I have a 15 acre parcel of land with extensive habitat: 20 foot elevation change, marsh, timber, field, waterfront and heavy cover. I plan to really "set the table" next Spring with sunflowers, corn, beans then winter wheat behind the sunflowers, all but the sunflowers left standing; total 6 acres. Is it possible that by holding deer numbers up on my property, they'll destroy the understory of natural vegetation? We know they graze to and from the plots and when they rise from their beds. When I had a farmer till the field, the deer cycled onto the property during early growth, again following harvest, and late season for the natural browse. There were 6 deer in the field as I left this morning. Too much of a good thing? Thoughts?

To determine this look around at the vegetation from shoulder height to ground level. Is it mowed down? Is there plenty of buds and shoots? Look at individual bushes and shrubs and see if they are being browsed heavily. If you think you have too many deer send us a few in VA LOL!

You could either plant browse species for them, or use a timber management strategy to open up the timber to new growth. Or, you could use your gun to manage the numbers of does. It's all up to you!

My understory is in good shape now. My concern is what will happen afterI set up the buffet. I can't shoot enough does. I'm adjacent to 100 acres with 10 homes where no one hunts. I could shoot 10 a year and there'll be 10 more next year. I shoot sparingly, just to be neighborly.

Actually, YES. Just the fact you have such an awareness putsyouway ahead of99.99% of the food plotter/hunting land owners out there.

Think sustainable deer populations. First identify all the native flora that exists on your land. Then with research and observation, figure out what is missing, and what is non-native and does not belong there.

Land management is a 4 pronged effort. 1) remove non-native invasive species of plants andanimals 2) replant various native plant species to increase plant biodiversity. 3)Do the food plots, a mix of annual and perennial forage. 4) reduce the deer population as required to insure sustainable biodiversity of native flora.

How do your neighbors feel about deer browsing the landscaping, native flora, sustainable natural habitat rich and diverse in plants and animals?

2 deer in the field going in last night.

Two non-native species prevalent on my tract. Autumn Olive and Kudzu. The Olives are favored for bedding/shelter with their open understory. Just wish they didn't invade so aggressively. Deer like Kudzu, but I knocked it back hard last year and hope to wipe it out this year for fear it gets out of hand. My primary native food sources, other than forbes, are Jap honeysuckle and catbriar.

As for the neighbors, one is a crazy catwoman who doesn't like huntingand could care less if they eat her shrubs, though she doesn't mind letting her cats wander my land. The other neighbor and his wife come from hunting stock, so their ok with it.

As to diverse habitat and wildlife, the only people who care about such things are hunters.....well, and the occaisional conservationist, most of whom are married to hunters

Since you mention kudzu I have to assume you are much further south than I am so my findings may not apply to your area. What I've heard reported in Michigan is that food plots take the pressure off of native
vegetation.

Answerguy, I'm in Maryland. I think if a herd of deer all had the same home range, and I owned it, planting plots would take pressure off of natural vegetation. Otherwise, anything we do to pull deer from other properties will increase consumption of the native plants on our property. The food plot industry might sell a different story. My objective is to draw a mature buck to my property as a post-rut food source. I have a mature buck in the area now, but I don't expect to see him till late November or early December.