Agree fully! Being SE Ohio it’s a touch different than Iowa. Whatever the game plan becomes, plots will have to have broken sitelines rather than wide open plot
Skip and company, as you can see, for SE Ohio I’m in the cards, most of these bucks are drifters during the pre rut to rut and I get daylight pics. I want these caliber on me. I have plenty more pics too! The gene pool is here, I just have to figure out how to lay this out to assist and encourage.
I’ll add one more pic of the finger/east section. This was my ballpark idea for food on it. Sorry for blowing you all up with so many pics!
In the pic, black boxes are projected bedding cuts. The eastern most plot would be my approach to have a solid west wind location, box blind see blue icon. Prob run a stupid corn feeder in the easternmost plot somewhere.
These plan pics I attached are my idea, I have no experience tho and that’s why I felt I had to get help.
There is one farm a mile and half away that plants corn for ag, other than that, none known in the immediate area.
Run corn feeder or two in the earlier pics/big 7 acre section. Unfortunately corn is king in Ohio via feed sites.
I’ll add one more pic of the finger/east section. This was my ballpark idea for food on it. Sorry for blowing you all up with so many pics!
In the pic, black boxes are projected bedding cuts. The eastern most plot would be my approach to have a solid west wind location, box blind see blue icon. Prob run a stupid corn feeder in the easternmost plot somewhere.
These plan pics I attached are my idea, I have no experience tho and that’s why I felt I had to get help.
There is one farm a mile and half away that plants corn for ag, other than that, none known in the immediate area.
Run corn feeder or two in the earlier pics/big 7 acre section. Unfortunately corn is king in Ohio via feed sites.
Attachments
I agree. I've been on the other side of that. I consulted on a farm last year that had already had a consult from one of more well known consultants. I intentionally did not look at it until I was done.
There was a decent amount of overlap on basic stuff. They had one setup I thought was really good that I didn't have and 2-3 things I really strongly disagreed with.
The last pic there’s nothing planted, that was my projected idea.
So no food yet. Pics that show detailed food setups were just my ideas
Very Start….
FOOD……. I’d keep the corn as it’s necessary evil when your state keeps it wide open to bait-mania. I’d spend the “minor” amount of $ to add 10% anilogics base pellets to the corn so u give em vastly better nutrition than corn alone. Maybe some corn areas where u bring em towards center of farm just to keep em safe.
On the plot side: I’d always have a grain & several areas of clovers. Then… either add dbltree rye mix to eaten areas of it & convert some areas to brassicas. Or - overseed brassicas or rye, etc into the grains. Depends on stage of the grain yellowing. I can’t emphasize enough for folks who “want to do it right” & will do it…. 3-4 varieties in every plot. Grain like corn, clovers, rye mix, brassicas. At least 3 of those & IMO - grain & clover are probably the most important 2 but I personally wouldn’t go without the others either. How u design them- start with common sense & change them if an issue or tweak as needed. More to plots than that…. soil, tighter areas, SHOULD I FENCE GRAIN?, entrance & exits, where put blinds/stands, fertilizing & herbicides right, etc….. but I wanted to focus on what needs planted & IMO- do it and get it all done right!!!
Get mineral out asap & if u guys feed… add anilogics now if u giving em corn. Adds way more to body & racks & now is time for at least mineral.
Food & forest…. Immediately get state forester out there as soon as u can schedule. If u want any cost share. Then- have him look at: crop tree release, basal thinning & brush management (if honeysuckle). If no cost share- I’d be implementing this asap. I have my techniques & what works best but if u start with crop tree release & brush management & cut a bunch of “junk” (hinge or kill) - u will be a huge jump ahead. Can discuss hinge cutting & it’s good in small pockets through out farm. This will blow up: bedding, browse, mast production, timber value, desirable tree regeneration, land value, carrying capacity, mature buck capacity, rut activity, etc etc. Like “10 birds, 1 stone”. Get going asap on this. There’s some tips I can give to at least make some things simple to at least get you started if you gimme list of all tree species out there. Biggest thing with tsi …. I want u to have way more desirable bedding & have more does & bucks on place. Tons of “premium thick nasty spots” & literally u can make it, like…. “There was 3 ideal sought after bedding locations” to “now there’s 30”.
Quick hunting & land thoughts….. cell cams with solar so don’t go in too much. Common sense pressure at all times so don’t blow em out. In OHIO- I wouldn’t let feeders run out and I’d plant so much diversity that food lasts to spring. The cliche of entrance & exits but u gotta have this down. Everyone says it….. very few have it right. Even stands & blinds in right spot with those entrances & exits- be the dude that gets em down & that right there sets u so far apart from your neighbors.
On the road stuff…. I’d do a few rows… million examples…. Like, 1 row miscantheus, 1 row cedars, 1 row willow/poplar….. so many combos it’s endless. IMO - don’t do just one. I do 3 & do a 4th of Egyptian wheat if u got road issues. Fixes it year 1 & better for permanent solution every year following til fills in. Gate & post it with dang good signs, hang cameras in places kinda hidden where maybe any issues.
Off the cuff …. I’d have multiple water holes. I would not be wasted drunk while you’re hunting like your neighbor
. Don’t over complicate or over think “the plot design needs to be like made by an architect…. Do it right & lots of diverse stuff is way more important than design. Same with Tsi…. Get over your whole place and at least get pockets started. Year 1.. say 10-20 tanks of chainsaw fuel would be a gauge of like “ya, I cut a lot of areas or pockets to get me started. Maybe some edge feathering.
Yes, shoot bullies or get them shot by a guest if needed.
As many dynamite stands/blinds as possible that cover all winds. I even have a “spot” that’s amazing with 2-3 stands so I can hunt on varying winds. Pick best days to hunt & lay off the iffy days IMO.
Yes - do sections of switch. Pockets, strips, etc. Screen, thermal cover & bedding- yes, absolutely. Any cool season areas doing nothing - put it in. Or areas u want that cover. Go.
2 cents summarized…. Get ur plots diverse & top tier - year round lasting food. Tsi the whole place- start in pockets. Tons of bedding areas. Shut down or minimize poaching or idiots. Blow up nutrition with feed, mineral, plots & Tsi. “Hunt it super careful & smart”. Those foundational issues are KEY and you cannot skimp on those. That’s the core & once u got the core laid down…. Then u start next phases. In reality…. The core things will have u loaded up for a year for sure. There’s my STARTING LIST …. Get those going …. Fire back with ?’s, circumstances, obstacles, ideas. Get some smart buddies to help & give u second set of eyes out there. Have fun & good luck!!
FOOD……. I’d keep the corn as it’s necessary evil when your state keeps it wide open to bait-mania. I’d spend the “minor” amount of $ to add 10% anilogics base pellets to the corn so u give em vastly better nutrition than corn alone. Maybe some corn areas where u bring em towards center of farm just to keep em safe.
On the plot side: I’d always have a grain & several areas of clovers. Then… either add dbltree rye mix to eaten areas of it & convert some areas to brassicas. Or - overseed brassicas or rye, etc into the grains. Depends on stage of the grain yellowing. I can’t emphasize enough for folks who “want to do it right” & will do it…. 3-4 varieties in every plot. Grain like corn, clovers, rye mix, brassicas. At least 3 of those & IMO - grain & clover are probably the most important 2 but I personally wouldn’t go without the others either. How u design them- start with common sense & change them if an issue or tweak as needed. More to plots than that…. soil, tighter areas, SHOULD I FENCE GRAIN?, entrance & exits, where put blinds/stands, fertilizing & herbicides right, etc….. but I wanted to focus on what needs planted & IMO- do it and get it all done right!!!
Get mineral out asap & if u guys feed… add anilogics now if u giving em corn. Adds way more to body & racks & now is time for at least mineral.
Food & forest…. Immediately get state forester out there as soon as u can schedule. If u want any cost share. Then- have him look at: crop tree release, basal thinning & brush management (if honeysuckle). If no cost share- I’d be implementing this asap. I have my techniques & what works best but if u start with crop tree release & brush management & cut a bunch of “junk” (hinge or kill) - u will be a huge jump ahead. Can discuss hinge cutting & it’s good in small pockets through out farm. This will blow up: bedding, browse, mast production, timber value, desirable tree regeneration, land value, carrying capacity, mature buck capacity, rut activity, etc etc. Like “10 birds, 1 stone”. Get going asap on this. There’s some tips I can give to at least make some things simple to at least get you started if you gimme list of all tree species out there. Biggest thing with tsi …. I want u to have way more desirable bedding & have more does & bucks on place. Tons of “premium thick nasty spots” & literally u can make it, like…. “There was 3 ideal sought after bedding locations” to “now there’s 30”.
Quick hunting & land thoughts….. cell cams with solar so don’t go in too much. Common sense pressure at all times so don’t blow em out. In OHIO- I wouldn’t let feeders run out and I’d plant so much diversity that food lasts to spring. The cliche of entrance & exits but u gotta have this down. Everyone says it….. very few have it right. Even stands & blinds in right spot with those entrances & exits- be the dude that gets em down & that right there sets u so far apart from your neighbors.
On the road stuff…. I’d do a few rows… million examples…. Like, 1 row miscantheus, 1 row cedars, 1 row willow/poplar….. so many combos it’s endless. IMO - don’t do just one. I do 3 & do a 4th of Egyptian wheat if u got road issues. Fixes it year 1 & better for permanent solution every year following til fills in. Gate & post it with dang good signs, hang cameras in places kinda hidden where maybe any issues.
Off the cuff …. I’d have multiple water holes. I would not be wasted drunk while you’re hunting like your neighbor
. Don’t over complicate or over think “the plot design needs to be like made by an architect…. Do it right & lots of diverse stuff is way more important than design. Same with Tsi…. Get over your whole place and at least get pockets started. Year 1.. say 10-20 tanks of chainsaw fuel would be a gauge of like “ya, I cut a lot of areas or pockets to get me started. Maybe some edge feathering. Yes, shoot bullies or get them shot by a guest if needed.
As many dynamite stands/blinds as possible that cover all winds. I even have a “spot” that’s amazing with 2-3 stands so I can hunt on varying winds. Pick best days to hunt & lay off the iffy days IMO.
Yes - do sections of switch. Pockets, strips, etc. Screen, thermal cover & bedding- yes, absolutely. Any cool season areas doing nothing - put it in. Or areas u want that cover. Go.
2 cents summarized…. Get ur plots diverse & top tier - year round lasting food. Tsi the whole place- start in pockets. Tons of bedding areas. Shut down or minimize poaching or idiots. Blow up nutrition with feed, mineral, plots & Tsi. “Hunt it super careful & smart”. Those foundational issues are KEY and you cannot skimp on those. That’s the core & once u got the core laid down…. Then u start next phases. In reality…. The core things will have u loaded up for a year for sure. There’s my STARTING LIST …. Get those going …. Fire back with ?’s, circumstances, obstacles, ideas. Get some smart buddies to help & give u second set of eyes out there. Have fun & good luck!!
I’m gonna have to read this a few times!!
With there being very few crops and food plotters locally, would you reccomend multiple plots like I had in the pics of varying sizes or should I just stick to the one large?. The large field will be 5-6 acres food. But the back side of the property should I add some acre to acre and half plots in hopes to draw outsiders or a buck or two who may live on that far end?
What’s your take on water? We have a few ponds that would fit well on some of the plots. Would you add tanks/rubbermaids or dig out?
Do you reccomend any seed brands or stick to co op? Thoughts on beans/type? Thoughts on corn and beans run together via drill?(lapratt method)
I’ve hinged a lot, I’ve transformed my parents farm into a sweet piece. Question is, thoughts on doing cuts along the sloppy neighbor border, then doing some further interior cuts closer to the food and treat them as sanctuary?
Have you decided or anyone else ready on a go to mineral for 2025? I’ve been running the buck muffin on my parents with good results? Thoughts? Anyone doing a diy, I ran the one from last years thread and my deer didn’t touch it for whatever reason.
Thoughts on Milo? Milo + some other grain etc???
With not doing any prep for a spring summer for switch is there anything I can do to prep ground this spring to get a solid stand?
Were there any spots on the properties you saw that you would add additional fruit? On the backside section there’s lists of opportunities with south facing fields for fruit.
Is it okay to have a “destination” field ie the 5-6 acres and also have significant 1-2 acres plots on other end? My thought is getting some overlapping bucks???
I’ll post a couple more pics of the back half of the property, idea for food locations. But again, I have designer issues.
With there being very few crops and food plotters locally, would you reccomend multiple plots like I had in the pics of varying sizes or should I just stick to the one large?. The large field will be 5-6 acres food. But the back side of the property should I add some acre to acre and half plots in hopes to draw outsiders or a buck or two who may live on that far end?
What’s your take on water? We have a few ponds that would fit well on some of the plots. Would you add tanks/rubbermaids or dig out?
Do you reccomend any seed brands or stick to co op? Thoughts on beans/type? Thoughts on corn and beans run together via drill?(lapratt method)
I’ve hinged a lot, I’ve transformed my parents farm into a sweet piece. Question is, thoughts on doing cuts along the sloppy neighbor border, then doing some further interior cuts closer to the food and treat them as sanctuary?
Have you decided or anyone else ready on a go to mineral for 2025? I’ve been running the buck muffin on my parents with good results? Thoughts? Anyone doing a diy, I ran the one from last years thread and my deer didn’t touch it for whatever reason.
Thoughts on Milo? Milo + some other grain etc???
With not doing any prep for a spring summer for switch is there anything I can do to prep ground this spring to get a solid stand?
Were there any spots on the properties you saw that you would add additional fruit? On the backside section there’s lists of opportunities with south facing fields for fruit.
Is it okay to have a “destination” field ie the 5-6 acres and also have significant 1-2 acres plots on other end? My thought is getting some overlapping bucks???
I’ll post a couple more pics of the back half of the property, idea for food locations. But again, I have designer issues.
Very cool property. I know nothing at all about Ohio, It will be very tough to compete there with out baiting/ feeding on a scale to out do the neighbors. Think of this as defensive baiting you can choose to hunt near it or not. Managing the timber areas to create more bedding is also going to be key to keeping mature deer close. Sounds like there are some family issue with managing the timber. if you can get the family on board I would do small clear cuts of 5 acres or less. Trying to complete 1 or 2 or these per year to enhance succession. I can’t tell from the picture but screening the road looks like a top priority to me. Good luck with the project.
Couple more ?s. There’s no red cedar around but it’s native. Would it be advantageous to get some going along with some caged plum in the hinge/tsi locations?Very Start….
FOOD……. I’d keep the corn as it’s necessary evil when your state keeps it wide open to bait-mania. I’d spend the “minor” amount of $ to add 10% anilogics base pellets to the corn so u give em vastly better nutrition than corn alone. Maybe some corn areas where u bring em towards center of farm just to keep em safe.
On the plot side: I’d always have a grain & several areas of clovers. Then… either add dbltree rye mix to eaten areas of it & convert some areas to brassicas. Or - overseed brassicas or rye, etc into the grains. Depends on stage of the grain yellowing. I can’t emphasize enough for folks who “want to do it right” & will do it…. 3-4 varieties in every plot. Grain like corn, clovers, rye mix, brassicas. At least 3 of those & IMO - grain & clover are probably the most important 2 but I personally wouldn’t go without the others either. How u design them- start with common sense & change them if an issue or tweak as needed. More to plots than that…. soil, tighter areas, SHOULD I FENCE GRAIN?, entrance & exits, where put blinds/stands, fertilizing & herbicides right, etc….. but I wanted to focus on what needs planted & IMO- do it and get it all done right!!!
Get mineral out asap & if u guys feed… add anilogics now if u giving em corn. Adds way more to body & racks & now is time for at least mineral.
Food & forest…. Immediately get state forester out there as soon as u can schedule. If u want any cost share. Then- have him look at: crop tree release, basal thinning & brush management (if honeysuckle). If no cost share- I’d be implementing this asap. I have my techniques & what works best but if u start with crop tree release & brush management & cut a bunch of “junk” (hinge or kill) - u will be a huge jump ahead. Can discuss hinge cutting & it’s good in small pockets through out farm. This will blow up: bedding, browse, mast production, timber value, desirable tree regeneration, land value, carrying capacity, mature buck capacity, rut activity, etc etc. Like “10 birds, 1 stone”. Get going asap on this. There’s some tips I can give to at least make some things simple to at least get you started if you gimme list of all tree species out there. Biggest thing with tsi …. I want u to have way more desirable bedding & have more does & bucks on place. Tons of “premium thick nasty spots” & literally u can make it, like…. “There was 3 ideal sought after bedding locations” to “now there’s 30”.
Quick hunting & land thoughts….. cell cams with solar so don’t go in too much. Common sense pressure at all times so don’t blow em out. In OHIO- I wouldn’t let feeders run out and I’d plant so much diversity that food lasts to spring. The cliche of entrance & exits but u gotta have this down. Everyone says it….. very few have it right. Even stands & blinds in right spot with those entrances & exits- be the dude that gets em down & that right there sets u so far apart from your neighbors.
On the road stuff…. I’d do a few rows… million examples…. Like, 1 row miscantheus, 1 row cedars, 1 row willow/poplar….. so many combos it’s endless. IMO - don’t do just one. I do 3 & do a 4th of Egyptian wheat if u got road issues. Fixes it year 1 & better for permanent solution every year following til fills in. Gate & post it with dang good signs, hang cameras in places kinda hidden where maybe any issues.
Off the cuff …. I’d have multiple water holes. I would not be wasted drunk while you’re hunting like your neighbor
Yes, shoot bullies or get them shot by a guest if needed.
As many dynamite stands/blinds as possible that cover all winds. I even have a “spot” that’s amazing with 2-3 stands so I can hunt on varying winds. Pick best days to hunt & lay off the iffy days IMO.
Yes - do sections of switch. Pockets, strips, etc. Screen, thermal cover & bedding- yes, absolutely. Any cool season areas doing nothing - put it in. Or areas u want that cover. Go.
2 cents summarized…. Get ur plots diverse & top tier - year round lasting food. Tsi the whole place- start in pockets. Tons of bedding areas. Shut down or minimize poaching or idiots. Blow up nutrition with feed, mineral, plots & Tsi. “Hunt it super careful & smart”. Those foundational issues are KEY and you cannot skimp on those. That’s the core & once u got the core laid down…. Then u start next phases. In reality…. The core things will have u loaded up for a year for sure. There’s my STARTING LIST …. Get those going …. Fire back with ?’s, circumstances, obstacles, ideas. Get some smart buddies to help & give u second set of eyes out there. Have fun & good luck!!
Tmayer13
Well-Known Member
I think you are thinking a bit too hard about this. I would take 2 things this year and implement them. Concentrate on them and then see what changes on the farm this year and then move onto something else.
For instance, just quickly looking at your maps and hearing what you're saying what I would do is plant your large field into corn or beans. I personally would not plant them together unless you were splitting the field between the two, i.e; 3 acres corn and 3 acres beans, then rotate the next year. Here is going to be the issue with grains. If there is truly no real food in the area, you will have a large population of deer and other critters move in and potentially decimate your row crops. So, you may need to install an electric fence to keep them out. But deer will flock to the growing beans in July/August, and they can put a hurting on 3-6 acres in a hurry (depending on deer density). My point is you need to be thinking about how you are going to protect them and don't be reactive but be proactive on this because once they are gone, well they are gone.
Next, as Skip mentioned included tons of green food sources. .10 of an acre of clover here and there, 1/4 acre brassica plots, 1/2 acre green plots, anywhere ypu can put them. You may not even be able to hunt all of these unless they are some special winds but the goal is just to keep deer living on you. Obviously, you will want some obvious kill plots that you can hunt over and have good access too but just having food around will keep these animals at home. I will post a couple pics of roughly what I would
do.
I saw you mentioned something about not being able to go hard in the timber because of family. So what I would recommend is to pick out some historic areas where you see deer and drop in some bedding areas. Then I would go on the ridges and concentrate on making your oaks happy and removing their competition just to have a better mast crop. It's so hard to give you ideas on the timber side without physically seeing it. But there is a ton of info on this forum about TSI. I would start slow unless you really know what you are doing.
As far as switch goes, with these new varieties offered from RC you can do a lot of stuff in one year. Till early, let growth come back and kill it, then wait and kill it again then go in and plant your switch in late May through June. Can have a great stand first year. The issue I see here is you are not currently there, so you are talking about multiple trips. The other option would be if you can get a drill, then spray it and drill it and walk away.
Start with the basics here, food, good stand location adjacent or over the food, a little timber work. Good bait stations that are easy to access so you arent blowing every animal in your timber out.
For instance, just quickly looking at your maps and hearing what you're saying what I would do is plant your large field into corn or beans. I personally would not plant them together unless you were splitting the field between the two, i.e; 3 acres corn and 3 acres beans, then rotate the next year. Here is going to be the issue with grains. If there is truly no real food in the area, you will have a large population of deer and other critters move in and potentially decimate your row crops. So, you may need to install an electric fence to keep them out. But deer will flock to the growing beans in July/August, and they can put a hurting on 3-6 acres in a hurry (depending on deer density). My point is you need to be thinking about how you are going to protect them and don't be reactive but be proactive on this because once they are gone, well they are gone.
Next, as Skip mentioned included tons of green food sources. .10 of an acre of clover here and there, 1/4 acre brassica plots, 1/2 acre green plots, anywhere ypu can put them. You may not even be able to hunt all of these unless they are some special winds but the goal is just to keep deer living on you. Obviously, you will want some obvious kill plots that you can hunt over and have good access too but just having food around will keep these animals at home. I will post a couple pics of roughly what I would
do.
I saw you mentioned something about not being able to go hard in the timber because of family. So what I would recommend is to pick out some historic areas where you see deer and drop in some bedding areas. Then I would go on the ridges and concentrate on making your oaks happy and removing their competition just to have a better mast crop. It's so hard to give you ideas on the timber side without physically seeing it. But there is a ton of info on this forum about TSI. I would start slow unless you really know what you are doing.
As far as switch goes, with these new varieties offered from RC you can do a lot of stuff in one year. Till early, let growth come back and kill it, then wait and kill it again then go in and plant your switch in late May through June. Can have a great stand first year. The issue I see here is you are not currently there, so you are talking about multiple trips. The other option would be if you can get a drill, then spray it and drill it and walk away.
Start with the basics here, food, good stand location adjacent or over the food, a little timber work. Good bait stations that are easy to access so you arent blowing every animal in your timber out.
