Crop Rotation?
 

the fields that our farm are surrounded by are rotated yearly......hopefully everyone knows what crop rotation is.....but i dont see as many deer as i did last year in the field that i particually watch.....it was corn last year and it is beans this year.....i was wondering if the "lack of cover" has to do with the less amount of sightings.....or do they prefer corn more...or what is goin on there!?...input plz:)
kwaldeier

RE: Crop Rotation?
 

do you guys have any alfalfa? They always seem to be around it

RE: Crop Rotation?
 

They prefer corn...and here in IL, where I am at there are stilla bunch of corn fields still standing, so until they get them all picked, it will be hit or miss where I hunt.

RE: Crop Rotation?
 

definetely will prefer corn.deer are very selective eaters. once the corn is gone they will move to different food sources

RE: Crop Rotation?
 

Deer do not prefer corn to eat, Soybeans are their crop of choice, it offers the most nutrients and protein. But once brown, they tend to lose interest. Corn they will eat as other sources of food become sparse. Of course you always have Alfalfa and such, which they will eat as well. The thing corn offers is cover, standing corn is a hotbed for deer!

RE: Crop Rotation?
 

The deer around are property hammer the alfalfa. The farmers around us do not rotate every year. Corn seems to hold them when its hot, but dont see any real differnce when its gone.

RE: Crop Rotation?
 

Follow the corn around as it rotates and ignore the beans after they start turning brown. It's that simple. :)

RE: Crop Rotation?
 

If you are having a great mast crop year and the white acorns are abundant the deer won't be using corn or beans as much as normal until the acorns are gone. White acorns are true deer candy. Back in Indiana we had a farmer who would plant one field half in beans and half in corn and rotate them just the opposite each year. You get standing corn next to a green succulent bean field and you got some deer.