cattle in sherburne NWR

[knoppers]

I was woundering why they were putting up new fences along the roads, now I know, they are grazing cattle in the refuge. not sure if I like this idea, as the cattle will make areas into a pasture, which is good for nothing.

[monstermoose78]

I agree they should not be letting the cattle in there. If they want to put something in there they should some bison. 

They could plant some clover fields, beans, corn, and small grains for the game birds, turkeys, and deer. With all the wetlands they could make some wild rice patties for ducks. However they keep planting native grasses and want pheasants to be the bird of the refuge.

[mrklean]

How many cattle ill be grazing in there?  Kinda odd they are letting private parties use that as grazing.

[leech~~]

Sounds like one of those we need to find the rest of the story-stories!

[jake125]

You don't want cattle in there but you want bison?? That doesn't make sense.... Cattle/Bison aren't going to harm anything, have you seen what introducing cattle into the bare lands have done? Deserts are now grass lands.

[monstermoose78]

Bison are native and cattle are an invasive species. You have not seen the mess these cattle have made in the Refuge. Also now it is all fenced in with barbwire making it harder for you to access some spots. Sherburne Wildlife Refuge was bought with duck stamp dollars and now is allow cattle to roam in it and they are not doing anything to promote ducks. I asked the wildlife manager there what they are trying to do there and he said to bring back native game such as Ringneck Pheasants. Those came from China and are invasive species.

If he wants native game birds back such as ruffed grouse, sharptail grouse, prairie chickens, quail, and turkeys. I am for it. If they helped the ducks by planting some wildrice patties and some clover fields. Plant some small grains for doves. It could be a great place.

[Naturboy]

People complain about anything. You don't even need a hunting permit for them do you  I was wondering what part of the refuge their in?

[jake125]

Bison are native and cattle are an invasive species. You have not seen the mess these cattle have made in the Refuge. Also now it is all fenced in with barbwire making it harder for you to access some spots. Sherburne Wildlife Refuge was bought with duck stamp dollars and now is allow cattle to roam in it and they are not doing anything to promote ducks. I asked the wildlife manager there what they are trying to do there and he said to bring back native game such as Ringneck Pheasants. Those came from China and are invasive species.

If he wants native game birds back such as ruffed grouse, sharptail grouse, prairie chickens, quail, and turkeys. I am for it. If they helped the ducks by planting some wildrice patties and some clover fields. Plant some small grains for doves. It could be a great place.

Don't complain when beef prices keep going higher than....oh wait your from the cites... food comes from the grocery store.... you don't understand the good of cattle...

[leech~~]

Don't complain when beef prices keep going higher than....oh wait your from the cites... food comes from the grocery store.... you don't understand the good of cattle...

Ya, they don't hurt notun in the woods city boy!

[Bertner]

If managed right having cattle in there would be a good thing.  The problem is when you leave them in a small area for too long then that is where it makes it tough to recover.  Disturbing the soil and root structure is actually helping the land in the long run.  On my farm we rotationally graze cattle to improve plant diversity and soil structure.  Overtime native seeds that are laying dormant under the topsoil will be introduced and things improve.  Now if you have a ton of cattle in a small area and never move them it's going to be really hard on the land.  When they eat down to dirt that is when bad things happen..  The picture above is likely NOT what will happen.  We also graze our cattle thru our woods and the habitat for all creatures has improved.

[leech~~]

If managed right having cattle in there would be a good thing.  The problem is when you leave them in a small area for too long then that is where it makes it tough to recover.  Disturbing the soil and root structure is actually helping the land in the long run.  On my farm we rotationally graze cattle to improve plant diversity and soil structure.  Overtime native seeds that are laying dormant under the topsoil will be introduced and things improve.  Now if you have a ton of cattle in a small area and never move them it's going to be really hard on the land.  When they eat down to dirt that is when bad things happen..  The picture above is likely NOT what will happen.  We also graze our cattle thru our woods and the habitat for all creatures has improved.

Sherburne National "Wildlife" Refuge.  So cattle are Wildlife now? 

[Bertner]

I'm not saying cattle are wildlife, I think we all know that!  What I'm saying is that cattle will not (if properly managed) destroy the Wildlife refuge. At this point I don't think we know what their goal is.  The picture you posted is worse than a feedlot and not a true representation of what the refuge will look like. 

[jigginjim]

Sounds like one of those we need to find the rest of the story-stories!

Before every one starts crying the sky is falling, there could be a few pluses? Who ever owns the cattle could be paying state to craze cattle in there to bring down some over growth. In the southern states ranchers, pay military bases to graze cattle in areas where mowing would cost thousands of dollars. Could be the same type of thing, burning removes to much cover for game, vs the cattle may lower it some. Which could make hunting easier for the hunters to walk some of the fields. Also remove over growth areas.

We need some body to start asking questions? get some answers for everyone.

[leech~~]

Sounds like one of those we need to find the rest of the story-stories!

Before every one starts crying the sky is falling, there could be a few pluses? Who ever owns the cattle could be paying state to craze cattle in there to bring down some over growth. In the southern states ranchers, pay military bases to graze cattle in areas where mowing would cost thousands of dollars. Could be the same type of thing, burning removes to much cover for game, vs the cattle may lower it some. Which could make hunting easier for the hunters to walk some of the fields. Also remove over growth areas.

We need some body to start asking questions? get some answers for everyone.

I just hope they open a permit Bow tag hunt for them. I could use a side of Beef at Deer tag costs! 

[river rat316]

They are paying to graze the cattle in there, it is something that they are experimenting with since grazing herds were native to the area, if done right there are alot of benefits to have the land naturally grazed as opposed to sitting dormant.

[monstermoose78]

They are paying to graze the cattle in there, it is something that they are experimenting with since grazing herds were native to the area, if done right there are alot of benefits to have the land naturally grazed as opposed to sitting dormant.

This Duck opener you can come with me out there River Rat. Lets scare some ducks and put a lot of steel in the air.

[elkhuntingfan]

The refuge managers are trying to do two things in there. They are managing the Refuge for migratory birds, and they are trying to recreate the oak savannah that used to be there. The cattle knock the brush down, and they are cutting a lot of the other species of trees down in there. A decrease in the brush helps the migratory birds, and killing all the trees other than oaks creates the oak savannah. They really don't manage the Refuge for deer or grouse or anything other than migratory birds. That's also why so much of the refuge is flooded. I'm not sure what they are thinking as far as recreating the oak savannah with all the oak wilt in the area. 

[SpearPike]

The Dnr has been allowing the grazing to happen in waterfowl production areas in western MN for some time now.  When they are finished there is nothing left but thistles.  It has done nothing but destroy the land and turn them into barren pastures.  The areas will take many years to come back, if they even do. I just think of all the prairie land destroyed and all the nesting and cover habitat gone.

 I strongly disagree with this practice.  They put too many cattle in these small areas and leave them in way too long.  Bison roamed they did not stay in one area until there was nothing left!!!!

[knoppers]

this is the feds, not the DNR doing this, I agree that anything fenced in is bad, bison were not fenced in and would roam. whats wrong with good grouse habitat? I believe that woodcock are also migratory birds, that thrive in areas that grouse use, and besides grouse and woodcock are native birds in this area.

[Gilgamesh]

I wonder if they have lost any cattle to the wolves yet...