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Grizzly Johnson

Grizzly Johnson

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Joined
Oct 7, 2008
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Tennessee
What fairly inexpensive things can I to draw deer to my area and help the health of bucks to promote larger antlers/bodies. I am thinking along the lines of mineral/salt lick, anything simple for starters..... maybe something I could hand seed and use a small disc behind an atv to till up a small area?
 
Professional athletes don't grow big and gain muscle mass by eating a high protein meals only during the season. Unless you plan on committing to year-round management I doubt you'll see any real gains whatsoever with an over-the-counter product that is put in seasonally.

Follow the recommendations you hear on here about year-round habitat management and you'll be heading in the right direction.
 
RE: Cummins Power

Boy you better watch how you talk to me....LOL. Seriously if people didn't know we were friends they might take you serious. Been some people caught for baiting inside the fence a couple of weeks ago..... just don't want people to get the wrong idea about us joking about each other!!!

Besides this idea is for some property I have hunting privilages to in west tn.
 
What BGG said. It all depends on what is "missing" nutritionally from your hunting property. Fill the lowest hole in the nutritional bucket first.
 
BSK said:
What BGG said. It all depends on what is "missing" nutritionally from your hunting property. Fill the lowest hole in the nutritional bucket first.
Click to expand...

Here is a good discription: It's bottom land that can be partially flooded for waterfowl hunting. There are hardwood hills and hollows with evergreen thickets mixed in. There are small "fields" 3-5 acres and open edges scattered around (like you had mentioned in your quilt pattern), some have been planted in millet, biologic, clover, some have just grass like a cut pasture, and some have tall grass like a hayfield. There are thickets almost impenetratable to hummans that they like to bed in and some patches of poplar and elm tree thickets next to their bedding areas. Water sources are also found scattered on the property.
 
Overwhelm them with protein, clover is great as are brassicas, chicory is natures multi-vitamin, and standing soybeans are the highest in protein. Granted, you will need ample acreage to end up with standing soybeans. Another alternative is supplemental feeding of soybean meal in a trough feeder. Although I must say dont mention it on this site, as the word "supplemental feeding" can trigger some users to fly into fits of rage resembling hydrophoby. If your going to mention it just say your pouring unwashed corn onto the dirt, say it's for a "camera census" and you'll go far.
 
Grizzly_Johnson said:
BSK said:
What BGG said. It all depends on what is "missing" nutritionally from your hunting property. Fill the lowest hole in the nutritional bucket first.
Click to expand...

Here is a good discription: It's bottom land that can be partially flooded for waterfowl hunting. There are hardwood hills and hollows with evergreen thickets mixed in. There are small "fields" 3-5 acres and open edges scattered around (like you had mentioned in your quilt pattern), some have been planted in millet, biologic, clover, some have just grass like a cut pasture, and some have tall grass like a hayfield. There are thickets almost impenetratable to hummans that they like to bed in and some patches of poplar and elm tree thickets next to their bedding areas. Water sources are also found scattered on the property.
Click to expand...

That sounds like a great piece of property with huge potential. However, I would have to walk around on it to get an idea of browse pressure/deer density. Nutrition may not be your lowest hole in the bucket. It may be herd conditions (density or composition [sex ratio and buck age structure]). In essence, you may have all of the necessary infredients in place for health buck production and the only thing you lack is mature bucks or an appropriate number of does.
 
I know last year they took (2) nice 8pts, and I believe a 10pt. The year before a very nice 8pt. I would say the last part of your thinking may be the focus area: appropriate number of does. I am trying to convince the parties involved to take does when the oppertunity comes and to pass on younger bucks.
 
Once the habitat is in good shape--and that property's habitat sounds very good (in fact, I'm jealous! ;) )--herd composition is the next lowest hole in the bucket.

It's also critical to know how old those bucks harvested were. Were they 2 1/2 year-old 8 and 10 points or mature 8 and 10 points. Huge difference.
 
I only saw 1 8pt (year before last) by photo, he looked to be maybe 3-4 yrs old. One of the other 8pts is on the owners wall but I haven't seen it yet..... There is a tract west of the property I described 104 acres for sale right now, don't know the price and only found out about it this past weekend.... it's in Carroll Co. And from what I was told last night even more could be for sale close to it in the northern direction..... I need some money!!!
 

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