Opening Day Strategy - Soybeans
#1
Opening Day Strategy - Soybeans
The farm I hunt has two huge soybean fields that have held deer all summer. I mean every day they were there. But within the last week the soybeans have turned yellow and the deer aren't there much anymore. My stands are set up between the bedding area and the soybean field.
My question is this: will the deer still feed in the soybeans this fall? Or should I forget about that as a food source and find another spot? The only other food source is acorns (red oak, not white oak).
My question is this: will the deer still feed in the soybeans this fall? Or should I forget about that as a food source and find another spot? The only other food source is acorns (red oak, not white oak).
#2
RE: Opening Day Strategy - Soybeans
I have seendeerleave a soy bean field once they have turned brown. but to return late season. if the beans are still there? if u have plenty of acrons still on the ground, Id hunt the oaks if i where u.
#5
RE: Opening Day Strategy - Soybeans
the deer feed on soybeans when they are green and then focus on another food source when they are turning yellow, but will be back in force when they turn brown. Try and find their other food source while the beans are yellow and hunt them there for a while.
#7
RE: Opening Day Strategy - Soybeans
in my experence the deer will go to the acorns until they're gone and then they will hit the beans again to pick out the beans and what ever else has started to grow. i prefer late winter beans over corn. If you have enough stands leave the ones on the beans and hang a couple on the oaks
#8
RE: Opening Day Strategy - Soybeans
In my area, our soybeans aren't completely browned yet. We still have some young plants and green growth in areas. The deer are still hitting the soybean field pretty hard, but like the guys said earlier - acorns will be the flavor of the day, so if you have any access to trees that are dropping, that might be abetter plan.
I'd recommend that you just go out there one night this week and glass the soybean fields - just see what kind of activity they're getting. It's possible that the deer might continue eating beans for another week or so, until the mast really starts coming down. We have a few oaks dropping acorns, but they're still hanging pretty tight. It all depends on your area. See what kind of acorns are coming off, and glass those beanfields. That should make your decision really easy. If your oaks are dropping a lot of mastcrop, and the ground is littered with empty green caps, I'd hunt the oaks. On the other hand, if your beanfields are still getting heavy deer traffic, that might be a better option for the first evening. One evening of scouting should answer your questions.
I'd recommend that you just go out there one night this week and glass the soybean fields - just see what kind of activity they're getting. It's possible that the deer might continue eating beans for another week or so, until the mast really starts coming down. We have a few oaks dropping acorns, but they're still hanging pretty tight. It all depends on your area. See what kind of acorns are coming off, and glass those beanfields. That should make your decision really easy. If your oaks are dropping a lot of mastcrop, and the ground is littered with empty green caps, I'd hunt the oaks. On the other hand, if your beanfields are still getting heavy deer traffic, that might be a better option for the first evening. One evening of scouting should answer your questions.
#9
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Morgan County, IL
Posts: 1,073
RE: Opening Day Strategy - Soybeans
No corn?
If the deer will eat dry beans off the ground in late season, they'll eat them off of a standing plant. Standing corn is easier to get and offers more security.
I've found that in the real early season(warm), a lot of feeding goes on at night, so I'll move back on the trails a little bit in the evening.
#10
Fork Horn
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 185
RE: Opening Day Strategy - Soybeans
If you have seen deer there this long they should still use the beans when they are ready to be cut. I have seen plenty of deer eat beans that were brown during the season. My advice is to stay in that stand.