woodsman87
Well-Known Member
I have thought about this before, and stik's post got me to post mine. But in no way am I proposing or claiming that deer are the real problem for wild turkeys for us in the middle/southern parts of the state that have experienced population decline. I just have some thoughts about it. Deer lovers bash away on me, I do not care for I am a turkey guy.
In my area and surrounding areas deer dominate the woods. They eat pretty much all the available food during the fall/winter months. They eat the food plots (mainly the clover) down to the dirt. They consume too many acorns. They eat all the soft mast before turkeys can get to it. They destroy any type of spring/summer food plot you plant(sunflowers, millet, beans ect.) before it is developed for turkey nesting and/or brood rearing habitat. As well as destryong bobwhite quail habitat and future dove fields. Also, I blame the deer for the squirrel hunting being so poor in the month of January and Early February, because there aren't any nuts left for them to eat.
I have enjoyed hunting the whitetail deer for my entire life, but I do not cherish it like I do my turkey hunting. I usually kill 2-3 deer a year to eat, and try to get a nice buck if the opportunity presents itself(which rarely does.) Other than feeding myself with some venison, I have no desire to kill alot of other deer for the simple reason of having to drag them out, find someone that ones the meat, and what not.
But after thinking about it in my wild turkey perspective, I may have to try a little harder to find willing people who want venison.
What do yall think? I am prepared for any bashing I may get from the deer first hunters.
In my area and surrounding areas deer dominate the woods. They eat pretty much all the available food during the fall/winter months. They eat the food plots (mainly the clover) down to the dirt. They consume too many acorns. They eat all the soft mast before turkeys can get to it. They destroy any type of spring/summer food plot you plant(sunflowers, millet, beans ect.) before it is developed for turkey nesting and/or brood rearing habitat. As well as destryong bobwhite quail habitat and future dove fields. Also, I blame the deer for the squirrel hunting being so poor in the month of January and Early February, because there aren't any nuts left for them to eat.
I have enjoyed hunting the whitetail deer for my entire life, but I do not cherish it like I do my turkey hunting. I usually kill 2-3 deer a year to eat, and try to get a nice buck if the opportunity presents itself(which rarely does.) Other than feeding myself with some venison, I have no desire to kill alot of other deer for the simple reason of having to drag them out, find someone that ones the meat, and what not.
But after thinking about it in my wild turkey perspective, I may have to try a little harder to find willing people who want venison.
What do yall think? I am prepared for any bashing I may get from the deer first hunters.
