Hunted a property for 8 years. It had some small wood lots and narrow grown up drainages. I ran 4-5 trail cameras there. The first 3 years the farmer planted about 60 acres of soybeans. and harvested usually in October each year. 95 percent of trophy deer pics were nocturnal. The next two years, they put the farm in CRP and simply allowed chest high weeds to grow up and bushhogged in the late fall each year. Trophy deer not only got bigger, but also started showing up on cameras in broad daylight. If I had to manage a small parcel, I would spend my efforts on creating a day time bedding area. All the land owner did was let the weeds grow up and it gave the deer a place to hide DURING THE DAY. They didn't fertilize, they didn't plant food plots, and the drainages and a small pond was the deer's water source. All the ag food source was GONE for two years. The next two years they sprayed the weeds and no-tilled soybeans. Tons of food, but deer activity went back to nocturnal. The hunting went from rags, to riches, and back to rags.
I heard a very concerning statistic today that a large amount of hunters and fisherman don't vote. If you don't vote this year and vote Republican, you won't have a gun much longer to hunt! Oregon already wants to make it illegal to hunt, fish, or have farms. Just FYI. Go vote! :)
Personally, I feel hunters should be obligated to those habitat elements that produce more game. Starvation is unusual in nature. That said, yes, food plots are an essential tool; however, those vegetative communities that offer cover for nest, fawn, or broods, more game,are a priority for me. I’ve held a lot of dead pheasants in hand, I have yet to hold one that died or starvation.
I have a question about pinch points. So i hunt in south MS on a property that is pretty much just pines that a company owns. Bc we just lease it we cant thin or cut the pines to create any pinch points or anything. We also dont have a creek or pond. How do i create sum kind of pinch for the deer knowing its just thick pines. We also have sum areas called branches where it is kind of swampy and has a lot of roots. Any advice on creating a pinch would help
Hunted a property for 8 years. It had some small wood lots and narrow grown up drainages. I ran 4-5 trail cameras there. The first 3 years the farmer planted about 60 acres of soybeans. and harvested usually in October each year. 95 percent of trophy deer pics were nocturnal. The next two years, they put the farm in CRP and simply allowed chest high weeds to grow up and bushhogged in the late fall each year. Trophy deer not only got bigger, but also started showing up on cameras in broad daylight. If I had to manage a small parcel, I would spend my efforts on creating a day time bedding area. All the land owner did was let the weeds grow up and it gave the deer a place to hide DURING THE DAY. They didn't fertilize, they didn't plant food plots, and the drainages and a small pond was the deer's water source. All the ag food source was GONE for two years. The next two years they sprayed the weeds and no-tilled soybeans. Tons of food, but deer activity went back to nocturnal. The hunting went from rags, to riches, and back to rags.
Can't wait for the next one!
Dr Woods is such a wealth of knowledge! Excellent information as always.
I heard a very concerning statistic today that a large amount of hunters and fisherman don't vote. If you don't vote this year and vote Republican, you won't have a gun much longer to hunt! Oregon already wants to make it illegal to hunt, fish, or have farms. Just FYI. Go vote! :)
Personally, I feel hunters should be obligated to those habitat elements that produce more game. Starvation is unusual in nature. That said, yes, food plots are an essential tool; however, those vegetative communities that offer cover for nest, fawn, or broods, more game,are a priority for me. I’ve held a lot of dead pheasants in hand, I have yet to hold one that died or starvation.
I have a question about pinch points. So i hunt in south MS on a property that is pretty much just pines that a company owns. Bc we just lease it we cant thin or cut the pines to create any pinch points or anything. We also dont have a creek or pond. How do i create sum kind of pinch for the deer knowing its just thick pines. We also have sum areas called branches where it is kind of swampy and has a lot of roots. Any advice on creating a pinch would help
Landon - it's tough to create a pinch point in a pine plantation. However, some folks do this with big round bales of hay, using snow fence, etc.
How much does it cost to get a management plan worked up for a piece of property
Matt - it depends on the locaton and property size. Feel free to share more details at info@GrowingDeer.com
Good stuff 👍👍
First