A No Till Drill, made available by local chapters of Pheasants Forever, is an important tool in the establishment and upgrading of habitat. In this instance, 30 acres of switchgrass that had been hayed the previous summer were drilled with a mixture of legunes called "Best Legume Mix" that is developed and sold by Pheasants Forver. This upgrade will provide diversity of plant species. These plants will attract insects and provide critical overhead protection and room for chicks to move about freely with significant overhead protection.

Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) is a native to Nebraska. It is highly adaptable to a wide range of sites and has the highest survival rate of any conifer plant in Nebraska. Its deep root system and small leaf surface make it very drought resistant. The foliage turns a russet color in winter. It is a primary species in most windbreaks and pheasants gather underneath their canapy.

Buffaloberry (Shepherdia argentea) is a native of western Nebraska. This thorny tree-like shrub is drought tolerant and adaptable to alkaline soils. The persistent, fleshy berries provide food for birds during the winter. The tart berries are also used in jellies.

Elderberry (Sambucus canadenis) is a small, semi-wood species natibve to Nebraska. It is primarily used in wildlife plantings for summer food. The dark purple berries are formed on umbrella-like heads and ripen during mid to late summer. The berries make excellent jelly and syrups.

Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) is a medium sized shrub that forms a dense thicket from root suckers. It is used for the outer row in multi-row windbreaks. Chokeberry is good wildlife habitat providing food and cover for birds and small mamals. Showy white flowers bloom in April or May and the cherries ripen during July. The cherries can be used for making jelly and wine.

American Plum (Prunus americana) is a native to Nebraska and is well adapted to a wide variety of soil and climate conditions. It forms dense thickets ideal for the outside rows of windbreaks and for wildlife habitat. Birds use the thickets for nesting, feeding, and resting areas. The twings are a preferred source of browse for deer and rabbits during the winter. White flowers bloom in May with red to purple plums ripening during September.

Nanking Cherry (Prunus tomentosa) is a small upright shrub. The blossoms are white to pink and appear in late April or May. The cherries are larger and sweeter than choke cherries and are excellent for making jellies and wine. The fruit is used by wildlife and the twigs are eaten by deer and rabbits.

False Bittersweet - Pheasant Berry (Solanum dulcamara) Bittersweet ia a small woody, shruby vine, sometimes climbing or trailing from 3 to 9 feet long. Iy grows perennialy from rhizomes. The leaves may be single and heart-shaped or deeply divided and lobbed at the base. The flower head is branched and has attractive purple flowers in late summer. The fleshy fruit is bright red and ripens in August. Rapid growing and very hardy, numerous red berries are eagerly eaten by pheasants and quail.

Crown Vetch (Coronilla varia) This perennial legume is self spreading, controls erosion, chokes out weeds and will beautify any area. Grows on very poor, almost any type soil. Ideal for steep bank stabilization and gullies where grasses wont grow. It requires little top soil and will not need any maintenance. It grows to 12" to 18" tall, produces long,narrow, finger like seed pods flowering from June througgh August. Upland game birds, deer and other wildlife feed on its foliage and seeds.

Giant Burr-Reed (Sparganium eurycarpum) Giant Burr-Reed is a stout, erect emergent plant, usually 2-4 feet tall. It will grow on saturated soil, or in water up to 18 inches deep.It survies flooding and drought equally. Plant in muddy, marshy spots, on shores,lowlands,ditch banks, or in shallow water. The seed head is branched with each branch terminating in a golf ball size cluster of seeds. The long narrow leaves grow from a stem, and are shallowy and broadly triangular in cross section. It is a perennial from its rhizomes(roots). A valuable food and cover plant, producing clusters of seeds as large as kernels of corn. An important food source for waterfowl and pheasants. 

Austrain Pine (Pinus Nigra) Originally introduced from Europe as an ornamental, it has considerable value in windbreaks and as Christmas trees. Austrain Pine is best used in east or south inside rows of windbreaks. It has pairs of needles 4 to 6 inches long. The needles are generally stiff, with the ends being very sharp to the touch.

Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) is native to the Rocky Mountain region. The color ranges from dark green to silvery blue green. Blue spruce will form a very dense windbreak when planted close together, but they have a medium growth rate. Colorado Blue Spruce is best used as the inside row of farmstead windbreaks.s

The North and East perimeter (approx 5000') had an old barbed/hog wire fence that was removed and replaced with a wood/steel post, 4 strand smooth cable(dog friendly) fence.New double entrance gates were also placed on the North and East sides.

2 commercial Moultree Feeders are located at a central point on the property. Approximately 2000 lbs of corn are fed through the winter months.

A dam was built by the NRCS on the west end of the property creating a pond from the natural spring that runs through the property.

A foot bridge was built over the spring that supplies the pond.

A 1000 sg ft metal/stone/building with log interior siding. The solar powered, water cistern supplied cabin is totally "off the grid".

The wooded canyon area tree canopy was raised along the entire length of the Nouth and South borders. A shade tolerant fescue was planted with outstanding results. Whitetails absolutely love this private secluded paradise.