We have several good plots for feeding but wanted to beef up weight and see about antler growth to really manage
What % of the property is open land? What's on those acres? How much is forested? How old is the forest?
What percentage of your land is in dedicated plantings for deer, and what percentage of your land is in early secessional growth?
We have probably 40% open fields , has not been logged in about 15-20 years and doing a spring food plot as well as our normal fall food plot this year
Set aside 10 % of your open land to burn or disk, then let it grow. Boom, high quality forage that will put more weight and antler growth than anything from a bag. If you want to over the top, pick out 3 2 acre blocks in the timber and thin the undesirable trees to get more sunlight to the forest floor
one more thing... don't get discouraged when you don't see improvements in antler scores the first year. you can make a difference in body weights in just a couple years. but it takes about 5 years to reap the rewards from habitat improvement for antler scores. Basically you are providing the extra nutrition to the buck fawn embryo inside the doe's uterus, THEN have to raise him up from birth to maturity to see the benefits.
There is evidence that the health of the doe at conception and then throughout the term directly effects the buck fawn growing into his genetic potential so megalomaniac's plan is solid.
