Mike Johnson, manager at The Clinton House, is a proponent of planting food plots to attract deer and keep them well-fed throughout the season, but he said the ability of hunters in his neck of the wood to bait with corn for the first time this season has given him another weapon for keeping up with his deer herd.
“One positive thing regarding the use of corn that has been of great benefit to us in our hunt-planning strategy is to use corn in conjunction with our trail cameras,” he said. “We cover a lot of area, but this year I’m putting some corn in front of my cameras so I can attract deer to a specific location. I can more effectively get pictures of specific bucks. I am able to show my clients what I know is in the area, and I think it helps the hunters stay more focused if they know a big buck is in the area. There are no guarantees that a deer will walk out on day one of a hunt, but if a hunter is focused and alert, odds are much better on a hunt lasting several days that they can take a nice buck.”
Johnson said that having food plots available and changing food sources throughout the year is a key to his hunters’ late-season success.
“We’re always changing what we have in our food plots so there will be something attractive for the deer to eat year-round,” Johnson said.
“This year is the first year we’ve been able to use corn as a bait or attractant in this part of the state. I don’t believe in just putting out big piles of corn as the answer to how to feed and keep deer in an area. Corn is not always the best food. Deer will often prefer natural foods such as acorns or various types of greenery, so we ensure they have options. In fact, we planted corn this year and left it standing for deer to utilize until it was gone. Then we immediately turned in under and planted wheat. That’s just one example, but the point is clear: keep something in all areas of your property for the deer to eat and they will be in that area during the post-rut or late-season.
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