Some ground that I hunt has two fields around the west and south sides of it. This year they are both planted in soybeans. This is the first year this has happened. In the past at least one of the fields has been corn. Whichever field has corn is the field I concentrate on hunting near. But this year I don't have that luxury. Are cut bean fields worth a darn after they are cut?

Absolutely. They are good until early winter and then they have usually been picked over. Concentrate on the cover nearest to the bean field.

That certainly must vary in different locations then, because a picked beanfield here is nearly dead! Now, if the beans are left standing they are absolute magnets but once cut all of our deer WILL find an alternative food source and actually relocate. I guess the only way to really know for sure is to scout it out and once the beans are picked spend an evening or two glassing the fields or put up a trail cam. Good luck and good huntin'

i hear ya cornfed. seems about the time beans are mowed down the deer head straight for the acorns

Cornfed, I've seen the same results as you... soybean fields suck for me in Northern Wisconsin and in Southern Minnesota after they've been cut. It also seems that I only get a week or so of hunting out of them (depending on the year) as they cut them soon after season. I wonder if this has to do with climate? I posted a similar question to this last year and got a lot of "The deer will absolutely still be there" comments. I know those folks weren't lying to me - so maybe in some climates the "leftovers" are still good for the deer or it just depends if there are other good food sources around???

I will also agree with cornfed about cut bean fields. In Maryland, once they are cut, they are worthless. If the beans havne't been cut, they are awesome. Deer love them and you can still see and shoot deer while they are eating or walking through. I've seen deer bedded down in the middle of a field several times. I would hunt the beans until they are cut and then concentrate on another food source.

this is usually the case but if you had the opportunity to hunt near corn i would definately go for that. if there is corn around the deer will probably forget about the beans and head for the corn. it has more protection and food for them. hunting a cut soybean field can work but the acorns or corn would almost definately work better.

last year i saw most of the nice bucks out in a cut soybean field. i even watched a huge 16 pt with 7 1/2in bases get taken off of the field. i've seen bigger and more deer in a bean field than in a corn field last year. this year could be differen though. try your luck it might work this year again.

I've seen deer in SE Kansas go nuts on a cut Soy Bean field. Hunt the edges and pockets if possible. It may also depend on what other food sources are close by you. Deer don't mind traveling a little ways for a good meal.

Hopefully with no corn around the timber my food plots will get hit hard.