Hunting Land

[czl99]

The land that i hunted on this year was just logged out and the logging company left piles of brush every were in the woods, it looks like a disaster area. When i was walking around I didn't even see any signs of deer and when i hunted it this year there was deer every where. The brush piles are on some of the really good deer trails that i hunted by and I am worried that this is going to effect the hunting next year. From what i have see the deer have seemed to move out of the area from this. Will the deer eventually move back in to the area even though the acorn trees and there bedding areas have been destroyed.

[BDR]

In the area I hunt these logged areas make for great grazing areas for deer by the next year. The brush piles are usually burned in late winter if not they make for great blinds.

Brian

[bigdog]

Deer may change their trails/patterns a bit but these areas very often improve after the logging. Scout this late March and again during early fall to see where they like to move.

[Lunker]

Yea, it sucks when you first see your hunting areas get chopped up like that, but it turns out good in the end. As stated above it will turn into good grazing territory, and as long as there are woods surrounding some sides there will be deer movement across it. Do your scouting, hang your stands(or blind) on the edges, and be there at sunup and sunfall, they will feed these cuts in the night mostly, and during the day just around the edges. The woods near us get cut like this every so often, but there is always god hunting in the years to come.

[B mac]

I've been through it a few times myself. I can distinctly remember the crappy feeling of seeing the beautiful woods where you hunt get completely chopped. Makes me sick thinking of it! My experience has found that the does will definitely return. However, it seemed for me that buck quality was down the following year. Maybe just one's perception, but this is what I've experienced.

[This message has been edited by B mac (edited 01-16-2004).]

[Crusher]

Yes it sucks but as stated several times the new growth is good for grazing. I have one area I hunt that's is similar. My uncle had the DNR come in and clear cut a bunch of undergrowth to promote better habitat. The deer would show up just before dusk and graze near one of the huge piles. We turned one of the into a bow stand. Worked quit well! I suggest you do the same if the deer sign is present. As for less bucks who knows?
One things for sure if you have does and the ruts on, you'll have bucks!

[Finlander]

I would try to clear some area there if possible and plant some food plots to help antler growth and attract deer.
Also, try to create some deer trails by clearing brush and placing brush and branches to steer deer towards you when hunting.
Deer are lazy and will walk around objects rather than jump over the brush and branches that you have placed.
I would also clear an area where you could put one of those pop-up blinds near the trails you created.
I would!

[czl99]

How early in the spring do you need to plant a food plot?

[eyecrosser2000]

We've had the same thing happen many times to our group over the past 20 years. It is kind of an evolution of sorts after the first big cut. The next year the deer will still be traveling the same darn trails as the fall before--even if it is in the middle of the wide open cut. The next couple of years can be fantastic when the regrowth is still light enough to see (and shoot) through. Although, the deer seem to now have created a new network of trails that takes advantage of saddles and terrain features that keep them under low profile. The years after the regeneration is too thick to see or walk through are really frustrating. Tons of deer in the thick stuff, but you can only see a few feet in front of you and shooting lanes are nearly non-existent. After about 20 years (if you have that long to wait!) things start to thin out a bit and trails have really been established enough to find a good hub and set up a ground blind. Usually, it is still to tough to find a tree to hang a stand.

By the way--about planting foodplots--how does the state, feds, or dnr look at planting food plots on public land?? I would think this is not allowed, but I would sure like to know if it is ok because I've got a perfect spot I'd like to try it.