What do you do if you're neighbors are better than you?

B

Bullwinkle

Active Member
I have 2 parcels. One I am clearly ahead of neighbors on QDM. The second I think, due to only having 40 acres, im probably worse off than my neighbors

Beating poor QDM neighbors is easy. Any thoughts on beating guys with bigger properties than yours, lower pressure and outstanding food plots?

I beat them this year early season food. They beat me late season. I need some more cameras but I think the deer bed on mine more. I'm thinking kick their tail on soil chemistry and food plot taste. Also habitat - thicker, more secure. I don't plan on shooting does to any large extent. Put doe harvest on the neighbors who have more land!

Any other ideas?
 
What's that's the water situation like on your place and the big neighbors? A water hole with good plots and thicker cover sounds like right direction.
 
Btaylor said:
What's that's the water situation like on your place and the big neighbors? A water hole with good plots and thicker cover sounds like right direction.
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They have water and so do I with a creek/swamp. On the maps I can see some ponds on the neighbors and I have some plans to add water holes this year. Set up well off food plots this can be a awesome set up. Water is surely a part of my plans
 
I would set up a couple of mineral sites too if you haven't already and keep the charged year round with trophy rock and or lucky buck.
 
You have to figure out what they have and be different. Frankly, I wouldn't worry too much about good neighbors. So long as they're not killing every single deer in the area, I'd welcome a habitat arms race. Beats the hell out of having a top notch property that cant' hold deer with do-nothing neighbors that kill everything you were trying to build up.

I'd go talk to them and see if they'll share their program with you. They may have great plots and low pressure. But if they've got poor cover and no browse, you could have an opening there. Maybe they have no fruit or acorn program. If that doesn't work, just fire up your chainsaw for an hour or two each week during season and you'll have fresh deer attention on your land.
 
I think they target 140" and above. I'm thinking setting our limit at 120" and above till I understand what we have. This year we missed one over 140" and passed on some 120". Probably was a mistake

They most likely will win but I pretty good in soil chemistry so we'll see. We may as well level the playing field by having lower rules than they do to start

Funny how your perspective changes if you lead the neighborhood or follow. There is nothing I can do to change the quality of the neighborhood with only 40 acres. There is 0 reason to create rules at or above the neighbors. I now know how my neighbors feel on my main farm.
 
Buckly said:
Sell out and take nice vacations.
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This place is funny. I got one offer $20K over my buying price. Two verbal inquiries $40-50K over what I bought it for. I am going to use it to have fun till I get an offer I can't refuse then buy another parcel - flip it. I've got a bead on a smoking 40-80 right now in a real trophy area

I used to complain about my neighbors and didn't get why they did what they did. I understand now. I came up with some ideas to reduce pressure in the neighborhood. The neighbors didn't want to pursue. May as well just have fun and fill tags with good bucks.
 
So your new land is surrounded by people who are great at growing big deer, have high standards, and are disciplined? And you want to lower your standards? Why not just hunt and make sure you are there when that 160 jumps the fence to roam around on your place for the afternoon? I would love to know that my neighbors weren't going to shoot the 130's that I pass!

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catscratch said:
So your new land is surrounded by people who are great at growing big deer, have high standards, and are disciplined? And you want to lower your standards? Why not just hunt and make sure you are there when that 160 jumps the fence to roam around on your place for the afternoon? I would love to know that my neighbors weren't going to shoot the 130's that I pass!

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
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I got 0 deer on film over 120-130". They are winning. No reason to have goals over the quality you have on camera. They are better than I am. We did miss one over 140" with a gun
 
Got it, the deer don't roam that you can tell.
Problem solved, quit running trail camera's. :)

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What does the mast situation look like? Specifically soft mast - pears, Apple and the like.
 
catscratch said:
Got it, the deer don't roam that you can tell.
Problem solved, quit running trail camera's. :)

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Click to expand...
True. I was going to buy 6 new reconyx until I found out squirrels screw them up - ha

I think - remember I am looking in the mirror- trophy management is the responsibility of the large land owners. QDM (3+ year olds) is a good thing everyone should do

If your next to a 140 or 150" + large neighbor, what's wrong with 120" min so you have a chance? My neighbors bait for 4 ptr!
 
Shoot whatever deer makes you happy.
My 40 is surrounded by big timber and some logged timber. I have the only plots in the neighborhood, but they arent large plots. I am in direct competition from a cover standpoint at this time. Come November, my 40 becomes something of a crossroads for bucks, large and small. Does are there and i cant keep the bucks out if i tried.
With a prescription of food and cover, i dont see how you cant have a steady flow of bucks in the rut.
 
It's funny. As a large land owner I try to help the neighbors from my perspective . I have over 60-70% with me on passing small bucks.

As a new small land owner in a new area, I feel like the big guys are just trying to help themselves. I really have no interest in helping these guys. May as well just fill tags and have fun. A small parcel being extremely attractive can peel off some good bucks. That's my goal
 
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