I was wondering how land with cattle on it can effect deer hunting? I see plenty of deer on our food plot on the other side of the fence. But I am wondering if I should hang a stand in a group of trees in the middle of a pasture. There is only about 10 heads of cattle in the pasture. I would like to put a camera but dont want to go through all the pics of cows. Any thoughts?
I've never had good luck around cattle. I think it tends to make deer nervous and will push them out of that area. I mean they may use that area as a travel route or graze there but they are going to bed somewhere else.
Agreed. During the hunting season we move all of our cattle to the north and south sections of the ranch which are mainly native grass. All the timber and bottom and bedding get blocked from the cows and the deer go to town during the rut. Deer move much more freely and less jumpy without the cattle in there I'll also agree that cows will destroy cameras. We've got a million oak trees on us, and I swear, one cow gets into 400 acres of oak bottom ground....that cow will find your camera, and rub it off the tree and then step on it. Ask me how I know...
The private ground we hunt has cattle and we have deer bedding in the pasture with the cattle. We have no shortage of trail cam pics with plenty of deer in the area. The pasture is only 80 acres if I remember right. Deer will get used to whatever they grow up into. I have seen the cattle bump them out of their beds on occasion but usually they just move on and not bother them. This particular property only has a small amount of cattle though so I am sure that has something to do with it.
Hmm interesting. I'm hunting on a dairy farm (100 head or so) and I'm looking to venture into the area around the cattle pastures. I have a ridge that comes right down across the pasture fields. I wonder if the cattle help to mask the human smell at all. On any given day I can smell the cows and all a good ways away from the areas they are in. I'll let you know what I see for sign as I'm gonna hunt near the pastures next week.
The areas I get to hunt are mostly cow pastures. There are a few cows that will literally chase deer out o the pasture. So I usually find them and hunt on the opposite side. Becareful with cameras or blinds as cows will destroy them scrathing and such as Cledus said. However if the food is there like clover or acorns or even a travel route odds are good. They like to eat the same thing as cows. In fact we have even seen deer in creep feeders for calves eating. Good luck and let us know how it works.
I have clover all over a field and the deer don't touch it at all! Any ideas? I think there is too much food where I hunt. Acorns, corn, alfalfa. It's everywhere. But they aren't touching the clover at all.
deer will graze in same field as cattle but not with them. I think pasture land keep's deer around more than a grown up farm will.
