Farm Management for Deer

[THEBAD]

I would like to know if anybody would like to share some of the things they do, to help produce quality deer habitat on there farms. I was able to go in halves on a couple of farms recently in the southern part of the state and am planning on some improvments and was just hoping to pick up a few more ideas. We have already planned on some food plots and limited access to parts of the farm, but have not yet decided on what food to plant or anything else for that matter.

This has really been a life long dream of mine to actually own some of my own hunting ground and want to do the very best I can to do it right. Thanks in advance.

 

[rutnbuck]

Congratulations on the land purchse. Since no one else has chimmed in yet I will share some thoughts I have.

In addition to the food plots you plan on starting I think another excellent idea is to start a Timber Stand Improvement Program (TSI). If unfamiliar, this basically means cutting out undesirable/beneficials tree species so that others can thrive. This practice can help stimulate a lot of brushy new growth which deer love and are attracted to.

In addition most of the best propertys I have ever been on had some type of thermal cover such as ceder, spruce, or pine thickets that really seem beneficial to deer in late fall/winter. Best of luck to you.

Rut

 

[Bakes]

TheBad,
Rutnbuck gave some good advice. I would recommend planting some Buck Forage Oats. They are inexpensive and the deer will pass everything by to get a mouth full. For an 80# bag they are $20 at your local farm supply store. We planted 8 acres on our farm in Iowa 2 weeks ago. Good Luck and congratulations on the purchase.

 

[THEBAD]

So were the oats you planted mixed with anything else ?? Or did they seem to be regular oats.