What diffence does it make?

[Football Hunter]

I have approximatly 31/2 acres of food plots,that I maintain year round as best I can.The dirt is right on,according to the soils report.Have planted 32
pear,apple ,sawtooth oaks that should be producing soon.......Ill be putting some more in come fall.

So the question is,what difference will it all make? Will it make a 160lb buck into 175?

Will it turn a 100" buck into a 115"?

Or will it just attact a few more deer to my place?

Any of the above would be good,but Ill take all 3 !!

 

[BSK]

Or will it just attact a few more deer to my place?

There's your answer.

Most of us don't have the land area necessary to drive herd health. All we can do is attract what already exists to our small area.

 

[8 POINTS OR BETTER]

It will definitely attract more deer to your place.

I do know if 3 1/2 acres of food plots will be enough to improve the size of the deer to where you will be able to tell a big difference, unless the deer population is very low.

 

[BSK]

The only thing that really matters is where do the target animals spend their daylight hours during hunting season.

 

[richmanbarbeque]

I ask myself this question all the time. In reality I say it is just for the deer but working and improving the land is just as enjoyable as pulling the trigger.

Everything I do is to improve the chances of seeing that deer during shooting hours. If I have better food/cover than my neighbor than I have done my job. Most landowners don't work that hard but the ones that do usually work it non stop. Thankfully I have lazy neighbors.

 

[TS_13]

Ditto Richman....

 

[Football Hunter]

The only thing that really matters is where do the target animals spend their daylight hours during hunting season.

Theres the truth!And because its fun to do.

 

[RKenney]

No data needed here. Common sense and reason tells me where the
"target animals" will spend their daylight hours. That would be
where they are least likely to be shot and killed. Areas of low
visibility to hunters might be where they go.

If I were a deer, I know a few places that I would go.

 

[BSK]

No data needed here. Common sense and reason tells me where the
"target animals" will spend their daylight hours. That would be
where they are least likely to be shot and killed. Areas of low
visibility to hunters might be where they go.

Ding, Ding, DING! We have a winner!

Just remember that not all low visibility areas (cover) are created equal. If they have choices, they will choose cover where they encounter the least human intrusion (sanctuary cover). In addition, they will choose sanctuary cover that is located closest to high-quality food sources as possible--before the first freeze the best browse, after the first freeze either acorns (first choice) or winter agricultural crops/food plots.

 

[Football Hunter]

No data needed here. Common sense and reason tells me where the
"target animals" will spend their daylight hours. That would be
where they are least likely to be shot and killed. Areas of low
visibility to hunters might be where they go.

Ding, Ding, DING! We have a winner!

Just remember that not all low visibility areas (cover) are created equal. If they have choices, they will choose cover where they encounter the least human intrusion (sanctuary cover). In addition, they will choose sanctuary cover that is located closest to high-quality food sources as possible--before the first freeze the best browse, after the first freeze either acorns (first choice) or winter agricultural crops/food plots.

Now if I could just figure out where that place is,how they use it during different times of year,and how to get a projectile in em.

 

[Rowdy]

Now... if I could just figure out where that place is, how they use it during different times of year, and how to get a projectile in em

ME TOO!!! :crazy:

 

[BSK]

Now... if I could just figure out where that place is, how they use it during different times of year, and how to get a projectile in em

ME TOO!!! :crazy:

But that's the great thing about habitat management. You don't have to find it. You can build it, right where you want.

 

[Rowdy]

But that's the great thing about habitat management. You don't have to find it. You can build it, right where you want.

How could you call that hunting?

 

[Football Hunter]

But that's the great thing about habitat management. You don't have to find it. You can build it, right where you want.

How could you call that hunting?

How is habitat management not part of hunting?If you chose to make your land better for deer,what is wrong with that,wait,are you the one that called hunting near a white oak baiting?

 

[richmanbarbeque]

But that's the great thing about habitat management. You don't have to find it. You can build it, right where you want.

How could you call that hunting?

rowdy, great question. Better question is how is it not?

 

[Rowdy]

But that's the great thing about habitat management. You don't have to find it. You can build it, right where you want.

How could you call that hunting?

How is habitat management not part of hunting?If you chose to make your land better for deer,what is wrong with that,wait,are you the one that called hunting near a white oak baiting?

FBH, first off...I do recall a debate regarding "baiting", in which I expressed my opinions about "placing or planting trees and food plots" as opposed to say, placing corn as an attractant. I did not say nor do I feel that hunting near any kind of natural food source should be considered "baiting".

That being said, JMO, when one manualy creates these habitats where he wants to, I feel that he is basicly eliminating the need to "hunt". It's now just a matter of being there at the right time :crazy: and of course, shoot'n straight.

Don't get me wrong, if I had the ability and funds to do the same I would...I'm an old fart, that can't get around like I once could...sit'n 'n' wait'n is my stratigy now. :grin:

 

[Football Hunter]

Ok,it wasnt you

 

[Tree Tramp]

Doing your part makes a big difference.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

I guess the biggest thing habitat improvements have done for me is to attract more deer to my property. Its a low deer density area anyway but with improvements Im actually able to see a few deer. Another thing is that it keeps more deer way back in the woods where my fields are, instead of being up in the fields by the roads getting shot. Probably my single most proud accomplishment from it is that at first I barely had any turkeys, just a few for a few days all year would pass through. However, Ive had turkeys on the place the last 6 months straight with the addition of more fields and clover starting to catch on. Dad even took the first longbeard off the place on opening day, called two of them up.

 

[BSK]

But that's the great thing about habitat management. You don't have to find it. You can build it, right where you want.

How could you call that hunting?

How is habitat management not part of hunting?If you chose to make your land better for deer,what is wrong with that,wait,are you the one that called hunting near a white oak baiting?

FBH, first off...I do recall a debate regarding "baiting", in which I expressed my opinions about "placing or planting trees and food plots" as opposed to say, placing corn as an attractant. I did not say nor do I feel that hunting near any kind of natural food source should be considered "baiting".

That being said, JMO, when one manualy creates these habitats where he wants to, I feel that he is basicly eliminating the need to "hunt". It's now just a matter of being there at the right time :crazy: and of course, shoot'n straight.

Don't get me wrong, if I had the ability and funds to do the same I would...I'm an old fart, that can't get around like I once could...sit'n 'n' wait'n is my stratigy now. :grin:

Rowdy,

Your positions are all part of the age-old debate over "How much management is too much management?" Everyone will have a different point along the sliding scale of management intensity that they believe is too much management.

At the bottom of the scale, I know hunters that believe anything done to aid wildlife is too much management. Cut a tree, plant a crop, anything, as long as the intent is to aid wildlife. At the other end of the scale, some hunters feel that anything goes, including high-fencing, artificial feeding, and even genetic manipulation of local wildlife populations.

Everyone will place their mark at a different place along the scale at the point where management effort makes them uncomfortable, and that's OK.

 

[102]

To each his own. I hunt for the CHALLENGE. It is why I choose to hunt with a bow. I choose to use a compound with sights because I am not interested in limiting myself with a "stick-bow". Compound bow is limit enough.

And open woods, mostly public, is my cup of tea.

I just enjoy the whole hunt/scout thing.

THis is not to say I won't take the occasional "gimme" deer. THat can be fun as well. It is just not what I want to do regularly.

Having the same farm, with the same food plots, fields, etc., can get boring.

But I am glad there are those who chose to hunt this way.

To each his own!!! JUST HUNT!!!

102

 

[Football Hunter]

Never ran into to many "gimme" deer,I have my own place,but hunt other places,and out of state many times each year.

 

[102]

I define a "gimme" as a deer that someone else knows about, its' patterns, movements, habits, and puts in front of me!

I've known of many.

In fact, I have put several hunters on "gimme" deer.

102

 

[102]

Trust me on this too...this place I just turkey hunted in Wilson/Williamson County, has PLENTY of "gimme" deer AND turkey!!!

GREAT hunting!!!

 

[BSK]

I define a "gimme" as a deer that someone else knows about, its' patterns, movements, habits, and puts in front of me!

I've known of many.

I'm not a good enough hunter to have any gimme deer!

Well... maybe a doe off a food plot is a gimme deer, especially in a poor acorn year.

But older bucks? I've never seen a gimme older buck. Of course, again, maybe if I were a better hunter...

 

[BSK]

Having the same farm, with the same food plots, fields, etc., can get boring.

But I am glad there are those who chose to hunt this way.

To each his own!!! JUST HUNT!!!

102

I couldn't agree more 102: "To each, their own." Everybody likes to hunt a little differently. I can fully understand those who like to travel and hunt lots of different areas. On the other hand, I get full enjoyment from trying to figure out the constantly changing patterns on a single property, due both to changes in habitat as well as deer reacting to hunting pressure. I also enjoy watching the herd change due to changes in local hunting patterns/styles and individual property management.

I swear I get more enjoyment out of managing and monitoring the property than I do hunting the property. Hunting has almost become more about "data collection" than just the act of hunting. Again, to each, their own.

 

[Football Hunter]

Trust me on this too...this place I just turkey hunted in Wilson/Williamson County, has PLENTY of "gimme" deer AND turkey!!!

GREAT hunting!!!

Wilson/Williamson arent connected,maybe a "any" deer can be a "gimmee" deer,whatever

 

[102]

Yep Bryan,
Becoming a student of deer behavior, and collecting field data is MY CUP OF TEA. It is the part of hunting I enjoy the MOST. The killing is anti-climactic. Almost sad at times.

And yes...to be SURE...MATURE deer, does and bucks rarely if ever fall into the "gimme" category.

102

 

[RKenney]

No matter how many fruit trees and food plots that you can plant,
any deer over 3 years old, is a NIGHT deer. Even during the rut,
you can rest assured, that a mature buck is going to be in or
very near heavy cover during the daylight.

For me, the key has been to get in the cover without jeopardizing
yourself to the deer. It's very hard and there are a lot of
factors involved.

 

[BSK]

For me, the key has been to get in the cover without jeopardizing
yourself to the deer. It's very hard and there are a lot of
factors involved.

I try to hunt very near the cover but not in the cover (I want to be able to see along the edge of the cover). The fastest way to ruin a sanctuary is to hunt in it.

Now if the section of cover habitat is large, say 30+ acres, I think you can get away with a little hunting a short distance into the cover without disturbing mature buck usage.