Wintering Area Management

Thoughts on Wintering Areas
 
In the last few years, New England has seen some major changes in deer and wildlife management.  In Vermont, two of the most notable changes are the antler restrictions in place for our autumn deer season and the banning of feeding.  Knowing this feeding ban could have a temporarily devastating effect on wildlife like deer, Whitetail Micro-Plotters began working with friends and clients to provide forage for the critical times of year - late fall, winter and early spring ("seasonal void" times of year) when mast crops may have "failed" or native vegetation may not be present in sufficient enough quantities.  Our most successful and preferred "planting" to date for the critical times of year have been above ground turnips.  Not only do they provide summer greens and winter "fruit", but they also show some signs of spring re-growth.  
Fall is a critical time of year because critters are building fat reserves for winter, just as spring is a critical time for replenishing lost winter energy and mass.  Relished by humans for centuries, turnips can also be incredible deer and wildlife treats - especially when they are grown primarily above ground and are availabe to wildlife when they need them most (deer will NOT dig through six inches of frozen dirt to get at a food source!).  A goal of Whitetail Micro-Plotters has always been to bridge the gap between wildlife and humans by providing a means to implement habitat improvements where both the humans AND the wildlife benefit.  Did you ever think that you'd go for a walk in your food plots or orchards to get your dinner also?
 
 
 
There are many great "brassica" seeds available today (Be sure to check out our BRASSICA & TURNIP BLEND, as well as the full line of seed on our Wildlife Seed Blend Pages! ) that are commonly used for food plots.  Remember that when you plow, disk, harrow or till a site for turnips, or other members of the brassica family, do not dig too deep in the soil.  Plant your seeds shallow - if conditions permit growing, they will - and more of the entire plant will be available to all your wildlife. 
 
To compliment our new turnip regime, we also have brussel sprouts, broccoli and rape/brassica seed available in separate blends.  Around the middle of March, WMP's and many of our friends and clients begin planting brussel sprouts and broccoli indoors.  The goal is to have "teenage" plants that are ready to transplant outside just as the danger of hard frosts has gone.  These transplants make for incredible early-spring nibbles and will help take grazing pressure off your returning perennials.