Tips & Tactics

Corn Stalk

Corn Stalk

By Ken Piper

Standing corn is a blessing and curse for bowhunters.

Agriculture fields draw whitetails, and lots of them. That's the good news. The bad news is deer also use those fields for cover and bedding areas. Standing corn is an excellent and oft-used whitetail sanctuary. And you'd be amazed how even a big buck and simply lie down and disappear in soybean or sorghum fields. If you find yourself frustrated by a lack of daylight deer sightings and suspect they are using a cornfield as a daytime hideout, go in after them.

Wait for a windy day and position yourself on the downwind side of a cornfield. Walk along the edge about 50 yards, and then head into the corn, working against the rows. Go slowly so as not to make excess noise and to avoid damaging cornstalks.

Poke your head into the next row and look carefully both ways before taking a step. If the coast is clear, move into the empty row. Repeat this process until you reach the other side of the field. When you get into the open, walk 50 more yards along the edge and start in again, following the same process, back and forth, until you cover the entire field.

If you see a deer when you poke your head into the row, it's ideal if you can pull your head back to your row without letting the deer know you're there. Next, draw your bow, and then step into the deer's row to make a shot. You'll usually have a second or two to shoot as the deer tries to identify the source of the intrusion. If you see one that's out of range, cut the distance in your row before stepping into the shooting row.

One of the great things about stalking in corn is you can do it any time of day. And even if you don't see any deer, you'll likely learn if there are some areas they are using more than others. You can use that information to set up stands in nearby woods or edges.

Lastly, make sure to get permission before entering a cornfield, and always take care to cause as little damage as possible.

Read Recent Tip of the Week:
Expect Success: A positive mental attitude leads to better results in the woods.

Copyright 2024 by Buckmasters, Ltd.

Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd