Hey guys, I own a 32 acre piece of property in SW Virginia, and big bucks are fairly rare. Most close neighbors will shoot at an

[WILLHAM48]

Hey guys, I own a 32 acre piece of property in SW Virginia, and big bucks are fairly rare. Most close neighbors will shoot at anything that moves, except for my uncle who owns a 100+ acre piece of property neighboring me, and my friend who owns 30 acres across the road. We are starting to see a few more bucks than we have the past couple of years, and I would like to sort of make our land a place that they can't resist to keep them close and safe from trigger-happy neighbors. What should I do this coming spring and summer as far as making places for them to bed, planting food plots and baiting to try to make this happen? What can I do to increase the number of bucks in my area? Any other tips are welcome.

[RockySquirrel]

You may want to plant small pines. Bucks need a place to hide and they love small pines most of all. Great concealment, easy access and quiet.

[vasportsman]

I also hunt a 32 acre tract in SWVA, and have had similar problems and similar thoughts. As far as cover, that depends what you already have, but we have a good mix of hardwoods and open fields and there are always deer around, so haven't done much other than upkeep. Thinking of planting a food plot in the spring, you may try a feeder in the off season obviously.

Your neighbors are going to do what they do, no real way to stop it, the only thing I have done is when I run into them on the property lines I always make it a point to say I passed on a smaller buck, even if I hadn't seen the first thing. I am not a horn hunter, so doesn't make a huge difference to me what the deer look like before they go in the freezer, as long as I am out there I am happy, if a nice buck shows up, well great.

Goodluck

[wischneider]

Shoot does.