How To Improve Your Deer Hunting Property

Improving deer hunting property does take some hard work and commitment. What we do to improve our land usually benefits us the following year.

We all want to have better deer hunting on the properties we have access to hunt. Most times we can make small changes that will produce a great reward in seeing more deer and also attracting more deer.

Some changes we make have a instant reward and some changes we make will take a few months to a year to really increase our chances of tagging a big buck.

Here is some changes we can make to have some great rewards leading into the new season.

Water hole on top of a ridge from bedding to feeding. Great way to attract deer during the fall when they are scent checking bedding close by.

Upgrades To Make

1. Adding water holes to a property can really help increase deer activity to a certain location. Deer do get most of there moisture content from green food all spring and summer long. Expecting deer to hit your water hole during that time is not likely. In super hot days they may use it but expect heavy use in fall and winter months after all the green food dries up.

2. Soil sampling your food plots areas can have a major impact on attraction and the quality of food. People tend to skip this part and wonder why they have poor results. Getting a soil sample is cheap insurance.

3. Food plots are probably The number one attraction you can make. Most land owners would rather let you plant a food plot then start cutting down his timber. Besides that deer will find a place to bed when they have a quality food source available .

This is a secluded food plot for deer they can use after leaving there bedding area on the way to a destination food source.

Water Holes

Water holes are fairly easy to put in. If you have a tractor with a bucket consider yourself lucky. Digging them in can be a pain but if you grab a buddy you can install one in no time. Typically I like to install them on a known travel area on the way to food with a slight decline that way when it rains it can self fill. Most tractor supply stores sell them I usually buy the 110 gallon tanks they seem to work very well.

Soil Samples

Soil samples are so overlooked its insane. Its cheap insurance to have in order to get the most out of your hard work. Some people rush around and wait last minute to get stuff done and that make us take short cuts. You can 100 percent plant a food plot without taking a soil sample but why? Soil samples are fairly cheat you can get them almost anywhere. When you can a soil sample it will tell you 100 percent what to add fertilizer and lime wise. Adding fertilizer without knowing what you need is wasting money. You may not even need any. Soil most times is very acidic anyway so adding fertilizer is pointless. You are betting off spending money on lime.

Food Plots

Food plots are a powerful way to attract deer and to provide a good nutrition program. I would not deer hunt a property if I couldn’t put in a food plot “if im paying to hunt it” Deer feed 3,4,5 times a day and eat 4-8 pounds of food per day. Deer are also attracted to the most palatable food source they can find as long as its unpressured. Depending what state you are in will determine what to plant. Some things to consider would be buckwheat, soybeans, clovers, sunhemp, sunflowers, cow peas, winter wheat, winter rye, brassicas etc.

Taking the time to do soil samples will produce the best results. You will have more tonnage per acre and higher nutrient rich plant!