Dec. 18: First Hunt of Late Season - Only Cold Day this Week | Bowhunting Whitetails w/ Bill Winke

The firearms season is finally over and I am back to bowhunting. Feels good to be back out there. Had a buck come in that taught us a few things that we can maybe use in the future. The rest of this week looks bad from a weather standpoint. Mild with a lot of SE and E winds. I will keep hunting though. Good luck.

[@JimBowSlice]

It's sure nice to see you sticking at it bill. I'll say it again what a beautiful farm.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks JimBow. I appreciate. Yes for sure, the farm is gorgeous. Right now, that is its best quality and the main reason I bought it. The hunting will keep getting better.

[@travisshuttleworth630]

I was surprised to find my first shed of the year Sunday! Couldn't believe it

[@mikeney5113]

I love watching all your videos Bill.so much great information.happy holidays to you and family and the crew. Best of luck.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Mike. I appreciate it and hope you have a great Christmas also.

[@TimothyDNebel]

Merry Christmas Bill thanks for all you do

[@JackFrostTheDeerHunter]

Glad you are sticking with it and have a nice blind to ward off those cold temps. Patience and tenacity will reward you in the long run. Our season ends during the 1st week of December with only one buck tag per year...my season ended on 20 November with a nice 8 pointer. Merry Christmas to you, your family, and your crew!

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Jack Frost and congrats on the buck! Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@keithkristoff9419]

That young buck will work in another 3 years. Merry Christmas Bill and crew!

[@bill-winke]

For sure. I believe I will be able to keep track of him if he stays here. Have a great day and Merry Christmas to you also.

[@user-vd2bm1sm2d]

This is not the year for late season hunting. I still have endless red oak acorns in the woods on my farm. Food plots are just a sweet treat at this point. Unless you get hit with snow, I would expect this pattern to persist into February.

[@jonjones2013]

Nah. With all the squirrels, chipmunks, turkeys, coons, deer, acorns be cleaned up mostly by now

[@troybrake5686]

I have a ton of huge red oak acorns also but last night when it got really windy and cold my shooter was out at right at dark and 4 times total threw the night and all the other small bucks showed up also, definitely taking weather to get em and we ain't got the weather, gonna be hot during Christmas break so there goes that,lol I've had to work all the good cold fronts this year and I missed out every time

[@bill-winke]

I agree. That seems to be the issue here too. Fortunately, I have until January 10 here so there is still hope as long as I don't press them too hard. Good luck.

[@stephenheintz7807]

I have planted small plots of Red Grain Dwarf Sorghum for a few years. I have liked mainly for the cover aspect. Tall enough to hide the deer but you can still harvest them in it. I have not seen it eaten though. Now that you have shown me it is deer edible, I like it even more!!! Thank You!!! Enjoy your videos!!!

[@bill-winke]

I think they get used to it over time and gain a taste for it. I was still very surprised that the buck preferred it to corn. That was very interesting. Good luck.

[@joshcastle360]

Bill if you can keep tabs on that buck you should call him “The Scooter Buck.” It’s hard to believe such a healthy mature buck begin shedding already. Maybe a good sign going into next summer for that deer with having little to no stress all winter.

[@Mid-MoDisabledhunter]

Still grinding in MID MO! Best of luck Mr. Bill!

[@BrookerJr]

Buddy walked into a damn buffet. I'm sure you won't have issues keeping him around with all that you have done with the farm. Private property is a gem you are polishing it well 👍

[@bill-winke]

Thanks. Yes, he seemed to like to sample everything on the buffet table: Winter-Greens, corn and sorghum. He sure seemed to like the sorghum best. It will be fun to see what he grows into next year as long as he stays here.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

That is a very nice 2 year old. He is going to be a beauty in a couple years. Huge help on sorghum. We grew up in Southern Illinois and we had more wheat and sorghum fields back in those days before corn & beans took over. I reckon I will give it go next year.

[@bill-winke]

Yes, I have some really nice 2 year olds on the farm. The farm will be really good in three years, but man that is a long time. Every year it will keep getting a bit better both from the standpoint of deer density (slightly higher) and buck to doe ratio (more bucks than does) and habitat (thicker) and age structure (older bucks). I just have to stay the course and not lose patience. It will be really good one day. I started planting sorghum for deer back in 1996. I was hunting a farm with a really high deer density and that was the only thing I could plant that made it through the summer. Believe or not, I had 310 acres of sorghum on that farm! It was a big property owned by a corporation. I was one of the share holders. That was back when land was super cheap. What a great place to learn about deer. I saw everything there and tried everything. Sorghum does work. Have a great day.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

@@bill-winke Very good on the sorghum experience. The good old days of baling hay by hand and detassling corn. Do you have a vid on the preferred products of corn, sorghum & brassicas you use? Thank you again.

[@grege8716]

Sat yesterday perfect wind in West TN; saw nothing, 64ac surrounded by hunting properties, thanks for content from Bill, Ethan and ‘Scooter’ 🦌 Good Luck!

[@bill-winke]

That was our experience yesterday too. Good spot, perfect wind, good entry - almost nothing.

[@doneime875]

Boy, the farm I hunt, I'm sending an arrow down range, and quickly! LOL..... Great hunt, especially for the late season. We have no food on our farm anymore. We had zero acorns this year so our food plots have been clobbered this fall. My season is pretty much done for the year, unfortunately. Time to start planning for next year.

[@kevinfowler6065]

The south side does and fawns were bedded less than 100 yards from my corn and brassicas, got up and walked directly away from my food plots, into a picked beanfield making their way to an oak knoll by dark. I’d like to get a couple more does outta here by year end but just can’t get one in bow range. Might have to slip into the woods at least once before season end.

[@duanezuverink6129]

Thanks for sharing and educating. My late season here in MI = shoot does, since the bucks are usually all shot or pushed out of the public land after a month of the orange army.

[@bill-winke]

Duane, that might be where I am at too. Would be happy to even get does coming out in daylight. I see them on camera so they are here, but getting them in front of my blind or stand sure seems like a struggle this year. Thanks for the support and good luck.

[@bowlingmotorsportsbowling5990]

Good lucky guys

[@robertfmccarthy2360]

Appreciate put up videos, Thanks

[@jamosley96]

Glad y’all got to see a nice buck. I’m still praying y’all can get a Christmas buck! Best of luck to ya.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks. We appreciate your prayers and support. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

[@jamosley96]

Thanks and Merry Christmas to y’all as well.

[@davidfleer5307]

Maybe we’ll get some decent moisture over the next week with the mild temperatures but it doesn’t look the best for hunting still many acorns in the woods 👍✌🏻🇺🇸

[@bill-winke]

That is my take too. I am going to take some time off until after Christmas. These deer seem to be unkillable on this farm! At least right now using the strategies that make sense to me.

[@homeinthewhiteoaks]

My experience with Corn and Milo is that the deer don't eat my corn, but the squirrels and crows and blackbirds eat the seedcorn as soon as the stalk breaks the round. They will go right down the rows and pull them up early spring. Then the Racoons will eat the corn (breaking the stalks over) eating the soft kernels before they ripen. I think that may be a learned behavior in my area. Also my Turkeys don't seem to spend time in my corn. but they like to spend time in my planter width Milo strips on the outside edge. It's a good border for food plots just for that reason, but the deer also seem to step out faster into the Milo than a low field of clover or wheat/oats. Maybe they feel like its cover they are hidden in on the edges of the plots, or just the visual barrier so they have to seep out of the woods?

[@williamprigge9443]

I sure hope you're going to read your Christmas message this year Bill.

[@samp3087]

I also look forward to the Christmas message

[@bill-winke]

Yes, it will be coming out in a couple of days, probably Thursday morning. Thanks for asking.

[@chadbinette3201]

It's amazing that deer with all that food and very little pressure and/or stress already shedding. I live in Maine and some years ill get pictures in February with bucks still having antlers. Mind you our hunting season ends the first or second week of December. December 9th was our last day this year.

[@bill-winke]

I have seen it before - even without stress. Some of that is just genetics. I have seen the same deer shed in late December every year. It seems that a part of the herd sheds early (late December and early January) and then almost nothing sheds until mid-February. Kind of strange how the timing works.

[@artbrennhofer8283]

My deer are acting like yours, they just don't want to come out and play. I am considering not shooting any does the rest of this year because of the lack of deer in my area. The DNR gives a limit of 3 but I have seen a downward trend the last 3 years. My neighbors have taken quite a few does the last 2 years coupled with the hard winter last year I think the herd needs a bit of a rest. That 2 year old looks better then most of the 3 year old's by me in central MN. Thanks for the video Bill and Ethen.

[@bill-winke]

That makes sense Art. Shooting does is only a smart thing in areas where the population is either too high already or apt to grow fast. Your herd probably needs a break. Have a great Christmas and good luck.

[@nybbhUSA]

That buck is a nice up and comer! Nice width and beam length.

[@bill-winke]

Yes. He will be a dandy in a few years.

[@mitchellgenz1373]

Nice up and comer, keep at it Bill.

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Mitchell. Yes there are a number of bucks like that on the farm that could be really good if they survive a few more years. Most I only see on camera because even the younger bucks just aren't coming out in the open. Very strange year.

[@sureguy8124]

What do you use for scent control

[@danielkerska7783]

Hey Bill. Another great update! Question on your 5085E rear lift capacity and how well that tractor handles the RTP Genesis 8 drill. The newer tractors in the 90-110 horsepower have plenty of rear lift capacity but not sure about the older models? Thanks in advance!

[@bill-winke]

Daniel, it does totally fine. I have the 8 foot drill and this tractor lifts it full of soybeans like a champ. I am glad I have the loader on the front though as going up those steep roads to the top fields would be a lot more interesting if the front tires were off the ground. I borrowed an old White tractor (130 hp) that lifted right off the ground going up those hills. I had to steer with the brakes. Good luck.

[@teddyoliverjr4463]

Yes I'm in Ohio and we have bucks dropping like crazy actually one of our shooters like yours just lost half yesterday so we're pretty much done at that property for the year so we don't shoot a doe and it end up being a shed buck

[@waynemayle865]

I'm in southeastern ohio are bucks are still hitting the scrapes I don't know what's going this year it's been crazy

[@Jay-hu1pc]

Hey bill interesting to see that buck walk passed the corn to eat sorguhm. Definitely been odd year for late season food sources but I have alot of oak trees and maybe that is really what there still eating. How do you control the weeds in your sorguhm? Is it round up ready?

[@bill-winke]

Jay, that is what I think: all the acorns have changed late season behavior. The sorghum is not Roundup Ready. I plant it and then come back and spray the weeds with in a couple of days. That way when the weeds are dying, the sorghum is coming up. I have read that as long as sorghum has a couple of weeks without competition it does pretty well. So those first three weeks are critical. I don't do any weed control after that. You can use 2,4-D to kill broadleafs in sorghum, but nothing will kill grasses without killing the sorghum too, at least not that I know of.

[@WolfinWolvesClothing713]

Nice tractor. I would have liked one that size just for the lift capacity, but only owning a couple non wooded acres my 2038r does the job.

[@bill-winke]

Yes, I bought this from the farmer that cash rents the property. I bought it entirely for the lift capacity for running the no-till drill and also for the loader system that really comes in handy for a lot of stuff. It is the perfect size for this farm. I have owned and run a lot of different tractors. While a cab would be nice some of the time, I sure have beat up a lot of cabs on tractors when working around food plots and field edges. Good luck.

[@paulbernitt3559]

I love hunting steady north east/north west winds in north to "south pointing" points on hill tops in hill country. Set ups on a leeward side can be quite effective. Looks like a couple nice wide up and comer bucks that you saw feeding. Love the idea of sorghum vs corn considering the deer wont eat it in the summer, good cover in an otherwise open area and ease of growth especially for late season activity. Likely a food source that is not available nearby making it a high calorie food that can diversify their diet. How well did the sorghum grow/mature on the forest edge? Were you happy with the yield considering the drought conditions over summer? I am going to do some logging in the summer of 2025 and maintain a 3 acre plot thereafter near a funnel/saddle site. Gonna be epic for late season hunting and keeping the deer healthier and warm until spring. Keep up the great work! Merry CHRISTmas!

[@bill-winke]

That is a good strategy for sure. The sorghum struggled in areas where tree roots went under the field and pulled out the minimal soil moisture that we had given the drought. Sorghum is considered drought hardy though when not undercut by trees. Overall, I was very satisfied with it and will plant more on that ridge. Merry Christmas.

[@alexpinnow6509]

Very curious what would lead to one of the mature bucks on your farm shedding thus esrly in the year amidst all the mild temperatures?

[@bill-winke]

Just genetics. I have seen it before with perfectly healthy deer. Some just shed in December just as some shed in March and even early April.

[@baitcrate5397]

could you tell me the brand of sorghum you plant, i was reading that there are some variety that the deer will eat in summer

[@bill-winke]

It is the red sorghum as best I can tell. I think the variety goes by color, but I could be wrong. I have planted the "cream" colored sorghum in the past and the deer hit the heads hard in late September. But that was on a property with a lot of deer. They ate everything there. I just bought this seed from the local coop, and they got it from a seed dealer in LaCrosse, WI. Good luck.

[@BattleBendOutdoors]

Dang bill What is your draw length when you drew back in the blind that arrow looked every bit of 35in

[@bill-winke]

No, it is 31 1/2" during the hunting season. I sometimes shoot at 32 inches during the summer as 31 1/2 is just a touch short. The new RX-8 allows 1/4 inch increments so I will probably set it to 31 3/4 for the off-season. Right now it is at 31 1/2 because I like to keep the bow at just a touch short for hunting because of all the clothes and awkward shooting angles. Hard to get perfect form in the tree and blind all the time and drawing just bit short is a bit more forgiving when hunting.

[@HucksDad08]

Great job filming and putting up with Bill, Etahn! I wonder if the ridge top corn plot has less attractiveness in brutal cold that should generate activity because of its wind exposure? Your thoughts Bill?

[@bill-winke]

I don't think that is the reason just yet. Maybe later in the winter. But I also have the cornfield in the bottom and the deer are barely even eating that. Unless something changes, they won't eat half of that field this summer. Have a great day.

[@edwardclark5211]

Dream Big brother 🙏

[@bill-winke]

You too Edward.

[@warbirdflyerF4U]

Keep on trying guys Something good is bound to happen

[@bill-winke]

Thanks Warbird. We need some better weather. The current 7 day forecast looks pretty bad for daylight movement. I am going to stay out of my best spots for a while. Have a great day.

[@lonniechartrand]

I found my first shed of this season this afternoon. And I have said it before, those deer could care less about ATVs, bikes, etc.

[@bill-winke]

It is strange that some bucks shed early even when there is no stress. The timing is related to genetics, I think. Some bucks shed early every year.

[@Owl4909]

i didnt know deer ever dropped the horns this early , i saw a nice one on my place several years ago in March who still had them both, im sure there's exceptions like in everything

[@bill-winke]

Yes, there are a few that drop in December and some that hold longer. I remember seeing a buck in southern Iowa one year carrying both sides in early April. The majority drop in late January and February around here.

[@jonjulian4460]

Bill I’m not sure that you have said or mentioned this in the past videos but what is the population of deer in your area? I have watched your videos since the beginning, not the beginning of this channel but the beginning of you and you tube. I maybe mistaken but it was before you started Midwest Whitetails. I read your articles in Bowhunting Magazine, Field &Stream and it’s been so long I can’t remember all who you submitted articles for. The farm you started in Southern Iowa had an amazing deer population. Can you talk about the difference between the two properties? I know you have mentioned it before but with the struggles going on with the farm now, a recap if who you are would help the new viewers.

[@bill-winke]

Jon, the two farms are night and day different. I really need to do an episode about that as it would take a long time to explain all the differences and what I learned there that I am applying here. The deer numbers were actually too high on the southern Iowa farm. It was super hard to grow food plots and even commercial crops because the deer ate everything in the summer. Very hard to grow prime browse because the deer ate it immediately and it typically disappeared for good. Also, the deer there were much easier to kill for some reason - probably due to the stress and the overall number. They weren't nearly as nocturnal. It is almost as if they had a competitive mentality when it came to going to the food sources. They arrived well before dark, usually. Here, almost everything (especially this year) is only moving after dark. The general neighborhood in the area of the other farm was better. Almost no one down there shot 3 year old bucks. Here, everyone does. In NE Iowa, a 150 inch buck is considered very good. In southern Iowa, that was considered a cull - a management buck. As a result, there were just more mature bucks in the overall neighborhood. I am shocked by the small number of mature bucks in the area near my current farm - there are almost none. That may change in time so I hold out hope, but it will have a long way to go to equal the southern standard. One year on my farm in Southern Iowa I had 11 bucks on camera (that I knew of) that would gross over 170 inches. That year my family and I shot bucks that scored 160, 170, 180, 190 and I missed a 200. Tons of mature bucks. I am not even sure if there is a 170 buck within two miles of my current farm. Maybe, but I sure haven't seen it and I seriously doubt it! I love this area because it is where I grew up and my family and friends are still here. Plus, it is beautiful land. I won't move back south. But if I had to pick an area just to shoot a big antlered buck, it would be southern Iowa for sure. People would be shocked to know how good some of those neighborhoods are and the local hunters - even those just hunting casually - take it for granted. They don't shoot small bucks (young bucks) because they want to shoot a giant. That mentality is much more pervasive down in southern Iowa than in northern Iowa. Two different worlds.

[@chriscornwell8768]

Bill, I've seen the last couple video hunts are in the afternoon. in the late season, do see afternoon hunts as a better option than morning hunts? And if so, why?

[@bill-winke]

I only hunt evenings during the late season because I think it is really hard to beat a buck back to his bedding area in the morning. He is not cruising like he does during the rut, so you have to get it exactly right or you either spook him or just don't see anything. I have no really good idea where the buck I have left to hunt is actually bedding. It would be a total guess - like a needle in a haystack on this place. But I do have an idea where he is bedding. If it gets really cold we will see him, but maybe not until. I know some guys kill bucks in the mornings during the late season, but it is not likely to happen when you have the field narrowed down to just one possible shooter (the other one shed already). Good luck.

[@chriscornwell8768]

Thanks for taking the time to answer Bill. As always, love all your content. I'll get around to buying a Whitetail cap after the season end here in NC (11 days) :)@@bill-winke

[@stevedenoyer5956]

That buck didn’t seem too jumpy, must not have gotten spooked during gun season too much. At least you saw him in daylight but he seemed pretty natural .

[@bill-winke]

Yes, he was pretty laid back. I don't think there was a lot of hunting around here. Some, but not enough to really get these deer very spooked.

[@kevingriffin1538]

Any idea if deer will stop eating acorns if it rains on them and freezes?

[@bill-winke]

I doubt they stop for that. They will just chip them out. They will keep eating them until they are gone or maybe until snow covers them several inches deep.

[@kevinflaherty7592]

I like that cart you rode in on.self made or made commercially?

[@bill-winke]

Kevin, they are commercially made. Called Xidar. We are testing them this year. They aren't sponsors. You can learn more here: www.goxidar.com/

[@jakerottman7803]

Name that buck the Only Buck! For future reference.

[@bill-winke]

I wish I could call him "One of Many".

[@danieljaeger9800]

Bill needs to designate a good chunk of that top field to alfalfa.

[@bill-winke]

I think you are right about that. I am thinking half alfalfa and the other half maybe sorghum with Winter-Greens broadcast into it. Or maybe corn. I need to decide, but it is pretty dry up there so what I plant has to be able to handle dry conditions.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

Wow you think he shed already? Seems early. What causes an early shed like that.? I’ve heard poor nutrition, stress? Never really knew for sure. I’ve seen bucks antlers pull off in mid to late November. We attributed that to poor nutrition

[@bill-winke]

I think he must have shed. It didn't look broken. There are two reasons for early shedding: stress and genetics. Some bucks just shed early every year for no apparent reason. I have seen it many times. I am sure he is not stressed unless he picked up some kind of disease or infection from an injury from fighting. I didn't see any signs of that on the last photos I got of him back in late November. I am guessing it is just his time to shed.

[@tysonames5016]

What type sorghum did you plant? Was it from a local coop?

[@bill-winke]

Tyson, it was just from the local Coop. It is "red" sorghum if that helps. I believe sorghum is classified by colors. I am not sure which "color" the deer prefer best.

[@bradb_in_Iowa]

As a newer Iowa resident and avid bowhunter, I don't quite understand the State not allowing bowhunting during the (very) long gun season if you have a gun tag. Even if it was just on private land. I am not a fan of the orange army and the deer drives, but they do tend to push more deer on my land. Any idea why and if that has a chance of changing in the future?

[@bill-winke]

I don't know if it has a chance of changing. I would guess not. It is sometimes best not to kick the sleeping dog. As bowhunters we get the entire month of November. Not sure I want to start people debating anything related to seasons. I think the law originated out of safety since much of the state was just open hunting back even 20 years ago. Deer drives swept across miles instead of single farms. I am sure there was concern about somebody being in a tree stand when a deer drive went through. Granted, those days are more or less gone, but the sentiment remains. I would just be quiet on this one and be happy for what you have.

[@bradb_in_Iowa]

@bill-winke Thanks, Bill. I do appreciate having all of November for sure. 3 weekends is a long time to be out of the woods (for bow), but I understand your perspective

[@lisaannaallen6283]

how did your sun flowers turn out ?

[@bill-winke]

The deer ate them during the summer. It was really dry and everything grew really slow so they ate them as soon as they got about a foot tall. I think in a normal (wetter) year, they would have worked a lot better. I may try some in a different area this coming year.

[@shawnmoore7841]

What do u wear under the poor man's brown glove bill?

[@bill-winke]

Just skin, Shawn. I tuck my hands in my pockets if they get cold. I have done OK like this many years. I used to wear them because I could put in a clean pair everyday when handling my hunting outerwear (clean gloves leave less odor on the garment). But over time I got to where I feel very comfortable handling by bow with that weight of gloves on. I even shoot with them during the summer so the bow feels the same in hand during the fall as it does during the summer.

[@yourmomma2995]

cool video, this late in the season i think i would have let an arrow fly.

[@bill-winke]

I hear you, but if I can be patient I am hoping to get an older buck and let this really nice young one get some years to see what he might turn into. Watching them change from year to year is almost as much fun for me now as the hunting part. Good luck and Merry Christmas.

[@yourmomma2995]

@@bill-winke thats a fact, this is the first year i haven't gotten my target buck by now, with only a couple weeks left to hunt and having the "late season blues" i feel like my standards for my buck this year are getting much lower. i did pass on some good bucks earlier this year and don't regret giving them passes, i am in a one buck state, so i need to be sure i take the right one. at least i did get to hunt the entire season and that makes me happy, even if it means i eat tag soup this year....lol

[@lisaannaallen6283]

thats a good two year old. I would have to call it a three year old , still filled out a little too much for a late season 2 year old

[@bill-winke]

No, two year old for sure - at the oldest. I would almost call him a big 1 year old. I have seen them get that big at age one. I had one that completely fooled me. I thought for sure based on his size as a 2 year old that he was 3 that year. I shot him when he was 4 and thought he was five. Never would have guessed it had I not sent his teeth in to be sectioned. Some bucks are just really better than others and look older than they are. Look at his super long legs and thin face. Those are two cues I use on these young deer. I will call him a 2 year old, but that is at the very oldest.

[@stephenmcatee2104]

I would love to have a scooter like that until i saw the price i think it was 18 k thats crazy love your vids though hope you connect on one i have had lots of opportunities this year but just cant make it happen

[@bill-winke]

Stephen, no, I don't think it is anything like that much. I am seeing $8,000. That that 8k is cheap, mind you, but a lot less than 18k. Thanks for the support and the comment. Good luck to you too. Bowhunting can be really tough some years. Stick with it.

[@usernamehere6061]

I understand wanting to play it safe up to a point. I am not grasping why you are pounding the food source knowing good well the deer are not hitting them. Your previous video showed they had not been eating much of the corn. You have to hunt where the deer are at some point...? Only few weeks left.

[@bill-winke]

They are hitting the plots and on hitting them hard and not during daylight. I had pictures of him on that plot back in late November, just at night. A better question: there is one buck left on the farm that I know of that I would shoot. I know where he sometimes feeds. He could bed in probably 10 different spots throughout his range. Which bedding area do I hunt and how do I go about hunting there without him knowing? Is it possible to beat a buck back to his bedding area in the morning during the late season? I understand what you are saying, it would just be pure guesswork trying to hunt him back in timber on a farm like this when he seems to cover a very large range. It is a better overall strategy, I believe, to hope for the best on the one food source where I know he sometimes feeds than to hope for the best in one of the many places where he might be bedding. Get it wrong on the bedding area and he stops using that area. I just need some really cold weather to make these deer move to corn during the daylight. Without that, I can't see anything working - at least not this year the way they are acting.

[@jimpowers2047]

That buck got his greens, light grains and heavy carbs😊

[@bill-winke]

Yes, he hit it all in about 15 minutes time.

[@craigzie2594]

Have your caged your food plots to see how much deer are eating? Second whan do deer start eating the heads of the sourghum? Third is there any type they might like more?

[@bill-winke]

I have not caged them. It is pretty easy to tell on the corn and sorghum, but not as easy to tell on the Winter-Greens. That would be interesting, but if I had to guess, I would say they have not eaten much. The plants have frosted down but the leaves and stems have not been eaten. I noticed them starting to eat the sorghum in late October, but I bet it will be sooner the longer I plant it on the farm and the more they get used to it. I am not sure which type of sorghum they prefer. As far as I can tell, variety is tied to color. I had the "red" sorghum but I have planted the cream colored sorghum in the past and the deer hit that really hard (but that was in a setting with a lot of deer). The only way to find out for sure is to plant red and cream in the same plot and see which the deer prefer. Have a great day.

[@craigzie2594]

Right on . I plan on trying different types see what they like better.

[@craigzie2594]

Thanks

[@alecbrown6802]

Ole scooter 10 buck! Lol

[@bill-winke]

I actually like that. I will just call him "Scooter" for short! Good name.

[@gaelewis6623]

How much for quad 4x4 electric vehicle?

[@bill-winke]

You can learn more about it here: www.goxidar.com/

[@zachaustin9126]

Could you do a segment touching on your thoughts/experience on GMO vs non-GMO corn? I too have noticed for several years now that the deer don’t seem to really like the corn my local farmer often has left standing in the later half of the season. Turns out it’s a GMO corn. I wonder if using something like a Real World Wildlife Products corn vs the GMO corn would make a big difference in how attractive it is to the deer. Are guys doing themselves a disservice by planting GMO corn for deer plots?

[@SuperChloeGymnast]

From all I’ve read and seen deer know the difference and prefer non GMO…

[@bill-winke]

I don't know much about it. I have always just planted what I could get for free and I am sure it was GMO as that is pretty much all the coops carry anymore unless you special order. The deer have always eaten it just fine, but this year is a bit strange for reasons we have discussed. I will do some research and see what I can learn.

[@zachaustin9126]

I think that would be a great experiment to run next year for the viewers and yourself. Run a 50/50 test corn plot of half GMO half non-GMO. I’ve personally really been interested in the topic myself because I often have corn standing in late season where I hunt but really don’t see the deer touch it most years unless we get severe winter conditions. I think there has to be something to it.

[@bill-winke]

@@zachaustin9126 I will have to figure out the weed control part to make sure I can get the non-GMO to grow decent. But if I can find the seed, I will give a try.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

Looked like a nice 3 year old! ?

[@bill-winke]

Steve, I would call him 2 at the oldest - he might even be a big 1 year old. I once had a 2 year old that scored in the mid-140s. He scored 185 as a 3 year old and 225 as a 4 year old. He died that winter. I can't even imagine what he would have scored as a six year old - he had a big 6 x 6 typical frame with stickers at age 4. I have a 2 year on the farm right now that will score 150. At least I hope he is still here. He was here all season. Have not seen him on camera lately. If he lives, he will be way over 200 by age 4 too, I almost guarantee it. I would love to see it even if I never shoot him. Bucks like that are freaks. You only get to see a few like that in a lifetime. I had a guaranteed 1 year old buck on the southern Iowa farm that I swear was over 125! He had a tiny little fawn-sized body with a big spindly 10 point rack. Each point was like a pencil - that long and that thin. Never saw him again.

[@stevedenoyer5956]

where i am deer that size would normally be at least 3. funny how different parts of the country can vary so much @@bill-winke

[@bill-winke]

@@stevedenoyer5956 Yes, there are some really big 2 year old bucks here. I have an example for you: go to the first ten seconds on this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z4XJn56vndSHiLc That big deer you see walking out is a two year old. I killed him on the same plot three years later in this video as a five year old: kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZpbFhIBrbZh0o8U