Sizing Up Deer Hunting Property
There are many different factors in sizing up the quality of individual deer hunting land. When deer season arrives, many hunters prefer to have as much land to hunt as possible. While quantity may be a good idea, land quality is more important. Here are a few tips for understanding the basics.
Large Tracts
The size of the property does not necessarily play an important role. Sure it is good to have hundreds or thousands of acres to hunt. Such size can offer a hunter many different opportunities. It may even influence confidence levels while thinking that more land means better chances at seeing deer.
Small Tracts
However, even small tracts of land have been known to out produce large ones. The key is where the land is positioned in relation to deer activity. I have taken and know of others that have taken nice bucks consistently on land as small as six acres. This land was a prime travel route between bedding and feeding areas.
Value To Deer
The best way to size up deer hunting land is to determine what value the land holds for the deer. This can be broken down into individual sections. Such as food, water, cover, travel, rutting period, hunting pressure, and hunting ability.
Cover
What type of cover does the land offer. Will it provide comfort and security for the deer. Is the land made up of hardwoods, thickets, swamps, tall grasses, or other type terrain that offers good places for deer to hide.These are all important factors concerning deer cover.
Food And Water
What types of food, if any, is available on the property. Will there be field crops, food plots, browse, acorns, or other mast type foods. Will there be a variety of deer food throughout the whole hunting season or will the land only provide food for deer in limited amounts.
Where will the deer seek watering needs. Are there creeks, rivers, or ponds on the land. Hydration is important sometimes even more so than the food. Deer need to rehydrate often.
Travel Routes
Another factor to consider is how the deer will use the property from a travel point of view. Large tracts of land will offer an abundance of travel routes. A small tract may only offer limited travel areas.
Rutting Period
The rutting period is a prime time to be deer hunting. Does the land offer good habitat for the rut. Are there secluded areas that does may use for breeding. What about deer signs such as rub lines or scrape lines.
Hunting Pressure
What type of hunting pressure will be in the area. Is the land large enough to provide numerous hunting locations when the pressure is high. Or is it only good for a limited basis. A small tract of land is often an excellent choice when surrounding areas are heavily pressured.
Hunting Ability
The final factor could be the most critical. Is the property set up to be hunted. Regardless of the previous factors, or how much deer sign, if the hunter can not safely, quietly, and effectively hunt the land, then it is of very little value.
