Found a spot in a CRP program on a farm. Its mostly just thick weeds and grasses and pretty tall as well. Wondering if there is anything you guys have done to hunt in these areas? Can I do anything to the spot? Mow it? Plant food plots near it? Thanks.
where I am, CRP means its not being cultivated or mowed, its going back to natural woodland in a gradual process. Look for trails running thru it and set up stands accordingly.
I would plant a few food plots if possible. I would imagine that the deer will likely bed in that CRP if it's tall enough. possibly walk through it in the off season and see what you find in there for beds. Then I would create a game plan as to where they are most likely going in and out of it. Hang a few sets and hunt it.
I would bet money that some deer are bedding in there. Just find a trail, hang a stand or a couple trail cams and hunt it. There coming in and out from somewhere. Like stated before. You can't do anything to the crp. At least not that I know of
Now to clarify a little, in a few of the CRP spots on the farm I hunt, we've found deer trails and mowed the trail w/ the billy goat mower so they remain a usable trail for hunters, and deer don't mind them either. But not mowing the actual CRP plot. Once the gum trees get started it gets really thick in there.
I personally would leave it alone and hunt accordingly, I hunt A LOT of CRP where I live and they are massive bedding areas. The last thing I want to do is screw it up by planting a plot right on it. All that means is they can sleep longer and move less for food.
Most of the time you can't do anything to CRP fields. I know there's some sround here your allowed to mow maybe once a year but other than that they're supposed to be untouched.
The are generally good bedding areas, especially if they are in Native Warm season grasses. Those are supposed to be burnt in the spring and can be mowed once a year after July 15th (after bird nesting season). You can request to plant a food plot of up to an acre in CRP fields but FSA has to approve it, sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Hunt them as bedding areas and catch the deer between food and bedding.
