How's this going to impact my hunting?

[lafn96]

My neighbor, who has always had corn and beans planted; signed a lease earlier this year to a company that grows miscanthus. It's a grass that grows to 8-10 ft tall, which is then cut and manufactured into anything that paper is used for. They planted earlier this spring, and it's now about 3 ft high. Both of our properties are at the bottom of a large ridge, he's got 110 acres and I've got 50. Deer are scattered throughout, but the majority would come off the ridge to feed in his fields and to a lesser extent my food plots which total about 3 acres.

This miscanthus grows very thick, but to my knowledge the deer won't eat it. I'm guessing the deer will bed in or near the miscanthus and in the various wooded draws; and I'm hoping they'll use my plots more since the 110 acres of corn/beans are no longer there? My main plots are next or near that neighbors fence line; I could expand them a little bit; but I lease my field to a local guy for hay - so I'm limited on how much I can use for food plots.

 

[Andy S.]

Hard to say, but time will tell. How far are the nearest beans right now? I suspect that is where most of the deer are today and will remain until acorns start dropping Sep/Oct timeframe. How long is the miscanthus lease for?

 

[lafn96]

Hard to say, but time will tell. How far are the nearest beans right now? I suspect that is where most of the deer are today and will remain until acorns start dropping Sep/Oct timeframe. How long is the miscanthus lease for?

Nearest beans or corn is about 2 miles on the other (NW) side of the ridge. Closer is alot of pasture and hay fields (no alfalfa), and woods. Lease is for 10 yrs.

 

[MickThompson]

There will be zero cover or food over winter in those fields. Plan accordingly

 

[DeerCamp]

My neighbor, who has always had corn and beans planted; signed a lease earlier this year to a company that grows miscanthus. It's a grass that grows to 8-10 ft tall, which is then cut and manufactured into anything that paper is used for. They planted earlier this spring, and it's now about 3 ft high. Both of our properties are at the bottom of a large ridge, he's got 110 acres and I've got 50. Deer are scattered throughout, but the majority would come off the ridge to feed in his fields and to a lesser extent my food plots which total about 3 acres.

This miscanthus grows very thick, but to my knowledge the deer won't eat it. I'm guessing the deer will bed in or near the miscanthus and in the various wooded draws; and I'm hoping they'll use my plots more since the 110 acres of corn/beans are no longer there? My main plots are next or near that neighbors fence line; I could expand them a little bit; but I lease my field to a local guy for hay - so I'm limited on how much I can use for food plots.

How it will affect your plots will be somewhat dependent on whether or not they plant a cover crop after cutting the miscanthus. Maybe a farmer on here could chime in?

If it were me, I would reach out to that farmer and find out what they plan to plant after cutting, if anything, and then adjust your own plots accordingly.

 

[MickThompson]

Also brace to deal with an exciting new invasive species on your farm

 

[MickThompson]

How it will affect your plots will be somewhat dependent on whether or not they plant a cover crop after cutting the miscanthus. Maybe a farmer on here could chime in?

If it were me, I would reach out to that farmer and find out what they plan to plant after cutting, if anything, and then adjust your own plots accordingly.

Miscanthus is a perennial crop not unlike hay. I doubt they plant anything afterwards

 

[TNTreeman]

There are several varieties of Miscanthus. The Asian varieties are very invasive. I'd expand my plots this fall into your hayfields with a Marshall rye, wheat, clovers, or Oates .

 

[Andy S.]

Also brace to deal with an exciting new invasive species on your farm

My first thought when I read about it earlier.

 

[megalomaniac]

Thats sounds like a disaster waiting to happen from both an ecological standpoint as well as a hunting standpoint.

 

[BSK]

As others have pointed out, plan accordingly. Assume there will be no food or cover in your neighbor's fields. Where will the deer go for both? Food will depend on the acorn crop, but be prepared for more use of your plots. Where is the closest good cover? Hunter-shy deer can and will travel considerable distances at night to feed, but during the daylight hunting hours they will be in or near the best cover.

 

[MickThompson]

Thats sounds like a disaster waiting to happen from both an ecological standpoint as well as a hunting standpoint.

I'd much rather be across the fence than on the same side as the miscanthus though

 

[Ski]

Like BSK says, they'll likely use your plots more but under cover of darkness if you don't have nearby cover. It might not be a bad idea to plant your own row of miscanthis between your plots and their field to screen and hide your plots.

There won't be any cover crops. Miscanthis grows, gets cut, then regrows again and again from same root. It also spreads by the root so hopefully they keep it contained.

 

[DaveB]

Wonder how miscanthus responds to the various times when no rain falls for say 10-15 days?

I wonder if it burns---if lightning strikes a tree close by and lights it off?

If I found miscanthus on my property I think I might be ticked. I'd warn the land owner and lease holder of repercussions.

 

[TNTreeman]

Wonder how miscanthus responds to the various times when no rain falls for say 10-15 days?

I wonder if it burns---if lightning strikes a tree close by and lights it off?

If I found miscanthus on my property I think I might be ticked. I'd warn the land owner and lease holder of repercussions.

It is very flammable from what I've read in the past.