Even on a very small tract, there are many things you can do to attract and hold mature bucks on your property during hunting season.

I own a grand total of 14 acres and I've discovered that it takes a strategic management approach to make my limited amount of real estate the best possible deer-hunting site. If you want to get the most out of your small piece of property each season, there are a few key points you need to keep in mind.

First, you should focus on drawing deer to your side of the fence during the hunting season. Second, determine any "limiting" factors for the deer herd in your region. And finally, plan your hunting schedule around the times that deer are attracted to the resources available on your land. Let's look at each of these factors in more detail.

FOCUS ON THE SEASON
It's extremely important to always keep in mind that your biggest goal is to have deer moving through your property during the hunting season. It won't do you much good to have deer bedding and feeding all over your mini-farm in the spring and summer if they move somewhere else in the fall. Start by thinking about the factors that draw deer to specific locations in your part of the country in the fall and early winter.

For the most part, this involves food sources. What food sources do the animals seek out at that time of year in your region? In my part of Missouri, row crops and acorns are the biggest draws for deer when hunting season is open, although food plots featuring attractive mixes of vegetation are another good bet.

However, bow season in Missouri opens Sept. 15 and doesn't end until Jan. 15.

Obviously, the needs of the deer herd change greatly over this four-month period. During the first part of the season, when temperatures are still warm, I've found that hunting near a preferred watering hole is sometimes better than focusing on a food source. Then, in late season during the dead of winter, available food and protective cover from severe weather are the most important factors that dictate where the deer will be.

If you live in an area where the unting season spans a period of several months, think about how the needs and preferences of the deer change over the course of the season.

This way of thinking will help you determine when deer are seeking different resources during the season. The next challenge is trying to attract them to your property to obtain one of those sought-after resources.

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