18 -Official Team Rack-a-Maniacs Thread
08-18-2007, 05:21 PM
#52
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Midway Ky USA
Posts: 1,157
RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
I run corn only. It's cheaper and deer love it. I usually will run the feeder from August until January. Probably about 800 lbs per month. Our buck to doe ratio is way out of hand and the feeder help concentrate the does so we can thin them out a bit. My property is primarily a bedding area, so I have to create a food source and since I don't have the ability to plant, the feeder has worked.
I've had reasonble luck, all my good bucks were taken off the beaten path. It doesn't take the deer long to get into a pattern, I've only had the feeder out since August 1st.
I've had reasonble luck, all my good bucks were taken off the beaten path. It doesn't take the deer long to get into a pattern, I've only had the feeder out since August 1st.
08-19-2007, 07:58 PM
#57
Nontypical Buck
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Midway Ky USA
Posts: 1,157
RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
Big thanks to Matt....looks good.
I only have 100 acres, GT, mostly woods which borders a couple of horse farms that do not allow hunting, so I'm blessed with some good numbers and quality.I hope to get a pic of the deer I was after last year, you'll flip. He had an 8" drop tine last year, so there's no telling what he is now.
Talk to you all later. Kel
I only have 100 acres, GT, mostly woods which borders a couple of horse farms that do not allow hunting, so I'm blessed with some good numbers and quality.I hope to get a pic of the deer I was after last year, you'll flip. He had an 8" drop tine last year, so there's no telling what he is now.
Talk to you all later. Kel
08-20-2007, 12:51 PM
#58
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Findlay, Ohio
Posts: 3,286
RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
Kelly, I am glad you said that about yours being a bedding area. I have always seen beds as matted down circles in some tall soft grass as a deer bed. Deer sleep in alot of different areas over there home range as they move about, and I think that is the only beds I have ever seen, the ones that get used off and on. A spot I started hunting last year is what I consider a "primary" bedding area. I found this out by accident last year. This area was loaded with tracks and everything, sign every where, but I was not seeing much action. After the snow fell and toward the end of season I found a path in the snow heading into some thick stuff. The trail went into a area about twenty yards long and ten yards wide with about a dozen beds in it. By bed I mean a circle about four feet around worn down to the bare dirt. All kinda congregated together. I watched this spot after season and it was still used and is where the does have had there fawns. I consider this a primary area since it is used the majority of the time, thick stuff. Impossible for me to get in it with out sounding like a dozer coming in. Can you hunt the edges of these or do you need to stay away from them? Just curious on your thoughts of bedding areas.
08-20-2007, 06:47 PM
#59
Nontypical Buck
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Midway Ky USA
Posts: 1,157
RE: 18 - Official Team 18 Thread
Here at home, i don't have much choice but to hunt the primary bedding area. Early in the year, I'll hunt the edges where the trails come into the area from other food sources. I always leave a "sanctuary" area where I never go, season or off season, it gives the deer a guaranteed escape and makes them feel safe. As the season progresses, I'll push back in a bit, but never too close to the sanctuary. My home is located dead center of the farm and with two small kids, the deer get use to having us out and about during the summer months, so it's probably atypical of most other bedding areas. The deer have grown accustom to our presence. I've had 150" deer grazing 200 yards from our pool in the back, kids playing and all. It's a unique place to have the quality of deer we have, but like I said, there's about 1000 acres around us with no or very limited hunting. I count myself very lucky, although the deer do get overpopulated and suffer. I do my part and I have a few close friends that will come out and help thin down the does.
Anyhow, it's in your best interest to hunt off a primary bedding area, especially if you can hit the edges, but studying the areaand knowing how the deer will move will allow you the ability to tuck in there once and a while. I highly recommend late Oct until the third week of Nov. Bucks will cruise the area checking does fairly regularly.
Anyhow, it's in your best interest to hunt off a primary bedding area, especially if you can hit the edges, but studying the areaand knowing how the deer will move will allow you the ability to tuck in there once and a while. I highly recommend late Oct until the third week of Nov. Bucks will cruise the area checking does fairly regularly.