Preparing for next deer season (Texas)

[skywalkrNCSU]

This was my first year hunting and while I got a couple decent does I want to step it up next year and fill all my tags and get a buck worthy of mounting if I can. I have access to about 100 acres of land but it isn't set up for hunting aside from a couple old deer blinds that aren't in very good locations.

The point of my post, where can I find information on things like when to set up feeders, when to feed what, good places for feeders, etc.

I am very new to the hunting world and so while I might think a certain place is a good spot for a feeder I might be way off. Also, I don't want to waste money and feed to early or wait too long either.

 

[sage5907]

The purpose of a deer feeder is to keep deer on your land and to pull deer off of other people's land. To do this I feed corn to deer 12 months out of the year. On 100 acres of land you could probably use 2 feeders. A good feeder to start with is the BossBuck 200 pound on demand feeder which holds 3 sacks of corn. I would put 150 pounds or 3 sacks in each feeder once a month so in your case the cost would be $35 a month at $6 a sack. Deer are pickey about the corn so I they don't eat it switch brands. If you've got extra money to spend on feed you could start feeding Purina AntlerMax and mix one sack into each 2 sacks of corn. You should feed it now after they loose their antlers and up through the summer months when the bucks are growing antlers. AntlerMax is about $16 per sack so you can buy at least 2 sacks of corn for the same price. I hope you have a water source on the property so the deer don't have to leave to drink. Place your feeder close to the trees and brush or back in the trees and brush so the deer feel comfortable coming to it in the day time. You need a shooting lane about 100 yards long going to the feeder from your shooting spot. Buy a deer camera something like the Moultrie 1100i and place on near each feeder.

 

[MCgunner]

I used to set up in August. That gave the deer enough time to get used to the feeder. I feed year around, now. It's just out back of the house a couple hundred yards into the woods, so it's no big deal.

I have a road maintainer drag and just picked up a disc harrow for my ATV. I plan to put in a couple of micro food plots for next season, too. I need to get to studying the different plants they have just for that now days. Back when I was a kid, they just planted oats.

A few years back, I had a lot of clover in my front yard. Every morning I had 5 or 6 deer grazing in my front yard, would get up and make the coffee with the light off so as not to spook 'em too early and just watch 'em. I'm thinkin' clover might be the deal.

 

[Art Eatman]

Does will find a feeder, regardless of location. Bucks tend to hang around in the brush nearby but commonly not directly at the feeder during daylight. So, a stand located where you can look into the brush near the feeder.

 

[SoonerMedic]

Also, if you don't have a year round source of water, don't sweat it. You can always create a source of reliable water if you need to. I would also recommend setting out minerals so that the bucks that you do end up attracting have a good supply of calcium so that they can grow a nice rack! During the off season, you can even feed them apples and other treats. I might even try and make your scent known and make it common around the feed so that they are accustomed to your smell so they might not spook as easily if they catch a whiff of you when you're out on the hunt. If you can, buy more than one trail cam and set them up in different locations and angles so that you get a better idea as to which direction they typically come from and exit to as well as where they hang out to graze, spar and get a piece of that sweet sweet doe tail.

 

[skywalkrNCSU]

Thanks guys, this is really helpful information. There is water on the property, a couple ponds and water troughs for sheep so that should work well. I saw some really nice bucks at the end of last season (when I got started, way too late) but they were just over the fence on the neighbors place. I am going to have a lot more time to hunt this year and a lot more time to set things up so now I need to get a feeder going.

 

[sage5907]

If you have other animals like sheep or cattle on the property you will have to build a pen out of hog wire or field wire to surround your feeder. Do not use welded wire because hogs can break the welds. You will need four wood 6 inch corner posts and steel T posts every 10 feet around the pin. A farm supply will have hog wire or field wire that is either 42 or 48 inches tall. Either height is OK. If you have wild hogs your T posts need to be 5 feet apart and make sure you clip the bottom 4 wires. A pen that is 40 feet square is probably big enough. Hogs or cattle will rub up against the legs of the feeder and shake the corn out. Sheep may do the same thing.

 

[BigBore44]

One thing of note, just because a deer blind or old stand doesn't seem to be in a good location, don't discount that location. There was a reason someone put that blind or stand there once upon a time. By your own admission, you're a novice. They might be awesome locations.

When I'm walking a piece of property, one thing I ALWAYS do is look for old stands and mark those locations on my GPS. More times than not, they end up being good places to set a new stand.

 

[Flintknapper]

I used to set up in August. That gave the deer enough time to get used to the feeder. I feed year around, now. It's just out back of the house a couple hundred yards into the woods, so it's no big deal.

Excellent!

Since I live on the property I hunt, it is easy for me keep feeders going year 'round. I know that is not the case for everyone, but for anyone who CAN, it is a good thing to do. Not solely because it attracts and holds animals, but because it 'Gives Back'.

During the late winter months (before the Spring green-up) and again during the late Summer months (before there is mast or when the native grasses are dry and dying)....feeders can help to alleviate the stress some animals suffer.

IF feeding corn....you will note that many animals benefit from it. NOT just deer or certain other targeted animals.

Many types of birds will utilize it. Raccoon, Possum, Fox, Turkey, Hogs etc.....all will use a corn feeder.

Food plots are another good way to 'give back' to the ecosystem and wildlife....instead of just 'taking'.

So my hat is off to all who do this for the purpose of helping to sustain ALL the wildlife and not just for sake of 'killing' a few.

 

[Nature Boy]

If you're familiar enough with your property to know the routes that deer are traveling it's always a good idea to put a feeder down near a high traffic area.

Then, do a little research on the direction of the prevailing wind during hunting season and put your stand down wind of the feeder with good visibility to it and the approaches

Considering the variability of the winds in texas during the fall and winter, having a back up plan is always good too.

 

[horsey300]

Also, if you don't have a year round source of water, don't sweat it. You can always create a source of reliable water if you need to. I would also recommend setting out minerals so that the bucks that you do end up attracting have a good supply of calcium so that they can grow a nice rack! During the off season, you can even feed them apples and other treats. I might even try and make your scent known and make it common around the feed so that they are accustomed to your smell so they might not spook as easily if they catch a whiff of you when you're out on the hunt. If you can, buy more than one trail cam and set them up in different locations and angles so that you get a better idea as to which direction they typically come from and exit to as well as where they hang out to graze, spar and get a piece of that sweet sweet doe tail.

Along with the mineral train of thought, my deer like a nice supply of salt as well. I'm surrounded by farm ground so there's nothing graze wise I can offer from corn to wheat to alfalfa that they can't get every other place too. But I keep salt out and LOTS of animals enjoy it!

 

[SoonerMedic]

Also, if you would like to save money....instead of buying an expensive feeder with a timer etc.. you can always build a gravity feed PVC feeder for just a few bucks. There are several different ways you can build them, just do a google/youtube search. This is what I plan on doing for this next season.