Buckfever1613

I am looking to clear out an area of land to create a new food plot. I am looking to clear between 2 and 3 acres. My question is if you could build a plot to any shape what would it be. Would you have a big square or irregular shape or what. Also would it be a good idea to make 2 smaller plots seperated by a twenty yard wide woodline to give the deer a funel. Any information would be great.

Also i am attaching a picture of the area i am planning on doing this in and was curious where the best place to put it would be. Would it be right in the middle or put it in the finger near the two draws.Thanks for any help

LebeauHunter

If it is timber or thick vegetation, I would make the plot irregular in shape.
This is supposed to make deer feel more comfortable moving around the
edges or getting them to come out. You don't have to make it look like
a snake, but leaving a little cover in the middle or making an hourglass or having fingers in your foodplot should help you see more deer during daylight in hunting season. It also looks more natural to you and the deer.

I didn't come up with this, it is the opinion of a noted whitetail biologist.

Good luck.

IL-Cornfed

You do NOT want your plots a square shape! You most certainly should want an irregular shaped plot and the most effective are the Hour Glass shape and the Bommerang "L" shape. These designs create the ultime treestand ambush locations and the most predictable deer utilization. You'll find some great suggestions about irregular shaped plots and tons of info on their contruction in the book "Gro 'Em Right". Good luck

MidwestJ

bump as I'm interested in this myself.

LebeauHunter

As to your question about two smaller plots with a twenty yard woodline between them. Just my opinion, but I don't think that will do much as a deer funnel. You probably would be better off with a large irregular shaped plot or L shaped plot. A more effective funnel would be going towards the foodplot from a bedding area.

I say this because we made two approx. two acre food plots with a nice meandering trail between them in the woods. I, as a human trying to think what a deer would do, thought that between the two would be a good ambush point, but no, so far they come from either a drainage canal off the back of one plot, or just appear from anywhere after hesitantly approaching and checking it out. This year I'm really going to study up on my ambush points away from the plots.

Disclaimer: That's just my opinion based on the deer and woods we have.

TexasOaks

Here's an example from an article I have:

Buckfever1613

if i did an hour glass shape about how wide should the pinch point be.

Dan O.

This should give you plenty of shooting positions.

Dan O.