Texas Whitetails

by LARRY WEISHUHN :: TF&G Contributing Editor

Spring is a Season of Preparation

‘SPRING IS BORING!” PROclaimed my son-in-law, Lance Tigre , in a loud voice. “Bucks are just starting to show antlers. Fawns are still young and small so you cannot tell whether they are bucks or does.”

He continued, “Spring turkey season is over, grass is growing taller so it’s hard to nd shed antlers… ere are very few spring bear hunts anymore in the US, and the Canadian border is still closed! ank goodness for wild hogs and coyotes.” He hesitated, “I guess we’ll just have to go shing.”

“Sounds like a really good idea, but before we do. Maybe we be er plant the food plots we talked about. Had hoped to do so earlier, but got busy helping teach the FTW Ranch’s New Hunter Programs. Would like to have go en it done in back in March to April. But with the late winter, early rains we had we should still have good soil moisture.”

“Ordered a hundred pounds of Iron Clay peas about three weeks ago. Got a call this morning they came in.” I really like Iron Clay peas because they tend to do well in a wide variety of soil types and also do well in dry weather. And deer absolutely love them and as a nutritious legume they are good for deer.”

Back during the winter, I leased an additional 130 acres next to property I already had leased and which adjoins the small acreage I own.

Combined, it gives me control over about 300 acres. Not huge by normal Texas standards, but big enough to “do something with” in terms of improving wildlife habitat and hopefully holding some deer on the property where they will have an opportunity to mature before being harvested. e new property is nearly totally wooded except for one small natural opening and a nice stock tank. Shortly a er leasing it, I went into the center of the thickest part and cut some trails. I also half-cut some of the tall yaupon, thus, lowering the foliage to a height whitetail can reach, rather than a gira e!

Deer are not unlike people. Given an opportunity deer will walk the path of least resistance when going from one place to another. I cut trails that will lead deer past where I have ground blinds. is too is where I “half-cut” yaupons. In addition to lowering the yaupon canopy to where it will be available for deer to feed on. I also fertilized those areas with 13-13-13 fertilizer, creating natural food plots. Additionally, I fertilized several oak trees in the immediate area. is as I have mentioned in the past creates a “sweeter acorn,” hard mast with less tannic acid. Deer have an innate way of nding and then feeding on the most nutritious browse and mast in any area.

I was fortunate to get all but the spring food plots done before the extreme winter storm in February. Having done so helped our area whitetails in terms of available and quality browse.

Beyond planting food plots, cu ing deer travel trails and the like this too, is a great time for scouting for the fall. You can learn the property you hunt, and to sight-in your ri e with its new Trijicon scope with “proper” Hornady ammo.

Don’t forget about shooting your ri e, bow, crossbow, air ri e, handgun, shotgun or whatever you hunt with to stay pro cient. en when all that’s done, well maybe then some shing.

Improving habitat will hopefully hold deer on your property long enough to mature before being harvested.

Email Larry Weishuhn at ContactUs@fi shgame.com

Improving habitat will hopefully hold deer on your property long enough to mature before being harvested.

Photo: Larry Weishuhn