Small Parcel Hunting
12-01-2019, 04:23 PM
#1
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 11
Small Parcel Hunting
I recently purchased a piece of property (11 acres). I am curious on how to make this parcel of land more efficient to attract deer. The parcel is nothing but hardwood with spotty pine trees. It does have a lot of Oak trees. The property does run adjacent to to a natural pipe line on top of the mountain (ridge top). I do not have access to big machinery to do a food plot but can take in hand tools if need be. I have been watching some habitat videos on putting in a water hole but there is two small ponds I have seen on aerial images on adjacent properties to both sides of me. What is my best bet to do with this property? I would like to say during our gun season this year there is A LOT of hunting pressure around me as there is a road that runs my property line on the lower side. I did kill a 9 point 15 inch buck during bow season but the deer seem to have disappeared here lately. I am new here so any advice would be great. Thanks.
12-02-2019, 12:34 AM
#2
Spike
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 22
Perhaps more important than what type of land yours is, is what are you surrounded by.
Any farms or fields or is it just more woods? If farms and crop fields is there any kinds of natural features to yours to make a desirable bedding area? Maybe you are closer to a water source?
I would say you want to look for something that makes deer want to bed in or migrate through your property and hunt near there.
If there are no natural features like that then you would want to create something that make the deer want to pass through your land and not the land next door.
That's where deer plots come in.
Are there any areas on your property that are open that you could develope?
I also hunt a small parcel - 17 acres. I'm surrounded by a few hundred acres of woods that gets minimal hunting pressure. That part of the country used to be a lot of small farms but they are all gone now and the area has mostly gone back to forest. The closest farming is a hayfield about a mile from me.
My main hobby is I have a couple of old Ford tractors which I like to fart around with. So for me it was natural to start doing deer plots.
I usually keep two of them planted. One is about an acre and the other is actually tiny - about 50' x100'
Of course they aren't enough to feed many deer but they pass through every day to find a tasty morsel or two.
If you have ANY open areas that you could develope into a plot it would bring deer in. Even a sunlit strip that was 10' x 50' would help you. Or a 25' opening between some trees. You just want to give them a reason to cruise through your little slice of paradise. I don't know you and your circumstances but a larger garden tractor or a 4 wheeler would be adequate to get an area tilled up. Heck, even dragging an old spike tooth drag behind a Prius would do it.
You just want something that draws a few does and fawns in because where the does are the bucks will follow.
PS,
I have really enjoyed getting into the plotting thing. It is a hunting related thing that I can do in May when the rifle opener is still months away. Then I'm like a real farmer who hopes and prays for rain - but not too much of it - so my 'crops' will grow.
Any farms or fields or is it just more woods? If farms and crop fields is there any kinds of natural features to yours to make a desirable bedding area? Maybe you are closer to a water source?
I would say you want to look for something that makes deer want to bed in or migrate through your property and hunt near there.
If there are no natural features like that then you would want to create something that make the deer want to pass through your land and not the land next door.
That's where deer plots come in.
Are there any areas on your property that are open that you could develope?
I also hunt a small parcel - 17 acres. I'm surrounded by a few hundred acres of woods that gets minimal hunting pressure. That part of the country used to be a lot of small farms but they are all gone now and the area has mostly gone back to forest. The closest farming is a hayfield about a mile from me.
My main hobby is I have a couple of old Ford tractors which I like to fart around with. So for me it was natural to start doing deer plots.
I usually keep two of them planted. One is about an acre and the other is actually tiny - about 50' x100'
Of course they aren't enough to feed many deer but they pass through every day to find a tasty morsel or two.
If you have ANY open areas that you could develope into a plot it would bring deer in. Even a sunlit strip that was 10' x 50' would help you. Or a 25' opening between some trees. You just want to give them a reason to cruise through your little slice of paradise. I don't know you and your circumstances but a larger garden tractor or a 4 wheeler would be adequate to get an area tilled up. Heck, even dragging an old spike tooth drag behind a Prius would do it.
You just want something that draws a few does and fawns in because where the does are the bucks will follow.
PS,
I have really enjoyed getting into the plotting thing. It is a hunting related thing that I can do in May when the rifle opener is still months away. Then I'm like a real farmer who hopes and prays for rain - but not too much of it - so my 'crops' will grow.
12-02-2019, 11:27 AM
#3
Super Moderator
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Northern California
Posts: 18,382
Your 3 duplicate topics have been deleted. You can only post a topic once in the most appropriate forum. Any duplicates will be removed and a temp ban issued if appropriate.
CalHunter
Moderator
CalHunter
Moderator
12-19-2019, 02:32 PM
#5
Spike
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 11
will you also be living at the property or its strictly hunting property? sorry i'd be happy to give some ideas but i have a lot of questions.
i agree with Ultradog taht what surrounds the property is important in making a decision as to what your property will be to the deer and how you'll be attracting and holding them.
cheers
i agree with Ultradog taht what surrounds the property is important in making a decision as to what your property will be to the deer and how you'll be attracting and holding them.
cheers
12-26-2019, 01:45 PM
#7
Spike
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 11
Outdoorsman. I will not be living on this property. This property is strictly for hunting purposes only. Ask as many questions as you would like because this will be the second spring I’ve owned this property and am excited to get started on making this property as good as possible. Thanks.
