So the past 2 seasons are the first that I've had an opportunity to help plant and hunt over food plots. As most of you know Todd is a plot maniac and plants a ton of food on his personal farm so he has a lot of the equipment already and has helped us plant food on our lease. Each of the last 2 years we've planted the same food - a mixture of Buck Forage oats, winter wheat, rye and Heartland Wildlife brassicas. Both of our plots are planted with the same seeds, at the same time, and given the same fertilization. For all intents and purposes they're identical. In any case we have two separate plots, one on the North side and one on the South side of our farm. The plot on the North side of the farm sees a moderate amount of browsing and traffic but nothing compared to the plot on the South side. The South plot has 6-10 deer in it every single night for hours on end. The entire outside of the plot looks like someone hit it with a lawnmower. By comparison the North plot will have 1-2 visitors a day but typically they only feed for 5-10 minutes and they're gone. Browse pressure is much lower which has allowed the plants to grow up a lot taller and fuller. So my question is simple - what may be the cause of this? The two plots are maybe 1/2 mile from each other so they're getting hit by two separate groups of deer. Is there something in the soil that may effect how the plants taste which would make one more palatable than the other?
Seen it, been there. Many things have caused this. First spot we always look is security of the plots, is it safer if you were a deer utilizing the one plot over the other...this can be analyzed by simple knowledge of the property and shifting of the mind to a prey mindset...and night time trail cam inventory...are they visiting it just not the same amount of time because unlike the other it is all limited to night time feeding if any. Second spot to check is actual soil composition. We have actually decided to mail our soil samples in to more certified labs, as the local feed store just simply for lack of a better term has failed us and our plots. The actual mineral and nutrient breakdown of the two soils can have a huge impact on composition of the plants themselves and their taste...some of our plots have required a lot of organic or green matter reintroduced to the soil (like planting buckwheat and tiling under or winter rye and tilling under than in spring). I would be you'll find both will not test the same because soil types can change within the same plot let alone across a property. Third thing to consider is typical travel routes given the time of year. Perhaps the pull of great oak or beans somewhere have shifted their normal travel routes for now making the other plot not as "on the way" and without the lack of apparent food left it less desirable. If spot is secure and soil checks out perhaps utilizing a plot like this for primarily brassica/late season food source could be killer. Letting it grow/mature and not hunting till late season comes in and the deer will HAVE TO hit it due to lack of food. Our one brassica plot doesn't really get hit hard till mid-late november and then it is like an invasion. Oh, also you are doing the traditional food plotter dance prior to and after planting correct?
Like Tyni said, location could be the reason or nutritional value could be it also. Something as simple as soil PH can cause it. I'd pay attention to the micro-nutrient readings in the soil test.
If it is a soil problem it will show up in the taste. Here is a simple test, walk into the plot you are seeing lots of activity on, pull up a sample of each plant, put it in your mouth and chew it up then spit it out try it on each plant. I bet it will be sweet! Now do the same thing on the other plot that gets minimal activity. If it is bitter in your mouth, its the soil lacking proper nutrient content and may need lime. I say it like this, think of fertilizer and lime as the salt and pepper for your steak. without it it's kinda blah, but with the right amount of each your drooling and can't get enough! Here is a product I used on my veggie operation this year, I found it to enhance the quality and taste of my vegetable incredibly! If I can swing it i will be applying it to all my plots next year. Ocean Trace That will just depend on if the wife lets me budget a little more into the plots! lol
I'd split the 5 gallon one with ya bud...be an excuse to meet up next year too. Crazy they say one gallon is enough for 1.5acre of vegetables (plot)
As a long time nutritionist and agronomist i've seen this and heard this numerous times in my life. Even on one farm, soil types and conditions vary. This is why spending $10 on a soil test is key. Using the same seeds and same fertility practices doesn't mean your plots are balanced. Even if pH's are similar, there is soil texture, structure and organic matter that comes into play. When was crops planted? How much cover is near by? Where is the water sources? How much human pressure is on both areas?
I would look at near by bedding / cover also. How open is the woods around your plot? Is there any edge feathering? How big is your plot? You might want to plant a fence row type of strip( make one big plot into two or three plots) in your plot to make them feel safer. Have fun playing with your food plots, its like a game.
PH is definitely going to be the first thing to check. Everybody else hit on the other variables from what I can see.
