My wife and I just bought a 22 acre farm and I am interested in managing it for deer and turkey. The deer are definitely already there but I would like to make the land even better for hunting. My wife doesn't really understand the whole hunting thing so whatever I do has to be relatively cheap so she'll let me do it! haha.
About 15 acres of my land is wooded in hard woods with plenty of green briars and berries for deer. My land is not so much used for bedding down as it is for a crossing between the land on either side of me. The trails are very defined and it's not uncommon to see six or eight deer in my yard in the evenings. However, I'm not one to shoot one that is standing in my yard!
I've been searching the internet and would like to get some good advice on what I can do to increase the appeal of my land for deer and turkey. I need things that are more labor intensive though instead of costly. I'm definitely willing to work at it with sweat equity. I'm going to cut ATV trails, keep portions of the woods mowed, etc. I have a corn feeder out and I will probably get another one. Are these good things to do? What else can I do? I've been reading about food plots and would love to be able to have a couple plots. Most of the feed looks really expensive though. Any recommendations on something that works pretty well and is cost effective? I have a great place for a couple of plots.
Thanks for any help. By the way, feel free to point me toward resources that I can read on my own. I don't expect anyone to pour out all of the answers in this forum. Thanks!
About 15 acres of my land is wooded in hard woods with plenty of green briars and berries for deer. My land is not so much used for bedding down as it is for a crossing between the land on either side of me. The trails are very defined and it's not uncommon to see six or eight deer in my yard in the evenings. However, I'm not one to shoot one that is standing in my yard!
I've been searching the internet and would like to get some good advice on what I can do to increase the appeal of my land for deer and turkey. I need things that are more labor intensive though instead of costly. I'm definitely willing to work at it with sweat equity. I'm going to cut ATV trails, keep portions of the woods mowed, etc. I have a corn feeder out and I will probably get another one. Are these good things to do? What else can I do? I've been reading about food plots and would love to be able to have a couple plots. Most of the feed looks really expensive though. Any recommendations on something that works pretty well and is cost effective? I have a great place for a couple of plots.
Thanks for any help. By the way, feel free to point me toward resources that I can read on my own. I don't expect anyone to pour out all of the answers in this forum. Thanks!