Can I get deer to stay on 150 acres?
Filed under: Food Plots
My family and I lease an 150 tract of land consisting of 90% cutover with most of the land boarding the property consisting of hay fields , rotating crop field ( milo, corn , and soy bean) and cow pastures . My question is what process would it take to contain those deer to that property through food plots and percentage of plot to land size?
Andrew,
Most deer have a home range size larger than 150 acres. I doubt there is any habitat work that will encourage deer to only use that property. It sounds like most of the cover in the neighborhood is on the property you lease. So, unless the hunting pressure is so high that deer associate the leased property with danger they should spend most of the daylight hours using the cover. That’s good news for you!
It would be a good plan to create some food plots on the lease. If positioned and hunted correctly these plots would likely serve as staging areas before deer leave the large patch of cover and feed in the neighboring crop fields. The goal of these plots is to attract deer during hunting season and position them so you can approach, hunt, and exit without alerting deer so they will continue to feel secure when using the 150 acres.
To accomplish this consider predominant wind directions, thermals, and how hunters can approach, hunt, and exit the plots without alerting deer.
Enjoy creation,
grant
February 24, 2016
