When I think about the upcoming deer season.....I realize this will be only the second season I've STARTED, bowhunting. I scouted early, last year, and I knew where they'd be when the season rolled in.

I've been thinking during the off-season (scary, huh?)....and I THOUGHT I wasn't going to scout, much. After all.....I knew where they were, last year.....and the tracts aren't that large.....they'll be in the same place, right?

I don't know. One thing I DID realize the other day......that I hadn't thought of.....is CROP ROTATION. What was corn, last year,.......is soy beans, THIS year (and vice versa). I HAVE to think this is going to affect my deer movement.

So much for taking the deer for granted.

That's where good communication with the farmer/landowner help. I knew what was gonna be where this year..last year!

I did, too, GR8. It isn't that hard (they rotate each year, here).....I just didn't think about it until I saw the corn planted the other day.

Gotta get up early again......

Yeah, from my experience, the deer hammer those beans in the early season. Theres nothing i love more then gettin out and videoing velvet bucks, especially since it doubles as a scouting trip.

Around me, it seems that the biggest impact the farmers have isn't what they plant, but when they harvest it. Having the last crops standing can pay huge dividends if there is any way you can ask the farmer to do those fields last.

Here's the kicker huntingson.....

The landowners whose land I hunt don't have ANY crops. They just have land that abuts the deer's bedding areas. It really matters not to me who has standing crops........they're ALL (deer) coming back "home". Standing corn actually HURTS me. Deer will bed in the corn......and not come "home". I like it when ALL the corn gets cut down......and the earlier the better.

They haven't planted the beans, yet......but they've sprayed the fields. It's not hard to tell what's going where (the corn is already planted).

Rotation used to be obvious. However, with the demand for bio-fuels at a peak many of the farmers in my area are NOT rotating, making predicting deer movement easier than ever! In fact the 700+ acres of corn that surrounds my own property will ALL be corn again! In fact, the 90 acre field that my easement road winds through will be corn for the 5th season in a row! The couple hundred acres to the North has also been no-till planted in corn for just as long. The only thing that isn't corn in my area will be the band of CRP that borders my property before opening up to the large fields and of course MY food plots! My plots should be as sweet as ever! Come on October!

John Eberhart talks about these kinds of things in his books. One of the reasons I like them so much.

Touche. Consider my point retracted.

huntingson:

Mister....I sincerely hope you didn't think I was discounting your advice. QUITE THE CONTRARY. I know what you say is probably a great strategy. I've said all along I have a unique place to hunt.

Itruly enjoy your insights, though....and theyre appreciated. Didn't want that to go unsaid.