Opinions needed about a property

[huntncoach]

I have gained an opportunity to hunt my brother's small farm (80 acres) in central Kentucky - Bourbon Co to be exact. I went up and scouted some yesterday and came away somewhat disheartened. The farm is positioned on a hill with about 25 wooded acres on the northern side and another 35 wooded acres on the southern edge with the two divided by pasture land along the crest of the hill. My dilemma is there are no oak trees on his property. There are two wet weather ponds - one on the northern side and another along the edge of the southern woods and pasture. There is also a pond in the northwest corner. I found a few game trails entering the woods from the pasture. I just don't know what food sources I can rely on to draw deer. The pasture has a good bit of clover, so there is that. I imagine I will just have to sit, hunt, and observe to decide how best to hunt the property. I should have mentioned that there are some cattle (about 15-20). Any insight about how to form a plan to hunt here would be greatly appreciated. My brother said he sees deer often while out farming and mostly sees them crossing his southern property line to cross a road to a creek on the property there. He did say he hasn't really seen any bucks, but I can't imagine them not being there at least during the rut since he sees does pretty often.

 

[Heath423]

What about the adjacent properties? Hunting pressure from those pushing deer to the 80 acres during season. You mentioned a creek across the road….depending on size does this create a natural funnel? I would consider wind direction pertaining to which ends of the property you can enter from.
Just a few things that came to my mind when reading your post. It's awesome that you now have this small private piece to hunt. Good luck and I'm sure you will get things figured out before season.

 

[huntncoach]

I think the eastern fenced edge is the deer travel route to the creek across the road. I can access the woods at various places from the southern portion, where their house, barn, etc are located. Also, with the pasture running basically up the middle, I can access both wooded areas depending on the wind. I also failed to mention there is a smaller pasture on the northwest portion with the pond in that section basically in the NW corner. I need to check that side better for any sign that may be there. I think my first strategy will be to use the woods along the eastern edge - as long as the wind allows - to find some travel patterns to that off property creek. The fence edge is mowed periodically, so I can find a place to sit and watch that fence line for activity.

 

[deerhunter10]

We have a farm that they cut all the oaks off of about 20 years ago. It is a great farm to hunt. Figure out how they move through. Focus on other natural browse. Pinch points are the keys. Generally not a great farm until the rut. If there thick areas key in on those. I will say as a cattle farmer. Deer and cows don't mix great. So hunt away from the cows. Oaks are great, but rarely something I key into a bunch. Years like last year are the years it can get tough. Have another permission peice I picked up last year late and I have a deer I want to kill in there this year. He doesnt have any. Its all woods to. Not the end of the world. Biggest obstacle you'll have is cows.

 

[Ski]

60 acres of woods is plenty to support some deer activity. Do the cattle have access to all 60 acres of woods? IME if cattle are in the woods there will be no browse for deer. It'll be wide open with zero green from 8ft down to the ground. If that's what you got on all 60 acres of woods then you'll be riding the struggle bus.

Any of the woods cattle can't access will be thicker and will have more browse, possibly even some security cover. That's the area I'd be searching for, and if it exists I'd be hanging cams ASAP. As mentioned deer and cattle don't mix but they sure make neighbors.

Another thing I'd look for is persimmon trees or old apples, crabapples, pears, etc that potentially could be fruiting. Oak isn't the only food source. Also look for lesser attention trees like locusts & hackberry. Hackberry are super sugary tiny nibbles in early season. Locust pods are a super sugary treat in late season. Deer use different properties at different times of year for different reasons. The trick is learning why and when they're interested in the property you're hunting. That's the fun part of hunting! New properties are always a fun mystery to solve.

 

[Shanman]

Zoom out on your aerial view and look at what vegetation/terrain features are like surrounding the property, say for one mile out. Your property might not hold deer, but it could be a major travel corridor that roaming bucks use during the rut. If this is the case, it will help you narrow down when and where to hunt, saving both time and effort. After two seasons of running cameras you should have it figured out.

 

[TNCharlie]

...My brother said he sees deer often while out farming and mostly sees them crossing his southern property line to cross a road to a creek on the property there. ...

So there are deer in the area. Walk the entire fence line. Look for any anomaly that makes the fence easier to cross. It doesn.t have to be much - a missing strand of barb wire, a slightly lower spot where a tree or limb has fallen against the fence, or any place where the deer can easily crawl under. Watch for hair caught on the fence. Put a couple of cameras on spots that look likely. Especially examine the area where deer have been spotted. These things have paid off for me on a couple of properties.

I only a hunt a couple of small properties, both with characteristics similar to what you described. One is my neighbor's place. There is a spot where the top strand of bar wire is broken, making a low spot. Deer have been crossing there at least for the 20+ years I've been hunting there. Do I see deer there every time I hunt? Of course not. But hunting those type places consistently will pay off.

 

[megalomaniac]

Find the travel corridors through the property and hunt them during the rut if you are wanting to kill bucks.

 

[mike243]

I would ck the fence line and see where they are crossing, then set up on edge of field with the best view possible. If any of it has a fence to keep the cows out I would ask to close it off and put a bait station in seeing as they are legal and the deer are conditioned to using them.

 

[huntncoach]

There are persimmons there. I plan to check the fence areas for crossings and found some trails through the woods. My brother said the cattle don't access the thicker parts of the woods on either side - they are fenced. LOTS of locust trees!

 

[Antler Daddy]

I probably need an aerial photo and topography for surrounding area to even venture a guess anymore.

If cows have full access, ask brother if you can fence off a little section where you can try to plant something, have some water, some salt and deer feeder! You must work with what you have and only have so much time.

 

[Snake]

All of these brothers have give sound advice ....most likely you'll have to hunt it to get a handle on deer movement . I'd hunt the persimmon trees early on ...they are a magnet for deer also look for musadine vines . With all that's been said this property could be a travel corridor if there hasn't been any or much hunting during the rut . Sometimes it's not about how the property looks it's what it produces relating to deer movement . Hunt your hunt ....just had to guys

 

[Ski]

There are persimmons there. I plan to check the fence areas for crossings and found some trails through the woods. My brother said the cattle don't access the thicker parts of the woods on either side - they are fenced. LOTS of locust trees!

That's fantastic. If there are some locusts and/or persimmons inside the thick areas that cattle are fenced out of, there will inevitably be trails showing you exactly where to hunt. I would start anywhere trails cross or converge, especially if they do so at the top of a drainage/ravine. I'd set cams watching the ponds too. All in all the place sounds promising!

 

[huntncoach]

One other thing, to my knowledge, nobody has hunted his farm in at least 30 years. My brother doesn't hunt. Thanks for all the advice, guys!

 

[TNBuckTracker]

One other thing, to my knowledge, nobody has hunted his farm in at least 30 years. My brother doesn't hunt. Thanks for all the advice, guys!

Honestly, that may be one of the biggest advantages you have. A property that hasn't been hunted in 30 years is a rare opportunity, especially in an area with good deer numbers. Those deer may not be used to human pressure at all, which can make a huge difference.

I would be very careful not to over-pressure it early. With a property that size, you don't have to hunt it like a large tract where you can afford to bump deer around. I'd spend as much time as possible scouting from the edges, using cameras, and letting the deer tell you how they are using it.

The fact that your brother sees does regularly but hasn't noticed bucks doesn't surprise me. Mature bucks can be incredibly low-profile, especially outside of the rut. That thick, undisturbed bedding cover could be exactly where an older buck feels comfortable.

With the persimmons, clover, water, creek access nearby, and 30 years of minimal pressure, I think you may have a better setup than you realize. Sometimes the overlooked properties are the ones that surprise you the most. I'd be excited to see what you find once cameras start telling the story. Good luck!

 

[Snake]

I'd be than a kid in a candy store ...I was always excited to look at new property .