what's best food plot seed??

[steve1983]

hey everyone,

just want some opinions on food plot seed's and what everyone like's best!!!:)

[Big H]

What do you want the plot for, for nutrition, or to hunt over?

[steve1983]

a little of both!

[Buckmaster]

both. i like whitetail institute imperial clover for the long run. this year i tried their winergreens and nothing but great success thus far. i can smell a cabbage field from 100 yards downwind, imaging what a deer can smell? good stuff.

[steve1983]

that sounds like it might work pretty good!! how much does that cost a bag?? and how many acre's per bag??

[Big H]

both. i like whitetail institute imperial clover for the long run. this year i tried their winergreens and nothing but great success thus far. i can smell a cabbage field from 100 yards downwind, imaging what a deer can smell? good stuff.


Buckmaster, we have used WI Products for quite a few years, and after some recent tests, side by side, I am not sure that they are worth the extra money. I had GREAT success one year with Power Plant, and the next year, we must have gotten bad seed, since we weren't the only ones that had horrible growth. We have used WI clover, but have actually had better luck with Alpha Rack. We still have a couple of plots in AlphaRack. Their productts, are good, but IMHO, overpriced. I have been using Buck Forage Oats for about 5 years now, both as a stand alone plot, and as a cover crop for fall clover plantings. This year we decided to try a new Forage Oat from Merit seed, it was developed in Iowa or something, and is supposed to be hardier, and stay green longer, in colder climates. It is growing very well right now. We have had GREAT success for the last 3 years, with an Evolved Habitat Blend called Pro Graze. The deer absolutely can't leave it alone. We have used Biologic's Clover Plus, and also Full Draw, and they both have done well. We have several different blends from Merit seed in the ground now, and they are all doing well. We are trying their brassica blend right next to the Pro Graze, and right now you can't tell the difference in growth. We will find out which blend the deer like after we get the first hard frost. They have a couple of wildlife blends that we are trying, that are growing well. I am trying one called Buck Draw, that I am really liking the looks of. The guys at Merit assured me that their seed will always be fresh.

There is another member here that also has some of it in the ground, but I will let him speak of his success for himself.

[buckster]

Steve ,as Big H was saying I also have a lot of seed in the ground from merit seeds.I have the buck draw, the turnups and also the forage oats, this year.
I planted the Buck Draw the last week in july,I still cant post pictures but will email them to Big H he can post them.By the way I live about 5 min from merit seeds.
I also have thier 12 point Buck thats has ben thier for 3 yrs.

[Big H]

Here you go Buckster. I am pretty sure this is a plot of Buck Draw?

[buckster]

Thanks Big H
Yes that is buck draw, thier were deer bedded in it last week. It is like 5' tall

[Big H]

Here is another pic of the Buck Draw from buckster. I am considering planting it on a bigger scale next year myself.

[TheCream]

I'll chip in and say that Tecomate seed has worked real well for us so far. We planted about 3 1/2 weeks ago with chicory in one section and Ultra Forage brassicas in the other. Even with less than perfect rainfall, our chicory is around 6" high and the Ultra Forage is averaging around 15" high.

[Bawana]

I've tried a lot of different mixes over the years. As long as you soil test, fertilize and lime as needed they all do a good job. I tried Plotspike oats this year, looks great, but the deer are walking by it to eat the clover from my local Agland that I planted last year. I have planted some Merit seeds(clover and Appin brassica) this year, so far it looks good. The weather hasn't been cooperating much, really need some fall rains for things to take off. I used the Pro graze, looked great and right after the first frost the deer hammered it, but if you weren't sitting on the plot the first few days after the frost it was gone. My best plot has probably been Biologic's Full Draw. The deer use it all year. They will be digging the turnips out of the ground into Jan and Feb.
Next year I'm going to try mixing some of my own. I don't know if I can buy Merit's brassicas and other seeds by the pound or not. I've found a company in Iowa that does, Welter Seed. So one way or the other I'm going to experiment with mixes:yikes:

[BUCKMASTER76]

hey everyone,

just want some opinions on food plot seed's and what everyone like's best!!!:)
SOY BEAN THEY PRODUCE BIG BUCKS. AND THEY LOVE IT.

[epe]

where do you guys order from merit seeds at? Do you plant any of them in the spring?

[Big H]

where do you guys order from merit seeds at? Do you plant any of them in the spring?

Merit Seeds is located in Berlin,Ohio. I have NOT planted any of their stuff in the spring. We plan to this upcoming spring though. I talked to the guys down there and requested a spring blend of a forage soybean, which if they get it made up, I will plant it next spring, and then till it in mid August and plant their brassica blend again for the fall. The Buck Draw blend that buckster and I have in the ground now, is also a blend that can be planted in the springtime. We have had better luck planting our clover blends in the fall, utilizing a cover crop of a forage oat, since it seems to give the root system of the clover a chance to get established before the deer work it over.

[10Gauge]

My recommendation is to plant a blend of clover, chickory, oats and turnips in late summer (August) for a winter hunting plot. Deer will typically walk over oats and turnips until everything green is gone (Dec/Jan). The clover will come on strong in the spring and create a good plot for late spring into the dry summer for the deer.

We don't plant any commercial "blends" or seeds any longer, they cost way too much when planting larger acreage. In the past we have used Whittail Institute, Heartland, Bio-Logic, Tecomate, Pennington....you name it we have planted it at one time! We now go to the local feed mill and buy our seed in bulk and blend our own. Soybeans and corn can be added to your blends in small amounts and a chuffa, cover, oats plot makes a great turkey hunting field, too. If you have a lot of acreage or a lot of small plots mix up your plantings and see what the deer see to like best! Our hunt club members were amazed by the pressure the deer put on our foodplots all year long. Most of our hunters thought the deer had plenty of food in the hardwoods to last all year long, but the deer quickly learn where the "ice cream" is and if you plant high protein plants in your blends the deer are much healthier to boot!

[Dissident]

Anyone tried the Cabela's brand seeds ?

[fork horn]

Hi,

I don't claim to know everything but.. I do set up hunitng properties for a living.. and I have planted thousands of food plots. I started planting them when I was 12 years old.. and yes I do have pictures.lol. I have used just about every thing out there and have had good results one time or another with all of them.. now that said.

I like Plot Spike seeds and I have good results with it from Iowa to Ohio from the UP of Michigan to Kentucky. I have used it for a long time and planted it side by side most every seed out there.. it holds its own every time. They (Plot Spike) has 7 blends. But what Ilike the best is you will not find this quality of seed anywhere at a better price. You can buy a 20lb bag of their clover blend for $49.00 thats $2.50 a pound.. and you get 20 pounds of seed there is no coating on their seed.. Inoculint is cheep put it on your self..!! (do a google search you'll find it..) I run their northern test facility up here in Michigan. I have planted it next to every thing out there.. give it a try you will be happy.. stop by my land manamgement booth in Columbus @ the deer & turkey expo we can talk in person.

I hope this helps a little ;)