In years past we have always planted every available inch of open space. I’ve been reading articles about feathering the edges of plots to increase daytime activity. Now we are on timber company property so there is only so much we can do but I’ve been thinking about trying it on our larger plots.

So here is my question, how much space between the wood line and the plot should be considered “soft”? I’m thinking about 4 rows of corn left standing. Would this accomplish what I’m looking for?

Would careful bush hogging around the 3-4 year old pines surrounding the plot accomplish the same thing?

It seems the more I sit in a stand the more ideas I come up with for the following year.

I like to leave about 4or so feet of uncut grass inbetween the woods and the plot. Bush hog around those trees. Never hurts to try new things.

Just plant some Egyptian wheat and leave 5-10ft standing.

We leave two bush hog widths between wood line and where we start planting.

We have done both and I would recommend not leaving any room between field and woods. I want deer in the woods to look and see a deer in the plot and come on in. I feel like if they do not see a deer they are less likely to walk out

Egyptian wheat does work really well. We planted rows of it to conceal us walking the edges of the fields in Illinois while heading to stands. I agree on planting the whole field. I think mature bucks often watch other deer in the field before coming out.

Some of my plots have as much as 20-30ft of natural edge before the woodline. It provides fawn and turkey poult cover not to mention an absolute heaven on earth for quail and rabbits.

Corn does better in "Blocks" as opposed to strips. I'd plant half the field in corn and leave the other half open.

I like a thick edge, gives deer close security cover. As for you who think deer will come on out if they can see one, well if they don't see one while scanning the whole field, they certainly won't come out. With the feathering, at least they are forced to the edge to see if anything is out there. This can present shot opportunities. I for sure don't want a deer to stand 50 yards back in the timber and be able to see the whole field. Now if you have a stand back there, well then it really doesn't matter, does it?

A deer can smell as well but if he happens to walk the upwind side of the field he has to use his eyes to check for other deer and if he cant see em he is likely still walking

Deer congregating in numbers in a field gives them security most of the time

My point, although I didn't explain it very well, is that you want to make it hard for the deer to stand back in the timber and check the field. Most bucks will step to the edge and check it if its thick around it.

I want him for them to see the other deer from as far away as possible. If you have super low density and dont have numerous deer on each field leaving the barrier may be a good idea but deer like to be where other deer are so I like to let them see where the others are.

Truth be told it probably dont make any difference whatsoever what we do or don't do to the field edges.

I like to leave a strip next to woods natural. It doesn't have to be so high deer cant see out in field, just a little overgrowth to make them feel comfortable stepping out. Whole point is to keep them from looking "from the woods"

^^^^ This. and at dark, if the deer can see what is in the patch, why show himself in the daylight?? Helps to have some doe scent blowing downwind, because if he cant see her but thinks he smells her... he may show himself.