Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Habitat Improvement

IME the more land looks like a briar-infested hellhole, the more whitetails like it!

Leave one tree in the middle for a stand

There is a lot written about this. The property is too small to hold deer year around but you can really increase the visitors. Plant mast and fruit trees in thickets for cover.
Plant native feed crops they are a lot easier than cultivars as they will self sustain. Feeders and minerals will be an instant draw if legal.

Aim for around 30%+ cover with lots of edge habitat. Just running a plow or disc around can greatly improve forage.
Burning if possible will help a lot.

A large oat, clover, alfalfa field with brassicas, chicory and amaranths will be a huge magnate. Make it big enough so the deer don't eat everything before the season.

in some areas on our farm, i have started using access trails as shooting lanes & seeding them in winter grains in the fall.

the one in the pic is about a 1/2 mile long; we disc it and plant a 20' wide strip seeded with 60/40 wheat/rye, and overseed with clover...it does well in shaded areas, and is a good draw for deer that might otherwise be hesitant to come to our large plots in daylight.

if you plan on putting in access trails anywhere, this would let you utilize them as shooting lanes & provide easy access around the property.

we also plant 8-12 smaller plots rather than any large ones, with the small plots 1-4 acres ea.

feeders are good draw, water is a must...

Food plots year around keeps them on your place

Food plots year around keeps them on your place