Deer Sanctuarys
10-22-2007, 06:26 AM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2004
Location: Albany, NY
Posts: 4,679
RE: Deer Sanctuarys
I have 3x sanctuaries on mine, 2x of them right off food plots. 2x of them never get hunted, maybe a quick walkthrough in March or so to look for sheds and that's it. The other area gets hunted, but I can get in and out without being detected, and ONLY hunt when the wind is in my favor in there.
10-22-2007, 06:47 AM
#12
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 2,849
RE: Deer Sanctuarys
The sactuary on our farms is about 10-15 acres and we never go in there except to retrieve a deer. The deer literally live in there and we just hunt the edges during the rut. It has made a world of difference.
I disagree on the food plots. I think it helps to have out another food source that is different than the others for the deer. They rerouted their trails to take them through our plots and they browse on them frequently. Are they necessary? No. Do they help? I think they do.
Like Germ said, cover is the most important thing as far as I am concerned. I am adding at least 10 acres of long and short bluestem next year. The 10-12 acres I have that is just reforesting is a magnet for deer right now. They used to never use this field, now they are in it consistently. It will take years, but I will get my farm right eventually.
I disagree on the food plots. I think it helps to have out another food source that is different than the others for the deer. They rerouted their trails to take them through our plots and they browse on them frequently. Are they necessary? No. Do they help? I think they do.
Like Germ said, cover is the most important thing as far as I am concerned. I am adding at least 10 acres of long and short bluestem next year. The 10-12 acres I have that is just reforesting is a magnet for deer right now. They used to never use this field, now they are in it consistently. It will take years, but I will get my farm right eventually.
10-22-2007, 06:55 AM
#13
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location:
Posts: 21,043
RE: Deer Sanctuarys
I don't give 'em a square foot of sanctuary. I push the limit and hunt every nook and cranny of the land I have access to.
Ahhhh, but the untold truth is....I hunt a man-made breakline that's the border of their 230 acre sanctuary. Parks system.....no hunting. Perfect scenario. If it didn't exost the way it did.....I'd probably screw it up by hunting in there. As it is.....it keeps ME in check.
Ahhhh, but the untold truth is....I hunt a man-made breakline that's the border of their 230 acre sanctuary. Parks system.....no hunting. Perfect scenario. If it didn't exost the way it did.....I'd probably screw it up by hunting in there. As it is.....it keeps ME in check.
10-22-2007, 07:21 AM
#16
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan/Ohio
Posts: 11,682
RE: Deer Sanctuarys
ORIGINAL: huntingson
The sactuary on our farms is about 10-15 acres and we never go in there except to retrieve a deer. The deer literally live in there and we just hunt the edges during the rut. It has made a world of difference.
I disagree on the food plots. I think it helps to have out another food source that is different than the others for the deer. They rerouted their trails to take them through our plots and they browse on them frequently. Are they necessary? No. Do they help? I think they do.
Like Germ said, cover is the most important thing as far as I am concerned. I am adding at least 10 acres of long and short bluestem next year. The 10-12 acres I have that is just reforesting is a magnet for deer right now. They used to never use this field, now they are in it consistently. It will take years, but I will get my farm right eventually.
The sactuary on our farms is about 10-15 acres and we never go in there except to retrieve a deer. The deer literally live in there and we just hunt the edges during the rut. It has made a world of difference.
I disagree on the food plots. I think it helps to have out another food source that is different than the others for the deer. They rerouted their trails to take them through our plots and they browse on them frequently. Are they necessary? No. Do they help? I think they do.
Like Germ said, cover is the most important thing as far as I am concerned. I am adding at least 10 acres of long and short bluestem next year. The 10-12 acres I have that is just reforesting is a magnet for deer right now. They used to never use this field, now they are in it consistently. It will take years, but I will get my farm right eventually.
I do agree plots will work, for some reason not for me. I am curious to see how others who hunt river bottoms do it.
10-22-2007, 08:02 AM
#18
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Southwest Ohio
Posts: 2,849
RE: Deer Sanctuarys
ORIGINAL: Germ
What are you planting? Maybe I planted the wrong stuff[8D] I have 3 out right now, deer just do not bother them[:@] My neighbor has a great one, never seen a deer in it. I see the deer on the river bottoms eating the greens.
I do agree plots will work, for some reason not for me. I am curious to see how others who hunt river bottoms do it.
What are you planting? Maybe I planted the wrong stuff[8D] I have 3 out right now, deer just do not bother them[:@] My neighbor has a great one, never seen a deer in it. I see the deer on the river bottoms eating the greens.
I do agree plots will work, for some reason not for me. I am curious to see how others who hunt river bottoms do it.
10-22-2007, 08:07 AM
#19
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: PA
Posts: 8,167
RE: Deer Sanctuarys
ORIGINAL: huntingson
Well, I am not necessarily hunting all river bottoms. Our land is bordered on the west by a large creek, but it then goes up eastaway from the creek and goes up about 75-100 feet vertically. We planted a mixture of clover, chickory (sp?), and turnips. They don't go into them and just eat for 10 minutes, but they will browse through them very frequently. Our plots are small and we placed them just outside known bedding areas. I am no food plot expert though. I just know what has happened here.
ORIGINAL: Germ
What are you planting? Maybe I planted the wrong stuff[8D] I have 3 out right now, deer just do not bother them[:@] My neighbor has a great one, never seen a deer in it. I see the deer on the river bottoms eating the greens.
I do agree plots will work, for some reason not for me. I am curious to see how others who hunt river bottoms do it.
What are you planting? Maybe I planted the wrong stuff[8D] I have 3 out right now, deer just do not bother them[:@] My neighbor has a great one, never seen a deer in it. I see the deer on the river bottoms eating the greens.
I do agree plots will work, for some reason not for me. I am curious to see how others who hunt river bottoms do it.
And both grow well in poor soil.
10-22-2007, 08:07 AM
#20
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Michigan/Ohio
Posts: 11,682
RE: Deer Sanctuarys
I am going to try
Chickory next year and turnips, I have seen deer do exactly what you stated. Kind of browse their way through the plot.
I guess my post came out wrong. Plots don't work like you see on TV where the deer browse in them for 30 mins. I think a lot of people have a mis-conception of how plots work. Sometimes you plant them, and nobody shows up
What I did not do is plant them close to bedding areas, I am going to try that next year.
Chickory next year and turnips, I have seen deer do exactly what you stated. Kind of browse their way through the plot.
I guess my post came out wrong. Plots don't work like you see on TV where the deer browse in them for 30 mins. I think a lot of people have a mis-conception of how plots work. Sometimes you plant them, and nobody shows up
What I did not do is plant them close to bedding areas, I am going to try that next year.