deer sanctuary questions
02-03-2005 | 09:17 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,455
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From: Salem Missouri
deer sanctuary questions
We have 250 acres of land that we have had in the family for generations, and have been managing bucks for a while now, by anly taking mature bucks and taking more does and making sure they have good food to eat. It is almost all mature oak timber, white oak, post oak, and black oak, and also has water and seven food plots on it. I keep reading about sanctuaries and am thinking about creating one on our land. Now, what im wondering is, we are bordered by a man on two sides who dont allow any hunting whatsoever, and will let no one on his property, he doesnt hunt, and doesnt ever get out of the lower bottoms on the farm, and that is over a mile from our line, so his entire property is like a sanctuary to the deer, as they are never pressured there, and never encounter humans on most of his land. So should I bother to waste some of my own land to make a sanctuary with all the safe land they have on him? Im thinking I should let them feel safe on his land and continue to improve my land in the food area, and keep some good cover in places, and good water to draw them across the fence. Any advice is appreciated.
02-04-2005 | 05:25 PM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,059
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From: Ontario Canada
RE: deer sanctuary questions
I've got a 320 acre outdoor education center next door to me. After the first shots are fired guess where the deer go during daylight hours? If you can keep an area on your property secure for them they are less likely to go nocturnal. It's tough in your situation where all they have to do is hop a fence but you may have an area that makes a bedding area that is superior to what your neighbours property can offer.
Dan O.
Dan O.
02-04-2005 | 06:45 PM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,550
Likes: 1
From: Big Horn WY
RE: deer sanctuary questions
Or better yet make a couple of small sanctuaries with a food plot in between. At the very least it will hold doe and they will feed in the plots. The bucks will travel the down wind side to scent check for a receptive doe. If he doesn't find one he will either feed a little or hit one of your near by sanctuaries.
The other thing to consider is what if he decides to sell the farm or break it up. At least you would already have something established. I know, he never would but stanger things have happened.
. . . Rob
The other thing to consider is what if he decides to sell the farm or break it up. At least you would already have something established. I know, he never would but stanger things have happened.
. . . Rob
02-04-2005 | 07:44 PM
#4
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,455
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From: Salem Missouri
RE: deer sanctuary questions
Thanks guys, we have very light hunting pressure on our property, the does do have a few places on us where they like to bed. Another question, is how close can you d=get to a sanctuary area without going into it. We have one large area in the center of the property, it is sides of two ridges and the hollow in between. The area is about 300 yards wide, and about 600 yards long. We dont go into this area much, and Ive been staying out if there for the last few years, thinking of using this area as a sanctuary, but the thing is that on one ridge is a large food plot, and the other ridge is a logging road that we use to access other parts of the property, is it useless as a sanctuary if they smell me or hear me go past the edge of the area? Is it large enough to work as a sanctuary area?
02-04-2005 | 08:11 PM
#5
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
From: Roanoke, VA
RE: deer sanctuary questions
Sounds like it would be a fine place to have a sanctuary. Traveling around the edge might not be so bad, if they don't spook when you use it they may be traveling to the other side where the food plot is anyway. The purpose of a sanctuary is to give them a place to bed in and feel safe from hunting pressure. If you spook them on the edges it may cause them to leave or hole-up inside the thick stuff. It would be good if the food plot borders it.
They can leave the cover and go right to the food! If the area is not thick with under growth you may want to try some timber stand improvement to make it thicker and provide some browse.
They can leave the cover and go right to the food! If the area is not thick with under growth you may want to try some timber stand improvement to make it thicker and provide some browse.
02-04-2005 | 08:43 PM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 10,079
Likes: 0
From: Ponce de Leon Florida USA
RE: deer sanctuary questions
Not sure about the density of your timber stand, but it may be a good idea to do some select cutting. The tops will provide great bedding area and the open sunlight will encourage the growth of natural briars and other food sources for the deer. Open up a couple of good food plot areas while the cutting is going on. Pick out choice areas for the plots.
02-05-2005 | 04:18 PM
#7
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 241
Likes: 0
From:
RE: deer sanctuary questions
Hello,
Think outside the box. Do not waste your land on sanctuaries....In an average deer population density of 10 deer per sq. mile you have less then 1/2, more like 1/3 so you would only be making refuge for 3 to 5 deer... Instead make some drawing power plot in the center of your property. Hunt the perimeter of your land. Let the neighbors property work for you. It's like having land that isn't your's. If it takes a deer 1 hour to move on through your land to get to the center, and they feed there after dark it should put them in your sights about 30 minutes till dark. I hope this gives you some insight. Keep it simple.
Think outside the box. Do not waste your land on sanctuaries....In an average deer population density of 10 deer per sq. mile you have less then 1/2, more like 1/3 so you would only be making refuge for 3 to 5 deer... Instead make some drawing power plot in the center of your property. Hunt the perimeter of your land. Let the neighbors property work for you. It's like having land that isn't your's. If it takes a deer 1 hour to move on through your land to get to the center, and they feed there after dark it should put them in your sights about 30 minutes till dark. I hope this gives you some insight. Keep it simple.
ORIGINAL: Angus74
We have 250 acres of land that we have had in the family for generations, and have been managing bucks for a while now, by anly taking mature bucks and taking more does and making sure they have good food to eat. It is almost all mature oak timber, white oak, post oak, and black oak, and also has water and seven food plots on it. I keep reading about sanctuaries and am thinking about creating one on our land. Now, what im wondering is, we are bordered by a man on two sides who dont allow any hunting whatsoever, and will let no one on his property, he doesnt hunt, and doesnt ever get out of the lower bottoms on the farm, and that is over a mile from our line, so his entire property is like a sanctuary to the deer, as they are never pressured there, and never encounter humans on most of his land. So should I bother to waste some of my own land to make a sanctuary with all the safe land they have on him? Im thinking I should let them feel safe on his land and continue to improve my land in the food area, and keep some good cover in places, and good water to draw them across the fence. Any advice is appreciated.
We have 250 acres of land that we have had in the family for generations, and have been managing bucks for a while now, by anly taking mature bucks and taking more does and making sure they have good food to eat. It is almost all mature oak timber, white oak, post oak, and black oak, and also has water and seven food plots on it. I keep reading about sanctuaries and am thinking about creating one on our land. Now, what im wondering is, we are bordered by a man on two sides who dont allow any hunting whatsoever, and will let no one on his property, he doesnt hunt, and doesnt ever get out of the lower bottoms on the farm, and that is over a mile from our line, so his entire property is like a sanctuary to the deer, as they are never pressured there, and never encounter humans on most of his land. So should I bother to waste some of my own land to make a sanctuary with all the safe land they have on him? Im thinking I should let them feel safe on his land and continue to improve my land in the food area, and keep some good cover in places, and good water to draw them across the fence. Any advice is appreciated.
02-06-2005 | 07:43 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,973
Likes: 0
From: cazenovia, NY USA
RE: deer sanctuary questions
I'll agree with Wild Work on this one - And - I would continue to keep the hunting pressure light.
We also have a VERY lightly hunted parcel next door - about 200 acres. Its our "sanctuary" (no bowhunting - gun hunted only 2-3 days/year) - and no doubt a couple big bucks make it every year by knowing where it is after opening weekend.
We too have "good cover" and we lightly hunt it the best we can by not entering the 5-10 acre thick blocks and hunting the fringes of known bedding areas. We keep plenty of does on the property and a few bucks too - But I do feel that we hunt it too much to HOLD a big buck - in hiding during the season.
Sure they are there sometimes - our food plots ensure that they at least come to feed at night. Often enough for my taste - it works out that we eventually get a chance at one or two of the more dominant bucks in the area.
We also have a VERY lightly hunted parcel next door - about 200 acres. Its our "sanctuary" (no bowhunting - gun hunted only 2-3 days/year) - and no doubt a couple big bucks make it every year by knowing where it is after opening weekend.
We too have "good cover" and we lightly hunt it the best we can by not entering the 5-10 acre thick blocks and hunting the fringes of known bedding areas. We keep plenty of does on the property and a few bucks too - But I do feel that we hunt it too much to HOLD a big buck - in hiding during the season.
Sure they are there sometimes - our food plots ensure that they at least come to feed at night. Often enough for my taste - it works out that we eventually get a chance at one or two of the more dominant bucks in the area.
