Advice on new property
 

Hey guys, I purchased 90 acres back in the late winter. This property is located in West Virginia and is mostly hillside and mature hard woods. Have lots of oak, some walnuts, etc. Also has multiple creeks running through it, as well as at least 2 natural springs.

This property had not been touched in literally 20 years. I have so far reclaimed 3 fields, that are probably a total of 2 acres. So far there has already been an increase of deer activity in the fields, as I have been mowing the fields with a lawnmower. Each time I mow it, I see more and more signs of the deer utilizing the fields. I also have a few flats in the woods to make some small 1/3-1/2 acre food plots.

Seeing as how I am completely surrounded by hard woods, does anyone have suggestions on what I should plant. I was thinking of going with a mix of chicory and clover. I plan to also plant some fruit trees in the future. I already found a few papaw trees on the property.

I can't get over how much the deer are using these reclaimed fields right now though. I haven't planted anything. Only thing I have done is cleared it out and mowed it down. Guess there are some natural things in there that they are eating.

Also one other question. Is there any particular mineral blocks that are good for the deer over the summer months? Specifically looking at antler development and for nursing fawns.

Deer are creatures of the edge, when you made a change and created more edge, you attracted the deer.

Like Oldtimr said, the open areas near mast is a deer magnet. I'd plant a few tree stands and call it good. You may get a few bears, and turkeys as well.

ATB

Hinge cut some trees. That is a quick and easy way to improve deer habitat.

Yeah. Went back today after just mowing, and found 3 different spots of buck poop. One was in the upper field just shy of half acre. The other 2 were in one of the lower fields just below it, the biggest of the 3 fields.

I was able to hunt the property this last deer season. It was a few days late into gun season, but still.

I have about 15 acres that is full of pine trees. Saw deer coming from there a few times. I am going to leave that as my sanctuary. Its not necessarily the middle of my property, but I have yet to go there. I have walked the rest of the property already.

Do you guys think its ok to hike through that area once or twice during this time of year? It kind of sucks having 15 acres of property you have never even seen or set foot on. At the same time, I don't want to ruin what is already a good sanctuary.

Thanks for the advice so far guys!

Pines are good cover and especially thermal cover. On the property I hunt late in the season if someone still needs a deer we will put on silent drives through the pines and there are always deer in there and you can actually feel the tempreature difference in the pines from outside the pines. This time of the year if you want to check out your property, it will not affect what happens next hunting season. It is good to know the property you hunt.

Very glad to hear. I knew they were supposed to be good for thermal purposes, but never got the experience myself.

Like I said, I am going to leave that area as my sanctuary, but I have been DYING to go check it out lol. Guess I will try to do that sometime in the next week or so.

I plan to set up a stand somewhere between this pine sanctuary and the fields I have reclaimed, as well as the food plots I am going to make this summer.

Very excited as I have never been able to prepare for deer season like this before.

What you want to do is find a funnel. A place where deer come from several different directions and funnel into one path. That is the area where a stand will pay off.

Fresh cut always attracts deer. It lets them get to the low fresh stuff easier. If I were you, I would throw out some Ladino clover into one or both those fields. It will add more protein to their diet and it has a tendency to last 4 to 5 years. Has a great mineral base to it as well.

As far as mineral blocks go, it's sort of a touch and go subject as far as antler growth. Some studies have shown that it doesn't aid in antler growth in deer over 1.5 and others differ from that. What HAS been proven is that phosphorus rich soils produce heavier bodied deer as well as other minerals that aid in the digestive process. It's also been shown to make deer take in more food. So pick a salt block that's high in phosphorus and calcium as well. Don't get a pure mineral lick. Deer will pretty much ignore them. They need salt so get a block that has at LEAST those 2 minerals in them.

I have found a few potential places, but none that just really stick out I guess.

I do need to get in there and follow some of the deer trails though. I will try to find a spot where multiple trails come together.

Thanks for the advice.

On the clover, do I need to disc up the ground and such? Or can I just cut the current stuff real short and throw it in there?

I've seen some people spray with roundup, and then burn it in 2 weeks. Wasn't sure if that was truly a smart idea or not.

I'm just happy I'm getting to ask these question this early in the year. I've got trail cameras on another property, I will go get them and put them up here in the next week or so.

Most anytime I plant a Clover plot near where the Pines are growing well, I have to Lime the soil. Pines like it acidic, Clover likes it base.
I usually disc it and Lime it.

A mix of Rye and Clover seems to do well together (for awhile). You might have to ask somebody more knowledgeable to figure out the best Clover (or mix) for your soil. My plots tend to peter out after few years. I think the spots I pick out are too wet.

I'm a poor farmer, my only real successes so far has been Corn and Water Cress. Both of which draw a lot of Deer.
I'm trying a mixed plot of Corn and Beans this year.

Chuck, it's according to what type of clover you are planting. Some like the North Eastern climate Like Ladino while White Clover tends to favor more Southern climates. But only a couple last more than a few years without either re-seeding or a really healthy pollination like having bees put out.

Jasper, some people just throw out clover seed, others disc. It's really according to how "firm" your soil is. Some actually use "mashers" in behind the seeders. Those are weighted rollers that press the seed in. It's up to your soil type and density. I've always used a disc. But one thing you should do is get a soil test. Like Chuck said, most Clover do not like acidity. The tend to like a more neutral base. Also, if you want your fields to last longer, find someone with honey bees to come in. It's fairly cheap and works wonders for a clover field. Not to mention it makes for some great honey! For 2 small fields like you have, a single 4 stack hive should suffice. MAYBE 2. Heck, make your own hive and get you a queen and some drones. Very cheap to do and if you like honey then it's 2 pluses.

Neighbor down the road about 1/4 mile has a bee farm, so I am good on that part.

There is some wild clover growing in the field among the weeds right now.

We have great soil here in southern WV. I garden every year, and our soil is very rich in this area. Also, the bigger of the 3 fields floods every couple years such as this last year. Not sure if that matters or not.

The pines are across the creek and up the hill from the field.

Take a close look all along the creek while you're out scouting the property and you'll probably find one or two spots where they are crossing to go back and forth from bedding/feeding areas and you may find a spot to set up a nice tree stand or two to use according to wind direction.

Great idea for sure. I have a few general places in mind to look.

So I was up there again today working on the bigger field. Cleaning up the flood debris (small creek flooded over in the Spring,) and some big rocks. I'm doing this so I can take my riding lawn mower through there from now on. Push mowing has been hard, but worst part is it taking multiple days to mow all of it.

Keep in mind, I originally had to tie a rope to my chainsaw, crawl through on my belly, hands, and knees, then pull the chainsaw through and cut the stuff at the base. Thats how thick it was in some places.

All the work has been done with a chainsaw, mowing scythe, axe, and other hand tools. So I am pretty pumped to be able to ride 2 of the 3 fields, including the biggest one lol.

While up there though, in the smaller field (my future yard when I build my house there) I found ALL KINDS of buck poop.

This field is close to 1/2 acre in size. It is bordering the woods to the south and east. To the North side it drops down about a 15 foot drop to this old county/dirt road. Never see vehicles, just the occasional 4-wheeler. There is no houses in behind it, I own the head of the holler.

Once you go across the road, and down a small bank, that is where the biggest field is. On the other side of the field is a creek with deep holes that have water year round. Then it goes up the mountain.

The upper field that is above the dirt road, it seems to be used more, judging by the poop. Also, seems to be almost all buck poop. Could one deer be pooping this much, or is it most likely multiple bucks?

I plan to try and set up a trail cam this weekend to see whats going on.

One other question about deer tracks. I know how to tell the difference between a buck and a doe and all of that.

One thing I have never been sure of though, is how to tell the direction the deer are headed in. On the doe tracks, is the doe headed in the direction of the wider part of the V or the bottom part of the V. So if this V was a doe track, is the doe heading South or North based on the V.

Deer are moving towards the direction of the open part of the V. Just look at a deers hoof, that will tell you which way the tracks are moving. You can't always tell a bck from a doe by the droppings regardless of what people tell you.

Yep. I've seen big ole doe droppings that would shame a buck. You get an older doe that's been feeding heavy and I can tell you there is no difference at all between them and a big buck.

Jasper, it sounds lie you have a nice little piece of property to crack some deer on. Just don't over do the changes too much. While deer aren't that skiddish to SOME changes, if you do too much at once you will chase them away from the property.

Did not know that.

So its at least either a buck or a very mature doe? Either way, that works for me lol.

Like I said, there are about 10-12 different places with big solid buck like turds. All from the last 2 maybe 3 days.

I'm guessing multiple deer?

Yeah, I have been a little hesitant to do to much this first year.

Re-claiming the fields was a project all in its self. Now keeping it mowed is just as challenging lol.

I'm going to make 1 maybe 2 small shooter plots up in the woods, and that is about it for this year.

Next year, I plan to make one of the 2 plots much bigger, and plant some fruit producing trees.

The property is currently loaded with mast producing trees. I just need a little more diversity when it comes to food choices on the property.

Bud, if you have white oak on that property, you have a gold mine! White Oak acorns are like chocolate for deer! They love them. When it's time for mast fall, put yourself between bedding areas, water and those white oaks and I'd bet you will smack deer.

I have lots of white oak, a few black oak, walnut, beech trees, papaws, hickory etc.

I hope you really didn't mean what you posted in that bolded sentence since it's just the opposite! All the tracks in this attached photo are ones that are going up in the direction they are traveling. Although the picture shows the dew claws in all the tracks, normally you won't see them until a deer, usually a buck, gets enough weight on him to leave them in the ground as puncture marks behind the splayed track. Smaller deer of both sexes will show as just a ^ of various sizes in the direction they are going.

No, not the way it came out, what I was wanting to say was the deer is heading in the direction of the the narrow end of the hoof, like an upside down V that is split in the middle and open at the front , heart shaped with the pointy end of the heart forward.

Unless they're running. :wink:

Yeak Mickey, what I was eluding to is the front of the track splaying out, assuming a hunter knows the shape of the track. Just came out unclear. One of those things where you know what you mean but is comes out different.

Actually your picture is the better way to show a big deer track and he doesn't have to be running to make that splayed track. I thought that I knew and understood what Oldtimr was trying to say since the front of a good sized deer is actually open like the picture Mickey Finn posted, rather than in the multi track picture I posted. I just wanted to make sure it was clear to the OP and any other newbie to the sport!

Yeah Top, that display you put up is actually a rare occasion. I've not seen many tracks in my day where the toes are closed up like that. They usually have at least somewhat of a "splay". Unless they are "standing" tracks.

Actually smaller deer will pretty well be almost a closed V at the front, but as you know when they start gaining weight or are moving at more than a walk then they start splaying in order to support their weight better. PS: That display picture was taken right off this website!

Yeah, I see tracks of definite bucks, where it basically looks like two little trenches in the mud, running parallel to each other.

I never knew that young bucks would still make the V tracks. I thought only doe did that.

lol Only time I pay close attention to the little ones Top is when I am feeling the need to crank up the rotisseri (or however you spell the damn thing) and want to put on a nice 80-90 pounder yearling. Mighty fine grub there! Sew in some fresh Garlic cloves, onion pieces , fresh Basil, Rosemary, Thyme, and a pat of real butter in each pocket, set the coals up indirect and low and turn on the Rotor. for about 4-6 hours and man you talk about some mighty fine vittels! Damn I just made myself hungry and I can't eat any more tonight. Blood tests in the morning!

Always remember the "Rules of Three".............

"We" all LIVE my the same Rules !!!


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This is a mature buck track

I'd be happy to see a few of those on the way to the stand.

The one on the left or the one on the right, LOL?!!! That certainly is a good one and you can see how the front points splay out to describe what Oldtimr was saying.

BTW - The ""marks" left from the dew claws says it's a big one too !!!

Ok this is awesome news for me.

Out of my 3 fields, there is one that is tucked the furthest back to the woods, and has an old grown up 4-wheeler path going up the hill.

I always look for deer signs back in here and NEVER see them. Before I cut it, there was a deer trail through there but that was it.

Today, I walk back in there, and in the dirt, for the first time ever in my life, I saw what you just posted a picture of. It wasn't AS distinct, because it was in hard dirt as opposed to mud. The dew claws were evident, especially the left one.

First and only true deer sign I have seen back in there. Have to say I am pretty pumped about it. I usually don't take the mower up the 4-wheeler path at all, but last time I said ah what the heck. So I pushed it up the hill about 5-6 foot, thats it. This track was right on the edge of the overgrown 4-wheeler path and where I cut the grass. He was headed up the hill. I paid attention on the way back out, and saw a trail coming off the hill. It's old and I noticed it before, but it didn't look like anything was still using it. Who knows maybe its his trail.

That is VERY good.....A faint trail tucked the furthest back in the woods with tracks like that in it. That is very good.