Here are some pictures of my first food plot from start, about a month ago to this past weekend. Imperial Whitetail No-Plow has really impressed me.
I'm doing my first this year as well. We have sandy soil so the ground is loose already so I'm not going to roto till. I do have a question though. After you spread the seed, did you use a rake to rake it in or how did you do that? Any tips or suggestions would be nice. My plot is going to be small burnett, chicory, Alfalfa, and white clover.
To answer your question, no, I did not rake it in. On this particular property, there aren't any fields and the woods are very hilly so I didn't have many options to as where I could put the plot and it still receive ample sunlight due to canopy cover. Furthermore, since the plot had to be in the woods, I didn't want to take the chance of ruining a tiller by hitting roots so I busted and leveled the area, just about 1/4 acre, with a pickaxe, shovel and garden rake and simply sowed my seeds with a hand seeder. Since it was a No-Plow, the ground didn't have to be broken at all, but I figured I would do it anyways. Again, I did not rake the seeds over once sown and they germinated in about a week. I will post updated pics to this thread by the end of the week to show some more progress. Goodluck
I'm jealous, I wish I had some land of my own. I hope it keeps going nicely for you. Was the blind for a turkey hunt, and is it going to stay put for deer hunting later too ?
Yes it's for turkeys. And I haven't decided if I will leave it up during deer season yet. There are a bunch of ignorant neighbors that trespass and I'm afraid it may go missing, that's my only hesitation.
They maybe haven't found it yet, or are still foraging on twigs and other stuff? Try spraying some attractant in it? Or wait and they will surely find it. What did you plant? Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Imperial Whitetail Institute's No-Plow. I'm thinking about putting a mineral sight right on the edge and hoping that scent will draw them in and keep them there
Well, may sound silly but you probably don't really know they aren't using it unless you put an exclusion screen in the plot. Browse attention may well be low just because everything is lush and fresh during spring green up. As leaves mature and buds vanish, expect more traffic on the plot.
Well, I have a camera on it and I'm not getting any pictures nor seeing any tracks. I don't know if this is even possible, but since I didn't ever add any lime, could it be making the forage too acidic and the animals not like it?
(dont mind the logo in my sig, I like talking food plots no matter what brand is planted) Lots of possibilities why they are not hitting it. I know the seeds in that mix are geared more for a late summer planting. (I know it probably says you can plant in spring). It is mainly rye grasses/brassicas/little bit of clover and thought some radishes. Isnt that bag a half acre worth? Hate to say it, but to me it looks like it took off great, but is starting to peter out. The trees started to green up thus making more of a canopy not letting the sun in, roots sucking mositure/nutrients out of the soil. When the plot needed nutrients(fertilizer, proper soil Ph) and sun to really get going, it didnt have it. I tried basically everything planted along our logging trail through the woods. Spring time it get going good, but never made it through the summer. I gave up and I am a gluten for punishment. But welcome to the food plotting hobby. It is a fun and addicting and plenty of great people here and other places online to learn from and ask questions.
Oh haha, yeah a camera is probably a good indicator, lol. Could be the PH is low, Jake has a good point too. I'd say the best bet is just because there's so much browse available now.
Yeah, I guess you guys are right, I guess I just had high expectations as any first timer would. Either way, great advice and I will definitely try again this fall
