This is my first time hunting any form of food plot and I happen to have a corn field with a lot of deer sign available to hunt. My problem is, within the next few weeks, the corn is going to be harvested. Will the deer stop using this field as a food source when the corn is gone? Does corn grow back in the fall? I really know nothing about farming or hunting on farms so any help is great.
this time of year (atleast in the midwest) soybeans are going yellow. deer will then more to corn and oak flats. once the corn is cut -harvested- they like to eat the left over corn that never made it into the combine, this happens. stinks for farmers but good for hunter. just me .02 cents. -dan
We don't hav soybean fields around here. Pretty much either hay or corn. But it makes me feel a little better knowing that the deer will still feed on leftover corn. Do deer eat silage?
A lot of it depends on the area as well. I hunt a farm here in NE Illinois, and theres really no cover in any direction other than the standing corn. Once its cut, deer sightings go down drastically for me, so I start hunting thin funnels along the property line. Sounds like a good idea, but it has yet to pay off for me!
that is true i guess i should of asked if you have timber around the area you hunt? to answer your other questions they corn should grow back next fall if the farmer decided to. not sure about silage, thats a cattle thing only maybe.
There is plenty of timber around, but much of it is thicket which is perfect for the deer to move through, but not so perfect for me.
http://www.midwestwhitetail.com/gallery/105/media/3240/midwest-whitetails-latest-show.html this video might help a little.
If I put up a hang-on stand (my only tree stand option on this farm) is it going to be worth it or will this stand site dry up once the corn is cut? That's all I really need to know as of right now lol.
Once the corn is harvested it should be smoking hot for a few weeks at least. The combine sounds like the dinner bell to the deer. Hunt the funnels leading to the corn field and be ready for action.
They will feed all year in the cut corn field. If all other sources dry up they will be back grousing around for more. They smell it and scratch ground for more. You'll do fine as long as there is sign. If not there move stand to better spot!
I live in southern illinois and cant wait for the farmers to get the corn out. My deer sightings go up drastically after its gone because i figure instead of staying in corn feeding and bedding down all day there forced to go in the woods. Deer will always be out in cut corn fields feeding. Around here farmers alternate between soy beans and corn each year so a certain crop doesnt drain all the nutrients needed. I count down the days every year till the farmers get the corn out cause thats usually when i start killing deer!
Thanks for posting this Rampaige, I am in a similar situation. My current stand is about 12 yds into the woods overlooking about 20 acres of corn field which will be harvested in the next 2 weeks or so. Went out Thursday for opening day and saw a bunch of deer moving in and out of the corn. From the scouting we did and reviewing tons of pics we know they are basically living in there right now. Once it is harvested, i think I will wait out my stand for another week or two, just to see if they are still moving towards the leftover corn to feed. This time, they'll have no cover though We have 3 "kill plots" with winter oats that are growing unbelievable right now, hoping to set up off one of those later in the season.
