Hunting land question

[c_lou]

We have 160 acres of land that we hunt. 60 acres swamp, 30 acres woods, 70 acres high grass. After the gun season ends, we don't see deer until the next summer. We walk the woods and there isn't a track to be found.

My question is this, we know that the deer head for the big bluffs and woods and the public swamp that is a huge piece of land. If the deer that live around our woods survives ans makes it until next year, will they return to our woods? I have never really tried to figure out if the same deer come back.

What are your thoughts or comments.

[wtnhunt]

Re: Hunting land question

Bet they never really are completely gone off of or too terribly far from your property. They have a good way of hiding out and often being where you never expect them.

Bet some of them hide out in the swamp where you could not really get to them. Doubtful it is the same where you are, but here the vegetation in the swamp offers them good cover and food year round.

[c_lou]

Re: Hunting land question

It's not that they disappear before the season, it just seems once winter comes and the snow there seems to be no deer on our property or even around. I would think that if they were still there that we would see them.

[rossman]

Re: Hunting land question

i am not a fan of "driving deer". But sometimes it need to be done towards the end of the season if no tags are filled. Get about four or five guys and have them sweep the swamp. If no deer come out then they may some other place. If deer run out then you know they are there. They may only be moving at night!!!!!!

[Missed160]

Re: Hunting land question

I think that 100% yes, the same deer will return to your land year after year. In Northen climates deer have to move into thick, thermal cover in the winter, then return to their home range after winter.

If you own the land, you can manage so at least some of the deer stay there year around. You probaly need to supply there with some thick thermal cover and a winter food supply. We did this on some land a friend owns. We talked with a fprester & they recommended planting pines along some of the meadow edges. This provides good warmth & wind breaks for the deer. If you can plant anything in the grassy areas for winter forage, that'll help. If you can't, what we did was just mow parts of the wild grasses in mid summer, allow it to re-generate. Next year we are going to turn over parts of the meadows. The Biologist said just doing that will allow newer, better forage to come through..