What I would do is create some food plots within the timber between bedding areas and preferred ag fields where deer tend to feed now. Bedding areas that you can get to the down wind side undetected and be able to hang behind the food plots in a funnel or created funnel and try to catch bucks as the scent check the secluded food plots. In the morning on the way back to bed or during daylight on the way to the ag fields in the evening. If the existing bedding areas do not favor this create new thick areas and keep away from them. It sounds like you have good egress of the property with the dikes and river so that shouldn't be too hard. Another set up I like is small zig zag plots that lead to the ag fields. These allow quick, quiet set up, and the feeling of safety to the deer as they make there way to the larger fields in the evening and a quick bite to eat back to bedding in the morning. Remember to set up different plots for different wind situations. Early season southerly wind plots may include clover, alfalfa, etc. and Brassicas, etc. for later Northerly winds. I would focus on hunting bucks as they try to check out your plots and does as the feed on the edges near the ag fields in the early season and right on or just off the Brassicas in the late season. Edge feathering (or blocking) can help focus those areas as well. If you are looking for long term trees you may want to check Swamp White Oaks I think they are tolerant to this type of property. Fruit trees would be a nice asset as well if you have anywhere favorable to growing them. I also would rip and tear for a year get in do the bulk of the work piss off all the deer and then enjoy the benefits for years to come. Adding a four wheeler loop to get deer out may be beneficial and less intrusive than dragging deer out and will make maintenance much easier.
