FOR SALE
130 acres of prime deer hunting property in Pittsford Township, Hillsdale County Michigan
Price: $430,000
Conservation Reserve Program (42 acres) brings in $5000 per year.
Buyer must have financial proof of ability to purchase before showing.
Contact Jim Brauker, (858) 449-5178.
This property is one of the most heavily managed Quality Deer Management (QDM) properties in the state of Michigan.
It is owned by Jim Brauker, author of the book “Extreme Deer Habitat”. The property is heavily featured in the book and in many videos produced by the author. The owner put a tremendous amount of work and effort into this property, creating a habitat showplace. Although he would like to continue working on and hunting on the property, it is being sold Because the owner wishes to invest in properties closer to his home.
It is comprised of 130 acres in the southwest portions of Hillsdale County not far from Hudson. Approximately 68 acres consists of former crop ground that has been converted into either Food plots or entered into the conservation reserve program. The remainder of the property is hardwoods or creek bottom.
The property consists of 4 management quadrants. Each of these quadrants contains independent bedding and feeding zones. Thwe quadrants converge at destination food sources, which may be shared by two or more quadrants. Because each quadrant has unique bedding areas occupied by different doe families, the property can be hunted such that disturbance of one bedding area by tracking a deer does not disturb the other bedding areas on the property.
The northeast quadrant, shown below, was described in detail in the book “Extreme Deer Habitat: How to shape your deer property with a chainsaw.” It was also the site of the 2014 Southeast Michigan QDMA Branch Habitat Day held on April 5th 2014 and attended by over 170 people (video below).
The Northeast Quadrant:
During the first few years I shot three bucks but since then have become much more selective about buck harvest. Although I see bucks older than 2.5 years of age every year I have not shot one in several years.
Before and after pictures of the woods in the NE Quadrant. Before hinge cutting the woods it was seldom used by deer. You could see 300 yards into the property from the road. There was neither food nor cover for deer.
Looking back at the road 2 years later. All of the growth in this picture is new. The area is now heavily used by deer, and a food plot is in place only about 50 yards from the road, where deer are not visible from the road even in winter.
The hinge cut woods are now used heavily by deer for bedding.
Transitional food plots near bedding are heavily used by deer.
As are destination food plots…
A pure, pristine creek runs through the property. It is fed by the many springs and seeps found in the fen that runs along the north side of the creek.
A rare habitat called a “hanging fen” stretches along the north edge of the creek. Here a group of avid deer habitat enthusiasts listen as a Michigan DNR Biologist describes the unique features of the fen.
There are 30 stands distributed on the property. Most are metal or wooden ladder stands. Each stand is at a key location and each stand is groomed on an annual basis to provide buck sneak trails that lead past stands or as observational stands that can be used to scout other areas of the property. These stands will be left in place if desired by the buyer.
November 5th 2015 Buck killed by my neighbor Dean Houser with a crossbow just a short distance from the SE corner of my property along the creek that runs through both our properties. 
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