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What are some good things to plant in the middle of the woods for deer?

Posted on 9/22/21 at 8:16 am
Posted by kisatchie53
Member since Jul 2011
1964 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 8:16 am
I usually only public land hunt but I have access to 120 acres in central La. The field is leased and I cannot plant anything there, this is family land and I'm the only one who does anything on it. I don't do the box stand thing, just hunt in climbers, lean-to or on ground and I've never really baited deer before. I'd like to start now some as I don't have the time to scout like I use to and reserve scouting for public land.

This land has some old cutovers of pine, and probably 30 acres of hardwoods. The field is about 20 acres but as mentioned, I can't plant anything there. I'm wondering if there's anything to plant that doesn't get much sun that deer would eat, preferably around November as I no longer bow hunt.
Posted by mylsuhat
Mandeville, LA
Member since Mar 2008
49824 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 8:24 am to
If there is a thick canopy and not much natural grasses growing now, you won't get much to come up. A rye mix is your best bet. You'll need to rake to the soil and throw it.

With big woods and cutover thickets, focus on hunting those edges. If they field you can't plant has some sort of food source, looks for paths to and from that
Posted by SaDaTayMoses
Member since Oct 2005
4541 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 8:26 am to
corn
Posted by RoIITide
Member since Dec 2010
962 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 8:26 am to
A feeder would be a quick and easy setup. I understand why some people don’t like them but they work.

Mineral/salt blocks.
Posted by kisatchie53
Member since Jul 2011
1964 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 8:35 am to
I did put a mineral block near a well traveled area, and there are plenty of big good producing white oaks. I just want to spice it up a little bit. I'll look into a feeder also. Thanks for the other responses also on here.
Posted by 10MTNTiger
Banks of the Guadalupe
Member since Sep 2012
4139 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 8:59 am to
Plant this:

Posted by Tigre85
Louisiana
Member since Feb 2019
2080 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 9:04 am to
Corn is the answer , I also rake some areas and put out throw and grow .
Posted by Cypressknee
Member since Jul 2017
1450 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 9:53 am to
Corn feeder with a cell cam on it so you can stay away from it. Rake and throw winter rye out. Fertilize briar beds if you have any good ones.
Posted by UpToPar
Baton Rouge
Member since Sep 2008
22830 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 10:29 am to
If this is an area you plan to hunt for many years into the future you could look at planting some fruit bearing trees (crab apple, persimmon, etc.). Obviously, this is more of a long term solution.
Posted by Churchill
Member since Apr 2009
622 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 10:33 am to
A wild persimmon tree.
Posted by kisatchie53
Member since Jul 2011
1964 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 10:35 am to
quote:

If this is an area you plan to hunt for many years into the future you could look at planting some fruit bearing trees (crab apple, persimmon, etc.


I tried a few years back but I can’t plant in the field as the field is leased and woods is too hard to find good sunlight for new trees, cutover was too much competition. I tried clearing out some areas but within a year trees got overtaken by weeds. One area that hasn’t flooded since the late 40s did just that and killed pear and crab apple, persimmons died from deer eating the young trees and tearing bark up along with weeds. I may try again and buy bigger fruit trees, these were all very small when I planted
Posted by Man4others
Member since Aug 2017
2454 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 11:18 am to
The Deer like my Hostas
Posted by ForLSU56
Rapides Parish
Member since Feb 2015
5582 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 4:43 pm to
Mustard greens
Posted by oildog
Member since Jun 2016
92 posts
Posted on 9/22/21 at 7:42 pm to
Nothing
Posted by boudinman
Member since Nov 2019
6101 posts
Posted on 9/23/21 at 3:10 am to
Whats the field leased for? Pasture? If so csnt plant Marshall Ryegrass. It's 20 % protein. Grazed by cows horses and deer.

Deer Cocaine lick and corn nearby
This post was edited on 9/23/21 at 5:03 am
Posted by EF Hutton
Member since Jan 2018
2366 posts
Posted on 9/23/21 at 7:06 am to
What is your kill goal ???

Just deer, period " meat " ??

What do the surrounding properties do ?? Kill everything, or pass some ?

I would say, a chainsaw. Drop some big non - beneficial trees like Gum, and let sunlight in. Then next year plant something , and stay out .
The other properties will be running tractors, 4 wheelers, roaming around scouting, etc. You with a non disturbed thicket. Next spring go in and litely cut 1 man wide trails so the deer will use them, and u can sneak around quietly to get to a stand.
This post was edited on 9/23/21 at 7:17 am
Posted by kisatchie53
Member since Jul 2011
1964 posts
Posted on 9/23/21 at 8:00 am to
quote:

Whats the field leased for?


Gets cut for hay, no cows or anything

Posted by kisatchie53
Member since Jul 2011
1964 posts
Posted on 9/23/21 at 8:04 am to
quote:

What is your kill goal ???

Just deer, period " meat " ??

What do the surrounding properties do ?? Kill everything, or pass some ?


Run dogs and a big hunting club. They do have restrictions on their bucks. My main goal is just meat, I’m not a trophy hunter. I typically kill 1 a year out there, and then leave it alone, but I have never baited so occasionally I don’t see deer. Would like to increase the odds for when I bring my younguns. I always talked down about baiting to them for deer but now I don’t care anymore Also was gonna plant something for fun, just to do it.
Posted by boudinman
Member since Nov 2019
6101 posts
Posted on 9/23/21 at 6:13 pm to
Inquire from person leasing the pasture if it would be okay to plant some crimson "winter" clover. It would benefit his first cutting in the spring with over 25% protein added to his hay. Plus it fixes nitrogen in the soil, making it more fertile. Worth asking about. Crimson clover is a great choice for foodplots, and it benefits deer late into the spring.
Posted by oleyeller
Vols, Bitch
Member since Oct 2012
32596 posts
Posted on 9/23/21 at 7:54 pm to
Clover will do fine
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