Food plot plan 2018

Here is my food plot plan for 2018. Always looking for suggestions.

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Sticker, now that I had hit the 25year mark on my farm, I’m starting to rethink more about how I invest into it.
No doubt, plots work and assist in maintaining deer. As long as you have each season covered, I wouldn’t over think it too much.
As we have moved through so many different phases, the 1 thing that keeps deer around me is a sanctuary and enhanced bedding areas. It took about 5 or 6 years for the deer to get conditioned. But now that I’m 20+ years into an of limits area, it’s crazy how they migrate in.

Unfortunately, I neglected it for a few years, and I suddenly see some issues. The canopy has umbrellaed the floor and the brush is dieing off. Branch piles have decayed, and cover is not as plentiful as before. Additionally, the round bales I had are also deteriorating and I need to add more.
With these new issues, we’ve seen our first decline in how this beddingbarea has been utilized. Just a thought based on my farm

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Randy Wieland wrote:

Sticker, now that I had hit the 25year mark on my farm, I’m starting to rethink more about how I invest into it.
No doubt, plots work and assist in maintaining deer. As long as you have each season covered, I wouldn’t over think it too much.
As we have moved through so many different phases, the 1 thing that keeps deer around me is a sanctuary and enhanced bedding areas. It took about 5 or 6 years for the deer to get conditioned. But now that I’m 20+ years into an of limits area, it’s crazy how they migrate in.

Unfortunately, I neglected it for a few years, and I suddenly see some issues. The canopy has umbrellaed the floor and the brush is dieing off. Branch piles have decayed, and cover is not as plentiful as before. Additionally, the round bales I had are also deteriorating and I need to add more.
With these new issues, we’ve seen our first decline in how this beddingbarea has been utilized. Just a thought based on my farm

That’s an excellent point Randy. I started our sanctuary almost 5 years ago I believe. 17 acres on the northeast corner of the farm by the lake. We allow zero traffic in there except shed hunting and hinge cutting in the spring and of course tracking a wounded animal.

I did a major hinge cutting in 2014 because I was having the same issue. Huge canopy and limited underbrush. I took down a good amount of huge maple trees. I have done some smaller scale hinge cuts since. I agree 100%, having a sanctuary is a great help for holding deer.

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Sorry about the multiple posts. Having some data issues on my phone

I think Randy’s finger got stuck on the trigger with all those dup posts!
Question for you guys.
I started hinge cutting about 4 years ago. I had the same issue with large canopy trees and not a dam thing growing on the forest floor. I’m doing 1 to 2 acres every year now. I’ve had people ask me WTH i went and made that mess for. Some get it and some don’t. It’s amazing the new growth you see in it and is still improving. Deer that just passed thru it are now stopping in it.
I am noticing some of the trees that are hinged and were still growing, are now dead.
Do you go back in and cut the dead tops completely off so they fall on the ground?

I don’t, it’s still good cover whether it’s dead or alive. It’s nice to have them live for browse, but that doesn’t always work.

haleysgold wrote:

I think Randy’s finger got stuck on the trigger with all those dup posts!

haha Wasn’t me, it was the dam andriod

Do you go back in and cut the dead tops completely off so they fall on the ground?

NO! – The more that is on the ground will rot and decay faster. The idea is the cover, regardless if it alive or dead. When I watch spooked deer cross my field, they run into my sanctuary, deep enough that they are in the tree tops and brush piles. They do get a level of security by “hiding” among that broken view.
I’ll be out there shooting on my range. Maybe 100 rounds between myself and a friend. Pack up, and 20 minutes later I have deer walking out. On opening day of our gun hunt, we had 21 does/fawns in our field/plots and other 6 to 8 spread out in our tree plantings. Olivia shot a nice buck and of coarse they all bolted into the sanctuary. 10 minutes later, many of them were back out eating.

Keep as much dense cover as you can for them!

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