Ok guys so I'm pretty sure im going to be doing a lot of off-season work on my land. Planting food plots making paths in and out etc.. I had the day off and couldnt hunt so i did the next best thing watch hunting shows and made a few plans. I would like yalls advice on what i go as this is my first food plot that i will be creating. The Land I own is 30 acres so its not that much, but its all i have to work with. -]The White squares are where I have put stands out now. Places them based on the tracks and other deer signs that are out there. -The Light blue squares are were i would like to put stands in the future or ground blinds. those are the other areas i have seen signs of deer. -The Dark green areas would be winter plots such as winter wheats winter rye etc.. -the yellow would be summer plots clover alfalfa etc.. there are some water sources near by theres a pond on the property to the right and theres a creek that runs through the wooded area of my property. Indicated by the blue line. -The white lines are were id like to make a grassy path/trail for easier acess to the stands. Ive also thought about clearing out some of the wooded area and making a nice little clearing back in there and laying some plots. So what do yall think? Like ive said this would be my first food plot and have only recently began hunting on a regular basis. But i absolutly love it and want to turn my little area into a place that will be productive.
anybody with food plot experiance have any suggestions or thoughts? I would like to get some advice b4 i poor money into something lol
If you're starting from scratch, think about when you will be hunting the stands and place them for the predominant wind direction that time of year. Also build your plots so the deer aren't coming to them from a direction they will smell you in your stand. Clover is a good green food source that will be a good spring and fall plot. Corn and beans will also be good for late summer/fall and into the winter if you plant enough that they don't eat it all before then. Wheat and turnips are good for winter food sources. Try to have a variety to keep em coming in year round. Good luck and have fun, it's a lot of work. Also check out the blogs there are some good food plot ideas there. Here is one for instance. http://www.bowhunting.com/blog/post...pecifically-to-get-deer-within-bow-range.aspx
I think you need to figure out where the deer are bedding so you can estimate their travel routes in and out of your food plots for stand locations. Make them use the natural funnels that you have by planting crops that are going to draw them through those funnels to access the best food source during the hunting season.
Thanks for the feed back the wind somes from the bpottom right of the map 85 precent of the time there are track all over the field that criss cross so its kind of hard to follow.
what equipment do you have access to? Are you putting the plots in by hand, atv, tractor??? Do you have tillage equipment, mowing equipment for the alfalfa, or weed control. A sprayer? etc. etc.
Yea my grandfather inlaw n my brother nlaw hunt with me and have access to anything we would need. Ill have some help so won't have to pay for labor or equip
I absolutely love alfalfa, but you have to be able to mow , rake, and bale it 3 times a year or it will become rank and the deer wont touch it.. Alfalfa will draw deer year round , deer will not be able to destroy an alfalfa plot, once you establish it, it is good for several years, it pays you back as you have 3 cuttings a year to sell. Clover is similar to alfalfa in some ways, and a lot less work, but it doesn't have the same drawing power. Corn is great as well, but harder to hunt and expensive to put in. I suggest planting corn in strips of 12 rows or so to create not only a food source, but a travel route. It can be used to hide deer and your entrance into stands as well.Oats are about the easiest thing on earth to grow and are a great draw if you plant them late. They will not draw deer the way alfalfa does after everything freeze's hard. Beans are great as well but do not provide enough of a yield to withstand a lot of grazing in a small plot. Round up ready has made growing soybeans and corn pretty simple. good luck!
