We got access to hunt a 20 acre plot in Collin County and I'm wondering when to put a feeder out to see what kind of population is out there? The actual 20 acres isn't very wooded, but it's surrounded by woods for the most part. Last time it was hunted was around 5-10 years ago. I've already crossed my T's and dotted my I's to make sure this plot is legal to hunt and it is so we'll be hunting from an elevated stand shooting down into a bottom to ensure the bullet does not leave the property line. Would y'all put it out closer to deer season, around September?

personally, I would put out a feeder as soon as I could, even if only spinning a little corn to get them used to the sound of the dinner bell. They will find it shortly.

As soon as you can & run it year round.

A new place! Definitely, put up a feeder or two as soon as you can.

I agree with the above , with a small place you need to get them used to coming to you . I have a much larger place and I run mine year run and the close neighbors only start in the fall . It seems like all the local deer live on my place in the spring and summer . The does take up residence and bring in the bucks in the season .

Are bullets welcome in Collin County this next season? I thought it was archery only.

I'm curious to see if y'all have heard different things. When I spoke with TPWD I specifically told them we'd be rifle hunting and they said that was fine. Now you're making me wonder if the person I talked too wasn't educated on that part.

Took about 30 seconds of research to realize they were uneducated on that part. Archery only per the website. This should be interesting as the last thing I want is a deer running on to a neighbors property... I archery hunt already, but I'm really going to have to practice so I can make a really clean shot.

Make friends with your neighbors. They should be good with it if they've lived there long enough. Good luck. Hopefully you'll get a shot at one of the monsters we see coming out of there.

We'll probably be out there in two weeks to put a feeder out. Curious to see what's out there.

We run our feeders year round..

right now while there is plenty of clover and other food available, we only throw corn twice a day for just 3 seconds.. just enough to keep them coming around and interested in the fields where our blinds are set up..

around Labor Day we refill all of our feeders, and adjust to throwing corn 3x daily (first light, about 1 hour before last light, and mid day), for about 5 seconds each and then dont go near the feeders again unless one of them is jammed up, has run out of corn, or unless we have shot something, until the end of the season..

we continue to throw 3x daily through the winter just to give the deer (and everything else that comes in to eat lol) supplemental food.. but as soon as spring hits we drop things back down to 2x daily for just a few seconds..

I would put up your feeder as soon as possible but remember, if you happen to find game trails, don't put your feeder right on the trail. Put it in a area off to the side of the trail, that way the deer won't skirt around the area. Also you may want to put up some trail cameras on any game trails that you might find but again, not right oh the trail, just off to the side. Hand toss some corn 10 or 15 yards in front of the trail cams and see what happens. A lot of times, your larger bucks won't come to a feeder but they will hit feed that is hand tossed at random locations. Also when you set your feeder or feeders, take into consideration the predominant wind directions, as it will be critical for stand placement. The ideal scenario is to set your stand or stands near a travel route to and from the feeder to bedding areas. JMO for what it is worth but definitely needs some consideration to maximize you chances at a successful harvest.

Yesterday when the place was yours to hunt....

I highly doubt there are game trails in that area as I'm expecting this feeder to attract the deer to this property. We're going out there in two weeks to check things out like where we're going to put a feeder and where we're going to hang a stand. There's a creek that flows right through the property but like I said in the earlier post, this isn't a very wooded property. It's mostly everything around it that is. I have a feeling the best place to hang a stand will be south of the feeder for this location.

Yesterday, but it's not too late.

I'm not sure now's a good time. With all that green in the pasture, they really don't come to the feeders very much.

I'm probably not a good example, would be frowned on by most. I never even start until September. But then I've hunted the same 100 acres for 17 years. I pull in deer from the land surrounding me and they are used to coming to my feeders. As I've taken nice 10 pointers the last 2 years running I think it's working for me anyways.

I prefer to get a feeder out as early as possible, and we run them year round on our place in Navarro County. That said, I have put a feeder out and hunted it within 24 hours with success before.

I'd bet that if you walked the land and did some scouting, you'd be surprised at how many game trails you find. Focus on pinch points. Look for creek crossings.

x2

Razor, good luck with "practice so I can make a really clean shot". From what I know you can make a perfect shot and still have a deer exit a 20 acre pasture. Then factor in a perfect shot is very unrealistic. Not trying to be Debbie Downer but I would just suggest you have a plan if a wounded deer leaves your pasture. Also, a heavier arrow/broad head setup some say will kill them a little quicker.
Good news is some on here will disagree with me so the thread may go on forever(like some wounded deer.)
Seriously, good luck, and keep eating that sourdough....

I know we're going to have to get lucky. I've had what I thought was a perfect shot deer run way past what would have been a 20 acre pasture. Don't worry about the sourdough... I'm about to make lunch with it right now lol

theres two different scenarios on this. 20 acres isnt alot. if the deer are using this 20 acres as a bedding area or to keep out of site, adding a feeder now may push them out. If not bedding you need to get them there on an routine basis. Last year we hunted family land that has been minimally hunted on one end. On the opposite end (that hasnt been hunted for 10 years) the deer were using it as a bedding area. Put a feeder up 2 weeks before gun opener. Had a couple doe that would visit it a couple times a day. But the bucks were caught on camera just moving through, not really eating corn. Opening day caught a nice one making his way through and was able to harvest him. After that the doe population increased by a small amount. Caught maybe 2 different bucks moving through. After three to four weeks the bucks were completly gone. I am planning on doing the same thing this year. Only difference is the feeder is already there. There's just no corn in it. Will fill it up middle of october and hope for the best.