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Post by bartiks on Aug 27, 2015 1:54:41 GMT -5
I couldn't agree more about corn for the cover, as for what they frequent more. I guess I really haven't paid that much attention, I always look for heavily traveled trails and then kind of go from there. However after reading this thread I will definitely start paying more attention. And probably throw my camera along a field edge and the like to see what I can see. On a whole I guess every situation is different depending upon the layout of the ground. I have a layout that by all rights is very confusing to me.
I thought I would definitely see them along the field edges, however there is a trail that cuts right through a woods about 20 yards from the field, but very little activity from that trail to the field.
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Post by span870 on Aug 27, 2015 5:48:35 GMT -5
I'm going to have to say corn. I hunt a fairly large wooded property, approximately 500 acres all woods, that is surrounded by crop fields. The rotation just happens to be the north and south end will be opposite corn and beans. There is a deffinate pattern where I would see the majority of deer. On north corn years I'd see the majority of my deer on the north end. On corn south years, the complete opposite. The south end is bordered by a fairly large group of fields. In the neighborhood of 300 acres. On beans south end years, its like a ghost town on the south end.
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Post by kevinhunter on Aug 27, 2015 8:03:55 GMT -5
Beans, until they turn brown. The deer like the sweetness of the taste of the beans when they are green, but the beans become very bitter when they start to turn brown and become less of a preferred food choice (as long as they have others to chose from-corn & acorns). That is why you see so much activity in and around the bean fields in the summer months and very early fall, but then it switches to corn and acorns by mid-fall till harvest or winter time. Then in late season any food source that is high in protein and calories becomes the food source of choice to the deer. In late season old harvested stubble bean fields come back into play as well as harvested but not tilled corn stubble fields-anything that the combine left behind is the key. But, acorns as long as they are around and on the ground are the preferred food choice for most deer year round in my neck of the woods! And of course other factors way heavily throughout the season as well to preferred food sources for deer-ample cover, hunting and human pressure, preferred bedding and sanctuaries for the deer.
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Post by BOWn Hunter on Aug 27, 2015 11:11:25 GMT -5
Although in my time hunting I've had more success with corn, I still prefer beans early season because of being able to see them anywhere in the field. I've had a LOT of deer cross my path in beans but I always end up passing them up until later in the year. With corn, you are limited to them being on the outside edge. I've had numerous times where a nice shooter buck would come into the field and start heading my way then turn into the field. If he even goes 3-4 rows in it eliminates any shot opportunity whereas beans usually doesn't take away your shot. But like previously stated, I've killed more deer in corn than I have beans. So really I think it's just a matter of luck and where the deer decides he/she wants to walk that particular day. I do mainly all bow hunting so any amount of foliage in the way becomes a HUGE issue. Using a gun is a little more forgiving shooting through some lighter brush or stalks.
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Post by Woody Williams on Aug 27, 2015 11:22:36 GMT -5
Recently picked corn fields are deer magnets....
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Aug 27, 2015 12:21:04 GMT -5
I still think they like to bed in the corners of a corn field. When I looked for my buck there were two beds in the corner and his blood trail went there; he just didn't die there. He even ran up hill and jumped a fence to get there.
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Post by huntnandplumbn on Aug 27, 2015 14:19:31 GMT -5
I believe that deer absolutely love the corn. Especially standing corn. Mature deer especially realize that they can stay in there and if they have water somewhere in the mix literally don't have to leave. In my area standing corn is the single biggest season killer as long it's left standing. I've watched corn stalks getting plowed thru during the rut by obvious chasing only to never see a single deer in the persute.
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Post by squirrelhunter on Aug 27, 2015 21:59:27 GMT -5
I still think they like to bed in the corners of a corn field. When I looked for my buck there were two beds in the corner and his blood trail went there; he just didn't die there. He even ran up hill and jumped a fence to get there. Yeah they do bed in corn fields....a lot.
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