scrapes and rubs
- Thread starter jlane
- Start date
I for one disagree on the thought of food plots. I've owned my farm since 1991. Only seen a few deer and never over 3 in a group and they were just passing through.
10 yrs ago the adjoining 110 ac. farm went from crops to a horse hay baling operation. I started seeing more deer and I believe it was due to the year around available hay feed.
In 2013 I put in a 3.0 ac foot plot of clover and forage oats. I started seeing more deer coming into to my plots. During the winter I would see up to 15 deer feeding at a time in the food plots.
In 2014 I started seeing more deer and during the spring, summer and fall plus the winter. In all honestly I didn't see that many bucks. But during the fall and start of the rut I seen many bucks chasing does though my plots.
In 2015 I started seeing nice bucks feeding in the plots year round. Plus during the pre-runt, rut and post rut I seen numerous bucks cruising through the plots looking for does.
When I see deer walk out of the brush on the neighbors adjoining property, walk nonstop through a hay field and and go straight to my food plots to feed convinces me the food plots are drawing deer to the property and are worth while plus worth the expense and time spent. I will continue with the food plots and expanding to the west side of my farm. In spring of 2015 I started putting in about 1/4 of clover on a good NS trail going through a over grown pasture with cedar trees. I put up a cam and seeing nice bucks come through. In 2016 I will finish the project with about 1.5 ac. plot and I'm convinced the deer traffic will only increase.
I look at this way. Put a plate of candy beside a plate of green beans and most kids will flock to the candy because it taste good and is different.
For 22 yrs I never seen over 3 deer in a group. Now I see 5-7 deer in a group after putting in food plots.
Last edited:
TooTall71
Junior Member
I have to agree with MK.
I put in 1.5 acres of plots of clover and radishes on our 100 acre property this year for the first time and the results were nothing short of amazing.
The main field I have been seeing the most activity has produced at least 5 deer per evening sit starting on opening day of bow season, including 3 bucks 120" or better.
We never used to see deer in that field but a few times during the rut, and it was few and far between.
No one else in the area plants plots or crops, so I really believe that in a few years the health and size of the the deer will increase too, as many of the bucks we see in the area have thin racks because they are lacking a good food source and protein.
I guess it's all relative to size of deer herd in the area and available food sources, but, like I said, in just a few months it has made a significant difference on our property.
I put in 1.5 acres of plots of clover and radishes on our 100 acre property this year for the first time and the results were nothing short of amazing.
The main field I have been seeing the most activity has produced at least 5 deer per evening sit starting on opening day of bow season, including 3 bucks 120" or better.
We never used to see deer in that field but a few times during the rut, and it was few and far between.
No one else in the area plants plots or crops, so I really believe that in a few years the health and size of the the deer will increase too, as many of the bucks we see in the area have thin racks because they are lacking a good food source and protein.
I guess it's all relative to size of deer herd in the area and available food sources, but, like I said, in just a few months it has made a significant difference on our property.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
Getting caught up, some good updates that I've missed. Anything on the buck that's losing weight?
