deer hunting #2 question for you.

they also love small oak and maple trees, go way out of their way to eat them

stinking deer are a PITA

The deer are creatures of habit, seemingly nocturnal, except after certain weather events, where they might feed in the middle of the day after a storm they've taken cover from.

I've planted imperial whitetail clover, in decent size plots, it gets grazed and maybe I get a little more traffic closer to the stand when I am there, but I think there is a lot more when I'm not. I have a large area planted next to 7 acres of corn, they do like the corn, and feed on that field after it's been harvested. They also seem to like fresh green growth, areas I mowed back in august-september, that returned with short green growth that is there now. This growth seems to be popular, even next to a plot with the clover. They also like the wild apples that are abundant here, many trees producing ones which are sweet enough to eat yourself.

Every area is going to be different, besides getting involved with their feeding, you have to be very diligent about not being detected by them, visually, by scent and noise, or you'll see none, no matter what you have planted. If you plant clover or something palatable during the season, you need to cage off a section and see how it's being grazed, the protected area will show the true growth. I think the clover is a good thing, not hard to maintain and or grow if done right. Not so much on the baiting side here either, they wonder a large area, no you see em, now you don't, when the coyotes are around, they move faster.

At my place there is abundant cover and food, for most of the year, except during the harsh winter months, if there is a lot of snow etc, it's hard on them. I have scrape lines everywhere you look, but I'll tell you, catching a glimpse of these bucks is hard, usually just see younger ones, I like to let them be, other hunters don't do that, so the larger ones are there but not often seen. The meat is better on the 2-3 year old ones, so when they issue doe tags I try to get 2 of those.

Opinions will vary, plant some things they like in areas they are comfortable feeding in, most likely you'll see them a little more if they are around.

Yesterday afternoon I went to my stand, should have went earlier, large doe was standing there between me and my stand, eating the growth from where I mowed.

Went back and read your previous post before I responded. Well, planting a small food plot with anything will not increase you chances at deer very much, unless you hunt during the night!. You need habitat, natural feed sources, water, bedding areas, shelter( dense woods and thickets). Planting a food plot to hunt over in my opinion is unethical and I (repeat I)consider it baiting, do it for the health of whatever herd you have but remember deer have survived for a very long time with out the current trend of "foodplots". If you want bigger bucks and have an area of smaller parcels the landowners and the hunters in that area need to commit to NOT harvesting the smaller bucks. Big bucks dont just get there by feeding them, they have to be able to make it to their 3rd and 4th year or longer. Most guys shoot everything they see with antlers which really cuts down the potential to harvest a decent buck. Note, a buck with goofy antlers does not always mean it should be culled, it may have just been injured and have very good genetics to pass on! Make a habit if nothing else to never shoot a buck who's antler's are equel or less than the width of their ears at an alert position. Good habitat and selective buck harvest will increase you odds. The pics are mine from last fall and a freinds from this fall, there are a number of this size running around now due to local restraint, hard to pass the smaller ones for a few year's but then you will eventually see more in this class!

"If you want bigger bucks and have an area of smaller parcels the landowners and the hunters in that area need to commit to NOT harvesting the smaller bucks."

How true--my farm is in an area like you describe that produces some huge buck every year. Habitat is the real key, water, food, shelter, cover and arrangement will produce the deer.--and of course, letting the 1 1/2 yr. old deer go.

However, not all of the neighbors are selective on what they shoot. Most of them are "meat hunters" (I love venison myself) who can basically shoot as many does as they want. I wish they would let some of the smaller bucks go, and harvest the does for their meat cravings.....

IMHO---Tim

In Indiana there are special permit hunts in many of the state parks in order to save the vegetation from all the deer. It was on the news that in Cincinnati the police are shooting deer in the city parks 2 days a week and giving the meat to charity in order to save the plants and nearby expressway.

In Indiana there are special permit hunts in many of the state parks in order to save the vegetation from all the deer. It was on the news that in Cincinnati the police are shooting deer in the city parks 2 days a week and giving the meat to charity in order to save the plants and nearby expressway.

They destroy the farmland and we have to keep building new schools, roads and jails for them after they move here.

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