Author: Tex Hunter

Question: “We have been deer hunting for a couple of years now and I finally got a game camera this last season. So this year was the first that I had pictures of deer during the summer, and there were some nice bucks showing up on camera. Now I am fearful that I will lose them during the deer hunting season unless I supplement them with some type of food or mineral. What would you recommend? I have three places each with two to five acres of open grass. Would it be better to establish deer food plots or put up protein feeders?”

Response: There are many options when it comes to supplemental feeding for whitetail deer. The important thing to keep in mind is that there are many variables that come into play when deciding what feed source to use as a supplement. Do you have cattle or hogs? Do you have a tractor and implements to get the land ready? Do you own the property or lease the land? How many deer do you have on the place or that will utilize these plots? What is your average rainfall?

If you can not perform or cover most of what is in the questions above then I would use protein feeders to hold your deer rather than lab lab or any other type of food plot. When you calculate all of the expenses, it is usually less expensive for most people to spend the money on protein feed.

To plant food plots properly you will need rather expensive equipment, and then you are hoping once you make an investment and plant the seed that it will actually rain and grow. At least if you buy protein pellets you know what you have. Food plots are more of a gamble.

If you have the right soil and equipment and can get the food plots to grow well, then it’s cheaper than any pelleted protein. Lab lab is an excellent food plot selection, but if it rains and grows really well, then chances are you will have enough native forage that you will not need a food plot for the whitetail deer on your property.

If you are looking to just hold animals during the deer hunting season, then my suggestion for you would be to run a protein feeder or two and also have a couple of timed corn feeders going. A lab lab food plot can do the trick, but you will need the equipment and rain.

Question: “I am live in Austin, Texas, and used to be on a deer lease in Mason County. That was about 10 years ago. Now that my kids are getting older, I would like to get them outdoors and show them some of the things you can find stomping around on the ground. I have an opportunity to get on a Lampasas County deer lease, but was wondering if there are some good bucks in that area?”

Answer: I think it’s a great idea to get your kids outside and teach them about plants and animals and pass on the deer hunting heritage. Lampasas County is located on the northeast edge of the Texas Hill Country. The habitat found in that county can vary quite a bit. The best hunting can be found along the Colorado River, Lampasas River, and the major creeks found there, but good bucks exist all throughout that country. Continue reading Deer Hunting Lease in Lampasas County

Question: “We have a 600 ranch that we use for recreation and whitetail deer hunting during the fall. We recently had an accidental fire break out that burned approximately 80 to 90 on our ranch. We want to re-vegetate this area and would like to use deer-friendly species to prevent any possible erosion. I would like some thoughts on the options for reseeding our Blanco County ranch. Thank you.”

Response: I know first hand that the habitat out in Central Texas is very dry. Much of Texas is in exceptional drought so both the habitat and whitetail deer are just trying to hang on. Soil moisture is low across much of the state, but I bet there is a good chance many of the grass plants consumed by the fire are still alive and will re-sprout, but it also depends on how hot the soil temperatures got. It will also depend on when the next rain comes.

With the end of summer almost in sight, reseeding right now will be a tough proposition unless you have the ability to irrigate your plantings. If it does not rain then nothing will grow regardless of the species planted. I always recommend reseeding with native grass and forb mixes to improve habitat, but that is traditionally done during the spring, April and May. Native forbs and grasses are best for whitetail deer and other native wildlife species, but it literally takes a couple of years to get a satisfactory stand.

I understand that soil erosion may be an issue when it eventually rains, but working the ground to prepare it for planting will only increase the chances of erosion once your part of the world gets a sizeable rainfall event. With fall just around the corner, I would recommend a heavy over-seeding (broadcasting) of ryegrass (or even oats) at the first chance of rain, but not prior to that because birds will eat the seeds. One established, the ryegrass will stabilize the soil and also serve as a winter food plot for deer.

Ryegrass will persist into spring, at which time you would want to spray with herbicide. Then use a native seed drill to plant a native grass and forb mix directly into the soil. Many of the browse species in the burned area should be fine, except for any blueberry cedar that was completely consumed by the fire. For anyone that wants to know how to control cedar, prescribed fire is a great choice. It’s a great tool, not nearly as scary as many believe, and can really clean up a lot of acreage in short order.

The property will benefit from the brush management aspect of the fire since cedar is a persistent pest in Blanco County. Best of luck with your habitat management and upcoming deer hunting season! I think it will bounce back, but especially with your help.