The need to educate on deer and deer nutrition.

[hb270deermanager]

Hopefully now some of you sportsmen have read

some of my replies on topics.I am an avid outdoors-

men.I have spent lots of time learning and implement-

ing what I have found and applying it to my properties.

Mostly lands I have befriended landowner.My main

reason for writing this is that hopefully reaching out

to others in the importance of Q.D.M.A.It works if

you apply the methods and follow through with them

and truly understand and believe that your efforts

not only produce better quaility animals and show

the true signs of biulding a better stronger hunting

area.This is for deer but its limitless as to the game

animals and birds on a given property.I have literally

had to chase woodchucks out of foodplots to get them

to move.My oak grove is to notch my apple grove

has an abundunce of fruit yr after yr.My foodplots

produce tons of forage yearly not just during the

hunting seasons.Maybe you would say its extreme

but I want to give something back.When I started

this it was for deer but seeing all the other animals

and birds thrive on the property has been a big plus

a great bonus.I have birds that some hunters have

never saw in the wild.Last week I had a bald eagle

perched in a tall locust tree waiting for his dinner.

I have several partiredge on my property.I know

I am not far from the ulster federal preserve outside

walkill but not to many landowners are seeing the things

I and people I allow to watch on the properties are

seeing.I am just letting everyone know hunt 50 yrs

and enjoy it but hunt 50 yrs and know that wow

I made a difference in the time I put in and it shows.

For on my land stand the best game query in the area.

[Doc]

Good to hear you are leaving the land better than you found it. With the rapid maturation of old farm lands, a lot of NYS is reverting back to tall overstory. It's not much of an issue for whatever time I've got left to hunt, but looking toward the future, and the generations that follow us, it is important that people try to improve habitat where they can. I doubt that we can reverse the massive passing of open lands, but an occasional sanctuary as some are working toward will help future hunters (for as long as we have future hunters .... lol)

[Grizz1219]

Nice write up... Thinknig of asking the farmer that lets me hunt his property to plant food plots in areas he doesn't put crops.... Columbia county NY.. any thought to what I should have him plant?? Thinking it might keep the deer focused on that and leave his crops alone.. any thought to that idea???

[hb270deermanager]

Thanks for the feed back its nice to see some would

be willing to partake in making a difference in our games

habitate.If and I say if anyone was serious about helping

our games habitate and nutritional needs and values.First

and foremost clean up the lands.Keep it that way second

plant forages developed for wild game animals.I use whitetail

institute and biologic products.Whitetail Institute has sample

paks cheap which come with a dvd they are the real deal.

Just remember thier minerals and other ground products are

illegal so just look into their foodplot blends.But everything is

designed for deer but every game anaimal and bird on my

properties benefit from the products especially turkeys.Also

leave the animals a sanctuary on your property if you want

them to stay close give them food,water,and a place to feel safe.

open up any oak groves trim out smaller trees and undergrowth

around them you ll get better acorn production and more consistancy.

I also have been using tree spikes and plant food.if you can plant a few

apple or pear trees be sure to protect them while their young during tougher

winters.I actually screen mine in during winter months.Deer are not the only

animal that chew on a tender apple tree bud. I have caught woodchucks and

other smaller animals doing this on my cams.Water sources are vital to a deers

overall health and conditioning.There is a small deep pond on my property and its

in the perfect location it starts the southeast side of my sanctury area.I dont have

a tree stand with in 200 yards of that pond or area.Take your time get to know

the land see what benefits are there.Then decide what you want to do and

use the whitetail institutes alpha rack plus and clover are great products to

start with you ll see a difference the first yr.

[G-Man]

I prefer to think of it as total game management. The QDM moniker has gotten a bad rap as its been twisted to sound like trophy deer management! This turns off a lot of would be supporters who may believe in plots and such but do not own enough land or can get enough neighbors to particpate in increasing the age structure. I originaly started to manage my woodlands for grouse. its evolved for deer, turkey and recently bear. Not to mention countless song birds and small game. I think anything that is done is better than nothing! Though most hunters prefer to concentrate on deer, i get 2 seasons to hunt turkey! and a much longer small game season!

[hb270deermanager]

My first thoughts were to manage my deer herd yes.

Most outdoorsmen mignt think first about the deer.If

you do a total assessment of your property or anyone

elses then decide what you want to do how your gonna

do it and stick to a program it benefits almost every living

thing on that property even the plant and trees.I have built

a rep of going in and looking a piece of property over and

deciding on what do where to do it.Trimming woodlands a

around your nut trees acorns,beechnuts,etc.will help your

trees produce more nuts on ave per year.putting in a small

pond or water scource keeps animals close adding a hydration

area.providing a sanctuary area is vital to make all animals

feel safe and close to this should be your food scources.

Foodplots and fruit trees.I have learned all this and much more

simply by reading up and experimenting with my property.I

have no P.H.D. or degrees its all in the field learning being told

that you have to have a biologist,agronimist,and land management

company is hogwash trust if you do anything it will help and if

your in your scout stand in late august and watch a couple of

squirrels chase each other around a foodplot or a couple fawns

play around the water scource or watch a bald eagle land in your

observation tree that birds use cause its the tallest tree by design

to look out from then you ll feel pretty proud of what you ve accomplished.