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West Virginia Success Story

Club uses WHIP to Improve Former Mine

Program or Category: Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP)

Overview: The Clearco Sportsman’s Club of Charmco, WV signed up to participate in the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program (WHIP) in 2005. They are using WHIP to improve habitat for turkey and other wildlife. Turkeys need vegetative growth for food, shelter, and nesting sites. The club’s president, Bud Whitlow, works with Tom Vance (District Conservationist) and Katy McBride, (Soil Conservationist) at the Lewisburg Service Center.

Accomplishments: The Club has been working on improving the land for turkeys by:

  • taking soil samples and applying lime and fertilizer according to the West Virginia University (WVU) soil test recommendations to improve the forage quality,
  • creating 60 acres of food plots that consist of cool season grasses/legume mix increasing the plant diversity and helping improve the wildlife habitat, and
  • purchasing a tractor, spreader, and other farm equipment to manage the crops on a continuing basis.

Food plots provide seeds and insects for turkeys. Taller grasses provide cover.

Program Benefits to Landowner: The Clearco Sportsman’s Club leases approximately 3,695 acres from MeadWestvaco. The area is a reclaimed mine site with forest land. MeadWestvaco provides a seed mixture including rye, tall fescue, timothy, trefoil, millet, and clovers. The club adds additional clover to the mix. Clover is a nitrogen fixer and turkeys feed on the leaves. “There was just black coal dirt up here. We plowed it, limed it, and fertilized it. We didn’t haul in any soil. We just did what was said on the soil plan. Its changed the soil—its much better.” said Bud Whitlow, club president.

"This has done better than I ever thought. This is our second year doing this. This has been a learning experience. I knew nothing about farming before," said Bud.

Program Benefits to Community: The club created 60 acres of food plots which increase the plant diversity and improve wildlife habitat. The openings are up to 3 acres in size. The openings allow sunshine to reach the low-growing vegetation and are areas where turkeys can obtain insects. The food plots benefit other wild birds. The tall crops such as millet and corn can supply cover as well as grain for quail and ruff grouse. Wood cock are also seen in the woodlands and thickets near the food plots. Clover may maintain population of rabbits. Bear and bear scat have been seen in the food plots.

Bud Whitlow and the Clearco Sportsman Club have followed through with their plans. We need more groups like them," said Tom Vance. "This former strip mine has benefited from WHIP and the results are obvious."

Contact:
Katy McBride, Soil Conservationist
304-645-6172 ext. 108
Katy.McBride@wv.usda.gov

Lewisburg Service Center-Serving Greenbrier County
179 Northridge Drive
Lewisburg, WV 24901
Phone 304-645-6172 Fax 304-647-9627
http://www.wv.nrcs.usda.gov/contact/lewisburg.html

Photo of parking lot before. photo of clover "This used to be a gravel parking lot (left photo). I disked it all up one day and took the spreader and fertilized it, and planted it last year" said Bud. "You can see what it did. It’s done well, hasn’t it?" The photo on the right shows the result. 
photo: looking at millet Millet is a quick growing plant that produces abundant seed and is an excellent food for turkeys.

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