As many of you know...i got this dog. Ol Fred. There is a time during spring and summer that i cannot run Fred on DNR lands without being on a short lead. The rest of the year we tend to go every second or third day. Walking, watching, scouting, flinging arrows. I try to be observant...Fred just hunts.
This year, they planted corn on much of the field sections of one site, including a large area that had been fallow for years. Lots of potential cover and food that i know will impact the deer. I found a pathway in a bend in the field where deer have been ducking in, from the forested section. I followed that in and sure enough, starting maybe 20 yards into the field they have a feeding area. I have pics, but they may not show well. In an area the size a a two car garage or more you can plainly see serious deer damage that is not visible from the field edge. I have noticed what may be other areas like this while driving around. Hmmm. I believe i am gonna spend a little time sitting in a corn field this year.
I just got back from my "start". Lots of grouse in the high meadows this year. A few of them ended up in a pan.
On another location the deer have trails. And they move year to year ( marsh grass areas). Not much, but enough to affect good spots for ME to sit. I was out a few weeks ago, bottle of fertilizer in pouch, and found what i think will be a very good spot for this year. Oh...some of that fertilizer spilled, accidently of course, right in front of that spot. How clumsy of me.
I live in a small NW Iowa town, there are no woods for 20 miles around here, yet, this morning there is a plot of sweet carn and then the aronia berry field. Right now about two blocks from my back yard, there are 8 deer that walked and grazed their way through the sweet corn and disappered in the aronia berry field. Ever eat an aronia berry? They are suppose to be deer resistant. Maybe not.
You will have to update your guilli suit Chuck! The corn monster, good for halloween too 😱
I will likely start out my season down by the creek moochin along looking for beaver sign. When the 'yotes moved in 7 or 8 years ago, the beaver disappeared. I'm ever hopeful they will come back.
One year they planted corn on state land about an hour from mr that had ears that were head high. they also planted that tall corn with the rows as wide as they were in the old corn pickers days. apparently it was a test to see how it faired. our area biologist is not fond of corn on the state lands, he thinks something else would be better, like an alphalfa clover mix.
Looks like you and Ol' Fred will have some great adventures in the corn.
Yes Sr Chuck, it's not easy to see the damage with all the green corn 🌽. When looking closer I can see where the deer 🦌 have grazed down the tender corn plants early in their development, and the plants recovered some what. A high percentage area to intersect deer. Good luck on your hunt, and let us know "The rest of your story".