Part 3 of our series on simple and awesome work you can do this spring to improve your deer hunting this fall, from veteran Illinois hunter and land manager Matt “Flatlander” Cheever. Hi Mike: I know it’s tough for folks to think about land management when the fishing is getting good and successful turkey seasons are being celebrated but this is truly the time to line up success in the BIG DEER woods this fall. Planting season is in full swing, from gardens to agriculture fields, and it’s the perfect time to be working on your deer food plots. That said, remember to save some of your plot areas for a later summer planting for crops like turnips, beats and [...]

Time to start prepping and planting your plots. To grow better greens and attract more bucks than ever, remember these tips: --Rather than planting several 3- to 5-acre fields like deer managers did the old days, scatter 5 to 10 smaller plots across your land. Green strips and pockets of ¼- to one-acre max are easier to plant and maintain. Small plots are all the rage with the best deer biologists/managers these days. Turn whatever open fields and spots you have on your land into small food plots.   --Think back to your past hunts on the property. Whitetails are habitual animals that come and go in the same places season after season. Where have you seen the most deer [...]