Discussion on deer food plots

[CountryCub]

Sometime within the next two weeks, im going to disk my plot and plant it with either rye or that attractant from wal-mart. Hopefully this year will be my first time harvesting a deer, ever. My bait will be regular whole-kernal corn. Im planning to only take one doe, since the only buck around is a 4pt. (that I know of) Well, good luck er'body this season.

[Trent M]

Don't be fooled by something advertized as an attractant. If it is legal to pour some corn out that is probably the best thing to do to attract deer, as long as they pass by anyway. Is it legal for you to put out a salt block? That would work as well.

We don't all have a herd full of big bucks, but that shouldn't affect the hunting experience. We work with what we have!

[CountryCub]

It's a seed, Can't remember the name, but they have a small sized bag for around $8, all I need for my plot. Corn is legal and will be my main food source. Here, it's from $7- $7.50. Im checking with Florida Fish and Widlife to see if saltlick is legal, too. Im plan to build a feeder (corn) to hang from a tree. Im only going to take a doe this year, so my little 4 point can grow. We have plenty of does By the way, what caliber gun do you use?

[Trent M]

You have a good plan, one that WAY TOO MANY hunters miss ... you have to let the bucks live to let 'em grow. Too many hunters think they have to get a buck every year and don't care how small it is. Then they wonder why there are no big bucks. Last year, I let a decent 8-pointer walk during shotgun season.

In Illinois, the archery season lasts from Oct 1 'til the middle of January. We have 2 gun seasons: 3-day weekend before Thanksgiving and 4-day weekend after Thanksgiving. Shotguns w/slugs only - no rifles. I use my 12 gauge. The very sparse shotgun season and no rifles are surely reasons the deer hunting is so good in Illinois.

[Eugene]

Im checking with Florida Fish and Widlife to see if saltlick is legal, too. Im plan to build a feeder (corn) to hang from a tree. Im only going to take a doe this year, so my little 4 point can grow. By the way, what caliber gun do you use?

Missouri puts out free a small booklet titled Wildlife Code for Missouri, Rules of the Conservation Commission coverning all wildlife laws. They also put out pamphlets for each season: deer, trapping, fishing, etc..

In Missouri the feeder has to be empty for a considerable length of time before deer season starts. I think 30 days. The salt and/or mineral lick, if for cattle they can be left out year around, drawing in deer, no.

Size and type of gun or weapon used to hunt deer varies by State and if the individual has a phyiscal handicap. Iowa is shot gun only. Missouri is a rifle state. I use a 30-06 and a 20 gauge with rifled barrel in Missouri.

[bob in CT]

You have a good plan, one that WAY TOO MANY hunters miss ... you have to let the bucks live to let 'em grow. Too many hunters think they have to get a buck every year and don't care how small it is. Then they wonder why there are no big bucks. Last year, I let a decent 8-pointer walk during shotgun season.

In Illinois, the archery season lasts from Oct 1 'til the middle of January. We have 2 gun seasons: 3-day weekend before Thanksgiving and 4-day weekend after Thanksgiving. Shotguns w/slugs only - no rifles. I use my 12 gauge. The very sparse shotgun season and no rifles are surely reasons the deer hunting is so good in Illinois.

Big Horn sheep have evolved smaller horns in a very short period of time. Hunters have selected the trophies and Nature has responded. I have a food plot here in CT. It is otherwise known as my garden. I was cutting a downed oak tree in the woods this week and the soft ground was full of deer tracks. Bow only here in the 'burbs but my cousin has a disability waiver so he can use a crossbow. I hope he fills his freezer this season so I can fill mine next year!

[CountryCub]

Salt lick is legal only on privite land; on public, no consumable lures can be used. I'll be using a 7mm browning semi-automatic.Haha, I know that's huge, but im a country boy raised on shotguns, i'll manage. Im also hoping for some turkey action. We have November 20- 29 then December 12- January 17. I'll have to borrow my neighbors 12 Ga.

[LiL' Red]

You have a good plan, one that WAY TOO MANY hunters miss ... you have to let the bucks live to let 'em grow. Too many hunters think they have to get a buck every year and don't care how small it is. Then they wonder why there are no big bucks. Last year, I let a decent 8-pointer walk during shotgun season.

In Illinois, the archery season lasts from Oct 1 'til the middle of January. We have 2 gun seasons: 3-day weekend before Thanksgiving and 4-day weekend after Thanksgiving. Shotguns w/slugs only - no rifles. I use my 12 gauge. The very sparse shotgun season and no rifles are surely reasons the deer hunting is so good in Illinois.

Trent, you forgot muzzle loaders and more importantly... HANDGUN

[Trent M]

Big Horn sheep have evolved smaller horns in a very short period of time. Hunters have selected the trophies and Nature has responded. I have a food plot here in CT. It is otherwise known as my garden. I was cutting a downed oak tree in the woods this week and the soft ground was full of deer tracks. Bow only here in the 'burbs but my cousin has a disability waiver so he can use a crossbow. I hope he fills his freezer this season so I can fill mine next year!

Horns are very different from antlers. Antlers are shed and regrown each year. The 2 main reasons an area may not have large-antlered bucks are lack of nutrition and lack of age. A buck doesn't grow his biggest set of antlers until he is 5 or 6 years old and most never get there because too many hunters whack the little ones. The lack of nutrition aspect has been long-since proved in Texas. There were no big bucks down there until they started food plot and supplemental feeding programs, now they have some of the biggest in the country.

Of course Illinois has no such problems with nutrition, I just plant food plots for 2 reasons:

To hopefully see more deer while hunting ... and ...

More seat time on my Cubs!!!

[Trent M]

The plots are doing great. The oats are 8-12" tall (where they haven't been eaten) and the turnips are getting big as well. It should frost soon and the deer will be on the turnips when the greens get sweeter. I'll try to remember to take a pic next time I go out there.

On another topic, I've noticed that the persimmon trees are not doing very well this year. I usually have lots of them hanging in the trees. I need to check the big ol' 'simmon tree and see if it is loaded or not.