Dingler

One word, expensive.

Thanks Doc. I remember hearing about the deer yards back then, the deer would come off the hills and be on the farm. I will have to get out their and walk it. I did drive around it one Saturday during gun season, I saw a few people hunting it. I just don't know what what is considered heavy pressure for state land. 1 guy per 10 acres?

Been looking around at some state land to deer hunt next season. Just wanted to know if any of you have hunted the state land at the South end of honeoye lake. Gun, bow, or crossbow. Also how much pressure during each if it applies. Also deer activity that you saw while hunting. If it's worth it I plan on doing some boots on the ground scouting this spring. Thanks for any information.

Ok. Thanks. How long does it take ag lime to boost pH?

So this was the 1st year, lime and fertilized in spring, worst drought in awhile, nothing really grew. Still soil test in spring then?

Ok, sounds good. I was going to put a whitetail institute soil test on the Xmas list..

Just wondering how often to do a soil test after 1st one. Every year? Every other year? ECT. Thanks

dbhunterny- I already do all that. Just didn't know if removing leaf litter would help anything or be a waste of time. I don't mind the extra work, it is my hobby after all. I just figured pick up the dead stuff on the ground to make some "walls" to block deer in spots, and around tree stands for access and such. Then blow the leaf litter out and see if any thing popped up this spring before trees got leaves on them.

what's a brush cutter?

Good read, thanks. I would love to cut trees down but can't. Have too look at this property more of a lease than my own. I can't cut any trees down but I can plant trees, "clean up" the woods (remove dead stuff,leaf blow, maintain trails that are already in place, ect.) Just looking for ideas. I'm also thinking of fertilizing part of the neighboring hay lot, mix of clovers and grasses. Not the whole 20 acre field, but in front of stands and maybe thin strips to dictate some movement.

I just watched today's growing deer video. I know that we are not allowed to burn the woods in the great state of new york. So my question is, what if you took the mighty leaf blower and did the same thing as the fire? Basically remove all the old leaves with out the burn? I know it won't kill off any of the smaller trees like they showed, but will it help with adding some new under growth? I figure you could always go back and hack and squirt trees later. I also figure they burn because of the size of the areas they are doing to save time. I also figure the burn adds natural fertilizer to the ground. But for a few bucks you could always add some cheap fert. and even lime depending on what happens. Any suggestions or anyone ever try it? Thanks

One comment I will make is that a lot if not all those listed wmu's are private land and some urban areas. I don't think the dec takes that into effect either. They see and hear about car and people property damages. But some of these same people will not let you hunt their property. So instead of figuring out away to control deer populations in urban areas the whole wmu pays the price. Just my 2 cents.

How tall do you like to make the brush piles? I'm over 6 feet talk so seems like to block me I would have to make them pretty high, or do you do them deers eyes high?

Want to get out and look too. Me and my girlfriend both have the itch. Just wondering if you go out to early, do risk spooking the bucks of the sheds you are looking for? Wasn't much of a issue last few years cause we had a bunch of snow that didn't seem to melt till may! Lol

Another thing I wanted to comment on was some of my observations. With this cold and wind we have been getting, not much lake snow in my area. But from driving around my hunting spot and some snow on the ground, makes it easy to see deer in the woods hiding from the wind! Is this viable information for hunting season? Or is it just deer know where to go when it gets cold and nasty out?

That's what I was thinking, let em grow. Just another spot to get a deer to stop and check, does or bucks. Might not happen everyday but for the cost seems worth it. From what I have read, keep it in cover, near bedding, away from food, place stand with in shooting distance. Seems good to me.

Is there other water spots on your properties, such creeks or bigger ponds? Or is it that deer just like the smaller hided spots? Also do you hunt over your water holes/tubs? Seems like if you did they wouldn't as effective year after year. I'm def. going to do it and see how it all works out, just wondering how others have used them. Thanks

All great ideas, thanks. Another question is water, I picked up a free 70 gal rubber tub I was thinking about using. Anyone ever done something like this? I've seen and read about them just never in ny. I have the pond and a creek on the property, so there is water. The creek is seasonal at best, heavy rains, snow melt. But I thought if I had a little hidden spot of water with a stand it would help? Let me know if anyone has done it and if it hepled hunting. Pics would be cool too!

What about willows? You can buy a few, then every year root your own clippings=free. Doesn't seem any better than that. plus buck like to rub on them which is good cause it keeps them pruned for you=free. Another plus is they grow fast.

I have tried what you are thinking. Cleared a path and a spot in front of my stand with leaf blower to the dirt, threw down some cheap clover seed. Guess what happened? Nothing... My advice is next time you go there look up, all those branches make leaves, all those leaves block sun in the summer, all those leaves fall in the fall and cover all the poor clover or other seeds. So if you can't clear a spot not really worth it to me. I tried and failed. Just food for thought.

That spot next to that old growth field is a saddle, just seems like a natural spot for bedding, but it is open and could use a little work. I just don't know if it will hurt that southern tree stand? It is tough already, can't get to it in the morning (deer in that hay lot) tough in the evening (deer coming in to the hay field) and I get spooked easy. I hate the idea of loss of hunting land but maybe worth it long term. Why do you say stay away from the road? the road to that woods is a 6-8 foot bank along the road/ditch. during the rut there is a highway that runs up that bank into the woods. It is a natural funnel from wood lots to the north and would like to find away to take advantage of that. My only worry about the how close to the road for a tree stand placement and a hit deer and have it run into traffic! It is thick there now but could use some screening from the house/driveway, and the more you head south onto my property the more the woods opens up and deer have no set path so they seem to just wonder into what ever way the wind is blowing.

Added pressure is for sure by me. I talk with the neighboring hunters starting with gun season, mainly to see what was harvested. The surrounding 150-200 acres goes from just me bow hunting to 8 guys gun hunting. I like the idea of backing stands out of the woods and giving deer most of the woods. Also believe that more cover is need. I like the idea of clearing more area next to the old growth field, hinging,cutting. Also more cover near the road in the green area. Then maybe a stand on the east edge of the woods between the 2 with a possible planted trail to connect them. What do you guys think? Then maybe work on that ridge top to the west that the neighbor who lets me hunt, see if I can get in there and cut a couple of junk trees or girdle some to thicken it up, and leave as a "sanctuary" of sorts?

First off, db, I don't hunt that spot because it is a low spot, I've had a stand there before and got busted by deer coming down the hills toward me. One of those looks good on paper but tough to pull off, why I moved that stand up the creek more and on top of that ridge. Second I am a qdma member and have also the same pic and questions posted there. I also look forward to every monday morning videos from the growing deer tv team (also follow them on facebook). I have read many forums as well on qdma, kinda what got me thinking and started on the ideas of land management. I posted this as I understand that no 2 properties are the same and just looking for ideas. Gowalot that is a cool story about that buck! amazing the stuff they will do at the rut time of year! One thing that I do have going on is that I do see deer every bow season and have a lot of fun bow hunting. It's just come gun season I don't see them as much or at all. Is it cause the put up with me till then? Is it a lack of cover after season starts? It's just like a switch was flipped and they are gone. That's what I'm trying to fix. I've read about hinge cutting for bedding, blockades, funnels, edge feathering, ect. Just don't want to screw up what I have going on early season, to make late season better. Thanks for everything so far. Please keep the ideas and suggestions coming!

I believe that's one of my problems right now. I have to cross a deer path at some point to get to a stand. Would like to know how to change that? Also is bedding even worth trying on such a small property?

I do have 2 bucks on my wall, and let others walk. I guess I'm just trying to make hunting more reliable. My girlfriend started hunting a couple years ago (gun) and she has yet to fill a tag. I do bow hunt the spot but "try" to leave it unpressured as much as possible. She says the best day of hunting is opening day then after that it's a waste of time. I know small acreage is tough to hunt. Just looking for ways and ideas to make it better.