Deer relating to Corn....
Whitetail Deer
Contributors to this thread:
I posted this on my state page but thought I would opt for opinions here too.
I have a theory that most of our herd is feeding on corn now and have been for the last couple months. I think I need to be patient till the deer decide they are tired of eating corn and or when they cut it.
My land is in farming country, it is a wooded ridge and low land partially circling an AG field (second year of beans) with several apple trees and oak trees on it. I also have a small 1/2 acre food plot and water hole that the deer stage in typically..
I was very encouraged early on before the season. Many does and fawns but not many bucks on camera. Then in late July I had a bachelor group show up with some nice ones in it.... Fast forward to the start of my season and I have seen fewer and fewer deer on cam. I am not hunting hard yet because I want to be careful not to mess up any one stand site (I have about 8 on my 38 acres).
Last weekend I hunted Saturday and Sunday morning with no sightings. Oh, I do hunt the wind and am careful about scent. This is not because of me. I am letting my cams scout for me.
OK, as I mentioned my land borders a 200 acre field. This is the second year it is in beans. My neighbor to the west of me has the same observations on deer sightings as I do. I drove east to the farmers on that side of our area and they are all in corn now.... My neighbor and I think the deer are zoned in on that corn. Funny, I have acorns (red and white) and apples falling on the ground with no takers... Weird, weird year. I have had this place 15 years and never seen the deer so concentrated on one food source like this.
I am being patient. I know they are still around. It is still very early. The leaves are dropping now so I expect things to change soon.
Have any of you guys had a year like this before where the deer were (I am assuming) so concentrated on one food source? I have been hunting this place a long time and when the 200 acre field is in corn I have had my best luck. Our local deer just really seem to like corn. They can eat and bed in safety I guess but you would think they would want more variety in their diet.
The farmer with the 200 acre field plans to grow beans for three years before he rotates in corn so I will have one more year like this. Not sure what more I can do to draw them out of the corn to the east. I do have a pasture that is CRP now that I am thinking about planting about an acres worth of corn next year as an experiment. I know it is small but might be a nudge to get them to travel more.
Time, season change and patience are my best hope this year. What do you think?
Bill
bill food are illegal in IL.
They are living in the corn...wait till it snows and hunt them in there...that's a blast to do!
My place is in WI but regardless food plots illegal?
suppose to say are they? I know mineral bocks and salt is
5, Yes that seems the case. I suspect the corn would get cut before we see snow but that would be fun. Farmers plant corn rows so close now though. Not like the old days when you could walk cross ways and move around in the rows.
Bill
Big, No food plots are ok/legal and many plant them as a supplemental food source and attractant. Mineral rocks and baiting are illegal and I don't do that. This is an agricultural area. We actually have an abundance of natural browse and crops. I might be naive but of my neighbors that hunt I am fairly sure none of them would consider doing anything that was not legal.
Hope that helps.
Bill
I get what you are saying but where I am at they are doing the complete opposite. We had a by far wetter than normal summer and there is browse everywhere. I am waiting for a freeze to send deer into their fall patern. I don't like hunting when it's 90 degrees and the mosquitos are out anyway.
All I know is that Genetically Engineered seeds are NOT to the deer & turkeys liking! (ie: round up ready , etc.)
The 'old type' of seeds that produce corn and soy beans was better for a food source for wildlife!
But it is what it is ......
Headhunter, What makes you think deer know the difference?
thinking they are in the oaks somewhere,if acorns are falling thats where they are
Check you white oaks for dropping acorns , the deer will feed there on a rotting pattern once every for or five days, check it daily till you find fresh droppins it will give you a heads up on when they are using it as a food source I have done this for many years it works wel once you get it figuredout!
When they cut the beans the deer will hit it hard for a week or so.
I have planted "genetically engineered" soy for several years and my deer must have missed the memo that they don't like it. To OP, how long is your season? Sounds like a perfect set up for late season if you don't score during the rut. I killed my 148/134 last season 1/20/14 on a feeding pattern during that bitter cold but our bow season runs to February.
Kea, I can hunt till January but usually don't get out much after the 3rd week in Dec. I feel and think your right. Once the corn is cut they will be back to normal.
Yote, I have a trail cam near one of the white oaks. Just one doe and fawn and like you say a rotation. Maybe every other day.
Last year we had a great chase phase during the rut. I passed a good looking heavy 6 pointer that was probably either 3-4 yrs old. I passed him because I had seen a nice 10 pointer the day before... That 6 was within 15 yards. What a sport we enjoy. so many what if's. Ha
Headhunter posted what i put on here late winter. It is why i planted cannamaize. I am a ruminant nutritionist and can say, even the university of wisconsin has done research that has mimicked what i have observed in the field. There is a reason why dairy, hog and poultry farmers have had to really grind the grains fine to get performance. The newer genetics of corn is designed to dry down. That causes the grains to be "harder and more like bullets."
For about 20 years i have been advocating for people to plant "softer kernel" varieties for deer plots.
But then again, there are also numerous other agronomic factors that come into play that effect plant nutrition and palatability.
I hunt se Nebraska. The deer live in the corn till its picked. They feed very heavy on the beans till they start turning but there bedding in the corn. Once the beans start turning then there off of them for the most part. Yes there is a lot of browse this year. They do come out of the corn but it is sporadic. Flat out deer have learned they are safe in corn. When it comes down they are way more visible.
Oh and they feed heavy on it. Just look at the first few rows when walking around a field. Round Up Ready or not, beans in the summer, corn in the fall its getting ate by deer.
The one thing i should mention is in area's where deer are use to consuming corn, that isn't as much of an issue as their system is set up to handle the starches. In areas of US, where deer aren't use to eating corn, one shouldn't be baiting with corn or supplemental/emergency feeding corn as it can kill deer. Deer are ruminants and just like how steers can be fed like pigs if done right, deer also can be more like a pig but going from a browse and forage diet to a high starch diet totally messes up with their systems.
They are staying in the corn during hunting hours. I'm certain they are on the acorns at night. All that food is great but, nothing trumphs the mighty acorn. Once the corn gets cut, your going to have a hard time getting into your woods without buggering the deer. Stay patient. Deer love corn and starched once the weather gets COLD. It ain't got that cold yet. God Bless
My guess is the deer are eating other food right now. See what Old Coyote said above! I agree with the acorns!
Tend to agree that the deer are living in the corn. Seen it in kansas for many years. Once its cut the hunting tends to get better.
Another vote for acorns being part of the cause. Usually when all the bucks "disappear" in my area which is late sept. early oct. allot is happening. The soybeans are dying, acorns start dropping, bucks are shedding velvet, and bachelor groups are splitting up. Its pretty much the same thing every year. Yeah you'll find deer in the corn but I do not think that means they are spending all of they're time in the corn.
In Colorado where I hunt there are no acorns and there's no beans to speak of that I've seen, they are in the corn pretty much 24/7 except to come get a drink.
The deer bed in the corn,they know it's the safest area and nobody bothers them because of the double planting. my farm in Ontario Canada,I watch deer for 23 years eat the soya beans year around. Their'sone week in the year that deer will not eat soya. They must know that the leaves and beans are 30 percent protein.
Actually the beans are 38% crude protein on a dry matter basis and the leaves are around 20-24%
Animals eat to meet their energy requirements
Soybean (seed) contains 12% more energy than corn Soybeans have very little starch which is a good thing.
Why i recommend planting forage beans with cannamaize is to get the best of all worlds. You get cover. You get protein. You also reduce the chance of over grazing of the beans.
Thanks for the correction. brent
I'm in Indiana . I know I am looking forward to some corn getting cut.
Had a much better outing this weekend. Saturday morning had a small buck within 15 yards. Too young but my first buck in range. He is going to be good. 1-1/2 and has 3 points on left with a palmated webbing, and 3 normal points on the right.
That evening had a doe and yearling come by. Yearling gave me an 8 yard shot that I passed. If the doe was standing there I would have taken her.
Did some scouting on Sunday and found an apple tree that is getting hammered. All kinds of poop around it. I set up a tripod stand (no good trees) on a hub of trails leading to the tree. Also placed a camera.
Speaking of cameras, I have much better activity now. Like I thought they are moving on to other food sources now.
Thanks, Bill