food plots in the woods

[Hammer]

I have a few places in my woods that I want to work up for food plots this year. The sunlight will only be marginal as there are a lot of trees. Does anybody know what will grow well and be beneficial to the deer? Thanks.

[Multidigits]

Rule of thumb--the area needs at least 4 hours aday of sunlight.

Without the benefit of heavy equipment to work the ground good, I'd probably go with rye grass and white dutch clover.

Both do good with a moderate PH and are easy to establish. IF you can get your tractor in there and the patch is big enough to not be shaded out, you could plant about anything and it would work, depending on the lime and fertilizer being applied when needed.

[RTC]

check out the plotmaster
http://www.biggameproshop.com/atv_plotmaster-disc.htm
looks neat but rather expensive

[Hammer]

I can get in there to work it up with my equipment, my concern was that it would not have enough light to grow. Thanks.

[perry_max]

I've allways read you need 50% sunlight.I'd cut some trees.Any soil in the woods will have a low PH and need lot of lime.I'd put alot of lime down now and plant ladino clover in march.

[Multidigits]

Ladino and Dutch White are both from the white clover family. Dutch white is abetter choice for areas that are remote and less likely to be maintained to the max. You'll often not mow these areas, which is OK. Just take the tractor back there once a year, after it goes to seed and lightly disk the soil. It'll respout and continue the patch for another year. Also, White Dutch will tolerate a lower PH a lot better that Ladino, and has the same nutrituional traits. Deer and turkeys will eat it just fine.

[Bullitt Hunter]

I have the same problem Hammer on my place. Some ppl have told me to thin my woods out so the floor gets some light and all kinds of stuff will pop up?