I've discovered the neighboring farmer has stored 40 or 50 round bales on my hunting property...they are on the edge of a field, next to the woods. I'm wondering if deer will like to feed on the bales? Or would they only do that if the winter is harsh? What has been your experience with this? Would the bales be a good place to set up a stand?
Thanks for any advice...

I've never seen deer in arkansas feed on hay. i lived on a farm and i guess you could say i was raised on one.
I will tell you that they make great stands. find a spot in them to set up and wait.
Where do you hunt ?

SOUTH ARKANSAS REBEL

SCRIDER1, you might want to tell your neighbor to use up those round hay bales soon! The federal gov. plans to outlaw them by the spring of 2004.

NRA,UBP,BASS Member
New Stanton,PA

Big Country, where did you hear that they were going to outlaw the use of round bales of hay? I thought I would see a (G) or a <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle> at the end of your post, but I assume you are serious.

South Arkansas Rebel--I hunt in Zone 8 up near Springfield, mostly. Its about 30 miles or northeast of Conway. I also hunt some in NW Arkansas near Devil's Den. How 'bout you?

No joke, Timbercruiser. Scientists found that in eating the round bales the cows weren't getting a square meal. Yuck Yuck.

Scrider1 around chidester in ouachita county. i just bought a house near hot springs. i can go to my 17 acres border and go right into thousands of acres of national forest. four wheeler trails for miles. i got it made!!!
I think there are better quality bucks around here but my freezer needs ouachita county. i would really like to hunt bear i just haven't seen any sign . i don't know if there are any in my area.

SOUTH ARKANSAS REBEL

Around here round bales get hammered, especially if is &quot;Buckwheats&quot; buddy Alfa! It is darn near as good as a farmer who had to much barley for his bins and ground piled it.....OH BABY! Like winning the lottery.

But as far as your area, do a little scouting around it, if you see it tared or pulled down they are munching on it. Look for scat and other sign. If it is right tight to the bush they can use it as cover when entering the field, I would say it would be worth your time to scout it!

Sketter,I wish I could find a round bale of alfalfa down here.Our hay is just grass and the deer don't eat it.

Hunting is not a sport,it's a lifestyle.

FLdeerman, usually this area is chalk full with these bales. However this year we are experience serious drought & cattle feed shortfalls, so I doubt any bales will be just sitting out for the deer. The bonus is very few guys would get the normal late/second cut on the falfa fields, so should be plenty of action on them or other crops that simply were to low to pull good yields.