Like a good neighbor,year 3

[Football Hunter]

Some may remember my "Like a good neighbor" posts from the last couple years.The neighboring landowner had leased out the big bottom field to be farmed,and it was in soybeans the last 2 years.In my mind providing some great browse for the deer all summer.

Well,the land changed hands.I finally got to run down there yesterday afternoon,and they were planting again!But its corn,that will be harvested.Course he can do whatever he wants with his land,just wondering,what will deer get out of corn,not left standing?

Just wondering how will it help my deer?

 

[Redfred16]

The farm I leased to hunt this year normally had just normal hay planted. But before I leased it, it was tilled, sprayed and planted(all in at one time but a single machine I was told?) with corn.

I'm going to take that as a blessing, late season should see the deer cruising this ridge top farm pretty regularly.

 

[W.Seay]

By November they will have eaten it all up, atleast that's what they do in my area and we are loaded with white and red oaks!

 

[Boll Weevil]

Depending on the combine, grain conditions during harvest, and operator experience you might be surprised how much corn is left in there. Equipment gets more and more efficient every year but it won't get it all.

Consider this: Even a 90% harvest of a 100 bushel per acre field leaves 10 bushels. Shelled corn weighs about 56 lbs per bushel...that's 560 pounds right there. How many bags of corn from WalMart is that? If its a 5, 8, 12 acre field...well you get the picture

It doesn't take a very big field to leave enough waste grain to get through the hunting season and deep into the winter. Heck, some of those old gleaners...I think they LEFT more corn than they harvested back in the day!

 

[deerhunter10]

most farmers rotate corn and soy beans each year. if you can get some good summer plots growing you will have the deer on you. but after he cuts it the will be in there like crazy. and late season they will be in it. would be a good idea to get some good protein and good browsing plots on your place if at all possible.

 

[tn droptine]

Should be great for you if your land has the cover for bedding - early in the morning after they are done feeding you should see plenty of deer moving into your area to bed down

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Its normal to rotate like that. Soybeans are a legume and so produce a good bit of nitrogen. Corn needs alot of nitrogen, so if you put corn behind soybeans you can reduce your fertilizer input and profit more hopefully. There will be some spillage, more than what you would think, it just depends alot on the equipment and farmer.

 

[Football Hunter]

Yeah,I get that there will be spillage,and all the other points,but in my mind,corn offeres little or nothing for building bodies and antlers,during spring/summer,guess thats my point/question?

 

[Boll Weevil]

Yeah,I get that there will be spillage,and all the other points,but in my mind,corn offeres little or nothing for building bodies and antlers,during spring/summer,guess thats my point/question?

Yep. True.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Yeah,I get that there will be spillage,and all the other points,but in my mind,corn offeres little or nothing for building bodies and antlers,during spring/summer,guess thats my point/question?

Agree. With corn being the principle crop nearby it would make your Spring/Summer food plots more important. Until the corn produces grain and is combined, deer get nothing but cover out of it. I'm betting you do have some kind of annual planted, right?

My situation this year is getting me frustrated because standing water has kept me from doing anything yet towards planting annual food plots. But then I think about the fact that the deer have about 500 acres of soybeans and 150 acres of corn...........what is the point of bothering with Spring/Summer annuals? I have 4 acres of Alfa Rack that will feed them long after the soybeans have gotten too tough and there are two 1/4 acre clover patches too. Still this water is annoying.