it important to have pockets of forbs and browse for daytime feeding to make the switchgrass more effective for holding deer? 42:10 — asked by Bruce Nelson — Episode #18 - Taking Advantage During The Bad Times

• Answer: Terry said bedding should be kept free of food entirely, used only as thermal cover and security, forcing deer to travel to a food source where he can hunt them. 43:08
• Answer: Don agreed, saying he keeps bedding totally separate from food so a hungry buck must get up and move, making him vulnerable to hunting pressure. 43:53

Question: After harvesting timber and opening the canopy, should the listener plant switchgrass, plant food plots, or leave the area to native undergrowth? 34:12 — asked by Jordan Bashford — Episode #14 - Don and Terry talk deer during the superbowl…

• Answer: Don says switchgrass will not work in wooded cover; it needs full sunlight and won’t compete with trees. 34:57
• Answer: Don recommends leaving cut treetops where they fall, since deer will bed within them for instant cover. 35:55

Question: Dean Wessels from Fairbury, Illinois asks how to establish good bedding cover in timber, including whether to use TSI, hinge cutting, or girdling. 45:12 — asked by Dean Wessels — Episode #13 - 2020 ATA SHOW From Indy - Part 2 of 2

• Answer: Don says he isn’t a big fan of hinge cutting, though it has its place in habitat work. 46:27
• Answer: Don explains the goal of girdling, dropping, and hinge-cutting trees is to let sunlight reach the ground for cover growth. 47:56
• Answer: Don says human intrusion, more than habitat quality, is the main thing that pushes mature bucks off a property. 50:44

Question: Terry asks whether deer like to bed in dense bush honeysuckle. 57:05 — Episode #10 - December Tips - Scouting for 2020 - Big Announcement from Real World

• Answer: Don explains bush honeysuckle creates very thick cover but kills everything growing on the ground beneath it. 57:09

Question: When is the best time to start hunting close to bedding areas: pre-rut, main rut, or lockdown? 33:52 — asked by Nick Scorpino — Episode #8 - Lock-down is about over. Great hunting the week of Thanksgiving

• Answer: Don typically waits until around November 1st before moving in, then hunts the downwind edges of bedding cover on morning hunts to avoid alerting deer too early. 35:14

Question: With food plots planted, how does Ryan hold mature bucks through the winter? 36:32 — asked by Ryan Steel — Episode #8 - Lock-down is about over. Great hunting the week of Thanksgiving

• Answer: Don explains Ryan likely lacks secure bedding cover; without feeling safe, mature bucks will bed a mile away and only travel to food after dark. 36:45

Unofficial fan project. AI-synthesized from public episodes; may contain errors.