Property management can be a complex issue. Each property is unique and each property owner has a different budget and different goals in mind. Over the course of the next few months, I'll be outlining some property management strategies to enhance your hunting ground. Many of these strategies are relatively cheap to employ, and most can be accomplished by one or two people. Now that late season archery is drawing to a close, it'll soon be time to get back in the woods and make a few upgrades to your property for next fall/winter.
Management Tip #1 Dealing with Wild Grape Vines
Keeping wild grape vines under control is one simple way to improve your woodlot. Although wild grapes can be a source of food for some wild animals, they can (and will) kill trees. Trees, unlike food plots, take decades to become a mature, so it’s very important to protect them.
Cutting grapevines is a fairly simple process. Smaller vines (2-3 inches in diameter) can be cut with a machete. You can pick one up at most hardware or garden stores for less than $15. Swinging the machete like a hammer, slice through the grapevine at a 45 degree angle – once at knee height and once more at head height. Be careful when using the machete -it doesn’t know the difference between grapevine and toes.
Another option for larger vines is using a chainsaw. Working as a lumberjack for several years, I've cut my fair share of wild grape vines. Even the smallest gas chainsaw will be sufficient for wild grape vine. Cutting larger vines is easier, as they are usually somewhat stationary. Small vines will move around and sometimes “bounce” off the chain, making this task a bit more tricky. Be very careful when using a chainsaw. It can make the task go quicker if you’re comfortable with one, but cutting grapevines is not a task for the novice. Be sure to look closely at the path each grapevine takes. Vines will often "swing" from treetop to treetop, so the source of the vine could be 20 yards from the base of the tree.
Since grapevines will provide food for wildlife, I wouldn’t necessarily eradicate them from my property. Cutting the grapevines as described above will save your trees for at least another two or three years. At which point, you will have to spend another spare weekend cutting them back. If your property is completely overrun by grapevine, you can consider using herbicides to help you keep ahead of the regrowth.
One last thing to consider when cutting grapevines on your property: don’t try to pull the vines down from the tree after you cut them from the roots. Since these vines are fully capable of choking out and killing the biggest tree in the woods, dead branches will often accompany the vines if pulled down.
Well I went out coyote hunting in my back yard yesterday afternoon. We have 14 acres of timber out back and I was successful in calling a nice coyote in to about 60 yards. It had a beautiful color to it - a nice grey and red coat. Although I didn't get a shot off due to all the limbs, it was just neat to be out in God's creation and see such an awesome animal respond to the call I was using. I think I'll try back out there again towards the end of the week with a different call and see if we can't get one to come in for a clear shot. 
