How to protect my food plot.

So I am planting my first food plot this year and I am ready to put seed down once the weather decides to pick up (but I'm in Indiana so just about anything is possible). But throughout my hard work and excitement that has gone into this experience I have neglected to find a way to keep the deer out of the plot until it has developed.

I have the plot in a large rectangle shape that is about 50yrds by 30yrds. The perimeter is hinged off, and a mess of branches and hinged trees are down the center of the rectangle providing one small choke-point to offer access to the other side. I have one IN trail and one OUT trail to the entire plot and I am wondering if anyone has any tips as to how I should block this off or keep my plot from being prematurely destroyed?

 

....good luck.

Let the deer demolish it early, then replant in the fall...

 

Plant in the fall. Use spring to lime and prep.

 

What are you planting?

 

plot that size i would probably put it into oats this spring and then replant in fall again with a oats, wheat, and clover mix. this wouldn't get over grazed.

 

Or spring planting of buckwheat if it's virgin soil

 

Correct, if you really want to plant something in the Spring, plant buckwheat. Then follow it with oats, planted in late Aug/early Sept.

 

Save the money, plant in August and they will be in it by your Oct. 1 opening day in Indiana. If your trying to attract deer to your property, provide nutrition and get photos - why not create a couple mineral sites rather than going to the trouble of planting a plot that will likely be demolished by opening day?

Or you could do as has been suggested above and do an early and late season planting - although I don't have the equipment, time or money do that myself.

Good luck!

 

x2! It's the route I'm taking with a late summer/early fall planting of a clover an chicory mix.

 

One of my kill plots is going to get this exact treatment this year.

 

I am planning on planting a clover/ chicory mix in one part of the plot for a spring/ summer and the other half with turnips and beets in the remaining half. I plan on planting the turnips and beets around late August/ early September for a winter plot. But I'm more so worried about the clover part getting wiped out too early. We don't have an outrageous amount of deer in my area so I'm not sure if that makes a difference.

All I'm trying to accomplish with the clover is giving the deer a feeling of sanctuary on my property.... until fall muahahaha!

 

I have minerals out right now. Sorry I didn't mention that. They do a great job for sure but I am just trying to maximize the amount of deer that come through my property, kind of get them in a habit and make it part of their daily ritual.

 

Oats take grazing very well. It's also a great cover crop to plant with clover/chicory. The grazing of the oats will give the clover time to sprout and produce a root system. Buckwheat is another great option and would probably seed out 2-3 times during the summer and reseed itself. Also it's great organic matter for the soil once tilled in.