Hey guys I have never done a food plot before and wondering how I go about doing it. I am going to start prepping the area soon, cutting down a few trees, rottotiling... I'm hunting in mass so any suggestion on what I could plant so it will be good in October and November. It's going to be a micro plot as I'm not hunting on a big property. I'm thinking the largest I could do might be 30x50 yards. I know pretty small and that's what I'm worried about because there are alot of deer and I do not want it wiped out before hunting season. Any suggestions would be great!!!!
30 by 50 is not a bad size plot. Soil test is where you need to start. Well after clearing the area it is, add what you need to the soil. Depending on when you plant a variety white clovers and some rape w a few turnips might be a good start. Remember to have fun with it, if you are using a hand roto tiller, I would recomend borrowing or renting a tractor.
A small plot with lots of deer make it tough. You mite want to invest in a containment system. What kinda of Ag do you have in the area? First thing I do is a soil test, then kill off the area with round up. By then you should have your test results. If its virgin ground I will kill it off again after first pass of discs, then lime and fertilize as required, then lightly turn again, seed and pack. Then hope for a little rain and top dress with fertilizer once it reaches a certain height. I plant between 25-30 acres of plots and over the years learned a thing or two, I am not a farmer. I used the vast majority of advertised "deer plot" seeds. To be honest, I don't use any of it anymore. I came across a good mix of brassica that grows really well in our soil type and the deer love it and is excellent once we get some frost. We plant corn, peas, brassica, clover and beans. Plus fertilize some smaller grass fields. Do you want a annual or perannual? I like to offer them what they do not already have available. If they like it, it will pull them off other property! So if you have lots of clover by, it will be tough pulling them off for more. I would suggest a good brassica mix. Mainly because they will not eat much till the frost hits it. By then the sugar is high and rutting will begin. Plus it's a excellent source of protein for them. If you need anything else, let me know. Good luck.
Ya thats what I am worried about with a small area with a 45+ deer per square mile. i will probably use a smaller rototiller because a tractor wouldnt be able to get in there. So basically I have the just of it, now the soil testing how do you do that? Basically the deer in the area are eating acorns when they drop and people lawns and gardens. It's pretty well populated area. I have no idea how I would be able to confine the area either. So I was thinking of if there is a way to plant different plants in the plot to come up at different times but I might be dreaming. But what you guys are saying sounds good and I cant wait to start. And it should be easy to have the deer move rite on to the food plot because i have my feeder in the area now and they are hitting it a few times a day. Do you guys buy your stuff online or local?
