Land management for habitat. Tools of the trade

[Brianlocal3]

First off, this topic is not 100% related to traditional bow hunting BUT it is related for sure and if the mods allow I'd like to see/hear what you use.
This topic was prompted by the fact that I just spent $200 re-buying my saws and axes that were stolen.
Typically what I use is a 16 and 26" eatwing campers axe, 21" machete, pruners shovels and a bow saw.  Also is a pump sprayer and seed spreader.  Cannot forget the chainsaw bit honestly I don't use it much.
Now that I am moving closer to my property ill probably invest in a gator or similar UTV.

My schedule the last few years has not allowed me to hunt hardly any as I have the kids on my days off while my wife works (Rn), BUT I still take the kids out to the woods for habitat improvement.

So what are your tools of the trade?

[Mike VanBuren]

The first most useful tool for food plots is an atv mounted sprayer. The second most useful tool is a Groundhog Max disc for my 4 wheeler. It discs the length between the wheels and digs in when you hit the throttle. It works really good when the grass and weeds have been killed

[CRS]

Sweat, lots of it.  

[meathead]

If you have much field work (more than a couple acres) I would do without the ATV and equipment that goes with it and get a tractor and tractor mounted equipment.  I find it much easier to work with.  A tractor, disk, sprayer, broadcaster and culti-packer are the main tools that I use for my field work.  I spend a lot of time with a chainsaw in the winter too.  I can always find some cutting to do.

[Centex]

Moneys better spent on a tractor.

[DEATHMASTER]

Agree with meathead

[ChuckC]

I bought the biggest 4 wheeler available (at the time) and found it is just not a tractor.  Not near heavy enough to do good pulling, no end loader, really not a great choice of toolage.  

A tractor is a better choice.  Even a small 30-35 horse tractor is better.  I ended up with a Case 31 hp diesel w 4wd, an after market end loader (Woods) and three point with PTO.  A huge difference.  The 4wd makes up a lot for its smaller size.

Things like a gang of disks actually have weight and cut, the 3 pt mower uses my PTO so I am not always paying for an extra motor, all the pull behind implements can be 3 pt so I don't need the extra mounting gadgets (at extra cost).

I designed and had built a front mounted grubber of sorts that helps me remove smaller stumps (and even some bigger ones, pop smaller trees, roots and all, and bust up roots and junk.  Can't do that with a 4 wheeler.  That itself allowed me to clear and form the land much better and quicker.

Now if I can only transform my UP MI sand / soil to Iowa and Illinois black dirt !

The 4 wheeler can do a lot, but it sure can't compare.

But. .  a tractor is usually a larger investment at the beginning.

Besides that, I use a Stihl chain saw a lot, a couple heavy chains and, to help cut out root wads, a thing, like a axe or blade on the end of a heavy metal pole (very much like the ice spuds us northerners use in the winter,but much stoughter and heavier) so I chop down and not by swinging an axe.  That tool, whatever it is named, is a God sent gift as well.

For spreading seed, fertilizer and lime, I use either a 4 wheeler mounted spreader or a hang over your shoulder hand spreader, depending upon access.

And a lot of sweat.

ChuckC