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Edge Feathering Food Plots #2632402
11/08/18 02:49 PM
11/08/18 02:49 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,375
Jasper, AL
J
joshm28 Offline OP
14 point
joshm28  Offline OP
14 point
J
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,375
Jasper, AL
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.

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2632408
11/08/18 02:55 PM
11/08/18 02:55 PM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 13,017
Montgomery, Alabama
jaredhunts Offline
Puts sugar in his cornbread!
jaredhunts  Offline
Puts sugar in his cornbread!
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 13,017
Montgomery, Alabama
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.


It be's that way sometimes.

www.sunpoolcompany.com
Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2632411
11/08/18 02:57 PM
11/08/18 02:57 PM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 13,838
Mobile, AL
S
SouthBamaSlayer Offline
Gary's Fluffer
SouthBamaSlayer  Offline
Gary's Fluffer
S
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 13,838
Mobile, AL
Just plant some Egyptian wheat and leave 5-10ft standing.

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2632474
11/08/18 04:07 PM
11/08/18 04:07 PM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,176
Central to South AL
Stickers Offline
8 point
Stickers  Offline
8 point
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,176
Central to South AL
We leave two bush hog widths between wood line and where we start planting.


WDE
Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2632558
11/08/18 05:40 PM
11/08/18 05:40 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,612
Pelham
Ben2 Online IMG_0051.GIF
Old Mossy Horns
Ben2  Online IMG_0051.GIF
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,612
Pelham
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

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2632762
11/08/18 08:55 PM
11/08/18 08:55 PM
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,241
Hoover,Al. StateChamps
B
Big Bore Offline
10 point
Big Bore  Offline
10 point
B
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 3,241
Hoover,Al. StateChamps
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.


Hunting brings out the worst in people.
Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2632777
11/08/18 09:03 PM
11/08/18 09:03 PM
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 15,167
Ourtown, AL
BCLC Offline
Old Mossy Horns
BCLC  Offline
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 15,167
Ourtown, AL
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.


We’re not dead. We just smell that way. Dayum. - AC870

Yessir! I’m always gonna shoot what makes me happy and I want everyone else to do the same! If you shoot one be proud of it and don’t worry what anyone else thinks. - SJ22
Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2633101
11/09/18 08:41 AM
11/09/18 08:41 AM
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,751
USA
R
Remington270 Offline
Freak of Nature
Remington270  Offline
Freak of Nature
R
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 21,751
USA
Corn does better in "Blocks" as opposed to strips. I'd plant half the field in corn and leave the other half open.

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2633248
11/09/18 10:34 AM
11/09/18 10:34 AM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,648
Lincoln, Alabama
B
blumsden Offline
12 point
blumsden  Offline
12 point
B
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,648
Lincoln, Alabama
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?

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: blumsden] #2633456
11/09/18 02:26 PM
11/09/18 02:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,612
Pelham
Ben2 Online IMG_0051.GIF
Old Mossy Horns
Ben2  Online IMG_0051.GIF
Old Mossy Horns
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Posts: 19,612
Pelham
Originally Posted by blumsden
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

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2633463
11/09/18 02:34 PM
11/09/18 02:34 PM
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
257wbymag Offline
Boo Boo Head
257wbymag  Offline
Boo Boo Head
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 38,489
N. Bama
Deer congregating in numbers in a field gives them security most of the time


Quietly killing turkeys where youre not!!!
My tank full of give a fraks been runnin on empty
I'm the paterfamilias
Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2636434
11/12/18 07:48 AM
11/12/18 07:48 AM
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,648
Lincoln, Alabama
B
blumsden Offline
12 point
blumsden  Offline
12 point
B
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 5,648
Lincoln, Alabama
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.

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: blumsden] #2636457
11/12/18 08:18 AM
11/12/18 08:18 AM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,612
Pelham
Ben2 Online IMG_0051.GIF
Old Mossy Horns
Ben2  Online IMG_0051.GIF
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,612
Pelham
Originally Posted by blumsden
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.

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2636459
11/12/18 08:20 AM
11/12/18 08:20 AM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,612
Pelham
Ben2 Online IMG_0051.GIF
Old Mossy Horns
Ben2  Online IMG_0051.GIF
Old Mossy Horns
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,612
Pelham
Truth be told it probably dont make any difference whatsoever what we do or don't do to the field edges.

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: joshm28] #2636507
11/12/18 09:13 AM
11/12/18 09:13 AM
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,408
bham
C
crocker Offline
10 point
crocker  Offline
10 point
C
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 3,408
bham
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"

Re: Edge Feathering Food Plots [Re: BCLC] #2636631
11/12/18 10:27 AM
11/12/18 10:27 AM
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,176
Central to South AL
Stickers Offline
8 point
Stickers  Offline
8 point
Joined: Feb 2015
Posts: 2,176
Central to South AL
Originally Posted by BCLC
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.


^^^^ 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.


WDE

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