Deer Food Plots

Deer food plots are becoming very popular for property owners who are trying to not only help the local deer herd survive the winter months but to also provide high nutrient food all year long. In some areas deer populations are increasingly competing with Moose populations that are on the rise, which decreases the amount of browse available for the deer population. It's important to provide crops that will provide food at different times of the year. The photos below are just a few examples of the crops that deer utilize through the fall and winter months, as well as spring summer and fall.

This project also involved the planting of Hemlock three year old seedlings along trails and travel corridors to not only provide feed, but to also provide shelter and to lead deer from their bedding areas into the feed plots. They also planted red oak seedlings and some white pine seedlings.

The property owner also logged portions of the property to remove some of the older trees and to provide tops for winter forage. In subsequent years the food plots will be increased in size and location to provide food throughout the property, additional lime will be added to decrease the acidic conditions of the soils, and additional seedlings will be planted.
This project involved the planting of numerous different strips, including Frigid Forage, corn, soybeans, clover, sugar beets, carrots, and other mixtures specifically designed to provide food at different times of the year.

Moose Hunting 2010

Well my 2010 moose hunting season has come and gone. It was a beautiful week, fairly mild temperatures, not too much rain, full moon, and crisp mornings. It felt good to get out and experience the bush, spend time with family friends and fellow hunters. Although we weren't successful, I did have an encounter with an eleven point buck that was priceless. I had just arrived at my stand for the morning and noticed a fresh deer bed right where I was going to stand. Within minutes I caught a nose coming around a large Hemlock to my left, I remained motionless and this huge Whitetail emerged broadside at 15 yards. he was dark, huge, and had a sticker tine about 8 inches off his left side. He very cautiously continued to get closer; all of a sudden he stopped and looked directly at me, he knew there was something there, he just couldn't figure out what it was, he dropped his head and quickly raised it again trying to catch me. We played this game for about five minutes, I never moved. At the closest point he was 10vyards away, this moment made my hunt, even though I never saw a moose. It's great to experience such a magnificent animal in his domain.