How to make a small paradise?

[jmerchantky]

We just purchased our 14 acre piece of land in anderson county, ky. Its not much but i hope i can make due with what we have. It looks like i have a little over 8 acres to work with for a hunting spot. I think like anyone i know cedars are good cover, they like corn, soybean, clover, etc. But i honestly have no idea what the best way would be to setup the land to be most effective. From what ive seen its best if i have cedar for them to be on the south/southeast facing hillside. Well we have a some thick spots of cedar but theyre on the opposite side of what ive read is what deer go for. There is a little creek at the bottom of our land but its always dry, im not even sure if it ever has water in it. Should i add a small pond, if so where would be best? Unfortunately none of it is flat ground, the land goes down hill from the road frontage. The flatest part of the part i have to hunt is a small ridge towards the bottom right in the picture. I would appreciste some guidance in what i should do here to bring deer in. I may not have enough to keep them on it but if i can have them all coming to me i have a chance of something good making it to me.

[wtnhunt]

I would probably put beans in that open field.  Leave the wooded areas alone.  Leave the beans standing.  Eagle beans would be my recommendation.  We had good luck for years with rural king soybeans until last year, but after last year's experience won't likely use them again.  

[jmerchantky]

Is that all you would add? Soybean over the entire open field? 

[wtnhunt]

How big is the field?  What is in the other surrounding fields?  What ag crops around you.

With 14 total acres, looked to me like you maybe have 2-3 acres open field, the rectangular piece between the woods on the south side and the semi wooded area to the north.  If that is the case, then yes I would plant it in beans.  Leave the semi wooded area to the nw to grow up some with the exception of a trail.

I am no expert, but that is where I would start if it was mine based solely on the map.  Getting feet on the ground obviously may change perspectives and ideas and others may have totally different opinions.

With whatever I would plant some type of plot there.  Clover is good, but beans seem to be a better draw.

[jmerchantky]

4 hours ago, wtnhunt said:

How big is the field?  What is in the other surrounding fields?  What ag crops around you.

With 14 total acres, looked to me like you maybe have 2-3 acres open field, the rectangular piece between the woods on the south side and the semi wooded area to the north.  If that is the case, then yes I would plant it in beans.  Leave the semi wooded area to the nw to grow up some with the exception of a trail.

I am no expert, but that is where I would start if it was mine based solely on the map.  Getting feet on the ground obviously may change perspectives and ideas and others may have totally different opinions.

With whatever I would plant some type of plot there.  Clover is good, but beans seem to be a better draw.

The area i have to work with is a hair over 8 acres which you can see the measurements in the original post. There isnt much wooded area there, maybe .5-1 acre of actual thick cedar cover. The rest is just some scattered trees that i assume would be better off cut down so the whole field can be disced and sown in food plots because its not good coverage. 

The surrounding area is only cattle pasture and hay fields if it isnt cedar trees. The guy behind me has a hunting cabin and i think an avid hunter so i dont know if hell have anything or not. But most of the land surrounding us is my wifes family and they only put out corn.

Hopefully these pictures will help give a better idea of what i have.

 

[wtnhunt]

 

24 minutes ago, jmerchantky said:

There isnt much wooded area there, maybe .5-1 acre of actual thick cedar cover.

 

Man to me those cedars and tall grass look like the kind of stuff deer like to bed in close to food.  I could be wrong, but think if it was mine I would probably let most of that grow up. 

With corn in other nearby fields, I would definitely consider beans.  

[jmerchantky]

The first 3 pictures with the thick cedar and tall grass is just what i have circled, its good cover to lay in but its not much. The last 2 pictures the trees you see in the little valleys are just a thin strand of spread out trees thats why i was wondering if i should clean off the random trees in the open field and make that all food plot. Then add more coverage and tall grass. I dont know if theres so much coverage around me if id be wasting my efforts adding more coverage because i have no idea how much id need to hold mature bucks. I may not even have room for food plot if i tried that. Like you said i may be better off making one heck of a food plot and make use of the coverage there is to give them a break from the open field so mature bucks are more likely to come into the open. If they have coverage there right beside it.