I have a growing interest in a small food plot. The no till or throw & go type… Any suggestions? Currently im leaning towards Pure Whitetail shady patch Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Are you looking at planting in a shady area or somewhere that has decent direct sunlight daily? In addition, what kind of soil are you dealing with?
Pure Whitetail shady spot is merely forage ryegrass or was at one time with little bits of clover and brassicas thrown in. Steer from ryegrass IMO
So minimal sun areas are always going to be tough, and naturally should be. However, that said of course to me first thing I'm doing is buying about a gallon of gas and firing up the chainsaw...releasing canopy on the southern side of things for light release. Now that is assumption property is yours and like me you value hunting experience over timber value if there is any right there. If not your property or you don't like the idea of cutting trees, I had one client that had some crazy mature oaks on the southern side of a micro-ish plot....he had no problem getting rid of some of the maples and hackberries and such throughout the first 10-50 yards from the plot but these massive oaks he didn't want to cut due to logging in future...oh there were three walnuts too in this grouping. So, the plan was this dude was going to hire an experienced cutter/tree service guy to come in climb those trees and cut a pretty significant amount of branches (some quite large) eliminating much of the lower canopy and some higher up without actually killing the tree. I'd say he created an additional 1-3 hours of broken sunlight at the cost of keeping the trees - which honestly in time wise will close up again over the years but his plot immediately did better the next year. All that said, on such small plots with broken light my go to is cereal rye (75%) and oats (25%) typically. Oats and rye will germinate in a truck bed, but even my truck bed typically has more direct light...however such spots as described can still see germination and growth - even if not truly maturing greens. Often in a few spots I'll circle back to about two to three weeks before hunting season with an overseeding again of about 200lbs/acre rate (won't be a ton given size sounds small) of cereal rye again encouraging fresh germination with timing of hunting. If these areas do well, or I suspect will at the first planting I'm not afraid to mix in a high quality clover blend or honestly whatever clover the local ag store has on stock (just making sure actually clover) for purchase and will throw in 4-7lbs/acre rate. Depending on tree types and soil type - which is why I'd probably do a soil test as well asap and amend if possible - little such spots can be killer (pun intended).
100% agree with Ty that if possible open up your canopy a bit. Speaking with some of our foresters in Wisconsin they say that a minimum canopy opening needs to be 70'X70' to have an area receive adequate sunlight. Most clients think this means that cutting trees on the ground 70 ft by 70 ft will do the trick but in all reality you may be more 100X100 to really get that canopy open. As for seed types, as Ty said your cereal grains are great, but if you are looking at more of a perennial I am falling in love with plantain and chicory for my interior plots. They have done extremely well so far in shaded areas for myself. I think Ty will agree....... I miss prep season!
I actually mow the grass/weed area that is between the camera & the tree twice a year The area gets sun from the south…I have located a small disc which I believe I can pull behind my Ranger 800. Hell, it’s only $$$ & time It’s approximately 24 yards by 35 yards of opening Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Never messed with plantain but only due to local access at a rate I like. Chicory does do well for me in most times associated with this type of setting, and the deer love the stuff in November it seems. Your canopy opening versus on the ground opening is the biggest hurdle for some to be able to envision.
Interior plots should begin with looking up before looking down lol. Honestly my interior plots are the cores to my hunting strategies. Couple an interior plot with a licking branch/vine, wildlife pond, maybe some soft mast trees, and boom deer will be in it all day.
So who do we have left for chances for points? Team 15 got me panicked this morning until I realized the recent buck posted was from one that already had scored his two deer for the contest.
Yeah, small plots can be crucial to a properties success but only if access and exits are solid. The ability to essentially eliminate pressure on larger plots/fields even for those not hunting small properties like me make the deer feel so INCREDIBLY safe - which is the exact thing we are pursuing. @LittleChief has a chance at a buck for points still through end of January if I remember right. @Brett Smith has a chance at either, but I'm not sure how long his season runs. @fletch920 has time in doe only areas of Iowa he said he has access to now I believe those are the ones left...my gut says we still got one or two deer left to score yet - praying I'm right because I don't think other teams are done either.
You really need permission to shoot the backyard deer for the freezer LOL Or at least I think this is the backyard cam no?
Yes, season runs through 28 February in AR. I watched two bucks cross the creek 80 yards from my tree this morning. Yesterday afternoon was my first time in this spot so the first two were pretty much observation sits. I’m about to get down and move my climber to a tree 55 yards away. I may not get a shot this trip but my money is on the 29 - 31 Jan, the new moon. It’s supposed to start raining in the morning and then Thursday it’s going to be too cold and windy for the gear I have so I’ll probably go home Thursday morning. I’ll be back here on the 28th though.
