THINK Small & Go Big. Let s face it; the average hunter doesn t hunt on. How to Grow and Hold Big Bucks on Small Properties. By Jason R.

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1 THINK Small & By Jason R. Snavely How to Grow and Hold Big Bucks on Small Properties A well-planned food-plot program that provides preferred food sources to deer throughout the year is key to growing and holding mature bucks on small properties. 100 CHARLES ALSHEIMER PHOTO Let s face it; the average hunter doesn t hunt on 1,200 acres of unpressured property. Most of us are confned within a couple hundred acres or less! As a private wildlife consultant, my frst 10 years in business ( ) taught me about the norm in deer management across the whitetail s range. After a decade of on-the-ground consulting, I ve identifed how to grow and hold bucks into maturity on small acreage. I ve learned when to push the envelope and question mainstream deer-management philosophies (and oftentimes common sense). Without this knowledge and experience, I get fred. That motivates me to dispel myths and operate outside the box, as long as expectations are reasonable. In 2006, I decided it was time to purchase my own typical deer property and walk in my clients shoes. So, I bought 95 acres in the heavily hunted state of Pennsylvania. I ve since purchased other properties and currently own and manage two. Traveling to client properties around the country, I ve seen hundreds of scenarios with all sorts of different setups and situations, and the jury is no longer out as far as I m concerned; most big, mature bucks are eventually killed on smaller acreage. I know because I ask. I rarely hear clients bragging about feeding and holding a particular buck as he cruised through the various age classes only to be killed at years of age by the neighbor. Instead, the desired end result is to adorn the trophy room with a timeline of small-acreage success stories, topped off with bone. If most big bucks are ultimately killed on small acreage, why shouldn t your hunting property be the next Pope and Youngproducing parcel? Well, I m here to tell you it can be! BOWP BIG.indd 100 BOWP pgs :55 13:01 6/28/13 1:52 PM

2 THINK small & Commitment Equals Success My property acquisition in 2006 allowed me to more intensively research food-plot products and aggressive techniques geared toward growing and holding mature bucks on average-sized properties in the Northeast. At the time, real estate auctions were gaining popularity in my area of Pennsylvania, and I immediately became a regular bidder. While intensively seeking the RIGHT property for my little project, I kept the successes and failures of my clients in mind. I examined the land ownership patterns of my clients everything from tract size and shape to habitat composition and proximity to population centers. I dug through the record books for my region of the state and pinpointed local hotspots that seemed to consistently produce top-end bucks for the area. I closely followed reported mature buck harvests right down to the fne details of what types of habitats they were produced in and killed on and how large (or small) the property was. I questioned whether bordering state land, packed with high hunter densities during the deer season, was an asset or a liability. The search became an obsession and remains a popular service I offer my clients today. In short, I covered all my bases but ultimately bought because I fell in love with the view and location! After watching clients make mistakes and struggle under certain scenarios but thrive under others, I quickly learned to identify common pitfalls. The commonality among those who were successful was rarely a function of how big their hunting properties were. Instead, it was how badly they wanted to improve their hunting success. Success is measured by commitment, not acreage! The following is a review of the successes and failures I ve experienced while pouring every bit of deer-management knowledge I have into my 95-acre Drop-Tine Farms; my personal deer dirt. Although I could write a book on the reasons for small-acreage management success, the common theme involves food management. More specifcally, planting the right food plot plants at the right time allows you to attract and hold more bucks in a given area. High-quality, year-round food plot programs tailored specifcally for deer have revolutionized deer management on small acreage. I ve been completely amazed with the number of mature bucks I ve been able to produce, attract and hold on my 95 acres. To help you do the same, I ve broken my system down into fve phases. Phase 1: Border Patrol First and foremost, you must clearly identify and protect your borders! As hunters, we must all obey game laws. However, not all legal harvest guidelines jibe with your specifc hunting goals. This is where you transition from hunter to manager. Likewise, your neighbor s goals may not align with yours. As a result, it s important to post, patrol and prosecute. BOWP BIG.indd 102 BOWP pgs :55 13:02 6/28/13 1:50 PM

3 THINK small & Immediately after closing on my property, I identifed my property lines and erected customized posted signs with my contact information, leaving no excuse for anyone to be on my land without permission. I then halted agricultural production on vulnerable and exposed areas of the property and further sought to insulate myself by planting screening vegetation along the borders. Finally, I installed solid gates and barriers on all access roads. Even with all that, it was ultimately necessary to let others know I am serious by prosecuting poachers and trespassers. There s nothing more frustrating than exercising restraint in harvesting young bucks only to have a trespasser reap the rewards of your investment into that animal. My frst trespasser prosecution was like the stupid criminal stories you hear about on the radio. After fnding his trail camera on my property, I discovered two mug shots of my offender on the SD card. That was an easy case for the State Police! Posting and protecting your property boundaries are keys to a successful small-acreage management program. When author Jason Snavely discovered a trespasser s scouting camera on his land, he removed the camera and left a very clear message for its owner. Phase 2: Stock the Buffet Develop a starting point by planning infrastructure such as roads for food-plot equipment and access routes to and from your stands. Figure out how deer move through the property and use the various types of existing habitat. Then focus your management efforts on enhancing these areas by establishing food plots. I could never have achieved consistent success on my 95-acre property without timing my food plots to produce during key times of the year. There are two primary periods you should plan around. Warm-season annuals such as corn and soybeans are key components of a year-round food plot program, as they hold and imprint deer to your property during a critical scouting period. Yes, most bucks exhibit a major dietary shift, and ultimately an activity shift, toward the end of the growing season; however, a buck s world revolves around the urge to feed and breed. Why not give them all they want to maximize the attractiveness of your small hunting property? When managing small acreage, we re playing a game of odds by try- BOWP BIG.indd 104 BOWP pgs :55 13:02 6/28/13 1:50 PM

4 THINK small & ing to maximize the amount of time a buck spends on your property. Research projects using GPS collars have shown us time and time again that when the pressure is on, bucks prefer to play the game with home feld advantage. Toward the end of the growing season, roughly six to eight weeks before the opening of early archery season, cool-season annuals become a crucial component. It s this time of the year that I fnd most deer hunters are not quite thinking about deer season but are more focused on vacations, summertime chores and bass fshing. While these are great activities, the success of your upcoming hunting season is a function of how active you are with preparing your cool-season food plots. Early to midaugust always fnds me spraying and planting everything from forage rape and turnips to cereal grains such as oats and rye. My hunting plots of brassicas, oats, winter peas and forage soybeans have been vital to attracting does and bucks. Many bucks that have been highly visible frequenting large roadside soybean felds shift to my latematuring forage soybeans and newly germinating cool-season crops. We ve all watched a buck feed in these large agricultural felds during late summer, insisting we ve nailed his travel pattern, only to be disappointed when he disappears a couple weeks before opening day. The truth is, you lost him to someone like me; someone who has planned to fll a nutritional void at the RIGHT TIME! A perfect example of this is a buck I call Blade. I ve gotten to know Blade and his unique travels over the years. In fact, I ve seen him from the stand more than a dozen times over the course of four years. That s right; he s 5 ½ or 6 ½ years old. During the 2012 growing season, a local farmer friend showed me pictures of a great buck he captured on his trail camera in his soybeans. His face displayed shock when I explained this buck s name is Blade and added that he has been around for several years. In This series of photos highlights the progression of Blade, one of many mature bucks Jason Snavely has been able to grow and hold on his 95-acre farm. This photo shows Blade on Valentine s Day, 2010, just a month after the close of 2009 hunting season. This photo shows Blade in velvet during July BOWP BIG.indd 106 6/28/13 1:50 PM BOWP pgs :55 13:02

5 THINK small & fact, I had a shed from when he was a 2-year-old, as well as his matching set of sheds from when he was 3 ½. My friend s excitement was obvious as he described his hunting strategy for when the bow season opened. I made a prediction to him that day; one that involved Blade on my turf come bow season. Since the goal with my property is to continually push the envelope and determine just how far I can go with holding mature bucks, I actually passed Blade during the bow opener when he was 4 ½ years old. You re right; I wouldn t believe you either if you were telling this story. This buckharvest strategy is not typical on small acreage and generally not advised; This photo shows Blade during the late however, I view my lessons as profes- archery season in December sional development. My clients pay me for that. I believe the starting point Blade in July At this point, he was at least 5 years old and really starting to pack on the mass in his antlers. for most small-acreage managers is to set a minimum harvest age for bucks at 3 ½ years old. Those who know me believe me when I say I passed a 15yard, slam-dunk bow shot because I m committed to proving conventional wisdom wrong. More bucks slip past legal hunters than we realize, and the survival rate accelerates as they mature. Notice I said legal hunters, because I frmly believe poaching is a bigger problem than most are willing to accept. These criminals are robbing our resources and undermining our management efforts. Phase 3: No Risk, No Reward Passing up young bucks works. It s time we let go of the antiquated and misguided philosophy that the neighbors will kill every buck you restrain from harvesting. It s simply not true. Sure, some will die. But most won t. I m happy to report that more and more bowhunters tell me at seminars and in my travels that they have committed to passing all bucks younger than 3 ½. I support that goal wholeheartedly, even on small acreage. If the story of Blade seems like an exception, I ll throw another one at you. If I had more space in this article, I d throw a dozen more out there S E PTE M B E R 2013 BOWP BIG.indd 108 7/3/13 9:39 AM BOWP pgs :57 09:00

6 THINK small & for any naysayers. Bumpers got his name as a respectable 3 ½-yearold 8-pointeer with bumps for G4s. At 4 ½, Bumpers developed 3- and 4-inch G4s. I know, because we found the matched sheds. If you don t think he s loyal to this management program, ask yourself how many times you have found matching sets of sheds from the same buck at 3 ½ and 4 ½. At 5 ½, Bumpers absolutely exploded and I estimated him in the low 160s as a clean 10-pointer with an incredible frame. At 6 ½, I never saw Bumpers but continue to be optimistic, as AWOL stints are normal for old warriors such as Bumpers. Even if Bumpers was shot at 6 ½ by a happy hunter, I learned plenty from that buck, much of which continues to provide valuable information for clients who want to Bumpers was a respectable 8-point buck at years old but had absolutely exploded by By providing plenty of food on a year-round basis, author Jason Snavely was able to hold the buck on his 95-acre farm for much of three seasons. Tunable... Deep Six Perfection! Our new Deep Slice is the rst broadhead designed from the ground up to maximize the potential of the Injexion arrows and Deep Six components. We utilize a stainless steel base for strength which results in a new Blade Alignment Technology because you can simply align the blade assembly prior to tightening the tip. Two way compression happens as the tip is tightened, one tightens the blades into the assembly. Tapers of the base and body are simultaneously secured locking your newly set blade orientation. Tunable Broadheads! Falcon and Carbon Tuner models feature Blade Alignment Technology (BAT) which will allow you to tune your broadheads to all standard sized carbon arrows Made in U.S.A. Tip tightens into base allowing for blade assembly adjustment. consistently harvest mature bucks. I followed that buck with near radiotelemetry accuracy by glassing the neighborhood, monitoring his movements with trail cameras, fnding his sheds, observing him from the stand and talking to neighbors and farmers about his movements. The bottom line is that yet another mature buck spent enough time on my small tract to present harvest opportunities. Phase 4: Assess and Adapt This step doesn t require much text. However, it s vitally important for continued success. Regularly review what s working and what s not working and take action to correct what s not working. I record (and insist my clients do as well) every deer observation from all of my sits. Over time, my observation rates improved both in total number of deer and in number of shooter bucks observed from the stand. Yours should too, and if it doesn t, you need to stop and fgure out why. Phase 5: Free Your Mind Throughout this process (and it is a never-ending process), you must keep an open mind and learn from experience. I always question conventional wisdom and try to think outside the box. One example relates to doe harvest. I m a proponent of Quality Deer Management, and I had plenty of big-game management courses in college. I fully understand the relationships between deer densities and deer quality and health. I also believe most hunters now understand that deer numbers must be Continued on page 134 SEPTEMBER 2013 BOWP BIG.indd 110 BOWP pgs :56 09:00 7/3/13 9:39 AM