After owning my property for just over a year now, I discovered a problem. Last year I took ownership of the property on Nov 6th. While I hunted some, I mostly walked and scouted the property to become familiar with it. I also put out 4 trail cams with food (corn). Baiting is still legal in this area. I just wanted to know what kind of deer herd and structure I had. I was pleasantly surprised. There were some great bucks and an excellent age structure as well as buck : doe ratio. This year I set up trail cams along trails and a water hole. Not wanting to pressure the deer, I set the cams to daytime only. Through summer and into fall I had pics of 3 does, 3 fawns and 7 bucks. Due to work needed on my trailer I didn't hunt much during the early part of the season. I did have 8 nice stand set ups done in advance. I hunted a lot from the last week of Oct. through the end of Nov. (bow and gun, 4 weeks of vacation). My deer sightings started out nicely through Nov. 4th then suddenly took a nose dive. Even during rifle season I only saw 1 young buck, that's it. My brother shot a nice 8 pointer though, one I had never seen before and I saw only 1 doe and 2 fawns. I'm thinking where did the deer go? Well, after talking to some of the locals with whom I've become friends, including 2 that are adjacent land owners, I've come to the conclusion that some of my neighbors are baiting the deer for gun hunting. These guys own the biggest tracts of land, 240 and 160 acres. They only gun hunt. I never thought of baiting. For the last 12 years I've only hunted where baiting was illegal. I never had anything against baiting, just don't do it. I had no food out during the season...... until now. I figured they must have started their baits about Nov. 1st so they'd be ready for the gun hunt 3 weeks later. Hence my sightings dropped. So I put out some food and cameras. Three weeks later, I have 10 deer routinely showing up. 4 does and 6 bucks. Next year, do I fight fire with fire and put out a food supply during the season? What would you do?
I run into the same thing, Greg. My neighbors bait all year. My saving grace is, I have the does to go around (plenty of them). I've seen ONE shooter buck outside the rut, though, in 6 seasons of hunting (I won't say "hard"....just "a lot"). If I were in YOUR shoes, I'd SURELY be baiting (based on your sightings via trailcam). I wouldn't think twice about it. And, I'd start early. I just picked up 137 more acres in an adjacent county. I know the neighbors up there are baiting. My cousin and I will, also. What I will be up there is.....selective.
I don't recall how many acres you own. Have you considered developing the land as a better bedding area then your neighbors? Maybe developing travel corridores from your bedding areas to the neighbors that bait then setting up stands to pick them off. Instead of fighting fire with fire you could use their fire to heat your home.
I gotta agree with Magic and Schultzy here. I'd cut some timber (that cross cutting stuff) and create a hella bedding area. If your neighbors got 400 acres between the two of them (roughly).. that's only about a 25 minute walk for a deer (relatively speaking) to get across it all if it was a perfect square. As long as the neighbors bedding areas are really not that adequate.. deer would still bed on your lands before heading to feed. You could easily steal those dudes deer with WAY better bedding.. and some manor of food. Interesting article I read recently on Oak trees and how to get them to produce more acorns by just giving them more sun light. Maybe just cross-cut trees near those Oaks.. taking away their competition and producing better bedding.. thus killing 2 birds with one stone so to speak. In my opinion.. secondary food sources within cover are always better to hunt and are often first hit (during daylight) by deer. Let those guys be the destination.. you be the home base.
Greg, I can't give you any advice because I have never owned my own spot. The only thing I can give you is wishing the best of luck man. I really hope it works out for you.
My land is mostly woods. 42/45 acres. I own 3 acres of a 25 acre crop field. I heard of one good buck taken this year and last year. Really, there's hardly no pressure. Here is photo.
I find that with most any thread discussing baiting....people's answers fall pretty much in line with whether or not baiting's allowed in their state or not. Those who hunt states where baiting's allowed.....usually for it. Those who reside where baiting isn't legal.....usually dead against it. Not wrong. Not right. Just an observation.
I'm not sure what crops are common in your area but if its corn , beans or something else deer will eat, pay the farmer to leave some in.
That's strange. I'm not reading anything in this thread with anyone dead against baiting. You are? Strange.
No. I'm not. Don't go looking for something that isn't there, Duke. Try something different. Stop being so defensive. It's unnecessary.
See map. I'd love to try this but I am not sure if I can compete with my neighbors. I don't know enough about it. Actually, my land is a giant food source. 75 % plus oak trees. I do have 4 spots (small) that could be used for food plots. No time last year but will have this year.
I'm only wondering where you come up with your observation. I guess.. you won't answer it though. No biggie. Although I'm not sure where the "defensive" portion of your last post came from... maybe you should be less paranoid? People aren't "out to get you" buddy. I simply asked a question... perhaps don't read it so hostile next time.
There was no bickering, Brett. And, there's no need for any "intervention". My comment was....I've noticed that, over the years, people who live in states where baiting is legal are more apt to be in favor of (in this case) baiting. People who live in states where baiting isn't legal, usually are against it....and, in this instance would "probably" be for alternative solutions to Greg's "dilemma". It's pretty uncanny. Doesn't mean one person's right and the other's wrong. Just an observation.
Duke, many good ideas here. I'd love to make a thick bedding area but don't know enough about it. I need a professional opinion. Deer do bed on my land in milder weather, up off the ridges. When it gets cold, I'm sure they hit the neighbors pines. Hard to compete with that. I like the "enhance the oaks" idea and have already been giving that some thought. I have 2 or 3 white oak groves that need some pruning. Looks promising. BTW, I am not against supplemental feed, at least until I get my land situated. Thanks for all the comments.
