food plots

[horsebranchjackson]

hey guys been reading your post's you all seem to be some great guys to chat with . Question for you In law's have about 75 acres in horse branch two great deer houses and a great location. Problem is no one has been taking care of property for about 2yrs and the feeding areas have grone up with fescue and junk weeds. Going to get things back this spring right. killed a nice 8pt 2nd day out of gun season. And this area seems to draw in some good bucks every yr . until last couple. what do you guys suggest for getting this food plots back right. clover,rye etc. would appreciate the advice

[omega-boy]

maybe try to cut and clean up the area, do a soil sample, you could try some of the new clovers that these companies are offering, some crops will last 3-5 years and you can get by with fertilizing each year, maybe someone else with more experience on this subject will shed some light here, I have an old grass road on my property, I am going to cut the trees back on the sides where sun will shine on it more, I will plant something the spring or fall, I have a stand right off of it now, we have never had a problem getting a Doe out of this stand, I might try the Bio Logic and see what it does? anyone have any experience with this product?

[Grant]

I would like to add one thing, don't destroy all the thick cover. Make you an acre or 2 foodplot and leave the rest as is.
It gives deer, as well as alot of other animals a good place to hide and feel safe. I think alot of people over look the thick, grown up places when chasin big bucks!!

[Larry Carter]

horsebranch, there is a habitat improvement section on down the page. Lots of old posts cover some of your questions.

[gut shot]

if you have fescue be sure to cut it as close as you can an use round up backed up with crossbow to burn it down and if ya don't have a lot of room mix both summer spring and winter grasses what i planted was birdsfoot treefoil clover arrowleaf clover and just a little ladina mixed with rape and chickory &buck forage oats man they burn it up see as high as 30 deer before dark all you have to re plant is the oats and the rape and they will come up through the clover the next year if ya sow them early enough

[Marcus]

I think Grant is on to the right idea. I would mow a small place for a food plot or two. I would mow a few strips in the rest and leave as is. Deer love to bed in stuff like this and will make this place their safety and security place. Remember to mow those strips in the direction you want the deer to travel. Next season, this might give you a better chance at a shot opportunity. I've had a lot more success on those old grown-up farms than the clean ones. If you could put out mineral licks and maybe supplement at times, you will have better luck with the area. Also, when you don't have to, stay out of this area. What county is this in? Are there agriculture areas that you might have to compete with or just hardwoods around? This will play a big part in how you are going to be able to draw deer to this property and keep them coming back.

[Buckbriar]

My two cents.
I've found over the years that Ladino clover is the best legume to plant in food plots. It seems to come back heavy for several years and the deer/ turkeys love it. Buy the most expensive brand of ladino that you can afford as there are several types available. A good red clover mixed in does well also. I planted biologic this fall in with a winter wheat plot and the deer don't seem to touch it but keep the wheat grazed down.

[Strutter]

Use the Ladino clover. I have a couple of the fancy plots out and I see what few deer are around in the clover a lot more than in ther other plots. From now on, I will plant nothing but clovers and maybe some grain sorghum. They really like the seed heads on the sorghum when it matures.

[N2MyWake]

I currently have a couple of plots one being a KY blend with clovers, turnips rape and chicory. While the other is tecamante max attract 50/50. They are definitely preferring the tec this year, but I'll know more this weekend. I keep thinking that they'll eat the turnips after a hard freeze, but we'll see.

I guy in Henderson county has been planting oats with alot of success the last 5 years. I may try to surround my plots with oats this year.

Western Kentucky Boy

[gut shot]

deer need protien in the spring and summer and carbohydrates in the fall&winter just build your food plots around that

[Marcus]

I will tell you what I've been reading about the clovers. If you want to plant a clover, plant the Imperial whitetail clover. It has a great protein content(about 25-35%) if the soil is fertilized right and limed. The key here is that the Imperial clover keeps it's high protein content for the whole growing season. Most other clovers may peak at 35% protein, but only for a few weeks out of the year. The rest of the year, it may fall to 10-12% and your herd may not be getting the best nutrition. When you start seeing the big racks, you will say I didn't realize food plots made such a big difference. To get the big racks, I've read and experienced this also. Try supplemental feeding from now until about the end of march. This is the time of year deer need an additional food supply. The yearlings are healthier and the bucks get a great head start on the antler development when adding something like corn and sweet feed. The added 12-16% protein really gets the racks growing.