When land ownership consists of many small units, it is beneficial to operate under a single management plan-provided you have cooperation among landowners. Large acreage management lends itself better to practices, such as timber harvest and crop rotations. In addition, it more likely affects resident deer because both summer and winter deer ranges often are contained within the management area. Of course, the practicality of this habitat breakdown depends upon the amount of land you own and its existing habitat. Converting 30 percent of your ground to upland hardwoods may not be possible if you live on a prairie, but just letting a fencerow grow up will help.
Food plots can enhance deer habitat by offering both food and cover.
Select the Right Manage-ment Practices for Your Land Manipulating habitat to better suit the needs of deer can be accomplished through forest management, planted food plots and management of natural vegetation. There are myriad opinions about which practices attract and benefit deer. We have outlined those that are applicable to Missouri and that do not require a great deal of special equipment. Timber Management Forest management for deer generally consists of setting back plant succession to create brush and low browse for food and cover. Landowners often are reluctant to cut trees, but it is important to remember that trees do grow back.