Already planning for next year.

[cbcs1987]

Well this year has been a big time bummer on my grandparents land I've been trying to manage. Aside from last years's EHD, the deer population in the area was already rather low. The only two mature bucks I ever seen on a camera census over the last year 1/2 that survived scored 150 easy. All the other bucks( maybe 4) didn't reach 80 most likely. One of the mature bucks was shot at on a bordering property that isn't even supposed to be hunted on. The guy told other people he hit the deer but never found it. Assuming he hit it and it ran off and died that leaves one mature buck to my knowledge.

Now heres my goals starting the day deer season closes in January:
1. Establish a food plot ( I only have 1 1.5 acres I can use). I know it won't be much but its more than nothing. I have 10 acres surrounding the plot of land that was timbered 5 years ago so its thick and good cover.
2. Get a better camera census. Any tips on doing this accurately is welcome.
3. Walk the property line, and re-post it. Many signs have been tore down over the years.

Based on your personal success, what else could I do to build up the number and quality?

 

[Boone 58]

Good start....even if you cant plant much , plant what you can. If you can speak with the neighbors and form a pact to get them to practice the same or really similar goals you have just doubled or tripled or more your efforts.
Seeing is believing. and talking it up will help with those who are of the same mindset as yours.

 

[megalomaniac]

Be realistic...

How many acres are you talking about? If you're talking about 400 acres, 2 mature bucks isn't too bad. If you're talking about 40 acres, 2 mature and 4 other younger bucks is GREAT.

 

[BSK]

I would focus on producing cover habitat.

 

[cbcs1987]

Good start....even if you cant plant much , plant what you can. If you can speak with the neighbors and form a pact to get them to practice the same or really similar goals you have just doubled or tripled or more your efforts.
Seeing is believing. and talking it up will help with those who are of the same mindset as yours.

Well, heres the thing with that. The land I hunt is literally surrounded by one other guys property. He does not allow anybody to deer hunt it other than me. Him and his friends occasionally fox hunt on horseback, and he has another friend that turkey hunts the land. So the actual land that my family owns is about 50 acres, surrounded by his 1000(guess). The only interaction that goes on in the area other than what I mentioned is tresspassing 4wheelers and the tresspassin hunter. As for them setting goals, its really only up to me handling it alone because he don't deer hunt. It's a matter primarily of getting rid of tresspassers.

Be realistic...

How many acres are you talking about? If you're talking about 400 acres, 2 mature bucks isn't too bad. If you're talking about 40 acres, 2 mature and 4 other younger bucks is GREAT.

Agreed. It is pretty good for the actual land we own. But with all the surrounding land thats not really hunted I believe there is room for improvement.

I would focus on producing cover habitat.

There is fairly good cover, although you can always use more of that. A company came and cut a few acres a few years back and now its thick with briars, pines( about 8 ft tall) and sage brush. The thicket covers the entire side of a ridge leading down to a creek bottom. I believe that might be a beddin area but I dont want to go look and get my scent in there. Theres also a coyote den right in the area... need to handle that asap.

 

[cbcs1987]

As for what to plant this spring, I'm not certain yet. I've seen this Imperial Whitetail powerplant stuff advertised, and it looks good for both cover and food source. Anybody have opinions on it?