Driftless Deer Habitat by Design LLC

06/11/2026

Five days after broadcasting, this buckwheat is already emerging and thriving, creating little to no w**d competition while building organic matter in the soil. This simple, cost-effective process is an excellent way to maximize the results of any food plot without the hassle of heavy equipment. If you have any food plot questions, visit www.driftlessdeerhabitat.com or send me a message.

06/06/2026

No-till. No drag. No drill. No problem.
This buckwheat was broadcast yesterday into a terminated rye stand that was rolled prior to planting. With significant rainfall in the forecast, there was no need to make an additional pass with the roller. The rain worked the seed into the rye thatch, providing excellent seed-to-soil contact and ideal germination conditions.
The first photo was taken on the day of seeding, and the second was taken just one day later.
As this buckwheat establishes, it will serve as an effective smother crop—suppressing w**ds, building soil health, increasing organic matter, and setting the stage for a more productive food plot in the coming season.
If w**ds are limiting the performance of your food plots and you're looking for proven strategies to maximize your results, visit driftlessdeerhabitat.com or send me a message. I'll respond within 24 hours.

06/01/2026

Although the majority of each new property I visit will get renovated in order to reach its full potential, there are always pieces of the puzzle that are already in place. This natural transition area between big food and bedding is a low-risk, high-reward opportunity that provides all-day huntability. This little area will get slightly reshaped and have red osier dogwood added around the perimeter to add high-value browse for increased attraction. Adding a highly preferred browse like red osier dogwood, especially in northern settings like this one, increases deer traffic, which in turn makes this area a must-stop for mature bucks to frequently appear in daylight. If you are in a northern setting, or have some wet areas that are underutilized, then creating a high-value browse plot may be for you. Go to www.driftlessdeerhabitat.com today for a free consultation call.

05/27/2026

With summer already here and an extensive list of deer management tasks to attend to, food plot maintenance should not be a source of stress. This specific plot has received less than 2 inches of rainfall in the last 30 days. Nevertheless, the winter rye has reached a height of nearly 4 feet, effectively adding thousands of gallons of water to the soil. Additionally, it is suppressing w**ds and enhancing soil quality by scavenging for nitrogen, which will be available for the fall planting in August. This week, I plan to terminate the winter rye while it is still in the "boot" stage of growth. Prior to a rain event, I will roll and plant 50 pounds per acre of buckwheat. The buckwheat will serve as a smother crop, controlling any remaining w**ds while adding organic matter upon its termination. This system fulfills all the essential requirements of a well-managed food plot. Why risk food plot failure when it can be prevented years in advance? If you have experienced a failure and wish to avoid it in the future, please send a message or visit www.driftlessdeerhabitat.com today.

05/22/2026

When oak trees are mentioned in the deer community, the first thing that comes to mind is acorns, particularly in areas like this property in Northern Wisconsin. However, the canopy they create is often overlooked. Although these trilliums are aesthetically pleasing, they indicate that very little sunlight reaches the ground. Acorns are a crucial component of a deer's diet, but they have a limited window of use and offer poor nutritional value. They do, however, make excellent bedding areas, providing high-quality browse and cover that deer require to survive throughout the year. On this new client's property, we will be implementing a hinge cutting and stump cutting strategy for the smaller, low-yielding trees, while preserving the older mast trees to ensure this new bedding area offers the best of both worlds. If there were sufficient high-value trees on this property, a logging crew would have been contacted, but unfortunately, that is not the case. These bedding projects will be completed early next spring to ensure the trees survive the process, and remain healthy for decades to come. Feel free to message me with any questions you may have, or go to www.driftlessdeerhabitat.com today.

05/13/2026

This newly created food plot presents exceptional potential for early and late season attraction due to its prime location. To fully optimize its utility for the current year, the existing blind will be relocated and a soft edge will be added to enhance seclusion. Spanning approximately 1.20 acres, this first year plot is expected to yield roughly 5 tons of available forage, perfectly complementing the other recently established plots on the property. For expert guidance on maximizing your food plots' total tonnage, please visit www.driftlessdeerhabitat.com to initiate the creation of your ultimate big buck sanctuary.

05/11/2026

As spring is in full swing, it's an ideal time to start planning for the upcoming hunting season. Despite designing new properties and revisiting existing ones to ensure years two and three of the design go according to plan, I still have a few openings available for the year. May is an excellent time to start the process of making this season your most successful yet. Visit www.driftlessdeerhabitat.com and schedule a complimentary consultation call today.

05/06/2026

These photographs demonstrate the significant impact a year can have. During the initial walkthrough last year, we discovered a hidden orchard on this client's property. We successfully integrated it into the design, creating an ideal staging area for deer to congregate before moving to the agricultural fields at night. Prior to the plot's establishment, only four of the 16 trees blossomed and produced fruit. This year, all 16 trees are in full bloom. The rye broadcasted into the food plot last year has reached nearly a foot in height and has already suppressed the majority of w**d growth for the upcoming year. Simultaneously, it has added essential nutrients and over 2,000 gallons of plant-available water this year alone. This ensures not only that the fall plantings will be drought-resistant but also that the apple trees will experience reduced stress, leading to increased fruit production and attraction. If you have questions about enhancing your property, soil, and hunting success, visit www.driftlessdeerhabitat.com to schedule a complimentary consultation call and discover how to make this upcoming fall your most successful yet.

04/27/2026

I would like to extend my gratitude to everyone who reached out to me regarding my previous post. Out of the numerous questions I received, I have compiled a summary of the top three inquiries.

1. Why is the waterhole not located within the food plot?

The primary reason is that water should be utilized as a tool to define a specific movement pattern. Mature bucks, in particular, tend to stage at a low-pressure water source before entering a high-pressure feeding area. This strategic placement enables me to hunt the same daylight movement of mature bucks from multiple locations, wind directions, and times of day.

2. Why did you prioritize the waterhole and bedding areas over the larger food plot?

In this specific design, the agricultural field was still under contract to be rented out. To ensure that all improvements could be completed within three years, focusing on the water and bedding areas was the best option to achieve immediate results while setting the stage for year two.

3. What will you be planting in the food plot?

This 1.25-acre food plot will be divided into two sections, incorporating a late-season brassica blend and a fall greens/grain blend. A total of 17 different varieties of seed will be used to produce approximately 10-12 tons of available forage from late August to early April. The availability of this preferential food source throughout the season and winter will naturally attract mature bucks, creating a season-long opportunity to consistently tag target bucks.

If anyone still has questions regarding this design, or would like to start unlocking their properties full potential go to www.driftlessdeerhabitat.com today!

Whether you have a few acres or hundreds of acres, we will design your property to give you the best hunting experience possible. We look at every property as unique. With our 3-year commitment, we will be there with you throughout the entire process. Our goal is that after the 3rd year, when our co...

02/25/2026

Attendees of the Wisconsin State Hunting and Fishing Expo in Green Bay, Wisconsin, are invited to visit booth 249. Whether you are interested in signing up for a 10 percent discount on property design services, entering our complimentary raffle, or simply discussing deer-related topics, we welcome your visit. To learn more about our services prior to the event, please visit www.driftlessdeerhabitat.com for detailed information.

Whether you have a few acres or hundreds of acres, we will design your property to give you the best hunting experience possible. We look at every property as unique. With our 3-year commitment, we will be there with you throughout the entire process. Our goal is that after the 3rd year, when our co...