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Started By
Message
Developing Virgin Land for Deer Hunting
Posted on 10/16/25 at 10:11 am
Posted on 10/16/25 at 10:11 am
I recently received permission to start deer hunting some old family land. It is roughly 30 acres of undeveloped timberland. 2 sides of the tract are farmland (already harvested corn and soybeans) that I have access to. 1 side is a levee. The other side is 180-acre timberland already developed for deer hunting by a neighbor (food plots, shooting lanes, etc.) I have been told deer are plentiful and the farmers need help with population control. To this point I only rifle hunt but am willing to add a bow to my skills in the future.
What should be the priorities for making this easily huntable in the future? Are shooting lanes/food plots necessary on a tract so small? Would you cut into the timberland, or just hunt the edges by baiting? Since this will be the first time the neighbor will have “competition” on the deer, would you contact them to let them know to expect others in the vicinity? Any other considerations I need to make?
This year the plan is to dump bags of corn on the edges and hunt from a pop-up blind and hope for the best. These new plans are for next year.
What should be the priorities for making this easily huntable in the future? Are shooting lanes/food plots necessary on a tract so small? Would you cut into the timberland, or just hunt the edges by baiting? Since this will be the first time the neighbor will have “competition” on the deer, would you contact them to let them know to expect others in the vicinity? Any other considerations I need to make?
This year the plan is to dump bags of corn on the edges and hunt from a pop-up blind and hope for the best. These new plans are for next year.
11
Posted on 10/16/25 at 10:14 am to cherrycoke
quote:
This year the plan is to dump bags of corn on the edges and hunt from a pop-up blind and hope for the best. These new plans are for next year.
Sounds like a sanctuary for the deer. Your neighbors and farmland all have bait out. I would just hunt it this year and see. Once you put bait out you change their patterns It may be the perfect the way it is
Posted on 10/16/25 at 10:15 am to cherrycoke
quote:
This year the plan is to dump bags of corn on the edges
do yourself a favor and just invest in a quality feeder. set it on timer.
Posted on 10/16/25 at 10:36 am to cherrycoke
I would hunt it this year as-is and learn the patterns and the land. Hunt the edges where the timber meets open farmland. Throw some liquid mineral out near the treeline and put a camera on it. Also, if no one else is hunting the open farm land, see if the landowners will let you plant the turn rows or edges with good food plot seed. Sit in a pop-up and watch that tree line and learn when they move.
Posted on 10/16/25 at 10:45 am to cherrycoke
I agree with others about just hunting it as is year 1 to learn the natural patterns.
That would be a very good move, but don't tell him to "expect competition". Tell him you got permission to hunt an adjacent tract and you would like to know if they have any rules with regards to harvesting animals like 8 points or better on bucks, or some clubs say you have to kill a doe first before you kill a buck, etc.
I share a creek system with two much larger land owners (400 ac. + each side of me) and I sit right in the middle on 56 ac. with the creek bisecting my property. We have a group chat, share pics, expectations and target bucks we agree are shooters. Cooperating like this the last 10 years or so has drastically improved our herd.
quote:
Since this will be the first time the neighbor will have “competition” on the deer, would you contact them to let them know to expect others in the vicinity?
That would be a very good move, but don't tell him to "expect competition". Tell him you got permission to hunt an adjacent tract and you would like to know if they have any rules with regards to harvesting animals like 8 points or better on bucks, or some clubs say you have to kill a doe first before you kill a buck, etc.
I share a creek system with two much larger land owners (400 ac. + each side of me) and I sit right in the middle on 56 ac. with the creek bisecting my property. We have a group chat, share pics, expectations and target bucks we agree are shooters. Cooperating like this the last 10 years or so has drastically improved our herd.
Posted on 10/16/25 at 11:48 am to cherrycoke
The fact that you have an established 180 acres on one side and crop fields on another is a great start. Personally I would invest in some cell cameras and go walk your 30 acres looking for trails, natural corridors, oak trees, scrapes, etc. and learn their movements. I would avoid putting piles of corn. Hunt the edges of the woods and crop fields for now.
Posted on 10/16/25 at 3:39 pm to cherrycoke
Make access from the south a priority. If possible let the northern borders grow up thick, or thin the trash trees out and let sunlight hit the ground.
Posted on 10/16/25 at 4:07 pm to cherrycoke
quote:
This year the plan is to dump bags of corn on the edges and hunt from a pop-up blind and hope for the best.
Good God.
Posted on 10/16/25 at 5:08 pm to cherrycoke
quote:
already harvested corn and soybeans)
For next year I would approach the farmer and ask how much money would it take to leave a row or two standing that borders the property.
If you can establish some bedding on the property you would have a sanctuary.
Posted on 10/16/25 at 5:35 pm to cherrycoke
quote:
Virgin Land for Deer Hunting
The first thing you're going to have to do is run off the people that have been hunting there for 20 years.
"If no one is hunting the land, everyone is hunting the land"
Posted on 10/16/25 at 7:31 pm to cherrycoke
Get a tripod stand and set it up on the field edge.
Posted on 10/16/25 at 9:00 pm to cherrycoke
quote:
This year the plan is to dump bags of corn on the edges and hunt
You're hunting 30 acres surrounded by bigger habitat. This is by far your best option if you're just rifle hunting in a box, tent or whatever. Don't listen to these idiots. Corn it and see what happens. Seriously
Posted on 10/17/25 at 5:20 pm to MobileJosh
^^Everything wrong with hunting. Dude has an untouched 30 acres of timber and people tell him to dump out corn… on the property line. This instant gratification shite’s a problem!
I’d rather my neighbor run hounds every Saturday.
I’d rather my neighbor run hounds every Saturday.
This post was edited on 10/17/25 at 5:22 pm
Posted on 10/17/25 at 5:27 pm to turkish
quote:
^^Everything wrong with hunting.
Could be worse, he could have said dump a box of hounds and see what comes out.
ETA: Sorry, just saw your last sentence.
This post was edited on 10/17/25 at 5:28 pm
Posted on 10/17/25 at 5:39 pm to REB BEER
Lmao! Have an upvote.
As a neighbor of sportsmen that have switched from dogs to corn, I feel I can speak from a position of authority on which is worse.
As a neighbor of sportsmen that have switched from dogs to corn, I feel I can speak from a position of authority on which is worse.
This post was edited on 10/17/25 at 5:41 pm
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