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Old 12-08-2009 | 04:17 PM
  #11  
Soilman
Fork Horn
 
Joined: Jan 2009
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From: MN
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Food plots can be different from baiting. Up here in the north, planting turnips, winter rye, or leaving corn standing can all help deer survive the winter, or help a doe carry fawn(s) with better birth weight. Clovers, winter rye, and other crops that are quick to green up help too. They can help deer and other wildlife with a valuable food source at a scarce time, even in farm country. You can also provide habitat for numerous animals and birds besides deer. There is no secret recipe that will draw every deer away from a neighboring farmer's corn, soybeans, or alfalfa. Deer are free to move, and will move off small food plots with too much human traffic. I gun hunt in WI farm country, and don't expect to kill a deer over any small food plot. I plant it for the enjoyment of growing plants, and in hope I can help a deer or two make it through a tough winter. Those deer are free to travel to a neighbors property or to public land. I do think bow hunters, or hunters with large tracts of woods and little farm ground would have more success killing a deer over/near a food plot. I do not think food plots are morally superior to corn piles, since not everyone is fortunate enough to have a place they can grow food plots. I have no problems with baiting if it is done legally, but pointing out there are differences.
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