Quick question...I mainly bow hunt on a small piece of land with a major creek on the back on it...It has farm land surrounding it, and a house on the front side... I just only have permission to hunt the 5 back acres...Saw lots of deer last year, not to bad a spot...

Questions is, last year the land was mowed and never got about above knee high...This year, no one mowed and it and it is almost 5-6 foot high in most spots, I think Johnson Grass...I have mowed some paths for me to walk back to the blind and have the area around the feeder mowed down...Will the taller grass help or hurt my hunting???? Was not sure if it may hurt the hunting or if they would feel more comfortable with the extra cover...

Out west "tall grass" CRP is where the deer bed

My guess would be help. Check it out when it gets really cold.

it will help, but keep your eyes on the ground in those trails you mowed.

My place sounds similar to yours as it's in a creek bottom with a creek running through the middle of it. It's surrounded by fields and like yours the grass is grown up about 7' in some areas.

Last year with the drought we saw plenty of game and had some long shots, but not this year.

We have seen less deer but not that they aren't there, it's just that the game is harder to see this year.

Best you can do is try and cut some shooting lanes, and hope they come to the feed, but it won't hurt for the deer to have more cover!

I like the tall grass. Especially if you have some elevation to your setup.

Cool, thanks for the info...Just did not know if it would keep them out due to the high grass...Not sure if it would spook them from coming into my field...

Sounds like it should not hurt them, just me seeing them which might help bring a bigger buck in, he may feel more comfortable with the added cover? Would you say that is correct???

The reason I ask is, my hunting property is near a major road and somewhat near some houses, so I feel that keeps bigger bucks away form hunting area due to noices and smells...It is free and close and there are deer there, so I can not complain...I could mow it if that would be better, but it sounds like a few more shooting lanes is my best bet and leave the rest for more cover...

On my lease in East Texas the deer perfer to cross highlines and pipelines that has taller grass. You can mow a 100yrd section and during the season the deer by-pass that mowed area to cross in the tall grass, it provides them cover for the crossing. So guess what, we don't mow where the stands are, we leave about a 75 yrd section unmowed with the stand in the middle of these sections off to the side of the highline/pipeline. This in a since funnels the deer crossing into the stand area, sometimes we run 4 wheelers on angles from the stand throught the grass so it makes spotting the deer easier. But we do mow these areas in midspring to prevent unwanted brush or bushes from maturing and creating an obstacale during hunting season.

I think it should help you out

We mow strips out earlier on before season, we get a whole lot more traffic now than when we did nothing. I like to checkerboard really thick fields, to make it just a little easier for them to move through. Remember the EDGE EFFECT.

Deer are like all creatures and humans, we like to walk the path of least resistance. Mow lanes like others have said to create walk ways. But definatly watch the tall grass when it gets cold. The deer will sun and bed down in tall grass on those days.

What county is this place in?.......I think you may be on the property next to my lease.

x2

Denton County...

Its been my experience that tall grass makes great cover. It can be used for stalking or waiting for the prey to walk by so you can take it with your weapon of choice.

I've got the same situation in Cooke County. I've watched them trudge through the weeds for years now. I'm leaving a lot of the cover just to keep things natural. Let me know how it all works out. I'd like to compare notes.

Will do...Let me know as well...