1/7/2013 3:01 PM
Dave,
Our topdressing rates were pretty light. Rough estimate being 5-6000ft/cubic yard. We did not drag in, however the course was already closed for the season. The rate would be light enough to do in season, drag in, and not interfere with our fairway units set at 1/2". We certainly deal with the droppings as well as elk piss, primarily during spring cleanup and during the fall rut. Our biggest challenge with them is the grazing during the winter. Some areas do not fully heal until well into May depending on soil temps. The observations made this fall made us think that the lack of feeding on the grass was because they didn't like the grit of the sand in their mouths.
We have tried elk/deer repellents such as Plantskydd with mixed results. The residual is short-lived, it doesn't mix terribly well, and if you're in areas with mountain lions, it may even attract them as the main ingredient is blood meal. We also made an association with our fall snow mold app. There was a 5-7 day window of little elk activity that we assumed was associated with a 'bad taste'. This may apply for a variety of pesticides as we noticed the same reduction in activity with a pre-emergent.
One other observation I failed to mention was the green up in the areas that were sanded. This was what first caught my eye and then noticed the elk were not in these areas. Spring green up is always a bonus in northern climates like ours. We are fortunate to not have alot of disease or insect pressure but our short growing season and wildlife management are two of our biggest challenges. The best case scenario for us is that the topdressing proves to be a true deterrent when it comes to feeding. We would gain all the agronomic benefits, reduce elk activity, and boost spring greenup.