I decided to get into the plot game yesterday while having another deerless, winter sit. My reluctance to plant them before is because all of my tillable land is rented to a farmer and that will continue to be the case. So I will need to get creative, i.e.- plant the headlands and find small openings in the woods. Equipment wise, I am limited. I have a small ag tractor that I bush-hog with and a guy gave me a cultivator that will scratch up the surface. I have a back-pack sprayer, but no tiller. I am wondering what luck any of you have had with the mixes that claim to require little prep. The one I've heard of is called "Shot Plot" or something like that. Also, ever had luck with this in low sunlight spots? Thanks in advance.
Don't worry about equipment. I've put in many a plot without a tractor even. Garden rake, garden tiller, hand spreader for lime and seed and fertilizer. Clover is your best bet for low light conditions, but nothing will "flourish" without enough sun. The "no prep" seed mixes usually contain a large amount of rye grass or similar seed which really looks great but doesn't contain much that deer need or even desire. Yeah they'll grow, and do so in a lush fashion but not worth it in just my opinion. Also the rake and throw seed mixes, while yeah they'll take they won't flourish as much as if you do a little elbow work. Prepping the soil is the #1 thing good plots have compared to bad ones. You can have the best spot, perfect cover but if the soil is terrible the plot will be terrible. -Take a soil sample -Lime, fertilize as recommended -kill and prep spot -plant -fertilize as recommended That's the basic bare bones 5 step process of a food plot....doesn't even touch on my #1 thing which is what surrounds the food plot (COVER!) and the shape/design of the food plot. Welcome to the addiction.
I've been told to hinge trees for cover an man does it work. I didn't plant the plot this year but they are stayin right where it will be next year. If ya stand in the middle ya can't see out the sides because I got it so thick in there =] works awesomely
Hinging is quite possibly the most powerful thing to do for bettering deer habitat. Depending on what you desire to do with you hinging it can accomplish tons of things: -Get browse to the deer's level that normally is 10+feet high -Increase ground cover -Encourage more flourishing growth for desireables -create overhead covering for buck beds or bedding areas -natural growing impenetrateable fence -encouraging travel paths with natural elements Just to name a few.
