In some cases cattle grazing can be controversial – not on our ranch. We believe that cattle grazing is a necessary component of good land management, especially when managing for native species. Native habitat did not include thick stands of imported European annual grass. Native grasses tended to be perennial bunch grass with space in [...]
Archive for the ‘Ranch Management’ Category
Cattle Grazing as a Habitat Managment Tool
Posted in Grazing practices, Ranch Management, tagged Grazing as a management tool on September 9, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
Unfounded Fears, New ATV
Posted in Land Ownership, Ranch Management, wildlife, tagged Yamaha Rhino on March 28, 2011 | 1 Comment »
For about a week Rob and I had been discussing the ranch. Out of reach during the week’s storms, we could only wait for a break in the weather and a couple days of drying before heading out to determine damage. In the meantime, we decided it was time to purchase a new ranch vehicle. [...]
Ranch Visit, Spring Maintainance
Posted in Farm Management, Ranch Management, tracking, turkey vultures, wildlife, tagged Spring repair, wild pigs on March 16, 2011 | Leave a Comment »
We’re considering doing some significant work on a key spring at the ranch. The project will include installing a new spring box and a couple of modern troughs. Of the two troughs currently in place, one doesn’t work at all and the other won’t last too much longer. This work will insure a longer life for [...]
Thompson Falls, Montana – Timber, Ranching, Wildlife
Posted in Multiple Use, Ranch Management, Timber, tagged Multiple Use on August 13, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Montana ranching is a mutiple use program. The hay fields are cleared areas that yielded lumber to build homes and outbuildings for the homesteaders. Clearing and leveling led to plowing and irrigating to produce cattle feed. The improved habitat encouraged wildlife populations to expand. And, the remaining forest provides a continuous supply of lumber when [...]
Ranch Ponds in March
Posted in Land Ownership, Ranch Management, wildlife conservation, Wildlife habitat, tagged pond management on March 19, 2010 | Leave a Comment »
Traveled to the ranch last weekend to take a break and look over the ponds we worked on last fall. http://hunterlandowner.wordpress.com/2009/10/06/pond-repair-at-the-ranch/ The pond repairs will produce water for cattle and wildlife. Stock ponds are also breeding habitat for endangered amphibians, the California red-legged frog and California tiger salamander. The winter rains were well spaced and appropriately [...]
Pond Repair at the Ranch
Posted in bobcats, Endangered species, Ranch Management, Wildlife habitat, tagged stock pond repairs on October 6, 2009 | 1 Comment »
The key to life at the ranch is water. It comes in somewhat limited supply and anything we can do to improve water sources improves the habiat not only for livestock, but for wildlife as well. With 18 ponds over the 2,000 acres, we do have good water supplies, but over the years the ponds have suffered [...]
September ’09 Mayberry Update
Posted in Farm Management, Ranch Management, seasonal marsh, wildlife conservation, Wildlife habitat, wildlife management, tagged duck club management, marsh management on September 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »
It’s now been over two months since the arial spraying at Mayberry. Since that event, Rob has followed up by mowing, flooding and spraying the stuff that didn’t respond to our initial attempts. Here are a few follow up photos. Burmuda grass is a tough customer, but after a couple doses, this grass looks like [...]
More on the California Pheasant Crash
Posted in Farm Management, Hunting, hunting public areas, pheasant, Ranch Management, wildlife conservation, Wildlife habitat, wildlife management, tagged Managing land for pheasants, pheasants on December 12, 2008 | 1 Comment »
Ed Smith has a long history with pheasants and he is one of the most knowledgeable people in the country when it comes to producing pheasants. We spoke by phone today and he commented on the current pheasant decline. According to Ed, the spring of 2008 was the driest on record and the record goes [...]
The Pheasant Crash
Posted in California Delta, Farm Management, Hunting, pheasant, Ranch Management, wildlife conservation, Wildlife habitat, wildlife management, tagged managing for pheasant production, pheasant hunting, pheasants on December 11, 2008 | 5 Comments »
A comment on my post about the weekend hunting asked my opinion on why there are no pheasants in the Central Valley. The question is very appropriate and to say that the pheasant population has declined dramatically is an understatement. Pheasants are survivors. They live in diverse habitats and under good conditions they thrive in [...]
Mayberry Farms in Summer – Cocklebur Battles
Posted in Ranch Management, seasonal marsh, waterfowl, Wildlife habitat, wildlife management, tagged cocklebur control, duck club management on August 16, 2008 | Leave a Comment »
Arrived at Mayberry this morning about 9:30 AM. I was amazed at the amount of water on the ground on Sherman Island. Rob is battling cockleburs and he needed me to cut off irrigation of one of our fields. He kills the cockleburs by chopping them and then flooding them up for a few days. [...]
