Hunting Planted Fields

[douglaslefler]

Hi I have a couple corn fields that have been planted. The farmer that I received permission from did not say anything about not walking the field after it has been planted. Does anyone else hunt fields after they have been planted? Is it worth hunting these fields still? Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[Stonecracker59]

I have hunted fields that were planted with premission of course but when the corn gets up the leaves can cut you and you are limited to between the rows

[cachefind09]

I always ask for permission to hunt in the late fall around November and again after the corn comes up. Some farmers feel differently about letting people walk in their fields after it is planted so I don't take any chances. I would never want to hunt a field of winter wheat or drilled soybeans because it is too easy to step on the plants. It is definitely worth hunting a field after it's planted but the opportunity is much shorter because the plants grow tall very quick.

[joshuaream]

If the farmer doesn't mind, walk the rows. It forces you to go slower and hunt a smaller area of visibility, but that can result in you catching less obvious pieces. Also any additional rains help out.

When I was a kid I'd walk with my baseball glove out in front to push the leaves away, and hunt with my head down all summer. Of course now I'm wider and the rows are narrower.

If the site is relatively productive, I've found that I can find the same number of pieces per hour if I go fast or slow. If I go fast I cover more ground, but only get the more obvious pieces. If I go slow I'm more likely to notice a sliver of flaked edge, etc.

[eddies]

Yes just walk the rows. It slows you down and you see more

[Steve Valentine]

I like hunting the fields just as the corn pops up and is about an inch or so high because it defines the rows and you can see where you have walked and space out your turns much better which means you cover more ground and do a better job of covering that area. I know which farms in my area allow me to hunt the rows once it's planted and which ones don't. I only have two that won't allow me in after it's planted and one guy that won't allow me after they disk because he says it tramps down the soil. I guess my 240 lbs pushes the soil down much worse than his 2 ton tractor. lol

Cachefind mentioned not walking Wheat or Soybean fields, but I have quite a few farmers that will let me walk their fields after the wheat and soybeans pop up. They say you can't hurt them in the soft soil and they will pop right back up and grow fine. Most won't allow it though.

I have found some of me best finds after the field have been planted.