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03-05-2002 | 10:12 PM
#12
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,973
Likes: 0
From: cazenovia, NY USA
RE: One Large Plot vs Several Small Plots
Hey Dan O.
We currently have 11 acres in clover and 6 or 7 in standing corn. Usually 2-3 acres goes into winter wheat,oats or rye as well. Our total land is only about 200 acres so we "feed" alot more deer than the land will carry. That being said we estimate that on average our 200 acres has about 15-20 "resident" deer going into hunting season, including fawns. This comes from average direct observations of daylight feeding in the summer. It equates to a bit more than 60 deer per square mile, which is above average according to our county's population estimates (35-40 according to DEC). If we observe night activity, we see sometimes 30 or more deer in our feilds, so yes we attract many deer from nearby.
It gets a bit more complicated going into winter though, as the deer in our area often yard on our land. We have about 20-30 acres of old growth hemlock (80-100 yrs old) that the deer rely on for winter releif from cold and deep snow. Prior to our food plots, it wasn't uncommon to find 10 or more winter killed deer every year, sometimes curled up together - they relied on left over apples and browse alone. Since we had no way of knowing how many of "our" deer were not making it, we decided to plant enough food to carry a winter herd. One thing we knew for sure is that many of the deer that made it, were malnourished going into spring prior to the food plots, increased harvest weights and antler sizes (for a given year class) over the last 5 years bear this out.
Last year we had well over 200 inches of snow - and almost 90" in Dec alone, but could not confirm one winter killed deer. We did find a few killed by coyotes (all fawns).
Along with a food plot program, we also are increasing cover and are taking more does. Its been a real battle getting out neighbors to take more does, one that we do not see changing in the near future.
A lot of our plan calls for attracting neighboring deer, in hopes that the better does and bucks will take up residency.
Edited by - farm hunter on 03/05/2002 23:15:16
We currently have 11 acres in clover and 6 or 7 in standing corn. Usually 2-3 acres goes into winter wheat,oats or rye as well. Our total land is only about 200 acres so we "feed" alot more deer than the land will carry. That being said we estimate that on average our 200 acres has about 15-20 "resident" deer going into hunting season, including fawns. This comes from average direct observations of daylight feeding in the summer. It equates to a bit more than 60 deer per square mile, which is above average according to our county's population estimates (35-40 according to DEC). If we observe night activity, we see sometimes 30 or more deer in our feilds, so yes we attract many deer from nearby.
It gets a bit more complicated going into winter though, as the deer in our area often yard on our land. We have about 20-30 acres of old growth hemlock (80-100 yrs old) that the deer rely on for winter releif from cold and deep snow. Prior to our food plots, it wasn't uncommon to find 10 or more winter killed deer every year, sometimes curled up together - they relied on left over apples and browse alone. Since we had no way of knowing how many of "our" deer were not making it, we decided to plant enough food to carry a winter herd. One thing we knew for sure is that many of the deer that made it, were malnourished going into spring prior to the food plots, increased harvest weights and antler sizes (for a given year class) over the last 5 years bear this out.
Last year we had well over 200 inches of snow - and almost 90" in Dec alone, but could not confirm one winter killed deer. We did find a few killed by coyotes (all fawns).
Along with a food plot program, we also are increasing cover and are taking more does. Its been a real battle getting out neighbors to take more does, one that we do not see changing in the near future.
A lot of our plan calls for attracting neighboring deer, in hopes that the better does and bucks will take up residency.
Edited by - farm hunter on 03/05/2002 23:15:16
