Good or bad idea?

[wrdabney]

I have heard that deer like food plots that are surrounded by woods. So my question is, if I don't have any field space that fits this criteria is it a good or bad idea to clear maybe 1/2 or 3/4 of an acre in the hardwoods and plant something? Or would this be detrimental to the natural habitat? Thanks for the help

 

[wrdabney]

i am talking about removing the trees also. pretty much clearing everything in about a half acre area.

 

[RKenney]

I would clear back aways from the actual planting area. Let the
area between the woods and the planted plot grow up in thick
nasty stuff. In my mind, this would create better security and
staging areas in shooting light.

I guess if your "woods" are very thick, you might not have to.
Deer, especially mature deer like the "nasty stuff". Just a few
yards of very thick cover around your plot, can make a huge
difference in "shooting light".

Night time is different though. They will come to a plot in the
middle of a fescue field.

 

[wrdabney]

the woods at my farm for the most part do not have very thick undergrowth. so i should clear out more area than i am going to plant and let some of it grow up. that makes sense. i have been reading some about cutting down some timber and leaving it and letting it grow up thick in about one acre areas. about how much of this would you want for a 130 acre farm?

 

[BSK]

The highest utilization of food plots during daylight will occur in food plots that have thick cover directly adjacent. Food plots with thick cover at least along one side will see far more daylight usage than a food plot surrounded by open-understory mature timber.

 

[Football Hunter]

clear a plot,then if you can go in the woods with a dozer maybe 200 yards away and make a thicket.Just knock it down,nature will do the rest.

 

[ferg]

Just remember - at least for me - a long narrow plot that is surrounded by hardwoods/cover is better than an open square type plot -

Whitetails are 'creatures of the edge' and the more edge you have, IMHO, the more chance of utilization -

ferg....

 

[BSK]

Just remember - at least for me - a long narrow plot that is surrounded by hardwoods/cover is better than an open square type plot -

Whitetails are 'creatures of the edge' and the more edge you have, IMHO, the more chance of utilization -

ferg....

Without question that is true. Also think about sun aspect. A north-south linear plot is best for dry soil sites (ridge-tops).