Addicted to Food Plotting!

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woodsandwater

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 9, 2008
Messages
103
City & State/Province
Sumner Co., Tennessee
I don't know about anyone else, but I think I have become addicted to deer management! I spend more time thinking about, planning, and buying things for food plots than I do actually hunting. I don't think there is a better feeling when it comes to wildlife management than to see deer/turkey piling into your plot and eating it to the nubs!!!!! It is only February and I have bought all my seed and fertilize for next fall. I am just waiting for warm weather to plant buckwheat for the 1st time and get some more dozer work done on the farm!
 
I'm certainly addicted to deer management, but honestly, I'm burned out on food plots. I've given about 20 too many talks on the subject. That's why you rarely see me comment on a food plot threads in this Forum. I've answered the question "What should I plant in my food plot?" way too many times.

The last couple of years, I can honestly say I'm addicted to trail-cameras. Now there's a topic I can talk forever about! For the small-land manager, they are the greatest tool ever invented.
 
In your boat BSK. I burned myself out on food plots a couple of years ago and now my passion is trail cameras and forestry projects.
 
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I am addicted to them as well BSK....I am like a kid at the candy store everytime I go to check them...and this is the 4th year I have been doing it.

I though, am also addicted to food plots. I think and think and think about what I am going to plant in all of our plots and I cant get it out of my mind. Then once it's in the ground, I find myself checking them every week and taking "pictures of progress".....I cant help it.
 
Kind of feel like BSK on that. Never gave any talks on the subject, but have been messing with food plots for over 20 years. When I first started out I planted mainly wheat, oats and rye for a winter plot and corn and beans for a summer plot. I tried perennials a few times but never had much luck with them because of summer droughts, or grass, weed problems. I also tried most of the latest and greatest things to come out then then went back to something simple and cheap. A fertilized weed field, or iron clay pea plot in the summer and wheat/oats plot in the winter. I have probably put more money into planting fruit and nut trees than anything else. Oh yeah, CORN. Lots and lots of corn :+)

Also have 6 trail cams, usually keep a few out most of the year.
 
I just like fooling around on my land and working. I have a personal day I was suppose to take this Friday to meet a buddy and do some serious chainsawing/trail clearing, but looks like rain is going to wash that out :(.

I might make it there Saturday. Ive had a camera out for about a month and am dying to check it and need to get with my dozer man to plan for some work when things dry out. I'm just in my second year, but really havent had a bad day at the land yet.
 
I with you Woodsandwater. I am hooked on food plotting, planting trees, creating mini clear cuts etc. I definitely spend more time doing these things than I do hunting. I'm always looking for more and new ways.

I also like the trail cameras. It's like Christmas morning everytime I open the pics. But my cameras don't bring the level of satisfaction that my food plots do because they don't help the wildlife out. There is something almost religious when I take an animal that I know I provided for for his or her entire life. I know that probably sounds weird. I know my wife doesn't quite understand it.

Anyway, food plots, cameras, whatever...I'm looking for reasons to be on the "LAND".
 
I guess I've moved beyond what my food plots can do. I now realize I'm doing far more good for the wildlife with other habitat manipulations than I'm doing with my few food plots.

Now if I had a "big time" food plot program, I might feel differently, but at only 1% of my property in food plots (and no heavy equipment to work them, limiting what I can plant/grow) ,my food plots are more "attractors" than "feeders."
 
I like every aspect of deer management. And to be honest,.. i don't know why. I just do!!

I like helping and offering advice to folks with their management programs also. If i can prevent someone from making some of the mistakes i did early on ,.. i feel i've done my part to help the wildlife in that area and help keep them interested in progressing for their goals.
 
Yep, i love food plots on our lease but i have learned to keep it simple in wayne county. Wheat seems to be the most prolific grower and i blend clover for its benefits of stowing the nitrogen and the deer love it on each field but i stay away from any planting much at all in the spring cause the heat of the summer kills it any way and it is too expensive. We plant close to 30 to 35 fields and it just costs too much. We spend around 2000 dollars to do it right with liming,seed fertilizer and equipment. This is the bottom end as we could easily use another 1000 bucks but it is too costly with nitrogen prices driving up the costs of fertilizer. I love it but i have to be realistic.
 
We lease so we are limited in effecting change to timber, but i do love knowing we are helping the overall health of the herd.
 
I am addicted. I did only shot at one doe this past year. I had pictures of 3 bucks that 2.5-3.5 yr. that I did not want to shoot so I did not hunt as much because I did not want to have to decide to shoot or not shoot.
The most fun I had was when I found about 25 persimons trees about 20 feet tall in a thicket. I went in and cut down all the other trees and marked the ones that had persimons on them. I limed them and planning on fertizing in a week or two.
 
rowland said:
I am addicted. I did only shot at one doe this past year. I had pictures of 3 bucks that 2.5-3.5 yr. that I did not want to shoot so I did not hunt as much because I did not want to have to decide to shoot or not shoot.
The most fun I had was when I found about 25 persimons trees about 20 feet tall in a thicket. I went in and cut down all the other trees and marked the ones that had persimons on them. I limed them and planning on fertizing in a week or two.
Click to expand...
good idea
 

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