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advice needed #5396497 11/03/14 08:06 PM
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Team Fat Sack Offline OP
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I have some land (50 acres) between Electra and Burkburnett that we deer hunt. We have owned this place for 6 years now. I dont think this area is known to have large quantities of deer, but for the first 4 years we saw and killed some pretty nice deer (130-140 class). The last 2 years the deer seem to be GONE. We sit more days and dont see anything, than days we see deer. We used to see at least a deer or 2 every time out and maybe see one or 2 good deer per year. Last year we were overrun with Hogs so i thought that was the main reason the deer were gone. This year we have no pictures of hogs and very few of deer. It also seems that the coyote population has increased as we see coyote crap everywhere. I also know the drought up that way has been pretty bad so i dont know how much that has to do with it. Really looking for others thoughts as to what we could do different. Or if anyone else hunting up that way is having the same problem. I just hate to throw another deer season away and not do everything i can to salvage it. It seems like mostt people are expecting this to be a better year because we did get some rain this year, but i havent seen it. Any advice would be appreciated. I have never been this dejected in my entire deer hunting career. HELP!

Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396528 11/03/14 08:17 PM
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When you say you killed some nice deer the first four years how many?

If you kill more than 1 buck per year in that country you are killing too many bucks on 50 acres. About 2 does max a year as well and that would be pushing it.


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Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396563 11/03/14 08:26 PM
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I was thinking the same thing as Pitchfork as I read your post. Add neighbor harvest and your deer may be getting pounded pretty hard.


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Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396596 11/03/14 08:36 PM
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That and coyotes are probably culprits as well.


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Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396608 11/03/14 08:39 PM
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We don't have coyote crap every where, and even we have a coyote problem. If you're that covered up they are definitely part of the equation. Also, as mentioned, did you thin out your own herd?


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Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396614 11/03/14 08:40 PM
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If it was me id try and start cleaning out some coyotes after season as well as trying to have water available over the summer and reduce the number of deer taken if possible

Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396685 11/03/14 09:11 PM
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Sorry, i probably should have been more clear. My dad and I hunt the place but my old man is just out there to look at them. He has no interest in actually shooting one. So I am the only one shooting anything. I have killed 3 bucks in 4-5 years. And the neighbor has killed 1 in that time. I have no problem going 2-3 yrs between killing a buck, but not seeing any really concerns me. I really feel like the pressure around me is pretty low. The neighbor is the only person anywhere close that i know hunts.

Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396709 11/03/14 09:18 PM
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That doesnt sound "too" bad then, this year, you're probably in the same boat as everyone else, allot of acorns and late browse, low deer sightings. Doesn't mean they aren't around.

Have you mad any land management improvements for wildlife over that time? Or what reason do they have to go on your 50 acres?


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Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396738 11/03/14 09:31 PM
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Is your place open or thick brush? Surrounding properties brush?


Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396774 11/03/14 09:45 PM
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our place is fairly thick with mesquites. And so is the neighbors. The rest of the surrounding places is scattered mesquites and wheatfields. We started a food plot on year 2. Its about 2.5 acres. It came up great and the deer really like it. THe last several years it hasnt really come up at all. I think i need to get a soil test done to see what the deal is. We got enough rain this year that it should have come up. Other than the foodplot or lack there of, just feeders. Anything else you recommend putting out?

Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5396832 11/03/14 10:07 PM
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It's hard to hold deer on small places, the wheat fields may drawing them away from you. You need a draw, reason for them to come, but if your neighbor has feeders, your not really offering anything better. I think your food plot is the right idea. That being said it's dry country, so finding something to grow other than wheat may be difficult. Another key, we have seen is get your plot up earlier than than others in the area. Which is just a luck thing, getting enough moisture. You might also try a fee choice protein feeder.


Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5397019 11/03/14 11:38 PM
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What I think you may be missing are age classes of bucks/does due to drought that caused poor fawn crops several years in a row back in the past. Those gaps in bucks and does may be what you are seeing or rather not seeing now. If you have had low deer numbers and then very low to zero fawn crops then you can't see what does not exist. If the neighbors have wheat the deer you would be seeing might be on the wheat. What you can hope for is a killing frost to get all the vegetation and make the deer hit the wheat or corn. If you are in their travel routes to and from bedding cover it will help.


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Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5397105 11/04/14 12:24 AM
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As usual STX has the big picture. Assuming you have water (tank or water trough)I'd try the demand protein feeder too though. You will eventually pull deer from other areas if you are the only one feeding year round. At least that has been my experience. After four years I have also seen an improvement in the quality/health of the deer we see/harvest.


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Re: advice needed [Re: Team Fat Sack] #5397215 11/04/14 01:10 AM
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thanks for the input. This is starting to make some sense and give a glimmer of hope. We did feed protein for the first 2 years but it seemed like the coons were molesting it so we stopped. I will get that back up and running and try to get a year round schedule going.

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