Today, we’re going to show you tips to prepare the area near your deer stand to improve your chances for a successful deer hunt.
We’re in Central Kentucky, about 75 miles (120.7 km) south southwest of Louisville. This is deer country. So we’re going to install a new deer stand right here among these trees for the property owner and prepare a path for the hunter to use when approaching it. To do that, we’ll be using a John Deere 4066R Compact Utility Tractor (US CA) and a Frontier AD11H Debris Grapple (US CA). We’ll also be using the property owner’s Frontier RC2072 Rotary Cutter (US CA).
Step 1 for this project is to take a good look around the area we’ll be working in to make sure we don’t run the equipment over anything that might damage the tractor or implements. And it’s a good thing we did, because we found a few big rocks, some downed trees, a pile of corrugated metal, and sure enough, a pile of bones that must have been a full meal for a pack of predators a while back.
This Frontier Debris Grapple is a great tool for moving all this varied material. The two grapples clamp tightly on debris of virtually any shape and dimension. From large, randomly shaped rocks; to light weight, flat metal; to a pile of downed tree trunks and limbs. And it can also work like a loader bucket for hauling away what’s left of that dead animal.
Next step to prepare the area near your deer stand is to rotary cut the area the hunter will pass through when approaching the deer stand. The idea is to rid the area of shrubs, tall grass, and large saplings the hunter might brush against, leaving his scent for deer to pick up. Leaving your scent where you want the deer to visit? Not good for hunting.
Now it’s time to spread the mulch on the path and around the base of the deer stand. The idea is to muffle as much sound as possible the hunter makes while approaching the deer stand. Again – like leaving your scent, being noisy is not good for deer hunting.
This debris grapple works great in this application too. With its flat bottom it works just like a front loader bucket with big grapple clamps so it can scoop up a full load of loose mulch, then move it, spread it, and back drag to smooth it out to the proper depth.
And that’s it. The dangerous debris has been moved. The path is mowed. The mulch is spread. And the deer stand is installed. You’ve prepared the area around your deer stand — and just in time for the season to open.
Don’t forget, always read the Operator’s Manual before storing or operating any piece of equipment and follow all operating and safety instructions.
And remember, if you’re looking for equipment that’s built to get the job done season after season, year after year, you’ll find it – and all kinds of advice on how to use it – every day at your John Deere dealer.
Helpful Links:
Frontier Rotary Cutters (US CA)
John Deere Compact Utility Tractors (US CA)
Frontier Debris Grapples (US CA)
Clear debris using a root grapple
Clean up dead tree branches using a root grapple