Big Bucks On Small Food Plots

Producing big bucks on small tracts of land is a rewarding process. On this particular 136-acre tract of land in Jefferson County, producing a monster whitetail buck turned out to be extremely rewarding. I have been managing this piece of property, along with several other small tracts of land for Woods-N-Water services, for a little over two years now, and this year it paid off huge when one of our hunters harvested a monster 17-point buck.

It doesn’t take a big tract of land or an expensive tractor to get some food on the ground and attract and hold a big buck.

While managing this tract of land over the last few years, we have inserted a few ingredients to help make the “big things in small packages” idea come true. The major components you want to make sure you provide are food, cover and a water source. Those ingredients paired with sound land-management practices and hunting techniques can help you produce higher quantities and higher quality bucks on your small tract.

Throughout this property, we implemented several small year-round food plots that were planted with our easy-to-use, all-in-one Plotmaster. We provided a special seed blend of iron and clay peas, clover, radishes, turnips, wheat and oats. These food plots are surrounded by a variety of oaks and planted pines, which also provide a natural food source and cover for bedding throughout the property. We also released persimmon trees as another natural food source to help give them what they need to grow. Supplemental feeding with corn and salt blocks have also been used to help hold deer on the property and help them grow.

Another key tool to use in managing this tract was prescribed burning. It is a cost-effective tool that helps with cover and putting high-quality nutrients back into the soil.

By providing these essential ingredients over time, I have seen the deer numbers increase each year. This has been especially evident in the number of quality big bucks.

Other important tools to consider when hunting a small tract of land is making sure you hunt the right winds with the right stands and not over hunting your stands. Most all great things in life come with great patience, and patience is very important when you are trying to harvest monster bucks.

Keith Huffman was a client on a small tract of Woods-N-Water land in Jefferson County when he connected with this 17-pointer.

When I started getting this monster buck on camera earlier this year, I knew the process had the potential to produce great results. The excitement I had when I first got him on camera was very high, because after all the hard work that had been put in, it had a chance to pay off in a big way. After a few weeks of consistently seeing him show up on camera, it was a good sign that he had decided to stay on the property and call this small tract of land home.

As the season started, I knew I had to pick and choose the right moments when to hunt and not hunt this buck. After a few weeks, the weather started to cool off and the winds were right to be able to slip Keith Huffman, of Powdersville, S.C., into the area for a chance at the buck of a lifetime.

When I arrived to pick Keith back up and saw the look on his face when he said that he just dropped a hammer, I knew it was the buck. It was an incredible feeling to see all of the hard work pay off and provide an opportunity of a lifetime to harvest this monster buck with Woods-N-Water. The 160-inch buck is proof that if you trust the process, you will see big results.

For more information on a hunting or fishing package with Woods-N-Water, or to inquire about the Plotmaster, call Blaine Burley in Wrightsville at 888 MAX GAME.