Mystery solved

[BSK]

My place is unique in that it is almost an "island" of tall ridge-and-hollow hardwoods surrounded on three sides by big agricultural bottomlands. Every year, about mid-September, "new" bucks suddenly begin to show up out of nowhere. I've always assumed it was primarily the acorns starting to fall that drew the deer up out of the bottoms. Although I suspected the farmers harvesting the crops in the bottomland played a role as well. This year, acorns started to fall right on schedule in mid-September. But very, very few bucks showed up. Mid-October and still few bucks showing up, even though acorns were falling by the bucket-load. However, due to our very wet and cool May last spring, the farmers didn't get the corn planted until early June, a month late. A week ago, almost no corn had been harvested in the bottomlands, something that usually occurs mid-September. This week, about 70% of the corn has been harvested, and low and behold, bucks appearing on the property like crazy.

Mystery solved. It isn't the acorn drop that draws deer into the hills, it's cutting the standing corn in the bottomlands.

 

[squackattack]

I would of thought acorns would have been the draw, but lack of cover makes sense. I would consider not even hunting till crops were out knowing that.

 

[BSK]

I would of thought acorns would have been the draw, but lack of cover makes sense. I would consider not even hunting till crops were out knowing that.

We don't. We don't bow-hunt.

 

[megalomaniac]

It isn't the acorn drop that draws deer into the hills, it's cutting the standing corn in the bottomlands.

That's what I've seen on my farms as well. I don't get the big influx until after all the beans have lost their leaves or until the corn is cut (on the every 3rd year rotation from beans) on neighbors.

Corn can be a bigger holder of deer because they can bed/ hide in it as well as feed on both the corn as well as the weeds that grow ground level.

 

[BSK]

That's what I've seen on my farms as well. I don't get the big influx until after all the beans have lost their leaves or until the corn is cut (on the every 3rd year rotation from beans) on neighbors.

Corn can be a bigger holder of deer because they can bed/ hide in it as well as feed on both the corn as well as the weeds that grow ground level.

I really believe it is that combination of bedding cover AND food source that holds the deer. I've seen GPS collar studies from "corn country" that shows deer living in the corn full-time from the time it get head high until harvest. Deer never leave the corn until it's cut.

 

[megalomaniac]

I really believe it is that combination of bedding cover AND food source that holds the deer. I've seen GPS collar studies from "corn country" that shows deer living in the corn full-time from the time it get head high until harvest. Deer never leave the corn until it's cut.

Yup, the only reason they have to leave the corn is need for water in drought years. Not the case this year!

 

[UTGrad]

We don't. We don't bow-hunt.

BSK what reasons do y'all not bow hunt? No point in educating deer before prime time?

 

[farmin68]

BSK what reasons do y'all not bow hunt? No point in educating deer before prime time?

The reply and comments on this question could be entertaining.

 

[BSK]

BSK what reasons do y'all not bow hunt? No point in educating deer before prime time?

Exactly. Our success rate with archery was too low to justify "educating" the deer and reducing our MZ and gun season chances.

 

[muddyboots]

That's awesome info

 

[UTGrad]

BSK what reasons do y'all not bow hunt? No point in educating deer before prime time?

The longer I hunt the more I look forward to November. For years I was so fired up for archery season to open. Now days, I still get out there but I don't burn up my best spots in archery.

 

[BSK]

Honestly, I don't miss bow-hunting at all. For me, deer season opens the day MZ season opens. And on my place, that's just at peak "cruising" time for older bucks - that period when bucks are on their feet almost 24 hours a day searching for the first estrus does. A great time to be in a stand!

 

[TNTony]

I would be inclined to believe the reason is preference and availability. My reasoning is that protein rich leafy greens are in decline resulting in dietary switching to high sugar content carbohydrates which are only readily available and abundant at this point. Excess carbs are converted into fat reserves to be supplemented and sustained by solid fat containing acorns which will hold and continue to become more readily available during cooler weather. I also believe in my experience that they don't necessarily want to consume energy climbing ridges until habitat and seasonal changes encourage such action.

 

[BSK]

I also believe in my experience that they don't necessarily want to consume energy climbing ridges until habitat and seasonal changes encourage such action.

I don't think most hunters, or biologists for that matter, fully grasp just how physically demanding climbing/chasing through those hills is. It literally limits life-span.

 

[Headhunter]

never has been a mystery in corn country. Where we hunt in KY, when it is corn, it is most always still standing in bow season. Amazing the the change in seeing deer once it is cut.

The guys I know who hunt in Illinois, they have been going for over 20 years, hate when the corn doesn't get cut before they hunt. Those deer for sure almost never leave the corn until it is cut. The one time I could have went about 10 years ago, fair chase, no fence but expensive and my friend needed someone to go to fill a spot and I was going to get a great deal, ended up the corn was not cut and didn't get cut until after they hunted. They either had a chance or killed a great buck every single year. They did not even see a buck that year.

 

[tellico4x4]

I really believe it is that combination of bedding cover AND food source that holds the deer. I've seen GPS collar studies from "corn country" that shows deer living in the corn full-time from the time it get head high until harvest. Deer never leave the corn until it's

ML hunted in KS once before corn was harvested and all I could see was "legs" walking around all hours of the day. Contract combiners came in around noon one day & had hundreds of acres of corn done by daylight the next morning. I was setup back in woods but could still see one field. It was comical to watch the deer enter the bare field & look around like, where'd all the cover go?

 

[DeerCamp]

My place is unique in that it is almost an "island" of tall ridge-and-hollow hardwoods surrounded on three sides by big agricultural bottomlands. Every year, about mid-September, "new" bucks suddenly begin to show up out of nowhere. I've always assumed it was primarily the acorns starting to fall that drew the deer up out of the bottoms. Although I suspected the farmers harvesting the crops in the bottomland played a role as well. This year, acorns started to fall right on schedule in mid-September. But very, very few bucks showed up. Mid-October and still few bucks showing up, even though acorns were falling by the bucket-load. However, due to our very wet and cool May last spring, the farmers didn't get the corn planted until early June, a month late. A week ago, almost no corn had been harvested in the bottomlands, something that usually occurs mid-September. This week, about 70% of the corn has been harvested, and low and behold, bucks appearing on the property like crazy.

Mystery solved. It isn't the acorn drop that draws deer into the hills, it's cutting the standing corn in the bottomlands.

I'm surrounded by beans this year, and I'm rooting for the combine hard!
They are still pretty green compared to most years.

 

[catman529]

The longer I hunt the more I look forward to November. For years I was so fired up for archery season to open. Now days, I still get out there but I don't burn up my best spots in archery.

I love scouting new areas during bow season. Shoot a few does and drop a few pins for spots to come back to during muzzleloader when does are hot.

 

[TNlandowner]

Exactly. Our success rate with archery was too low to justify "educating" the deer and reducing our MZ and gun season chances.

Same here... We maintain our activity routines and the deer ignore us. We start hunting during the youth hunt weekend / MZ season. Also, it is nice not having to deal with the heat.

 

[BSK]

I love scouting new areas during bow season.

Oh, I scout like crazy during bow-season, but from the back of an ATV looking for camera set-ups.