Hey guys, looking for some advice on a subject I know nothing about. I gained access to a property that I think has great potential for a plot. In the middle of the timber, there's a a large grassy clearing in a bottom that has ridges on the sides. It essentially makes a big bowl. The clearing is about 20-30yds wide at varying points and 150yds long. There is a very heavy trail that runs through this clearing as well as a creek that meanders along the side of it. The edge of the clearing curves and follows the edge of the woods. Currently there is just short (3-5") grass in the clearing. It gets plenty of sunlight. My thought is that they'll come down off the ridges where they are bedded up on and feed in the bottom along the creek. I think it would be a prime spot to catch a buck before he heads up to the big fields. I've also got great access to hunt this plot via an old logging road and a pipeline. My problem is that I don't have any equipment. I'm considering using some throw and grow throughout the clearing. Not sure what my other options are. So, that being said, any experiences? The fields around me will be beans, alfalfa, and winter wheat. Any recommendations?? View attachment 27722
You don't have any friends in the area that would let you burrow a tractor? I mean it's east central Illinois everyone has a tractor - I thought... How big is the plot? Would they let you burrow a tiller so you could just hand till it? Hell I got a tiller that I could let you use and I might even be able to come up with a tractor if it came down to it. Regardless of if you can get a tractor or tiller, plant a food plot or the throw and grow I would go ahead and get it sprayed in late June or early July to kill off all grass/weeds. Then mow it down - I know you got a lawn mower. I would then wait a week or two and spot spray any spots that are missed. Wait a week then I would probably mow it down on the lowest setting possible, essentially it would act as a tiller but not quite. I'd throw down some 12-12-12 or 13-13-13 and lime. Let that sit a week and wait for a decent rainfall - if you've got a couple of days in early August of chances of rain go ahead and throw and grow. She will grow just fine for you. With the drought we had this year I wouldn't get in ANY hurry to get a throw and grow on the ground. Again, it will have plenty of time to mature by Sept 15. if you get it on the ground by early to mid August I think you would see deer hitting the plot around October 1. If you would have used throw in grow last year in June or July the stuff would have been burnt up. Note: I'd buy an extra bag of whatever you decide to you to spot seed after growth has started - it will just make everything a little thicker and give you areas of different maturity. Most probably would say that it's a waste of money - but you might get some spots that don't get hit with fertilizer, lime, water, sunlight as much as others and it might effect growth. If you have an ATV Evolved reccomends driving over the plot after the seeds have been thrown. I personally don't think this is essential but it certainly wouldn't hurt. Here is an option that I've considered trying in the past as I hunted for the Evolved Shot Plot last year. http://store.evolved.com/home/products/harvest/annuals/throwandgro.aspx
Go to midwest whitetails and look through the videos. Winke does something extremely similar where he builds a plot using no equipment. That's the worst part of plot building, machinery...
