LOYD STAR — Deer Season is rapidly approaching and hunters are getting down to crunch time. Literally, leaves are starting to fall off of trees and grass is starting to become a little crunchy. 

Temperatures have drastically cooled off from last week especially in the morning. It might be a smart idea to tackle labor intensive work when it is cool. Hunters can start by raking out trails in the woods to allow quiet, stealthy access to a stand. 

It is best to get the heavy lifting down now and then maintain the trails as fall continues and more leaves land on your trail. While a rake does work, a leaf blower might be a quicker option if you have one. 

Some hunters opt to mow trails in fields but another way you can take care of the grass is by a herbicide application using glyphosate. You might be able to come back later in the fall and rake out the grass and establish a solid firebreak for any future prescribed burning. 

Be sure to plan and track your best exit and entrance routes. 

Trim shooting lanes

We have reached the time of year where mineral stumps are valuable to deer and one way to help feed deer, improve hunting opportunities and maintain shooting lanes is by cutting trees. A simple chopping ax or chainsaw is all you need. 

It might be best to go ahead and climb into your stand, visualize where your shooting lanes are and ensure these lanes are clear of any obstruction. All it takes is a small branch to deflect an arrow or bullet causing a costly miss. After you clear obstructions, get back in your stand and check to make sure it is clear. 

When cutting shooting lanes, think about a deer’s normal route of travel and try to give yourself plenty of options to pick a shot. Walk through your shot to see if anything is in your way. The same could be said for any limbs hanging around your tree stand, make sure they don’t obstruct your movement. 

Plant winter plots

It is not time to plant winter food plots quite yet but it is time to start any prep-work for winter plots. Mississippi State University Extension recommends a soil test so you know if you need to fertilize or lime your soil. Tests are not expensive and easy to do. Visit the Lincoln County MSU Extension Office to learn more. 

If you need to clear an area, go ahead and bush hog it or again utilize a broad spectrum herbicide application such as glyphosate to kill everything in the area you wish to plant. Be sure to check soil residuality to see how long you need to wait before planting. It is possible to sew wheat and oats into the dead grass. It might also be better to burn off the thatch so turkey poults can utilize the plot in the summer. 

One final recommendation for food plots is to have some areas where you leave them fallow and disk them to stimulate native forbs. If you don’t have a tractor, a simple garden hoe is enough to stimulate the seed bank. Allowing native plants to grow can add more diversity to the plot. Be sure if you are planting for turkeys or deer to not overseed an area. 

Check back next week for more hunting checklist items.