Hi Everybody, My family has always hunted on farmers fields or in the woods. We have never really had a food plot but now we are buying a 20 acre piece of land that has a perfect place for a food plot. I know I have to test the soil, and then do all of the other steps like spraying, putting on fertilizer and lime, and tilling it up. But then what kinds of seeds do I use from Heartland, Perennial or Annual?
If you plan on working on the plot every year I would plant an annual like beans or peas, if you dont want to hassle with it every year plant perennials like clover and alfalfa. Good Luck
Perennials will come back year after year-generally grasses, clover and such. Annuals those which need to be planted each year like turnips, radishes, beans,etc. My opinion, there is no right/wrong answer here, per se. You need to know what is available nearby already, what the animals need, be attracted to and will enjoy. In Wisconsin you may also want to consider if you are looking to provide an early season, late season or some of both and plant accordingly.
I practice and sell managed intensive food plotting. My recommendations are: 1/3 of my clients plots into perennials 1/3 into annuals 1/3 into soil builders so a typical client of mine in Wisconsin might plant on new food plots a perennial legume mix on a 1/3, a forage/pod bean mix on 1/3 and a soil builder blend on the other 1/3. Instead of the forage/pod beans one might include a brassica blend. I always want something growing/consummed from April through Early winter. There is gaps in the typical food plot programs. Here is the sequence for what is consummed on the farm. Early April , buckwheat, annual clovers, winter triticale and or fall rye. Clovers....Alfalfa, peas May-june......sweet brassicas, clovers, alfalfa, 4 bean mix, forage oats and spring triticale, annual clovers, peas July, 4 bean mix, alfalfas, clovers, sweet brassicas, annual clovers, millet, wgf grain sorghum, egyptian wheat August-october...alfalfa, clovers, brassicas, swedes, winter triticale, forage oats, 4 bean mix, annual clovers, wgf sorghum, egyptian wheat, millet November-Jan brassicas, swedes, winter triticale, alfalfa and clover blends (stockpiled and consummed through snow)
I don't think there is anything better than clover. It's easy to maintain, it can take heavy grazing pressure from deer. If also attracts turkeys and it will last a few years. There is also a lot of protein in clover too so good for antler growth and better milk for the fawns. And think of all the four leaf clovers you can find! Endless luck
