Small raw land--what to do? - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

BayouCat · 04-04-2021, 03:02 PM

I'm looking at possibly purchasing a small place around 60ac. Raw land, completely covered in cedar and few oak, no water source on the place. Mostly larger land owners as neighbors. No major elevation changes on the place.

What would you focus on doing first to make this place ideal for whitetail? How much cedar do you clear? Do you put in a water source or not? Clear out an area for food plots or not?

Part of me says leave it alone and slap up a corn feeder or two in Aug and be done. The other part would want to develop the place over the next few years and transform it into something special, but will it be worth all the work and money?

Thanks for all ideas and input.

wytex · 04-04-2021, 03:19 PM

I would opt for a water source first. A good well with a tank for the animals to drink out of and water for yourselves when camping would be ideal.
You could then clear some cedar and get some good browse established to hold some deer and not just have them filtering through to other properties with water and forage.

Congrats and enjoy.

bobby314 · 04-04-2021, 04:03 PM

I wanted to do alot when I bought mine but didn't have the dough, so I just slapped up a feeder and 2 game cameras and called it good. If I had the funds, I would have Cleared a bit more. Added feeders and pens, dug a small pond, etc. Etc.

3ChordTruth · 04-04-2021, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wytex

I would opt for a water source first. A good well with a tank for the animals to drink out of and water for yourselves when camping would be ideal.
You could then clear some cedar and get some good browse established to hold some deer and not just have them filtering through to other properties with water and forage.

Congrats and enjoy.

X2

The cedar and oaks provide cover, bedding areas, etc., but adding water and food would attract critters. Good luck.

steve morton · 04-04-2021, 07:54 PM

5 acre oat patch dead center, not too big on the pocketbook and plant spring plots too. Get in and get out, low impact on the small tract for best results.

DUKFVR · 04-04-2021, 09:48 PM

Water source for sure. If nothing more than a trough fed off a tote. Then a protein & corn feeder.

MadHatter · 04-04-2021, 10:19 PM

High Fence it, get a few giraffe, a zebra or 15, a couple dozen 300" Whitetail bucks, and go at it.
Maybe a elk as well

And don't laugh

.

toledo · 04-04-2021, 10:47 PM

I wouldn't get too aggressive with any clearing until you understand how the animals are using the property. It's hard to replace good bedding.

Only hunt with a suppressor. Helps to keep the neighbors from keeping score on what's being killed across the fence.

IkemanTX · 04-04-2021, 10:58 PM

I would build everything based on your entry. 60 acres is fairly small on flat ground.

My move would be to find a way to put a food source in conjunction with a water source. If you can find a clean way to make 2 setups, all the better.

I would find a good spot to put a 1-2 acre food plot and find some way to get water there too. Toss a feeder on the edge trail camera pictures and you’re set.

Keep your in-season prevailing winds, and your approach in mind for the entire design. The cleaner the entry, the more you can hunt it without deer going nocturnal.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Muddy Bud · 04-04-2021, 11:13 PM

Pour the feed to them. They will come. If there is water near by on a neighboring property I wouldn’t even worry about water at this point. Just feed.

buckerup · 04-05-2021, 09:11 AM

Put out feeders and hunt it one year. Then you’ll have a better idea of what you have and what, if any changes you might need to make.

Big pig · 04-05-2021, 08:43 PM

Fixin to buy a new place so taking notes here.

We have decided to low fence immediately and do nothing for a while except plant a large food plot and feed like crazy.
No clearing or new roads until we learn the property
For sure we will have a larger sanctuary area we never enter in fall or winter

Enjoy.

Big pig

TreeDaddy · 04-06-2021, 03:59 PM

[QUOTE=toledo;15554916]I wouldn't get too aggressive with any clearing until you understand how the animals are using the property. It's hard to replace good bedding.

^^^^^^^^this for the first year or two

Then develop a plan......

bill

Shane · 04-06-2021, 04:08 PM

Sounds like you have cover. You just need water and groceries to make it a haven.

sharkhunter · 04-06-2021, 04:28 PM

I’d put in watering stations and feed pens in several locations first. Then work on putting in a few food plots if possible.

walker1983 · 04-07-2021, 04:25 PM

I'd make 1 perfect spot in the best area of your place:

Drill a water well, and put it on a low volume solar pump

2-3 acre food plot - but selectively leave oaks or cedars in the middle

Extra large feed pen w/ protein, cotton seed, and a corn feeder.

Fill everything, and stay out of the area as much as possible.

Greylight318 · Today, 12:56 PM

Food plots. Lay them out to maximize the time deer spend on your property. Do you have an aerial?

04-04-2021, 03:02 PM	#1
BayouCat Six Point Join Date: Nov 2018 Location: Gulf Coast Hunt In: Gulf Coast	Small raw land--what to do? I'm looking at possibly purchasing a small place around 60ac. Raw land, completely covered in cedar and few oak, no water source on the place. Mostly larger land owners as neighbors. No major elevation changes on the place. What would you focus on doing first to make this place ideal for whitetail? How much cedar do you clear? Do you put in a water source or not? Clear out an area for food plots or not? Part of me says leave it alone and slap up a corn feeder or two in Aug and be done. The other part would want to develop the place over the next few years and transform it into something special, but will it be worth all the work and money? Thanks for all ideas and input.

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04-04-2021, 03:19 PM	#2
wytex Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Wyoming Hunt In: Wyoming , Texas, Colorado, Nebraska	I would opt for a water source first. A good well with a tank for the animals to drink out of and water for yourselves when camping would be ideal. You could then clear some cedar and get some good browse established to hold some deer and not just have them filtering through to other properties with water and forage. Congrats and enjoy.

04-04-2021, 04:03 PM	#3
bobby314 Ten Point Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Humble, TX	I wanted to do alot when I bought mine but didn't have the dough, so I just slapped up a feeder and 2 game cameras and called it good. If I had the funds, I would have Cleared a bit more. Added feeders and pens, dug a small pond, etc. Etc.

04-04-2021, 07:54 PM	#5
steve morton Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2006	5 acre oat patch dead center, not too big on the pocketbook and plant spring plots too. Get in and get out, low impact on the small tract for best results.

04-04-2021, 09:48 PM	#6
DUKFVR Pope & Young Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sorry Azz Houston Hunt In: Young County & Anywhere A Duck Flies!	Water source for sure. If nothing more than a trough fed off a tote. Then a protein & corn feeder.

04-04-2021, 10:19 PM	#7
MadHatter Ten Point Join Date: Feb 2014	High Fence it, get a few giraffe, a zebra or 15, a couple dozen 300" Whitetail bucks, and go at it. Maybe a elk as well And don't laugh .

04-04-2021, 10:47 PM	#8
toledo Ten Point Join Date: May 2010 Location: College Station Hunt In: the road by your lease	I wouldn't get too aggressive with any clearing until you understand how the animals are using the property. It's hard to replace good bedding. Only hunt with a suppressor. Helps to keep the neighbors from keeping score on what's being killed across the fence.

04-04-2021, 10:58 PM	#9
IkemanTX Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Greater DFW	I would build everything based on your entry. 60 acres is fairly small on flat ground. My move would be to find a way to put a food source in conjunction with a water source. If you can find a clean way to make 2 setups, all the better. I would find a good spot to put a 1-2 acre food plot and find some way to get water there too. Toss a feeder on the edge trail camera pictures and you’re set. Keep your in-season prevailing winds, and your approach in mind for the entire design. The cleaner the entry, the more you can hunt it without deer going nocturnal. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

04-04-2021, 11:13 PM	#10
Muddy Bud Pope & Young Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Corpus Christi Hunt In: Jim Hogg	Pour the feed to them. They will come. If there is water near by on a neighboring property I wouldn’t even worry about water at this point. Just feed.

04-05-2021, 09:11 AM	#11
buckerup Ten Point Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Cypress Tx Hunt In: Gouldbusk, Texas. Coleman County	Put out feeders and hunt it one year. Then you’ll have a better idea of what you have and what, if any changes you might need to make.

04-05-2021, 08:43 PM	#12
Big pig Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Blanket, TX Hunt In: Goliad and Brown Co.	Fixin to buy a new place so taking notes here. We have decided to low fence immediately and do nothing for a while except plant a large food plot and feed like crazy. No clearing or new roads until we learn the property For sure we will have a larger sanctuary area we never enter in fall or winter Enjoy. Big pig

04-06-2021, 03:59 PM	#13
TreeDaddy Four Point Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: walton,texas Hunt In: same	[QUOTE=toledo;15554916]I wouldn't get too aggressive with any clearing until you understand how the animals are using the property. It's hard to replace good bedding. ^^^^^^^^this for the first year or two Then develop a plan...... bill

04-06-2021, 04:08 PM	#14
Shane Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Abilene, TX Hunt In: Mismatched camo	Sounds like you have cover. You just need water and groceries to make it a haven.

04-06-2021, 04:28 PM	#15
sharkhunter Pope & Young Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Tarkington , TX Hunt In: In the woods	I’d put in watering stations and feed pens in several locations first. Then work on putting in a few food plots if possible.

04-07-2021, 04:25 PM	#16
walker1983 Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Midland Hunt In: Albany / Sterling City / Mexico	I'd make 1 perfect spot in the best area of your place: Drill a water well, and put it on a low volume solar pump 2-3 acre food plot - but selectively leave oaks or cedars in the middle Extra large feed pen w/ protein, cotton seed, and a corn feeder. Fill everything, and stay out of the area as much as possible.

Today, 12:56 PM	#17
Greylight318 Six Point Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Texas	Food plots. Lay them out to maximize the time deer spend on your property. Do you have an aerial?