Food Plotting for Dummies

[bowhunter1023]

I wanted to create this post for the guys that may want to get into food plotting, but have some apprehension about it getting involved. I was that guy two years ago. Last year I made my first attempt and it failed miserably, but I learned from my mistakes and moved forward. This year I made the promise to myself to do it to the best of my ability. The following is my rendition of “Food Plots for Dummies.” I am no expert. Nor do I think I did everything exactly perfect. My purpose for this post is to simply take some of the mystic out of food plotting and show some of you that may want to do it, that it can be done. If I can do it, any one can.

I’m going to skimp on site selection, soil testing, and seed choice. There is a ton of information on those items out there. I chose my sites based upon cover, terrain, and accessibility. I will admit that I did not test my soil this year. It was too late for it once I was able to get started. I just limed heavily and fertilized at about 125% of the recommended rate on the bag. I will get them tested after the season, but it is not something that HAS to happen in order to plant.

I set out to plant one plot this year that I simply call “The Plot.” It is where I failed last year. I have since planted two more. I call them the “Side & Corner Pocket” plots. “The Plot” is situated on top of a ridge and just South of a 20 acre corn field. Two fingers funnel deer into the oak flat where I planted. I used an old logging road/landing to plant. We feel a few trees to open the canopy, but left it just as we found it. I choose the “Side Pocket” plot because it was near a stand I was a little iffy about. I knew I could access this inside corner with my disc and create a little salad bar near my stand. The “Corner Pocket” is an area where the woods and the ridge make a 90 degree turn. Several oaks line the woods line, and a locust thicket to the South acts as a bedding area. The table was set for these areas.

Each area was in need of some TLC…

“The Plot”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0781.jpg

The “Side Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0865.jpg

The “Corner Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0772.jpg

Both “The Plot” and the “Side Pocket” were in areas I had to use my four-wheeler and hand tools. I was able to use our Ford tractor to put in the “Corner Pocket”. We used a weedeater, rakes, a small pull behind disc, and a hand seeder to put in “The Plot” and the “Side Pocket. With these two plots we used the weedeater to cut them as close to the ground as possible and then we raked away the grass mat. On the “Corner Pocket” I had my Dad brushhog the weeds as close to the ground as he could. Then I used the disc to break up the grass mat. Once I succeeded in doing this, I used the bucket to back drag all the grass off the plot and then scooped it up and dumped it off to the side. This was my unique Redneck way to rake a large plot when I didn’t have the proper tools. Ready to disc…

“The Plot”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0786.jpg

The “Side Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0869.jpg

The “Corner Pocket” prior to my “rake” job.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0820.jpg

Once we had exposed the soil at “The Plot” and the “Side Pocket”, I slowly made passes with the disc with as much weight as we could strap to the disc. After we had turned the soil, I pulled some of the weight off and we speed the process up. At the “Corner Pocket” I was able to use a larger farm disc to turn the soil. Once I had done this, I used my small disc to break up some of the larger chunks that remained.

“The Plot”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0795.jpg

The “Side Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0872-1.jpg

The “Corner Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0818.jpg

[bowhunter1023]

Once I had the soil to the point I wanted it, I applied the lime and fertilizer. I use 150lbs of pelletized lime on “The Plot” along with 75lbs of 19-19-19 fertilizer. On this plot we planted Tecomate Ultra Forage as an attractant. I knew I couldn’t compete with the corn, and since this plot is basically in a staging area, I knew something like brassicas and turnips would be the ticket. With the “Side Pocket” I used 120lbs of pelletized lime along with 50lbs of 19-19-19 fertilizer. We planted Evolved Harvest Plot Shot here which is a 50/50 mix of turnips and brassicas. Again I was going after attraction. These are all hunting plots. The destination feed fields are taken care of by the neighboring farmers. The “Corner Pocket” took 250lbs of pelletized lime and 150lbs of 13-13-13 fertilizer. We planted Buck Forage Oats here and I threw in a little bit of the Tecomate Ultra Forage towards the middle of the plot. Ready to grow…

“The Plot”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0862.jpg

The “Side Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0873.jpg

The “Corner Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/101_0914.jpg

As I said each one of the plots has a stand hung in order to hunt it. Of course wind directions, cover, and direction of deer travel where taken in to account when I hung these stands. Entry and exits routs have also been created to keep from disturbing the plot while entering, or leaving the stand.

“The Plot”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0791.jpg

The “Side Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0866.jpg

The “Corner Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_07803.jpg

And each affords a view…

“The Plot”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0800.jpg

The “Side Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/100_0765.jpg

The “Corner Pocket”
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q273/bowhunter1023/101_0916-1.jpg

I will update with pics of the growth the week before the season. You can see from this that any dummy can put in a food plot. You just have to get out there and make the best of what you have. I only spent $300 on these three plots. That may seem like a lot of money to some, but come October when I have my 13 year old cousin along with me during his first bow season and he has the opportunity to take a relaxed, feeding doe, it will seem like a drop in the bucket. I hope this encourages some to go ahead and give this food plotting a try. It is hard work, but it is a lot of fun. And there is nothing like taking a piece of ground that has nothing to offer and creating something from nothing. I find as much enjoyment from that as I do from sitting in my stand…

[ohiotrapper1984]

Thanks for the info that should help some of us dummies plant some salad bars for our deer.

[dtabor]

Great info for the guys that done have all the money and equipment to dump into it. I just finished seeding a couple small hunting plots like you have on my new land here in VT using chainsaw, a friend with a mini excavator (stumps....lucky to have this guy!) and a garden tiller.

A good book if anyone is interested is one by Ed Spinnazola. Its available on a site for the Mid-michigan branch of qdma. He goes over ways to make plots from hand tools up to tractors. Alot of good info.

Im looking forward to seeing how your's grow along the way!

D

[Milo]

Jesse, I'm not gonna tell ya good job cause you'll get cocky, write a book and buy up all of the land...but nice job anyway


Guys..this is a great time to be thinking about next year. Start doing the little things like picking up a sprayer and some leftover goodies. You will be finding end of the year deals at stores Like TSC and others. You can buy up the leftover lime and even prebuy some fertilizer cause its gonna go up...has been for the last few years. that way when you wanna try stuff next year you'll just have seed cost. You can also find good prices on roundup and other off brand glycol's at the end of the year. Don't fail to plan either. Maybe pick up a 4 wheeler sprayer and I will try to put together a build along turning an economy 4 wheeler sprayer into a boom sprayer. I have all the stuff but time...

[Big H]

Jesse, I'm not gonna tell ya good job cause you'll get cocky, write a book and buy up all of the land...but nice job anyway


Guys..this is a great time to be thinking about next year. Start doing the little things like picking up a sprayer and some leftover goodies. You will be finding end of the year deals at stores Like TSC and others. You can buy up the leftover lime and even prebuy some fertilizer cause its gonna go up...has been for the last few years. that way when you wanna try stuff next year you'll just have seed cost. You can also find good prices on roundup and other off brand glycol's at the end of the year. Don't fail to plan either. Maybe pick up a 4 wheeler sprayer and I will try to put together a build along turning an economy 4 wheeler sprayer into a boom sprayer. I have all the stuff but time...


All good points Milo. One other hint, make sure you check the innoculation date on the bags of seed before you purchase them. I have found numerous bags that are not fresh. The seeds may still germinate, but why do all the hard work to prepare the ground, and then broadcast outdated seed, and not have the plot produce the amount of groceries that it is capable of producing with a fresh mix. Nothing stinks worse, than to bust your butt getting the plots in shape, and then have the seed germinate slowly, or not at all, and think you did something wrong, when in fact, the seed was to blame.

Bowhunter, one problem you may run into on your plots, is that brassicas do not do real well in shaded areas. This comes from past experience. They will grow, but not as well as they do in open sunlight. Try to find a seed mix that is engineered to grow in shaded areas for your next year's planting. I am trying a new mix from Merit Seeds that is called Buck Draw in a wooded area plot that looks very similar to one of your plots. I have tried Tecomate Ultra Forage, Full Draw, and Shot Plot in years past, with decent results, but not what I wanted. Last year, I opened it up a little more to allow more sunlight in, but was not satisfied with the results. This particular blend was recommended for low light conditions, I will keep you updated on its progress, and how I like it. Sometimes everything may be done right, and if the seed needs more sunight, the plot may not meet your expectations.

Good job on the plots, they look good, and good luck hunting over them this year.

[ohiosam]

It's a good idea to spray Round-up now, especially on sod or perennials. It won't completely kill the perennials but will weeken them and make it easier to kill them next year. Killing the sod this year make it easier to till next year. Also add a little 2,4-D to the Round-up it will really help on perennials.

[Lucky]

Nice thread.

[Bawana]

A good source of seeds that I just found: http://www.welterseed.com/default.aspx They seem to have a great variety of seeds at a pretty reasonable price.
I put all my plots out on 8/11, I'll post pics and more info on my plots and plans on a seperate thread.

[deerhunt45]

This is a very cool thread. Nice project Jesse and cool pictures. I just know all your hard work is going to pay dividends this season.

Good info everyone!!! Keep it coming.

[TritonBill]

Any chance you could reload the pics Jesse?

[bowhunter1023]

Any chance you could reload the pics Jesse?

I will post a couple that show the soil gathering process on your other thread...

[benehunter]

Hey BH1023 would you mind post up some pics. I am planning on starting 2 food plots on my property from scratch. Both areas need to be cleared. One is overgrown with crabapple trees I need to remove. The other area is loaded with tree tops. Both areas are next to the main bedding areas of my property with one of them on each side. Also any reccomendations on what to plant? It looks from the soil survey that the area to plant consists of "vandalia silty clay loam" and "berks channery silt loam". I have no clue what that means:dizzy: :confused: . However the area does not get too wet because it sits on a slope.

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
BH

I may add that these will not be hunting plots and that I have very limited tools to work with.

[Wildman18]

I posted this on one of the other plot threads but
ABSEED.COM: Adams - Briscoe Seed Company has (http://www.abseed.com/)

seeds that I have used and like. Its a verity of different seeds that mature at different times the div of wild georgia uses it and I know of several other people that have used them and like them. Im not a sales men. what I like is that they grow taller than the typical seed and the deer will use them and feel safe. and I have no clue why its wrighting big.



Also for the new planter its ok to plant 1/4 ac plots though out your property the bucks during rut well traval more. They will check on them though out the mornings and evening for hot does. The resason I say this is that poeple asume that these plots need to be 2 acers or bigger. Thats not the case. That is why I like that this stuff is taller. I use it along powerlines and I hunt the trailes and draws. Just thought that I WOULD PUT MY TO CENTS IN.

[benehunter]

The areas I am trying to plant are no more than 1/2 acre each and there are no crops nearby for miles. Only hay fields and cows next to my farm. However there are a lot of acorns from red and white oaks. Any ideas on what to plant? Also something that is easy and does not need a lot of maintenance.