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shortmagnum
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2004-02-03          75856

In spite of the negative temps and frozen ground out there we should all be groundbreaking in a couple of months. Many CUT owners use their tractors for animal plots and I was thinking we could have some fun sharing planting experiences.

I have planted deer plots now for three years. We have very sandy soil so I’m limited in what will grow. I have had the best luck with turnips and rutabagas. The deer eat the tops all summer and dig the bulbs out late in the fall. I think the turnip seed was only 99 cents a pound last year. Rape seed also did well and the deer seemed to like it. Every trace was gone by late October but there were more deer around in late November than ever. I think the plots help them establish a region and they stay longer. In past years they would tend toward areas with heavier soil growing hardwoods and oaks once the growing season was over.

Until now I’ve been using a two-bottom plow to turn the soil in and old hayfield. I’ve been planting 1-2 acres each year and moving locations. Having the plot out in the open is nice because you can watch the deer all summer/fall. This year I think I’ll also try smaller plots in openings in the woods as well. Last year my neighbor tilled up some small plots with a 5 horse tiller right in the woods. These did well with almost any old seed he found, lettuce, corn, beans, turnips etc.


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wbowhunt
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2004-02-03          75858

As Much as I would love to plant some feed plots for Deer it is just not worth it for me. There is just to much around my area. Most ot the crop grown around me is Apple Orchards, Soybean Fields and Alfalfa/ Timothy Hay. The deer spend spring and summer in the Hay and fall into winter in the soybean/ apple orchards. I did try to plant a few smaller ones a couple years ago. Limed fertilized and seeded. Even tried some of that fancy stuff just for deer. The deer hardly touched it. Something about the alfalfa just drew them in. ....

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loghouse95
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2004-02-03          75861

I must have accidently started a deer food plot in my yard!!! There were 7 deer grazing last night... Feed more hay and grain to the deer than I do cattle but my wife thinks they are "CUTE" ....

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yooperpete
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2004-02-03          75863

In areas that have allot of existing food sources like farmland, you need to put out a different type of food as a treat to first attract deer. Once your property is on their route of travel they will then frequently dine at your place. Deer have a sweet tooth for many different varieties of food. Finding the correct ones that attract them is sometimes difficult. A salt or calcium block is a good starter. Hay and shelled corn in winter months are good items that are also good for them. Carrots, pears, sugar beets or mangels may help to attract. These items don't help for antler production but are good for drawing them in for viewing purposes.

My hunting property is swampland and very little will grow. I've planted different grasses and variations of rape (prairie blend-grasses, alfalfa and clovers). Deer like the new grass which is softer and sweeter than the natural stuff found in the woods.

We are no longer allowed to bring in supplemental foods for the deer in most of northern Michigan (TB problem). Years ago when we fed through the winter, a herd of about a hundred deer would be off in the distance as we drove in the several miles of easements to the property. They would follow the truck and trailer in. Lots of times we would start a fire in the cabin and see that a deer had jumped into the back of the pickup box and was having a snack before we had a chance to unload it. In winter months, when a shortage of natural food exists is prime to get deer in the routine of visiting your property. You should start in the fall before heavy snows, since they usually will find natural habitat with a food source and heavy trees for protection from wind and the elements. ....

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gauthier
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2004-02-03          75875

I wish to hell w.va. would be like mich. in not allowing people to feed corn and such. Both my neighbors started doing it,so come bowseason,I had to do it too,except mine was right below my tree stand,poor tame fed all year long deer didn't have a chance. If your going to feed deer it ought to be away from homes and gardens,if you don't have enough land to do that then you oughten to be feeding them. Deer are suposed to be wild,if they are not,then you get stuff like lime and t.b.,deer shit in your yard,dead fruit trees,and ate up gardens. Food plots out away from homes,is a good thing,but only for hunting,they come,you shoot them,otherwise you are just helping to support a larger deer herd then your area can natually support. Richard ....

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loghouse95
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2004-02-03          75896

pete the last thing I want to do is attract deer, we have way too many in my neck of the woods, like Richard said, they destroy fruit trees and your garden, and they help themselves to cattle feed, what will eventually happen is people will get tired of the damage they do and think if they quit feeding them they will go away, then they will not be able to get enough feed and disease will set in and then you do have a mess..So I would think twice before I start feeding deer ....

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plots1
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2004-02-04          75913

LOL.... It takes far more deer than MO has to start worrying about deaseied deer. feed them well and happy hunting! ....

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shortmagnum
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2004-02-04          75927

Isn't it obvious that if you already have too many deer you wouldn't want to attract more? There is a theory that corn piles could contribute to disease by spreading animal saliva but that is unproven. I'm not promoting corn piles. A food plot is NOT a corn pile.

I like deer. I like to watch them. I like to shoot them. I like to eat them. ....

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plots1
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2004-02-04          75928

I use corn to attract the deer to a new plot and to get them to an area for a pic or two on the trail cam. It's asome to see whats lurking around the area on the cams.I don't hunt over corn piles as that is against the law. And if you think you already have to many a plot or two will surely help keep them off your fruit trees and personal gerdens,As well as keep them with something to eat so the heard doesn't start stressin looking for food, that will only make them weak and then sickness could set in. ....

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yooperpete
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2004-02-04          75930

I agree, it depends if you want deer or not. In my case on the 40 acres of farmland, I don't since they are destroying crops. I don't feed there either and can view them as often as desired with the natural habitat. Deer are finding natural sources of food and have drifted to central and southern Michigan around more populated areas causing allot of crop, yard and automobile damage. Up North, where the traditional hunting was 20 or more years ago is now not as good.

At the hunting property, there are limitations on feeding due to the TB problems in northeastern Michigan. If you had 100 acres of hunting land that is only good for hunting deer and turkey and it is costing you $1,300.00 per year in taxes and another $400.00 per year in property insurance wouldn't you like to get as many deer as possible? Taxes are higher and the land is almost as valuable as my farmland. The hunting land can't grow squat not even decent trees. If you dig with a shovel about a foot down, you'll get swamp water seeping in, in a few minutes.

All of the property owners around me bait there deer blinds, so we need to bait as well to fight for our share of the herd. Without feeding and more licenses issued in our area, the herd is down about 75%. Several of my adjacent neighbors overhunt their property and I catch them on ours with suprise visits at times.

We have a few plots out in the hunted area and don't go there much during the off season since we don't want to disturb them. We hunt on diked trails with bait (2 gallons per day is the allotment allowed by the DNR). The terrain is very remote and rugged while being very wet. You need hip boots due to the beaver population if you try to walk it. The deer aren't tame at all. I usually go for a head or neck shot, so they drop on the spot to stay out of the water. We're usually shooting between 150 and 200 yards so that's not hard.

As in most cases when you fool with mothernature the unexpected can happen and you bring unnatural mixes. I enjoy viewing my deer, turkey, rabbits, eagles, ducks, geese, swans, herons, cranes, porcupines, beaver, coyotes, fox and an occasional bear. I maybe playing with mothernature but enjoy the wetlands when I have a bad day at work. Sometimes they're really bad and often, it seems to go in cycles. There is nothing like listening to the frogs and crickets in early spring after dark and looking at the stars. The frogs are soo loud you can't sleep without earplugs. Mosquitoes are the only thing that grows well, wish there was a way to market them. I'd be rich! ....

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Murf
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2004-02-04          75934

You have to be very careful when feeding deer.

In areas that have a harsh winter where natural sources of food are depleted quickly the tendancy is to put out feed for them.

The problem is that the digestive tract of deer changes with the seasons. If you feed hay to a starving deer it will often kill it since it cannot digest it and then cannot process other food because it is full of useless bulk. At the very least it will weaken it, making it suseptable to disease or predatation that otherwise it would have survived.

Likewise, feeding high starch foods like corn, barley or wheat will cause the deer to be very vulnserable to bacteria growth in their digestive tract which can also be fatal. Even if it doesn't kill it again it is weakened at the worst time of year.

You are better off to provide a supply of naturally occuring food like corn plants left standing at the edge of a field. Better still is to learn to 'adjust' the natural settings for the deer. Bush-hogging strips next to wooded areas once early in the spring will encourage a healthy crop of saplings to come up, this will provide natural browse for the deer in an appropriate spot near the shelter of the woods. Areas of coniferous trees within the woods will give them shelter and more food still.

If you can provide the deer a suitable habit they will use it, this will also help keep them out of undesireable areas, like your back-yard.

Best of luck. ....

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plots1
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2004-02-04          75939

Murf you are correct, planting and doing thinks that are natural is the best way.There is a big difference between that and dumping piles of grain on the ground. As I stated I do put out corn a couple times a year, 1 to 2 hundred pounds a year in the spring and early fall to view a few pics before bow season and to help get them on a new plot.At that time of year there is still an ample supply of natural browse and such so I don't feel I'm putting them in any danger. ....

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yooperpete
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2004-02-04          75941

Murf,

I definitely agree with your statement. If you're going to feed those types of foods rather than more natural products, you need to begin feeding these well before the snow flies such that they are slowly blended into their food supply. You should never feed so much that is all they eat. It should only be a supplement. The best is food plots as you have said. Once you begin supplemental feeding for a season, you can't stop since they become dependent upon it and again will change their diet.

It is terrible to watch an animal starve, although most animal activists think that is better than hunting. Usually when you see an animal suffering from malnutrition it is already too late. ....

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gauthier
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2004-02-04          75946

Just start shooting more of them,then you all can feed em all you want,I got 4 bucks this past season,so I'm doing my part. best of luck ....

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plots1
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2004-02-04          75951

I'f you want to help keep herd in check you really need to be taking the does..... 4 Bucks..... wish they would allow that were I hunt???? ....

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shortmagnum
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2004-02-04          75953

That's right, according to "quality deer management" practices you should let the young bucks go by and take the does. Then again I practice quality frying pan management. :-) ....

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gauthier
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2004-02-04          75954

Any body can kill a poor little ole doe! I kill enough bucks that I don't need any doe meat,besides,no matter what you hear,buck meat is better.I leave the doe killin to amatures,they gotta eat to you know.
Four bucks wasn't even my limit of bucks here,I could have got one with a muzzle loader too,[two bucks bow,two bucks gun,one muzzelloader,and many does,thats the limit],why,?,sounded kinda like you didn't believe me or something with all those damned question marks????
best of luck,Richard ....

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plots1
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2004-02-04          75955

It's not that I didn't believe, Just wish we could get that many were I hunt. Then again even seeing one in then 130's is not to common, so I guess being able to take 4 wouldn't come into play for me as that's where my shooter bucks start. And if you don't let them get some age you'll never see nothin but dinks. ....

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kubotaguy
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2004-02-04          75957

I put out a deer lick once and they wouldn't touch it, but the bucks love to rub against those hedge apple trees. There is a 12 point that roams around on my property and the neighbors too. He is huge and many people have asked about hunting there to try and kill it. Of course the answer is no, I don't hunt and no one else will on my land. He even taunts people by standing in the front yard by the road on the rock break. I'm just waiting until someone tries to shoot him in my yard, then there might be a few issues that will need discussing.
Deer are constantly in the back yard and I don't put anything out for them. ....

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gauthier
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2004-02-04          75959

Well its a good thing,[as you already know],that I don't own property next to yours,those bucks roam a few miles in all directions,he don't just stay on your 6 acres,I would just patiently wait for mr. 12 pointer to come on my side of that line,and then he belongs to me. lots of luck Richard ....

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gauthier
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2004-02-04          75960

Plots,I will readly admit that I am the king of the spike killers. What you are saying is true about letting them get bigger,but heres my problem with that,we own about 31 acres of prime deer hunting land here where we live,now there are about 6 other people who own land that joins that 31 acres and most of them hunt,they even bring in people who don't live here to hunt,a couple of the propertys can have 7 or 8 hunters on it in any day of gun season. Now on ours,its just me,perfect right. The problem is,if they kill spikes and 4 points and I don't, then I might not get mines,they would get theres,and the bucks would not live to get bigger.

You need to have a couple hundred acres to pratice what your saying,or you need to have all the neighbors doing that,otherwise it won't work,if you pass on a 4 or 6 point,then he will just walk acroos the line and your neighbor will shoot him,and think he has done good,take pictures,drink celabration toasts,all day,etc.

But like I said,I agree with what you are saying as fact,it just won't work in the vast majority of cases for the reasons above.

There was a 12 or 14 point running around here all season,he wouldn't get close enough in bow season,and you just saw glimpes off him a few times at the wrong spot in gun season,all my neighbors saw him,and nobody got him,I saw him after all seasons had passed,so one thing about it,if they do live to be that big,they are smart and hard to kill,and there is always,[you hope],next season. Richard ....

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wbowhunt
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2004-02-04          75963

Not to start anything, But I hunt to put meat in the freezer and not horns on the wall, I have hunted 20 + years now with a bow and just a few with a gun. I have put out mineral and feed and scents and what not else, but the first legal deer ( Doe ) that is with in range I will attempt to put in the freezer. I will pass on smaller bucks just because the buck to Doe ratio in our area is something like 1 buck for every 20 - 30 does. A healthy herd is not just size but ratio. Everyoe wants to shoot a big buck and I know many that would rather shoot a spike then a doe. I am very proud of the 8 point I got this year, as It is the largest I have ever shot, But that said it was also the first deer ( Well Second, I missed the first doe ) to come with in range. ....

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shortmagnum
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2004-02-04          75964

wbowhunt, I'm thinking the typical doe to buck ratio is not that high in most areas. Bucks, especially big bucks tend to be almost totally nocturnal most times other than the rut. Most of the time I see the bigger bucks by shining the fields (it's legal here if you don't have a gun with you). Anyone out there with a proximity camera want to comment?
Dave ....

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gauthier
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2004-02-04          75966

One other thought to the deer feeding,deer hunting thing. Deers also need a place to hide after they get done eating,they need that as much or more then an open spot where there is some real tasty food.
So, like is generally what they use my property for,let them go over to your neighbors corn pile or clover patch,eat at night,then wait for them to return home the next morning to go to bed.
Point being is you need food and shelter to hold them to an area,and that only works till rutting season. Deer gun season,they are all hiding and can cover a couple miles pretty fast to get away from hunters. Bow season,a 100lb bag of corn,dumped about 20 yds from your tree stand will do the trick every time,doe comes to eat,buck comes to kiss doe,buck gets killed and eaten,now thats a good ending to a sad story. Richard ....

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yooperpete
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2004-02-04          75967

I've been told that "Does" don't like to mate with small bucks. I've also heard that herds will develope better blood lines when larger "Bucks" do the mating. Deer are learning to be more nocturnal than they had been from the baiting thing. Because of the lack of good natural foods in our area and because of over population of Does, our deer don't get very large.

Likewise in our area, with over hunting if you don't shoot it on its first pass through your property someone next door will get it. We've been lucky with our property since so much of it is undisturbed the deer tend to bed down on our property while we border on some really, really remote state/federal land. That's when you get the first shot.

When I'm turkey hunting it is the same way. I'm only successful on the day when they bed down on my property the night before. During the early season, they are so busy strutting around that they don realize I'm even there. ....

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gauthier
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2004-02-04          75970

Pete,when I was 7 or 8 here in w.va.,if you saw a deer during a single day of hunting,you did pretty good. My grandpa said when he was a boy back about 1910,seeing a deer track was pretty exciting. Turkeys,were all killed out before I came along,they started stalking them in about the late 60s,and by about 1978 there were flocks of them running around.

People used to live up all these little hollars and hills,then came the paved roads and they moved closer to them,leaving prime deer habitat,behind. People used to get probably 90% of their food from their land,back in my grandpas days,[country people I mean],they just about had all of them ate up,hell we used to eat groundhogs on a fairly regular basis,when I was a kid.

People have enough money now I guess,that they buy their food and then go buy the wildlife food too,because they just love to watch the cute little critters eating in their yards and they think that they are alls thats between them and starvation. A lot of city dwellers who retire move to the country and don't know how things work,they are a big problem with feeding the deer, God put em on the earth to eat and use,so I say,lets eat em and use em, Richard

[I'm going to make one of those edit deals here,this has really got off the topic of whoever about how to plant a deer food plot,or at least I did,talking about the good ole days and city people,two of my favorite topics!] ....

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brokenarrow
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2004-02-05          76091

I agree with Wbowhunt, If your area is like most the target animal is a buck, I would venture to say that most if not all areas are out of wack on the doe/buck ratio. Ideally it should be one buck for every two doe's, but in this day and age that is a fantasy. I have no prob with a guy who wants meat (leaves more bucks to grow!) If meat is what you WANT shoot a doe, if a nice adult 3 1/2 year old comes buy, you get your cake and eat it too!
WBOWHUNT
Sometimes deer need a few seasons to learn how to like Brassicas especially (turnips and rape) After the first frost is when they start to sweeten up. It is a fail safe crop and dont take a whole lot of effort to produce, (pretty drought tollerant). Once the deer learn what a turnip tastes like and what it doea for them they will live in the field. If I remember right alfalfa is not very digestable as for what actually goes into the deers system and utilizes. give brassicas a chance to work and when other fields have a 8" of snow on them you will have a mine field that is great for late season. Also dont forget winter wheat. (JAT) ....

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wbowhunt
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2004-02-06          76147

Shortmagnum. I do realize I had the numbers a little high ( just to make the Point) I do Regular scouting and have motion camera's all around the two farms I hunt. Although Sometime I think that that ratio is not that far off. In late fall, before most bucks shed, it is not uncommon to see a herd of 30+ does out in the fields grazing. You may see one or two bucks.
Brokenarrow> The one farm I hunt is a hay farm w/ some acreage for beef cattle. The farmer is deer addicated and like Rgauthier said He remembers the days when you were lucky to see a doe out in the field all summer. He loves to see deer and does plant turnips right near his back door so he can look out and see them. He even goes so far as to plow trails through the snow all over in hay fields to make it easier for the deer to get around. Even with the turnips. Alfala and soybean are the two number one feeds around here. Alfala is a high energy,highly palatable feed for deer around here and when there is a 30-40 acre field of it that is mixed with timothy and brom. The deer just roam. Yes they will come to feed plots, but not like a magnet. They will graze there way there over time and not consistently. Deer around me are just spoiled. ....

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shortmagnum
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2004-02-06          76158

wbowhunt, This fall was the first time I tried the bow so I know relatively little compared to most. Even though I was skunked this fall with the bow it made me a better all around deer hunter. I really started studying and understanding their patterns more. And I have different stands planned. The ones I put out this fall were better gun stands than bow stands. Oh yes, I would be very happy with the buck in your pictures too. :-)
Dave ....

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gauthier
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2004-02-06          76189

Bow is the only way,for many reasons. I had been gun hunting for over 20 years before I started bow hunting about 12 or so years ago,now,in gun season,its a letdown,I just lean up against a fence post in the edge of my yard and watch across the hill for somebody to run one out,got a spike this gun season that way,not to exciting,compared to hoping that 12 point whould just take 10 more steps in my direction this bow season. Before I started bow hunting I had never seen two bucks fighting,or a buck mount a doe,[or almost],except on tv,never knew how much noise they made munching on acorns,and never spit on ones back. Richardg ....

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