There's Nothing like CORN
12-07-2002, 10:52 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
There's Nothing like CORN
As alot of you know from previous posts of mine, we have alot of does, and deer in general where we hunt - too many. But in past years, this large herd has been content to live on our neighbor's picked corn fields (70 acres of picked corn) during the hunting season (not all of them of course). So the last few years, we've been attempting to plant corn - on our 200 acres. We did OK last year, but "got it right" this year, with one 6 acre plot and another 2 acre plot. Added Nitrogen was the key for us.
The ice storm just prior to opening day of gun, really knocked down alot of the corn, but most still stands 4-5 ft tall. The pic below shows part of the 6 acre plot, thae day after the ice storm:
We've had a bit more than normal snowfall so far this year (about 40" total right now for the season) - and the deer have gone nuts for the standing corn. We all made a pact not to go near the bedding areas, and to hunt the funnels to the corn, or the fields themselves - and have all seen more deer than ever. So far this year we've taken 5 mature does, and several bucks,(no giants, but a couple 2-1/2yrs).
The best part is, we really think that more of the smaller bucks will make it through the season, because now that they are on the corn, they bed closeby, and even if we do not see them, they are not elsewhere getting picked off. Personally, I've passed up quite a few 6pt and smaller this year, with one lucky spikehorn getting passed up by me 5 times, and a couple other times by others in our group.
We have really layed off hunting the last couple of weeks, gun season ends this Tuesday, and we are hoping to protect as many as we can till then, and then try to take a couple more does, and hopefully a good buck during the week long blackpowder season that follows gun.
The ice storm just prior to opening day of gun, really knocked down alot of the corn, but most still stands 4-5 ft tall. The pic below shows part of the 6 acre plot, thae day after the ice storm:
We've had a bit more than normal snowfall so far this year (about 40" total right now for the season) - and the deer have gone nuts for the standing corn. We all made a pact not to go near the bedding areas, and to hunt the funnels to the corn, or the fields themselves - and have all seen more deer than ever. So far this year we've taken 5 mature does, and several bucks,(no giants, but a couple 2-1/2yrs).
The best part is, we really think that more of the smaller bucks will make it through the season, because now that they are on the corn, they bed closeby, and even if we do not see them, they are not elsewhere getting picked off. Personally, I've passed up quite a few 6pt and smaller this year, with one lucky spikehorn getting passed up by me 5 times, and a couple other times by others in our group.
We have really layed off hunting the last couple of weeks, gun season ends this Tuesday, and we are hoping to protect as many as we can till then, and then try to take a couple more does, and hopefully a good buck during the week long blackpowder season that follows gun.
12-08-2002, 02:02 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ferry Township, Michigan United States
Posts: 165
RE: There's Nothing like CORN
Farmhunter-- You big show-off. I really like the pictures you post. Sure looks alot different now than it was in past pictures. I read everything you put on here and just want to thank you. Look forward to a step-by-step in the Spring. I want corn that looks just like yours. thanks, terry <img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle>
LIVE FREE OR DIE
Edited by - lawnfarmer on 12/08/2002 15:09:16
LIVE FREE OR DIE
Edited by - lawnfarmer on 12/08/2002 15:09:16
12-09-2002, 11:03 AM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: There's Nothing like CORN
Thanks for the picture comments, icy trees make for great picures, but horrid hunting. The deer take in our area opening week of gun season was way down as a result, more good news for us as the little bucks were able to "hide" during the opening day onslaught pretty well.
Another pic from opening morning.
You can see how hard it would have been to see, or sneak up on a deer.
Last night (3rd to last day of gun season) I passed up a dandy buck, that would have been outside his ears in width, had his right antler been there. Could be he shed it already (early-but not impossible around here), or since one of the other points was broken off, could have had his but kicked by a bigger buck yet. I hope he makes it till next season. He was in a thicket - heading to the corn.
Another pic from opening morning.
You can see how hard it would have been to see, or sneak up on a deer.
Last night (3rd to last day of gun season) I passed up a dandy buck, that would have been outside his ears in width, had his right antler been there. Could be he shed it already (early-but not impossible around here), or since one of the other points was broken off, could have had his but kicked by a bigger buck yet. I hope he makes it till next season. He was in a thicket - heading to the corn.
12-09-2002, 07:51 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: There's Nothing like CORN
Yeah Dan, but I'm still surprised how many deer still feed in the neighbor's picked corn. Next year I plan to plant enough corn so that I can raise the brushog up 2-3 ft and cut down 1/4-1/2 acre sections in stategic places, but still leave the majority standing. The reason is that the deer DO prefer to feed on the cut corn before the snow flies, and turkeys seem to avoid the standing corn altogether until late winter.
The next thing I plan to do with corn next year is to plant it mith a little more forethought on providing screening cover for the clover plots. In the picture above, the field on the right is a 4 yr old clover plot (5 acres) that has done well for us. Still this year, weeds took their toll, and though there was still alot of clover, the majority of the deer fed in the newer clover plots. The newer plots are about 2 acres, and offer a bit more cover, with the terrain. So next year, the above clover plot becomes corn, except, we'll replant a 1-1/2 acre strip of clover along the thicket edge. The corn is also going to be planted around the new clover field we plant, so one would have to go through the corn to see the feild. We think the deer are to easily spooked off of some of the feilds we planted. We always seem to have unkown 4 wheelers (kids mostly) cutting across the property, and our own traffic. So we plan to use corn to give them a little more security. I'm sure I'll post about our plans more as spring draws near.
The next thing I plan to do with corn next year is to plant it mith a little more forethought on providing screening cover for the clover plots. In the picture above, the field on the right is a 4 yr old clover plot (5 acres) that has done well for us. Still this year, weeds took their toll, and though there was still alot of clover, the majority of the deer fed in the newer clover plots. The newer plots are about 2 acres, and offer a bit more cover, with the terrain. So next year, the above clover plot becomes corn, except, we'll replant a 1-1/2 acre strip of clover along the thicket edge. The corn is also going to be planted around the new clover field we plant, so one would have to go through the corn to see the feild. We think the deer are to easily spooked off of some of the feilds we planted. We always seem to have unkown 4 wheelers (kids mostly) cutting across the property, and our own traffic. So we plan to use corn to give them a little more security. I'm sure I'll post about our plans more as spring draws near.
12-09-2002, 08:22 PM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: ALBERTA CANADA
Posts: 844
RE: There's Nothing like CORN
Farm Hunter,, I was watching a video the other day where the hunter was sitting a food plot that looked about the same size as what you have there(very nice by the way,, wish I could do that where I hunt).
Anyways what they had done was create a sort of "spoked wheel" with corn and buckwheat I believe, the hub is where the stand was. They could see out across the corn and everytime a deer stepped into a buckwheat strip it was broadside and in plain view. Maybe you want to try something like this with clover instead!
Anyways what they had done was create a sort of "spoked wheel" with corn and buckwheat I believe, the hub is where the stand was. They could see out across the corn and everytime a deer stepped into a buckwheat strip it was broadside and in plain view. Maybe you want to try something like this with clover instead!
12-09-2002, 09:18 PM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: There's Nothing like CORN
Yes Swampthing,
Kind of had the same thought, but with not only offering
good shots, but offering some security for the deer as they
step out of the thicket, both during the hunting season, and
the summer/fall. I want the openeings of clover, to be large
enough where the deer do not feel "boxed in", and avoid it
either. Still playing around with the ideas, but something
in that order will be planned for next fall.
In the picture above, we have a 15 Ladder stand in the
biggest tree in the pic, at the end of the feild. So far
its accounted for a couple does, and a few passed shots.
Kind of had the same thought, but with not only offering
good shots, but offering some security for the deer as they
step out of the thicket, both during the hunting season, and
the summer/fall. I want the openeings of clover, to be large
enough where the deer do not feel "boxed in", and avoid it
either. Still playing around with the ideas, but something
in that order will be planned for next fall.
In the picture above, we have a 15 Ladder stand in the
biggest tree in the pic, at the end of the feild. So far
its accounted for a couple does, and a few passed shots.