Deer properties-what’s better

[KactusKiller]

We are in the offseason and in need of some actual hunting content on here. This may not apply to a large portion of people on here since in most of Texas you just through a feeder out and they come running. But for some that hunt in areas where maybe the golden nugget isn’t the end all be all to deer hunting you need to look at the terrain and hunt certain areas. Looking at deer country would you prefer a higher percentage of cover and minimal open areas for food plots or just native grass or mainly open cattle pastures and farmland with thick cover only around drainages and creek bottoms. The higher the cover in an area the more deer an area may hold over all but the less cover like around creek bottoms the more concentrated the deer population may be which leads to better shot opps when bow hunting.
This probably mainly pertains to the OK/KS hunters but out in certain counties to the west and NW where cattle and ag is king it’s a real factor.
I’ve looked at properties in recent yrs where this was a real debate. I know guys are having real success hunting areas where 80% is either cattle pasture or cultivated because the deer are so concentrated in the timbered areas that are available to the natural pinch points created by ag. But you are somewhat limited on the setups and hunting styles because of it.
For those that have hunted both types of areas what’s your thoughts? Higher percentage of cover to open ground or wide open and thick pinch points and travel corridors?

[meangreen]

When I looked for my place I looked for a high percentage of cover along with plenty of water.

[TX_Hoghunter]

I promise you that where I hunt they do not run to a feeder. In fact mature bucks avoid them most of the time. I prefer cover as long as there is some edge to it.

-john

[KactusKiller]

We all like thick cover but I'm asking about percentages. Less cover typically creates more edge and tighter travel corridors for them to travel and congregate.
Also to anyone that cares to add what county you hunt.

[KactusKiller]

Similar situation to what I’m talking about, west tx red dirt with cotton, crp or wheat fields all around mesquite covered drainages and eastern tx cattle fescue patches surrounding heavy hardwood timbered creek bottoms. Both present the same scenario with travel corridors and pinch points but lower percentage of overall cover as say south tx brush or west tx with random senderos cut thru to create edge and openings

[E.TX.BOWHUNTER]

Personally I like cover with small openings of 1/2-1 acre. Even those will have pieces of cover but they are planted for deer. Yes I have stands and feeders in the edges of the plots also. I prefer hunting the timber trails between water, food, and bedding. That is where I see most bucks and bigger bucks. When I know a good one is around I use hand corn and more cameras to gain an advantage. In 8 seasons on my own place only 1 deer has been killed on a plot. 5 have been killed in the timber.

[Low Fence]

More edge! Cover is king. Open is great for spotlighting I guess but a mature buck here ain’t going out there. And small percentage cover is dominated by fewer deer. Does might group up in the fall but backs won’t and your chance of getting busted the 1st time out is a lot higher

if I’m bow hunting white tail deer in East Texas and can see more than 30 yards…. I’m not where I need to be

[Voodoo]

I am a bottomland freak by nature if I had my choice.

[Drycreek3189]

I have always hunted where a deer could go anywhere he wanted to go without breaking cover except for 18 years near Ballinger. As stated already, most mature bucks don’t come to feeders unless they are nosing a doe. The trick is to be where you can get a shot at him in that cover and not get busted. If it was easy, we would get tired of it.

I do think that bowhunting is a little easier where the cover is limited to narrow drainages and untillable terrain as found in the Midwest. I didn’t say easy, just easyER.

[KactusKiller]

Yeah this question is based off deer hunting in general with no real relation to feeders. More cover to potentially hold more over all numbers or smaller thick cover that covers less acreage but is think non the less. Just less of it bottle necking the deer that habitate it.

keep it coming guys…wanting some more hunting discussion on our hunting site.

[LivinADream]

Cover is queen, cover with lots of edge is king. Too many variables to answer your questions without writing a book. Surrounding areas, size/terrain/is it hunted/what's it missing/what's it got etc. What are your expectations?

Midwest is bowhunter friendly for reasons mentioned, but also because 90% (made up number) of tillable land is planted in AG, not cattle pasture. If you could set up a place anywhere in tx to resemble that, it would hunt just as good. If it were big enough, it would be just as good or better as far as growing big deer. Cattle pasture has near zero draw to a deer.

without doing some habitat work, I dont think any place is just going to be outstanding for a number of years. It could be great for 5-10 years, but at some point it will need work.

[armadillophil]

I have owned solid timber tracts and places with mix of pastures and woods. I prefer the latter every time. Edge is key and it's a lot easier to hunt as far as access into stands and natural movement.

[KactusKiller]

I think some areas in west tx can be hunted like the Midwest when they have wheat planted in the fall. BUT thick cover in that area is mesquite flats primarily. So deer can access the wheat fields anywhere they want making bow hunting tough.

in the areas of cattle pasture you would def have to add some food plots but the travel corridors would still be there but you could add destination food sources. Food can be added most anywhere whether it’s a feeder or plots. Edge cover can be created even tho it’s expensive when heavy equipment is needed. Plots are relatively cheap to add. Just something to consider.

This goes back to solid thick cover VS areas that already have travel corridors established. The cost of adding food and screening cover is generally cheaper than using big equipment like dozers and mulches to open up areas to create edge and funnels.

[KactusKiller]

By the way, I agree with most everything said, I’m just adding food for thought for our “debate”-👍

[Deer Tracks]

Edges, edges, edges...where different types of habitat come together. Where brush meets open fields, and preferably where fields transition to brush and brush to mature hardwoods. I guess on any given property I would prefer to start with more brush and mature hardwoods to pasture...like maybe 2/3 cover and 1/3 pasture or even 3/4 cover and 1/4 pasture. That would give me the ability to sculpt brush and create more edge if I wanted to.