Bassattackr
Well-Known Member
Deer or raccoons?
DMarley83
DMARLEY83
Racoons don't usually eat the top 1/2 of the stock. I understand it's hard to tell the difference in this Pic.
No doubt deer....
Daver
PMA Member
How big is the plot? The pic may be misleading, but it doesn't like it is very large. Deer can absolutely do that type of damage and in a small plot, it only takes a couple of "trained" deer to hit those plants every day and pretty soon all you have is stalks. (Don't ask me how I know.
)We have had to fence them out to grow any corn at our place. But, knock on wood, we have the best looking corn this year that we have had in years...but the fence is holding them out.
Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
Get some cameras up by the corn & you’ll find out in a hurry …
Daver
PMA Member
Yikes! Please tell me the whole field wasn't this bad! If you are just losing the first, say, 50' to 100', of a 60 acre field that is one thing. If you are seeing this amount of damage over a wide area of that field, then it is time for some serious doe patrol. 
Daver
PMA Member
In my experience, damage "high" on the plant (silk/tassel) is deer. Stalks knocked over, etc, is coon.
Bucksnbears
Well-Known Member
I'm with Daver .
Bassattackr
Well-Known Member
Who is saying that?
I just asked the question.. hard to tell much detail from your sucky photos
DMarley83
DMARLEY83
Does remind me of storm damage but no storms here. It's 100% Deer damage.
As usual there is of course some coon damage in places as well, but this is the end of the farm nearest to the cover as well as a narrow part of the field leading to the main part of the field.
The field as a whole looks very good and the corn is doing phenomenally well.
However when the farmers see this end of the field it is where the "kill them all" mentality comes from....
I was surprised when I got to this end and that was the reason I took the sucky photos.
As usual there is of course some coon damage in places as well, but this is the end of the farm nearest to the cover as well as a narrow part of the field leading to the main part of the field.
The field as a whole looks very good and the corn is doing phenomenally well.
However when the farmers see this end of the field it is where the "kill them all" mentality comes from....
I was surprised when I got to this end and that was the reason I took the sucky photos.
JNRBRONC
Well-Known Member
Going on a parts run the other day, I rounded a corner and the corn field on the inside of the curve was heavily browsed by deer coming off the river bottom on the other side of the road. Damage was significant but not as bad as I think your pictures show.
Deer or coons? Deer eat the tassle and nip the tip (silk) off the ears. Coons usually drag the whole stalk down and the corn husks will be shredded by their sharp teeth trying to get at the corn. Sure you probably have a little of both but my bet is on deer.
Deer or coons? Deer eat the tassle and nip the tip (silk) off the ears. Coons usually drag the whole stalk down and the corn husks will be shredded by their sharp teeth trying to get at the corn. Sure you probably have a little of both but my bet is on deer.
gunrunr
Life Member
Definitely Coon damage here - areas are flat and chewed up several rows in - not on the edge. My corn is early, was tasseled and silking last day of June.