WTNUT
5 year old buck +
Here is my situation of a 1,200 acre farm that is 80 percent timber and 20 percent fields. Historically the farm had been plotted with corn and clovers. I am not far enough south to make summer my "stress period". To maximize antler growth my deer need winter food sources. For the last two years I have not supplemented their diet with corn via gravity feeders and have not planted corn or beans. There has been a 15% decline in mature buck antler size and similar decline in weight. Further, the properties surrounding me have changed hands. There are really only three property owners surrounding me. 2/3 of them have started to bait heavily with corn (legal in our state). The absence of corn, beans and supplemental feed on me has drawn a fair number of deer off my property.
In 2018, I have committed to start providing supplemental feed (probably primarily corn with some other things) starting now actually.
The big issue for me is do I plant all corn or all beans this year. I really need to do all and not a mix. If I mix, the beans get hit too hard and really the same for the corn. The beans will give them extra boost early in the summer, but they ignore beans October through mid December for the most part. If I get them planted early I can broadcast brassicas in the beans, but sometimes that does not work because this is bottom land and you can't plant it early enough to get the beans to mature in time to plant brassicas.
The corn provides nothing in the summer, but by mid September or the first of October they have plenty of food. While you can hunt the bean fields, the corn fields provide great cover and at times really nice bucks get in the corn and stay in the corn!
So what do you think?
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In 2018, I have committed to start providing supplemental feed (probably primarily corn with some other things) starting now actually.
The big issue for me is do I plant all corn or all beans this year. I really need to do all and not a mix. If I mix, the beans get hit too hard and really the same for the corn. The beans will give them extra boost early in the summer, but they ignore beans October through mid December for the most part. If I get them planted early I can broadcast brassicas in the beans, but sometimes that does not work because this is bottom land and you can't plant it early enough to get the beans to mature in time to plant brassicas.
The corn provides nothing in the summer, but by mid September or the first of October they have plenty of food. While you can hunt the bean fields, the corn fields provide great cover and at times really nice bucks get in the corn and stay in the corn!
So what do you think?
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