For landowners and managers, weeds most often play the role of the villain meant to be battled and destroyed. But instead of

undermining landowners at every turn, many native “weeds,” or forbs, can play important roles in the pasture, garden and woods. Underneath the dark cape and mask they’ve been forced to wear for decades, these beneficial forbs may actually be the unsuspecting superhero of the story, or at least the trusty sidekick.

Forbs are generally broadleaf, flowering plants that are not grass-like or woody vegetation. Beneficial “weeds,” or forbs, include sunflowers, crotons, ragweeds, and even native legumes like slender lespedeza (as opposed to the nonnative,

invasive sericea lespedeza). They can either grow during the cool or warm season, and are nutrient-dense plants with deep root systems that can act as mineral pumps that reduces competition with grasses for water. Forbs are also some of the first plants to green up in the spring, and to come up after a disturbance, like prescribed fire or strip disking.

When a landowner grazes a pasture with higher amounts of native, beneficial forbs, they should expect to supplement

less. When hayed with other warm season grasses, forbs will improve the hay quality by adding in trace minerals. Legumes such as partridge pea, Illinois bundleflower and prairie clover are nitrogen fixers, which can ultimately lead to a reduced need for nitrogen-based fertilizer. Forbs can also attract pollinators and predatory insects to garden areas, leading to increased plant yields, and maybe even a decrease in pest pressure.

From a wildlife standpoint, native

Summer 2021 1

From Villain to Superhero: Rewriting the Story of “Weeds” By Lauren Auld-Johnson, Private Lands Biologist

Many native “weeds” can actually benefit pastures, gardens and woodlands.

forbs can serve as two important habitat components: food and cover or shelter.

A variety of wildlife depend on forbs as a food source. Songbirds and upland game birds like quail and turkey can feed directly on the seeds produced, or indirectly on the insects attracted to the plants and blooms. Additionally, many pollinators feed on nectar produced by flowering plants and use forbs as a host for their eggs and caterpillars.

Milkweeds are the well-known host for monarch butterflies, and provide developing caterpillars with a shroud of protection. Milkweed plants contain chemical compounds that are ingested by the growing monarch caterpillars and make the caterpillars poisonous to most vertebrates when preyed upon.

Other forbs like partridge pea, beggar’s lice, asters and verbenas provide a large amount of green forage for deer and small mammals. In fact, somewhere around 70 percent of the spring and summer diet of deer is provided by forbs. Many of the commercially available food plot mixtures planted by hunters contain high percentages of forbs like clover, cowpea and chicory. However, native forbs can provide higher levels of crude protein that is more readily absorbed and digested.

Forbs also provide cover for fawns while the mother is feeding and for small mammals avoiding aerial predators like kestrels and other raptors. Songbirds and game birds may use forbs as shade and protective cover, while other songbirds may use the forbs as perches for resting or hunting insects.

In the end, the plants we may have deemed as “weeds” may play a role in soil health, grazing management, and especially in the survival of wildlife. Schedule a visit with the Wildlife Department’s private lands staff to learn how to increase the native forbs on your property at wildlifedepartment.com.

Your Side of the FenceA publication of the ODWC’s Private Lands Section

Deer Management Assistance ProgramDallas Barber..........................(405) 385-1791

Streams ManagementJim Burroughs........................(918) 683-1031

Farm Pond Technical Assistance; Farm Pond Fish Stocking Program:NW Region - Chas Patterson.(580) 474-2668SW Region - Ryan Ryswyk.....(580) 529-2795NE Region - Josh Johnston....(918) 346-3220EC Region - Jim Burroughs...(918) 683-1031S E Region - Don Groom.......(918) 297-0153

Region - Keith Thomas...(405) 325-7288C

Oklahoma Wildscape Certification Program:Melynda Hickman..................(405) 990-4977

Other ODWC Contacts:Operation Game Thief..........(800) 522-8039License Section......................(405) 521-3852Website...................wildlifedepartment.com

“Your Side of the Fence” is published twice annually to promote wildlife and fisheries management on Oklahoma’s private lands. Articles may be reprinted with permission from the editor:

This program receives federal assistance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and thus prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, and sex (gender), pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (as amended), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. To request an accommodation or informational material in an alternative format, please contact (Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, (405) 521-3851). If you believe you have been discriminated against in any program, activity, or service, please contact: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Workforce Management, 5275 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22041.

Kyle Johnson...........................(405) 590-2584kyle.johnson@odwc.ok.gov

Landowner Assistance Contacts:C Region-Kyle Johnson..........(405) 590-2584NW Region-Brett Cooper......(405) 740-9830NE Region-RosaLee Walker...(918) 607-1518SW Region-Lauren Auld-Johnson

........ (405) 397-1599

Monarch caterpillars are dependent on milkweed plants.

Summer 20212

SE Region-Leah Lowe............ (405) 206-7720

Painted buntings are one of many songbirds that benefit from forb-rich areas. (Fred Dissinger/RPS 2020)

Oklahoma Land Access ProgramJeff Tibbits..............................(405) 535-7382Jason Rockwell.......................(405) 535-5681

According to the book “Small Impound Management in North America” by Neal and Willis, “Crappie management in small impounds

should only be attempted by highly motivated pond owners.” If you would rather fish than tinker with your pond year after year, a crappie pond may not be for you. For those that do take the leap, there are a few tradeoffs and caveats to consider.

First, you need a pond that is at least 24 acres, though 35 acres or more is infinitely better. Black and white crappie are prolific spawners. A one-acre hatchery pond with 25 pairs of crappie will produce several thousand offspring in the 2-4 inch range. Many of the potential problems with crappie in ponds come from their spawning potential. A large year class of crappie can reduce the available forage base and result in stunting. Additionally, crappie often have boom and bust cycles. You may encounter several thousand offspring one year but next to none the next

year. A bigger pond reduces the likelihood of crappie taking over and stunting out, or at least slows the process. Larger ponds also have more open water habitat that helps reduce the resource overlap between species. If you have a large pond or private lake of 100 acres, you are not as likely to have issues; but if you do, it will be much harder to correct.

Second, you have to be willing to sacrifice your bigger bass. To control the tons of smaller crappie you are about to have, you need to manage your pond for a lot of smaller bass that are 10-15 inches in length. Largemouth bass this size will predate on the smaller crappie and hopefully reduce their densities. On the plus side, 10-15 inch size bass have the perfect

fillets for fish sandwiches!

Stocking rates vary given that stocking crappie is not often recommended in ponds. Stocking pairs of adult crappie is the best way to start your crappie pond. A pond of 25 acres should have about 20 pairs of black crappie added. You can use white crappie, but black crappie are best recommended for the pond environment. In ponds over 25 acres, add 3 more pairs of crappie for every 15 acres.

Pond owners with the right motivation to continually tinker in their ponds can be greatly rewarded with a successful crappie population. For more information about managing your pond, contact the Wildlife Department.

WATER MATTERSAre Crappie Right for My Pond?By David Bogner, Southeast Region Fisheries Biologist

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation 3

Motivated pond owners can reap great crappie rewards. (ODWC)

Summer 20214

With approximately 95 percent of Oklahoma land privately owned and operated, landowners and land managers make up the largest “boots-

on-the-ground” group that affects wildlife conservation outcomes in Oklahoma.

Because landowners are essential contributors in Oklahoma’s wildlife conservation story, the Wildlife Department works with hundreds of landowners across the state each year as they improve their “piece of heaven,” no matter how small, or how many partners are involved. Two such landowners, Brain Price and Mark Jenison, are relatively new Oklahoma landowners who have banded together – and with nearby landowners – to build habitat and make an impact on wildlife beyond their fence lines.

Price and Jenison are Texas natives who jointly own 320 acres in Bryan County. The two manage the property together for both wildlife and recreation. Brian takes charge of the habitat management and Mark handles

the game management aspect. Since purchasing the property in 2019 the duo has taken huge steps toward their objective of improving wildlife habitat by restoring the native plant community and structure.

Brian and Mark began by identifying and establishing hunting sites throughout the property and setting up the amenities so that family and friends could hunt and enjoy the property with them. Mark also took the initiative to pitch a deer harvest plan to their neighboring landowners, which led to the creation of the Shawnee Creek

Game Management Association. Using ODWC’s Deer Management Assistance Program protocol as their foundation, the group now works together to manage the deer population on approximately 1,500 collective acres.

With wildlife as a solid focus for the property, Brian reached out to the Wildlife Department’s private lands staff to identify and plan habitat improvements. He applied for financial assistance through the Wildlife Department’s Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program and was approved for his first WHIP contract in 2020.

Partnerships Help Build Habitat in Southeastern OklahomaBy Leah Lowe, Private Lands Biologist

LANDOWNER SPOTLIGHT

Brian Price with his first deer.

Mark Jenison, backpack sprayer in tow, after finishing chemical timber thinning.

By Kyle Johnson, Private Lands Biologist

Jo Ann Bishop/RPS

LANDOWNER NEWS

This contract has enabled Brian to install a portion of his planned firebreaks and accomplish some much needed selective timber thinning.

After careful planning with the help of the Wildlife Department and their local fire department, and lots of preparation, Brian and Mark gathered some friends and equipment and put the new firebreaks to use. They conducted prescribed burns on two units: their designated “dove field” unit and one of their forested units, totaling about 40 acres. Both prescribed burns were executed safely and effectively, removing dead plant material to make way for new growth and targeting a few eastern redcedars. Moving forward, Brian and Mark

plan to continue using the technical and financial assistance available through the Wildlife Department to install more firebreaks (allowing for more prescribed burns), establish a rotational burn schedule, and reduce invasive eastern redcedar prevalence. In the end, they hope to enjoy their property with family and friends for years to come by providing the best possible experience and continuing to attract wildlife by implementing the best management practices for their property.

Good on ya, Brian and Mark! The Wildlife Department praises your inspiring forward movements in wildlife habitat conservation on Oklahoma’s private lands.

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation 5

Prescribed burn on the “dove field.”

The Wildlife Department’s Your Side of the Fence newsletter is a popular and important tool for many landowners and managers across the state. Now, Oklahomans have the chance to access four newsletters per year.

Beginning in 2021, four Your Side of the Fence newsletters will be released annually. However, the extra issues, beyond the traditional July and January newsletters, will only be released digitally. As a result, subscribers receiving only the mailed hard

copies of the newsletter are encouraged to sign up to receive the Your Side of the Fence via email.

“Having four newsletters each year will give us the opportunity to address a wider variety of fish and wildlife-related topics and present the information in a more time-appropriate manner,” said Kyle Johnson, coordinator of the newsletter. “The additional newsletters will likely be released in April and October, but these will only go out to those that

currently receive the newsletter via email and those who sign up to receive them by email now and in the future.”

Mail subscribers and landowners or managers not yet receiving the newsletter are encouraged to visit https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/OKDWC/subscriber/new?topic_id=ODWC_3 to sign up via email and ensure they receive each Your Side of the Fence in 2021 and beyond.

Don’t Miss Out on Future Your Side of the Fence Newsletters

Kudzu has long been regarded as a troublesome vine in the southeastern United States, smothering thousands of acres in some areas. Now,

even Oklahomans need to keep an eye out for this problematic plant.

As its “foot-a-night” or “mile-a-minute” nicknames imply, Kudzu grows voraciously, swallowing up acres fast. Few plants survive where kudzu invades, especially as time passes. Entire trees can be swarmed, often causing the tree to die and/or fall over.

Tap roots can weigh as much as 200 pounds, and vines that trail along the soil quickly grow new roots for added support and growth. Unfortunately, the size of well-established kudzu

communities makes these vines very difficult to control.

Thankfully, keeping an eye out for young kudzu outbreaks and taking action early does provide various control options. Goats, sheep, and cattle will repeatedly eat kudzu. Control is also achievable through repeated mowing and/or cutting. Both of these measures will help, but neither is likely to eliminate it.Other control options include the use of herbicides. Kudzu foliage

can be repeatedly sprayed during the growing season to defoliate the plant and force it to use its root reserves to regrow new leaves. If only one application is possible, spraying in the fall is best, especially while the leaves are still green.

When non-target plants are nearby, the cut stump method is recommended. Cutting and carefully treating the root crown with glyphosate, triclopyr,

Summer 20216

Keeping up with Kudzu — Managing the “Foot-a-Night” VineBy Kyle Johnson, Private Lands Biologist

TECH NOTE

Kudzu, which can be misidentified as poison ivy, has brown, hairy stems and leaflets that are hand-sized or larger. (Kyle Johnson/ODWC)

Kudzu has been documented in several Oklahoma counties. (Map courtesy of Oklahoma State University.)

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation 7

metsulfuron, or aminopyralid will help target the chemical to the root system. Often, foliar and cut

stump methods are combined to provide the greatest results, especially since a single vine can

have dozens of roots supporting it over a wide area.

Regardless of the method chosen, landowners fighting a battle against kudzu should monitor the site each year and continue with control measures as needed. Ten years may be required before zero kudzu plants emerge, especially for well-established communities. In addition, annual inspections are always recommended in any area where kudzu once occurred or occurs nearby.

Technical assistance for kudzu and other noxious weeds is available by contacting the private lands biologist in your region. Kudzu and other invasive plants can be reported at inaturalist.org. Potential kudzu sightings can also be sent to Oklahoma State University’s Karen Hickman at karen.hickman@okstate.edu for verification.

Kudzu will overtake native plant communities and consume many acres when left uncontrolled. (Kyle Johnson/ODWC.)

Applying herbicide immediately to a cut kudzu stump is a great way to target the control away from desirable plants that may be nearby. Following all label directions and precautions is important when using any pesticide product. (Kyle Johnson/ODWC)

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife ConservationPrivate Lands SectionP.O. Box 53465Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73105

NON PROFITORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE PAIDNORMAN, OK PERMIT NO. 35

Summer 2019A Publication of the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation’s Private Lands SectionWhat’s Inside

Page 1From Villian to Superhero: Rewriting the story of weeds

Page 3Are Crappie Right for My Pond?

Page 4Partnerships Help Build Habitat in Southeastern Oklahoma

Page 6Keeping up with Kudzu — Managing the “Foot-a-Night” Vine