hay got mowed late this year

[pass-thru]

25-30 acres of hay fields on our place. This year the farmer didn't but until mid-Nov. Last year it was Labor Day weekend. Usually the deer are hit those fields the last 1/2 hour of shooting light. They are completely vacant this year. I believe the late mowing, along with very little rain the last 6 weeks or so, as completely shut down this food source.

There are a lot of acorns this year, but there were a lot last year and many other years. First time I've experienced a complete lack of deer in the fields.

I am hoping that the little bit of rain we are getting now will rejuvenate these fields enough so that the deer will be hitting them by the end of Dec when I will be late muzzleloader hunting (Virginia).

 

[MXB 400]

IMO with the lack of rain the acorns didn't rot and the deer had plenty to eat and didn't browse in the fields because they had plenty of acorns to eat now that we have had rain the acorns will start to rot and the deer will be back in the fields

 

[Urban_Hunter]

IMO with the lack of rain the acorns didn't rot and the deer had plenty to eat and didn't browse in the fields because they had plenty of acorns to eat now that we have had rain the acorns will start to rot and the deer will be back in the fields

This. And I don't know about your fields, but ours look like a wasteland. This rain should help them rebound, don't know if it will show before end of season.

 

[MXB 400]

IMO with the lack of rain the acorns didn't rot and the deer had plenty to eat and didn't browse in the fields because they had plenty of acorns to eat now that we have had rain the acorns will start to rot and the deer will be back in the fields

This. And I don't know about your fields, but ours look like a wasteland. This rain should help them rebound, don't know if it will show before end of season.

Hopefully the will dry up b4 seasons ends if not the deer will go where the food is

 

[jb357]

I've had to move practically in to the bedding areas where I hunt to see deer this year. Usually once they cut the corn and beans I can get them traveling back and forth but there's simply too much food in the woods for them to have to bother traveling.
Hopefully this arctic cold front will shake things up

 

[hitek7]

It was lack of rain more than late cutting. Ours usually gets cut late and they are excellent, just too dry this year.

 

[catman529]

I live on hay fields and they have been nearly dead for the past couple months. I've seen occasional deer in them and especially at night when they come down to the pond when the farm dogs don't chase em off. Normally they're out in the corners of the fields eating greens, but the greens aren't there this year. I'm hoping they green up some now that the ground is finally soaked. The hay was cut early here and the Johnson grass got real talk again, but finally the rain has knocked all the dead grass down to a shorter level...maybe some forbs will sprout up again soon.


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