How will deer like this change?

[sureshotscott]

This field is on some public I hunt. Normally it's planted with corn which they absolutely hammer. But this year we have what appears to be hay/straw/alfalfa (I confess being terrible at vegetation ID). I don't hunt the field edges, but I do hunt terrain features nearby. Will deer activity in this area be enhanced or decline or stay basically the same?

about a month ago:

today:

 

[ImThere]

I’d say it depends on you acorn mass this year.


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[2Sloe]

I would say decline due to lack of cover and upcoming pressure. In the first photo the tall grass provides cover and more browse over the cut field. Since it is “public”, there would most likely be a decrease anyway in response to opening day hunting pressure, no matter what the field conditions are.

 

[Sziggy2.0]

I agree with 2sloe. That has been my experience. If it wasn't cut I think you could still see deer using it. But check it early and if what we think holds true then look for the nearest/best food source, might get them to cluster up. Could be good thing?

 

[Fuse Dude]

This would be a good time to establish what and where the historically used trails are located. Probably lessen activity.

 

[Robert loper]

Really depends on a few things. Food is not the problem because by the looks of the picture there is plenty.
Pressure being probably the biggest then finding nearest acorns or seasonal nuts for them to stage up on.
acorns will pretty much trump all food sources for a few weeks. But the deer will stil gravitate to fields, even if its well after dark its just how they work

 

[Allegheny Tom]

1st photo looks to be oats.
Spring oats are often followed-up with a fall planting of clover and/or cereal rye, or if there was perennial clover mixed in with the oats (which is also common) the clover will bounce back in the next several weeks. New clover will be a food magnet, especially if there isn't other sources nearby.
Can you see any evidence of any new growth, and if so, what is growing? Even some "weeds" are highly preferred food (ragweed on my property).

 

[Jtaylor]

Looks to be a cover crop/winter mix to help improve the soil from repeated corn planting. As Tom said, they might be attracted to some of the mix depending on what's in it and if there's new regrowth. It seems like most of the time, corn trumps all other crops but there are some exceptions depending on time of year or growth stage of the other plants and crops.

 

[BenG]

I've hunted a property (appr. 100 acres) on and off for 20 plus years and when there was corn being planted there, it was very good and would have at least 1 good buck. The corn has been gone for the last few years and nothing planted just whatever natural grasses grow there and I haven't got pictures of a good buck on camera on that property since minus a couple times in the rut and a couple times in summer so I know they are around. So my experience with corn going away has been largely negative but there were fields on two sides and they constituted around 40% of that property. It is also a high pressure property so I think losing that corn just took away too much cover for most mature deer to stick around.

 

[sureshotscott]

Appreciate the feedback. I'll revisit this weekend and see what's changed and try to get answers to questions.

 

[woodsdog2]

They're still going to relate to that field especially with new growth as long as the weather allows. I also agree mast will become important too but at some point they will be feeding in that field in the evening.

 

[elk yinzer]

Looks like it was oats. They'll definitely eat from the grassy field but use it less than during daylight hours that a standing corn field during hunting season. But the area as a whole is probably more impacted by the acorn crop. I would expect the deer to hang around but movement to be less predictable between that field and bedding.