Is this true?

[sportsman34]

If there is still standing corn.....does it make it harder to hunt deer because they are still in the corn most of the day and not in the woods?

[BuckSlayer]

Maybe so, Maybe not. Depends on whether the deer feel safe. Depends on whether its the rut or not. Id be afraid a big combine would hit me while sleeping haha :)

[OLDHAT]

Standing corn has it's up's and down's, mainly "ups".

From what I have seen while hunting around standing corn: Bucks bed in the 1st 20 rows, they hate the wind in standing corn and will move out of it to bed in the wood lots. A larger portion of deer will be within the corn (even from neighboring farms whom have cut their corn), which drastically increase your chance of having a hot doe at any given time in the corn just due to the numbers of deer in that corn, with this, bucks outside of the corn should be funnelling into the corn as to tend the doe, that's where the funnel area comes into play. Does will be ran, should be all over the corn field and out into the edges of it. Corn has very little water content, deer need water and typically get most of it from the follage eaten, deer do have to exit a corn field to either get water from a stream, or feed on green stuff outside of the cornfield.

Down's: Hell it's thick.

The best part about hunting a corn field is the 1st 2 days after it has been picked, from what I've seen it takes 2 days for the deer to realize that it has been cut, they are on a pattern that has lasted several months and it takes them a few days to realize that they should change some habits.

I seen a doe and a lil one eating in the corn 2 rows in with the combine picking corn right behind them on Monday evening (within 50 yards), didn't bother them at all.

Oldhat

[ncboman]

Some tips about standing corn;

Adult deer do not like laying on bare ground and will usually only bed where grass is growing in the field. Usually this is near the edge. The wind direction and other available cover determines which edge.

Deer use the drain furrows running across fields more than they walk the rows.

Deer will often 'head' around the tallest tree at the edge of a cornfield, I assume because it's visable from more distance.

Deer can be hunted in standing corn very successfully by sitting atop a 5ft stepladder right in a row about 10yds to the downwind side of a drain furrow. Bright aluminum works well because they stop to look at it every time. ;)

As stated above, deer do not like corn in wind. Windnoise rattles deer anyway and in a cornfield, it's too much for them to handle.

fwiw

[Andy Gehle]

GREAT tips on the corn. Very nice.
I'll kick one in. Stalking in standing corn is MUCH easier than most people think. Review what these guys said about WHERE deer are likely to be and then devise a stalk. A LITTLE wind is helpful to mask your noise.
Work yourself SLOWLY and perpendicularly to the rows of corn. (Cut across the rows, not with the rows). Peek your head in rows and look both ways, then look both ways again, then do it once more...prior to moving into a new row.
It goes remarkably quick, much faster than stalking in open woods. Vertical bows will perform much better thana crossbow. And it's much easier than most people think when they hear "stalking deer".

Little drizzle+little breeze+standing corn= a good chance at a deer, and 100% chance of a good time.

[ohioarcher]

Good tips guys, i shot a nice 10 point one year walking the edge of the rows and peered up the row and about 20 yrds in laid the buck he would not move for anything just played dead so i walked over 2 rows to get a shot of the vitals and he finanly got up and gave me a broadside shot dropped him in his tracks. Give it a try as andy and others have said it is a good time!!

[CritterGitter]

Very good information in this thread guys. I am not ready to stalk deer in the corn yet, but the information about wind and corn and bucks really helps.

Kyle

[MagnumMudMan]

Just my 2 cents, make sure that the farmer is definitely ok with you stalking around in the corn. The one land that I have permission on we are only allowed in the corn to get a downed deer and we have to be very careful. Some farmers don't seem to mind as long as you are careful.

I have never tried bowhunting in the corn, but we used to occassionally try to drive them out of standing corn fields during gun season when there was still corn standing. They will usually let you get pretty close before jumping up and rarely run the way you want them to.

[BR Stinger]

Very good question! Sometimes I can't tell whether I love standing corn or hate it. Overall I think it's much easier to kill a buck when the corn is off. When the corn is standing in the early season you know where they are but it's hard to get to them. Like NCBoman said, the only time I've had success in standing corn is when I used to hunt a very small patch of woods along a fencerow (about 100 yards long by 30 yards wide). The deer (especially big bucks) always came through that patch as it was the only trees around. I also agree that the first few days after it is picked is the time to be out because the deer are a little confused and they love eating the leftovers. I've tried stalking corn many times and I don't enjoy it much.

[bowhunter1023]

Only luck I have had is bad luck. I have never had it on the properties I hunt. But it is always around, pulling deer for miles :rant:

However, on our new place they have to get through me to get to the corn. Now I have a tactic. Hasn't worked yet but the day is coming.

[coonskinner]

some deer stay in the corn some in the woods,when the corn is harvested,the deer that was in the corn go to the woods...:D

[BIG E]

From my experience hunting near standing corn can be both a good thing and a bad thing... Like oldhat said early the best time to hunt these areas is the first couple days after the corn has been cut.. deer activity picks up a lot for me when the corn is cut... its kind of depressing spending so much time in the woods and not seeing much but I think the best thing to do is stick with the spot because it seems every year it pays off and I see a lot of nice deer after the corn is cut..

[deerhunt45]

Very good information in this thread guys. I am not ready to stalk deer in the corn yet, but the information about wind and corn and bucks really helps.

Kyle

i second that CG. keep the info coming guys!

Just my 2 cents, make sure that the farmer is definitely ok with you stalking around in the corn. The one land that I have permission on we are only allowed in the corn to get a downed deer and we have to be very careful. Some farmers don't seem to mind as long as you are careful.

another good point. respect the farmers crop.

45 :D

[Redhunter1012]

2 of my 3 stands in Hancock county are set up along corn. Kinda half facing the woods and half facing the corn. I like to hunt the trails going from the bedding areas to the field. The smaller the cornfield is the better chance to pattern deer using it. My best stand that I have hunted this year (2 deer down) is set up along a thicket and cornfield that lead to an apple orchard. But the corn is only about 75 yards wide and travels to the south then widens out. But when it's cut where it widens, the deer won't use it as much because it will leave them exposed. The area I'm set up over is alot more secluded. Too bad I can't hunt it this year anymore.

[Redhunter1012]

Just kinda curious , but, Is Hunting from a combine legal if the farmer stops it when you see a deer?