Recent content by cyclonenation10

Grea Great question - I would think the 5 acres in NWSG was probably the biggest influence on higher bird numbers, but obviously I can't say for sure.

It sold for $28K an acre? I thought $15K an acre was crazy around here..

Yes - it is getting very tough. Even our nice stands of switchgrass a pretty much done for. Hunting is extremely difficult. Going to be very tough on the birds here. Hoping we get a warm and dry December here, or it could get pretty bad.

That is awesome!

I think you're spot on- plus the increased predation when snow knocks out a bunch of habitat. Makes a whole lot of hens pretty easy targets for aerial predators.

More snow than I expected.. had some great hunting over the weekend, but boy was the walking tough. Lots of nice stands of prairie are effectively barren now. This could get pretty tough on the birds if it doesn't warm up here soon - thankfully the temps and winds haven't been terrible, so the...

So far so good - numbers are definitely down but having pretty good success. I think it will get pretty tough after Thanksgiving with so much hunting pressure however.

That is high priority later this year - I have been dying to check out your property!!

remy - which seed mixes did you go with on your big farm? Was it mostly 20-20 mixes, 10-30, etc. ?

Family is living in the acreage - very good people that we know, so hunting around the acreage is not an issue.

Yes. Canada wild rye is definitely the worst which is excluded, the Virginia doesn't seem near as bad for the awns (still not great).

Yeah I haven't shot many clays but I have shot a lot of roosters. Much more confident hitting roosters than I am clays. Comfort thing, easier IMO. Most pheasant shots aren't very hard in my opinion, as long as you're ready and relatively quick to the draw.

Yes this is all federal program except the waterways and shelter belt. CRP rates went down with new administration - had to wait a year but would have been ~$60 per acre higher a year ago. Not quite comparable to cash rent rates but somewhat competitive.

Yes, contract started November 15, we've got about 15 acres left to drill this week.

Shortgrass: https://www.pfhabitatstore.com/store/21049/IA/IA-PF-CP25-Cyclone-Short-Grass-Mesic-Prairie-2020-Mix Tallgrass: https://www.pfhabitatstore.com/store/21048/IA/IA-PF-CP25-Hawkeye-Tallgrass-Mesic-Prairie-2020-Mix Pollinator...