Path Clearing?
 

So I finally made it out to scout yesterday. Turns out, the guy never planted the feild!

So what use to be 15 acres of corn next to 5 acres of diverted acres, is now 20 acres of 8'high Horse weeds and brush. There are a couple ditches that bourder and stick out into the feild, and a small woods at the easr side. But, I can't go into most of the woods.

So my thought was to get a tractor and brush hog, and mow out from the ditches about 40'. Then cut some wide paths through the brush leading to my stands and blinds.

Any Ideas?

RE: Path Clearing?
 

Why don't you take a disc and knock down the weeds and plant a food plot?

RE: Path Clearing?
 

I would, but it's not my ground.

Be nice to get some day.

RE: Path Clearing?
 

You should ask to put a small food plot there. The owner may let you. Apparently he didn't need the field if he let it grow up. Its worth a shot.

Good luck.

RE: Path Clearing?
 

It would not hurt to ask if you can do anything with the field. It might pay off!!

RE: Path Clearing?
 

I would saw just let the horseweeds stand. Find the two most used paths and connect them with the brushhog through the field. It would probably make a deer highway! Good Luck

RE: Path Clearing?
 

Here's the plan...

Going to get a 8' Bush Hog and clear the main two paths that run east to west. Then conect them with another path North to South end of feild. Along the woods, I plan on cutting out 50' or so, and put ground blinds in the weed edges.

What would be a good plot to start this time of year? Sandy soil, probably a little low on the pH, very dry right now.


Going to see about buying this farm. The pic looks North.

RE: Path Clearing?
 

Unless you plan on planting something in that field, having those tall weeds are great for you. I wouldn't go crazy mowing paths all over the place. Just one or two for you to get into your stands undetected. With all of those high weeds, that's the first place the deer are going to go if they are heavily pressured on neighboring land if it's a big enough area. A path here or there would also be good in the sense that the deer will for sure use those also. Deer like to take the path of least resistance and effort in most cases. As long as those weeds are around them, they will use your paths. But get it done as soon as you can so they still feel confident hanging out there.

RE: Path Clearing?
 

That pic was from last year. Everything is as tall and thick this year as it is in the center is in that pic. What sucks is, I have to get from the white building in the back of the picture(front of feild) to where the pic is taken from, to hunt the best spot of the feild.


What would you guys think of an elevated stand in the center of that mess? I have enough wood to put up a 8-10 foot enclosed stand on a trailer.

RE: Path Clearing?
 

I hunt a very thick patch of briars, brush and vines. The patch is about the size of a football field. Four years ago I ask the land owner if I could cut some paths in the thick stuff to get to my stand. He said cut what ever you want. After I cut a five foot wide path straight to my stand from the open field below (about 40 yards away) I decided to cut 3 more paths (about 2 feet wide) in the other three directions. I can't tell you what an unbelievable difference it made! I had deer on those paths all day long! I cut the paths on the Saturday before opening day(Monday) and by 11.am Monday morning I saw between 20-30 deer including a nice 7 point I took at about 8 yards and on Tuesday around 10.am I took a nice 8 point with an 18 inch inside spread at about 12 yards. Both those deer walked right to me on the newly cut paths! I also shot 2 does from the same stand on the same paths. If I were you I would cut a few paths leading to your shooting lanes. It worked great were I hunt...Good Luck!