SUNDOWN RANCH

NON CHEMICAL WEED CONTROLAnd

WILDLIFE FRIENDLY FENCE

Included in the program on June 14th Sundown Ranch will have a presentation displaying weed control without the use of chemical. Also included in the presentation, wildlife fencing methods will be discussed. There are several options that may be implemented in the fence to make it more humane to wildlife and reduce game related damage to fences.

In the afternoon of the June 14th meeting a field trip on Sundown Ranch is offered to review the noxious weed sites and the wildlife friendly fencing.

RANCH HISTORY- during the 1920s and 30s Bill & Floss Croft acquired the land a piece at time. As finances allowed and as the land became available. The ranch became known as Sundown Ranch in the early 1970s. When son Eldon Croft got old enough he helped Bill with the ranch until Bills death then took over management.

Present day owners are Irene Gardner, the Venice Whitehead Family and Joyce Hincks all daughters of Eldon and Elma Croft. It is a family operated ranch with many family members participating in the management.

In conjunction with the NRCS we developed a Ranch management plan addressed wildlife concerns along with livestock grazing.

A 3 pasture Rotation Grazing System. Was developed where 1/3 of the ranch acres were not grazed by livestock until after August 1. This was done to lessen impact to wildlife species during nesting, fawning and calving periods.

Water Development – we have developed 13 springs to troughs, 3 bogs have been converted to stock ponds, and three water gaps have been implemented on Hell Creek. A pipeline was implemented to convey water from one spring to 3 troughs. All troughs were fitted with wildlife escape ladders.

Salt and Mineral Placement- these are being placed in areas to encourage cattle distribution over the ranch. Salt blocks were split in half to lessen the impact at any one salt site and half blocks were moved every couple weeks.

Weed Control- We already had a chemical and digging weed control effort in place of 4 stages. Inventory, map, control, and monitor success. Plant or weed ID books are passed out to members. But this program with the NRCS wanted us to use non chemical weed treatment methods. (Benefits were explained as improved water/air quality, no leaching of chemical to non-target species). So digging, chopping or biological were our options. I had tried biological control before on the weed species on the ranch with not much success. So we have used digging and chopping for our weed control.

We have annual weed digging days now. We have had as high as 30 family members and volunteers. Family involvement was necessary. A competition for the tallest musky plant and longest tap root on a hounds tongue was all part of the weed day.

Wildlife Fencing- Migration or high use w/l areas. Methods-fence w/ top Pole, lay down,

seasonal elec., Wire spacing- 4 strand fence 18”-24” 30” and 42”. 3 strand 18”- 30”- 42”

wire spacing- 4 strand fence 18”-24” 30” and 42”. 3 strand 18”- 30”- 42”.

Visibility marking-Reflective or non-reflective markings or combination of white and dark tabs. Material suggested is the Vinyl under sill trim strips. These snap between the barbs on the top wire. The middle may be used for hi bird use areas.

HOSTING FIELD DAYSUNDOWN RANCH JUNE 14, 2017

The Field Day began with the Ranch Manager informing the group of the history of the ranch and its founders. Ranch Manager also relayed to the group the Ranch Management Plan that had been established with the help from the NRCS. Management practices were discussed such as; Livestock grazing system that’s compatible with wildlife needs, utilization monitoring, water developments, salt/mineral placement, noxious weed control and fencing techniques including wildlife friendly fencing.

The ranch had a picture display for the presentation showing all of the above topics.

This exchange of information lasted about an hour. The group was then treated to a Dutch oven lunch. After lunch the group was invited to go to the field to review wildlife friendly fencing techniques that that Sundown Ranch had implemented.

Attending the discussion was about 50 participants with about 20 people going to on the ranch review.

Submitted By: Dusty Hincks