j-bird
Moderator
I have a perennial foodplot that I have had in place for a few years now. It's about 3/4 acre in size, has 3 apple trees in it and is mainly clovers, chicory and alfalfa. Every time I let the grasses or other broadleaf weeds get out of hand (like right now the cool season grasses are knee to waist high) I go out to mow or spray and I find doe beds - several of them. I don't mow until later in the spring to avoid killing turkeys, rabbits and fawns. It's a small gradual south slope with some elevation advantage. I understand why the deer would bed there. My question is should I simply leave well enough alone and let the deer use the plot for bedding and not maintain it as a plot anymore? Within the last few years I have added native grasses around the plot to increase the cover aspect and it is coming along and I have a small annual plot right next to this area as well. Am I screwing myself by using the area as a plot when the deer are essentially telling me they want to use it for bedding? My area grossly lacks cover and I try to provide as much cover as I can, but I also try to provide both perennial and annual food sources for the deer to ensure Ihave all the gaps covered.
If I let the deer bed there - how effective will it be if I continue to use the small plot right next to this area?
If I let the deer bed there - how effective will it be if I continue to use the small plot right next to this area?