Land Management & Wildlife Enhancement
Prairie Land Management :: Land Management & Wildlife Enhancement
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PLM Services

Attracting and holding wildlife is not just hit or miss management. There are habitat components that wildlife require and either your property has it or doesn't have it. PLM has the experience, knowledge, equipment and the staff to make it our mission to make sure that you "have it"!

PLM also appreciates the cost that can go into meeting these goals and objectives. That is why we are very resourceful at selecting land use options that increase income and provide excellent cost share support for projects…this makes easier to begin the exciting process of designing and implementing the habitat plan!

   

 

Our Wildlife Management services will:

  • Attract and hold more wildlife to your property, with emphasis on specific species of choice
  • Greatly increase the diversity of habitat on the property: travel lanes, winter cover, food sources, nesting cover…all of these components will increase the "carrying capacity" of the property by allowing wildlife to utilize the entire property rather than just certain hot spots
  • Reduce wildlife mortalities from weather and predators
  • Diversified land uses that build diversified income sources into the farm that will provide the "habitat budget" that makes it easy to implement the plan
  • Design the property to allow a complete connection of all habitats for increase aesthetics and recreation, thus creating constantly changing habitat types with the ability to always be in habitat…rather than a plowed field or road
     
"PLM's Management by Thirds"

Most properties have many "limiting factors" when it comes to attracting and holding wildlife to the property. Fact is…if there isn't wildlife on your property by now, then wildlife will not just start using your property…unless variables are added to attract and hold them. For example, if there are only a few pheasants on your property now, then releasing more birds will not be effective. Pheasants are very prolific breeders and will populate an area very quickly if the conditions are right. Since there are only a few birds now, that means there are "limiting factors" keeping your "wild" pheasant population from increasing. Same goes for deer, turkeys, quail and waterfowl.

Most properties also have only one or two "hot spots" where most of the wildlife hang out. These hot spots are where everyone wants to have their deer stand or where you always flush that covey of pheasants, or…it is the one pond that all the ducks always seem to go to but there are no ducks on the other ponds.

Let's identify the limiting factors and fix the problem. Our objective is to develop the "infrastructure" to attract and hold more wildlife while also creating "hot spots" all over the property. Not only will you see a lot more wildlife on your property, but you will also have a continuous walk of habitat changing from trees to native grasses with food edges…and never have to walk in the same habitat twice!

Let's get started…

Shrubs & Conifers - Order PLM Trees early for best stock!

Winter Core Area - Wildlife trees and shrubs for winter habitat should consist of two components. First a primary shrub row that acts as a living snow fence knocking down drifting snow to reduce wildlife mortality from suffocation and extensive energy outputs digging for food sources. Second, thermal protection should be designed with conifers to reduce wildlife mortality from wind-chill. Plan and design winter habitats with existing cover if possible but always build new areas as well…and always protect the food source. No tall trees should be used as they will provide perches for predators such as owls and hawks which will be extremely detrimental to your upland gamebird populations.

Travel Lanes, Funnels and Corridors - Tree plantings are fantastic travel lanes and greatly increase the carrying capacity of the property by allowing wildlife safe corridors from one habitat area to another. This also provides you with extensive travel lanes and a continuous walk around the property for a better experience in the field.

A successful shelterbelt planting depends on establishment and care during the first few years development. Time spent on site preparation, weed control and replacement trees is repaid many times the lifetime of the shelterbelt. Take no shortcuts the planning and establishment of your ". Each project is unique and should be designed for your site objectives.

PLM has developed and promoted the establishment of permanent wildlife shelterbelts to protect over wintering wildlife and their food sources. Pheasant populations can experience winter mortalities of 70% to 90% through very harsh winters. Establishment of a shelterbelt system or use of cover to protect wildlife and food sources can reduce winter mortality dramatically. These winter survivors will result in more potential spring breeders! If you want to see more wildlife on your property, having adequate winter cover to reduce drifting snow, reduce wind-chill and to protect food sources is critical. Your property will never achieve its highest wildlife carrying capacity if well designed and well-implemented woody cover plantings are not included in your overall property plan.

Trees and tree planting services are available to accommodate both the landowner that needs a source of high quality seedlings and/or needs assistance with planting the trees as well.

Large and small orders accepted.

PLM has one of the best tree planting programs around! The right equipment teamed up with very dedicated staff with many years of experience results in high quality projects. PLM did not take any short cuts in having the best equipment available to make sure that site preparation and the tree planting are done well. Through years of experience we understand that not all site conditions are perfect. PLM's top of the line equipment greatly reduces issues and concerns with difficult seedbeds and assures success of your project.

Roto-tilling strips is a great way to provide a preferred seedbed for better root to soil contact and increase success in the tree planting. In this photo, strips are roto-tilled to allow installation of tree fabric following the planting. Very clean and very professional!


Tree Fabric - Yes, it is expensive but it will repay itself over and over. We have calculated that the cost to install fabric right up front is comparable to the cost of 3 years of mowing or cultivating the trees. In addition, the investment in the fabric will provide 3 to 5 times the tree growth due to conserved moisture, funneling of moisture to the tree, reduction of weed competition and just an all around nicer, cleaner and more professional looking tree project…it is worth the investment!

 

Upland Food Sources

PLM has a great selection of food plot seeds!

Don't forget the food! Food is a very important variable but often underestimated or forgotten about. Keeping protected and available food sources on the property is critical. The food sources also add to the capability to attract and hold wildlife on your property as well as making your travel around the property exciting.

Crop Waste is probably one of the easiest, least labor intensive, most cost effective and most reliable food source that you can have on your property. The photo to the left shows heavy foraging for crop waste by both pheasants and deer. Today's combines leave approximately 2 to 4 percent waste grain which is available to wildlife as long as there is no fall tillage. Multiply 2 to 4 percent times the yield per acre to calculate how much food you will need and how many acres will need to be left untilled through the fall and winter to support the wildlife populations that you desire.

Cereal Grains are in my opinion the best food plot for upland game birds. Cereal grains produce a tremendous amount of seed and these seeds are much more digestible and higher in protein than corn or soybeans. The thicker cover will also hold the birds better and provide better brooding and escape cover. Corn plots are also heavily fed on by whitetail deer which can completely wipe out a corn plot before it can even provide a benefit for winter survival of upland birds. Corn is a great fall attract for deer hunting but unless it is 30% of the land area, most likely it will not be available on the tough winters when it is really needed by upland game birds.

PLM Wildlife Feeder Benefits
Wildlife feeders are excellent supplements to your food source program. Feeders can sometimes be the only guaranteed food source not susceptible to weather and site conditions. PLM feeders are hard to beat!

  • Gravity flow…no motors, no batteries, no headaches
  • Free feed or fence off for upland game birds (as shown)
  • Only weighs 45 lbs. when empty…no backache
  • 400 lb. capacity
  • Cost effective and very reliable

Whitetail, Turkey & Grouse Food Plots - PLM has great food plot options and pricing!

Waterfowl Food - Why do all the ducks go to that one pond? It's the FOOD! Sago, celery, wild rice and freshwater shrimp. See the Habitat Information section of our website for more information.

Native Grass and Wildflowers – Order PLM Grass Seed early for best selection and pricing!

Nesting, Brooding, Loafing and Bedding Cover – Establishing several variations of native grasses will provide you with all of the components. Thick native grass stays standing through the winter for some of the best winter habitat complimented with your tree plantings. A diverse native grass stand will provide you with the best nesting and brooding cover. Again, use your native grass plantings to connect the tree plantings, food sources and other habitat areas.

For more information about how PLM can help you create the ideal habitat for specific types of wildlife, see the Habitat Information section of our website.

     

 

 

 

 

 

 

Testimonial

"Two years ago I responded to an ad in Outdoor News and talked to PLM regarding possibilities of improving habitat on my farm in southeastern Minnesota. The plan that Prairie Land Management put together allowed me to take advantage of several “land use” programs I did not know existed. The property was planted with trees, shrubs and prairie grasses this spring. Although it is early I can already see what it will look like in years to come and the way the property is designed looks just fantastic. This is the first time in four years I have seen young turkeys on the property and I have seen many more turkeys and pheasants this summer than I have seen in the prior three years combined. I believe the habitat improvements are already working."

Tom Niemiec
tpniemiec@qwest.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Testimonial

"Two years ago I responded to an ad in Outdoor News and talked to PLM regarding possibilities of improving habitat on my farm in southeastern Minnesota. The plan that PLM put together allowed me to take advantage of several "land use" programs I did not know existed. The property was planted with trees, shrubs and prairie grasses this spring. Although it is early I can already see what it will look like in years to come and the way the property is designed looks just fantastic. This is the first time in four years I have seen young turkeys on the property and I have seen many more turkeys and pheasants this summer than I have seen in the prior three years combined. I believe the habitat improvements are already working."

Tom Niemiec
tpniemiec@qwest.net

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Testimonial

First of all, PLM has been enthusiastic and extremely successful. I have worked with numerous parties and none have been as knowledgeable and enjoyable to work with as PLM.

PLM has developed management plans and funding for several tracts of land that we have in ND as well. PLM was what I was looking for since I didn't have the time, energy or resources to make things happen. The end result is that we increased our income by implementing PLM's program while creating and improving our wildlife habitat. This year will be our first year in the program and already we are seeing an abundance of game utilizing our habitat. In short, PLM takes into account the needs of wildlife as well as the needs of the landowner to create a sustainable situation. One note is that I'm on Active Duty for the Navy as we speak and that I am only home on weekends.

Dean M.

 

   
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