You ever heard the expression, “champions are made when no one is watching?” This also applies to hunting, in a sense.
That is, your success on opening day, when the shot counts, is a product of what you did during the off-season to increase your odds of success.
Namely, attracting deer to your plot. Here are a few things you can do.
Take Advantage of Water
You can plant, add structure, and use deer attractant basically anywhere. Access to water is a bit trickier, so you have to use what you’ve got.
Before planting your property, try to do so near a natural water source. Deer will be most comfortable and gravitate toward sources of water; even if you don’t have a lake or creek, you can improvise.
For instance, plant near a low area that floods when it rains, or if you have a small rivulet near your plot, consider damming it with logs and sticks to make it more appealing.
Add Cover, Create a Funnel to the Food Plot
Before you decide where to plant, you’ll either want to take advantage of existing cover or add your own.
Deer naturally follow line breaks and funnels that shield them on one or both sides. If you don’t have these natural features on your property, you can create them.
Plant native trees and shrubs in a linear fashion to create a corridor that generally leads toward your food plot. It will make deer feel more secure and it will lead them to the foot plot.
Planting
The next step is to plant forage that will both attract and entice deer and sustain them throughout the year.
Native warm-weather grasses such as switchgrass will provide cover, as well as forage in the desperate colder months.
You should also consider planting crops to provide deer feed such as:
● Alfalfa
● Clover
● Cereal rye
● Corn
● Cabbage
● Soybeans
● Sorghum
● Chicory
● Peas
● Oats
● Strawberries
● Beets
● Turnips
Crops like these (some of which will still thrive in the cold weather) will provide high-energy forage for deer throughout much of the year, keeping them close and, particularly, attracting bucks during the rut that will come to take advantage of the presence of dawdling does.
(You can also plant trees such as plum, persimmon, and apple trees, as these will require minimal maintenance, will not need to be planted year after year, and their fruits will attract deer.)
Utilize Deer Attractant
Deer, like humans, need minerals. All deer need them, but bucks, especially before the rut, need supplemental minerals to provide them with the calcium they need to sustain antler growth.
Use deer attractant to create an artificial salt lick or place minerals near your food plot to lure deer in. Deer attractants like these can make the difference between drawing in only a group of does and enticing a big buck to loiter around your property.
(To learn more about deer minerals and other top deer attractants on the market, visit LiveOutdoorSports.com. They carry a wide range of minerals and attractants at competitive prices and all orders get free ground shipping.)
Control Predators
Finally, deer not only flourish but are more at ease when they are not constantly harassed by predators, specifically coyotes, that take a toll on their fawns.
In the off-season, consider taking steps to control coyotes and foxes on your property. They are smart and will learn that once they’re a target, they’ll mostly clear off your land.
The Rest Is Up to You
Now that you’ve put some of these tips into action, the rest is on you as the deer hunter. Watch your trail cameras, use deer scent during the rut, get out in your stand, and stay quiet so you’ll hear that buck sneaking in silently when the time comes.
