Hey guys I live in a very lightly hunted area and my property is seemingly an ideal hunting grounds. I have 20 acres with a river crossing through thick bedding area, natural apple trees and the back 10 is hardwoods. Last year was my first season on the property and during the Rut a nice 8 point ran in directly underneath my stand not allowing any shooting opportunitys. My season ended the next day because I cot called out of province for work... I never saw the buck again until I got a picture of him almost the last day of the season. This whole summer I have gotten hardly any pictures of deer period just a regular doe and fawn. Yet I see deer on my neighbours properties fairly often. Also late season last year I had 6 does show up to my apples. Simply because that was the last food left out there. So I know I have lots of deer in my area just not my particular property (until late December) Thanks guys here's some pics of the 8 point hopefully he's still alive and bigger this year Sent from my SM-N920W8 using Tapatalk
What can you put on your land to hold the does and fawns? Food plots, and off season feeding, some habitat work with hinge cutting. I would rather know where the does are during the rut than trying to keep track of a buck. If you have the does the bucks will come.
I have gotten permission to walk not hunt my neighbours property and it's 50 acres all hardwood. And there's abundant signs of deer. His property is full of valleys and and a small swampy area just before the lake which is 5 minutes from my property. I'm almost certain the deer are on that 50 acres regularly. I'm aloud to bait here and apples seems to be the ticket in the area. Only problem is there's apple trees everywhere around me. Deer won't have to move far for food. Also late season I got a picture with 5 does. So they are around Sent from my SM-N920W8 using Tapatalk
Apples only last so long. You may want to try other food sources available before and after the apples or just variety: soybeans, alfalfa, clover, corn, root crops, etc are one route. Developing bedding areas, like Sota was indicating, is another route. Generally this means dense growth with good egress. Deer want to feel safe and are edge dwellers...so travel corridors are commonly just inside fields, woodlines or hedge rows. Some cover (a roll in a hill, plants, etc) will help. When in doubt, it comes down to the food, water, safety and does...
Right on, thanks a lot. Gonna try to find an alternative food source and see if I can get the does around and then keep them happy so they stay! Family First Strength and Honor Bow hunter Nicholas Fournier
best way I've found to hold deer in Southern Ontario is with mineral sites (off season) it really seems to stop them from wondering too far away if you can figure out how to hold the does that 8 pointer should show up at some point Dan
Developing better cover/natural browse/bedding are the things I'd gravitate too, then some food plots....all planned out though. 20 acres is plenty but everything must be thought out and exit/entrances have to be factored in. Sometimes the easiest place to put a plot isn't the best and sometimes the thickest place currently needs to be thinned or stripped for a plot. Overtime a 20 acre spot can turn into a little honey hole but work is the key...baiting is only a short term way to hopefully capture success.
