Feel like a newb asking this but...

[416wbymag]

I have roughly 30 acres off airport road in Rockwood. Mostly wooded (maybe 1/2 acre field) Some oaks. Thick stuff nearby. I have soil samples out to UT as I can't seem to get much anything to grow in the field except for the native grasses, I think I need a crap load of lime. Trophy rocks in place for years.

Is there anything (other than corn) that I can do to bring the deer in more often?

 

[tickweed]

Clover. Best, cheapest. 1/2 acre isnt very big, plus needs sunlight

 

[BSK]

Drawing deer to small properties is really about providing them safety once the guns start going off. Like with real estate being "location, location, location," drawing deer during hunting season is about cover, cover, and cover. And sometimes cover.

 

[416wbymag]

Clover. Best, cheapest. 1/2 acre isnt very big, plus needs sunlight

It will germinate and get about 1/2 inch and stop. Then disappear within a few weeks.

 

[416wbymag]

Drawing deer to small properties is really about providing them safety once the guns start going off. Like with real estate being "location, location, location," drawing deer during hunting season is about cover, cover, and cover. And sometimes cover.

I make sure I'm down there every time catoosa has a hunt.

 

[DMD]

Where you are....as you said..a crap load of lime is needed. W

 

[Seabee]

I picked up a few persimmons along the roads. Maybe grab some and plant them now to grow in the spring?

 

[Popcorn]

When are you planting the clover and what variety?

Bring us the soil test results and we can help without speculation

It will germinate and get about 1/2 inch and stop. Then disappear within a few weeks.

 

[Ski]

A food plot is only as good as its security for daylight use and proximity to safe bedding cover. In my experience those criteria are far more critical than what you can grow in it.

To attract/recruit deer to be more regular on your place, you need to provide something they want but can't get anywhere else nearby. That might be any combination of food, water, and cover. If you have enough security and food then you'll inevitably have deer. To what extent is relative to how many the property can support. Each deer eats about 10lbs/day so it doesn't take long for only a handful of deer to really deplete an area quickly. That's why they're so nomadic, especially in forest areas.

 

[416wbymag]

When are you planting the clover and what variety?

Bring us the soil test results and we can help without speculation

Red and landino usually around the end of September to mid October. Usually with some winter wheat

 

[Popcorn]

Have you fertilized? With ?

 

[416wbymag]

Have you fertilized? With ?

15 15 15 - 200 lbs per year norm

 

[Apostolic Outdoors]

The water works. Put a kiddie pool or some kind of trough or something and keep it full of water. Depending on if there are other water sources nearby they will pattern to include the water in their travels. They have to have water.

 

[Popcorn]

15 15 15 - 200 lbs per year norm

Clover only needs a small amount of nitrogen to begin then it produces excess nitrogen.
Look for 6-24-24. That's about as good as it gets retail.
I bet your ph is off. But let's wait for the soil test results.
Is there sufficient soil there? Many years ago I hunted in that area and was amazed at the amount of exposed limestone. It was like walking in an old quarry in places. Trees in the cracks and all. I was also close to I40 and the amount of litter and dumping was horrible

 

[Savage]

How much sunlight does it get?

 

[416wbymag]

Clover only needs a small amount of nitrogen to begin then it produces excess nitrogen.
Look for 6-24-24. That's about as good as it gets retail.
I bet your ph is off. But let's wait for the soil test results.
Is there sufficient soil there? Many years ago I hunted in that area and was amazed at the amount of exposed limestone. It was like walking in an old quarry in places. Trees in the cracks and all. I was also close to I40 and the amount of litter and dumping was horrible

I'm 300 acres from catoosa. Dirts there, just can't get much but thin grass.

 

[double browtine]

Try the hack and squirt to every tree around the plot that isn't an oak tree. Sounds like you need more sunshine and I bet you need lime. The deer could be overgrazing it as soon as it pops up also. You should put a trail cam on the plot on time lapse mode. If it's only getting a couple hours of direct sunlight then that is probably your issue.

 

[BigAl]

All good advice. Plant some Dunstan chestnut trees.

 

[Dr2kill]

Elbon Rye, grows anywhere, can usually get it through Co-op around $30 for 50lb. My place in Crossville I've grown this for a couple of years, small plots, deer are all over it.

 

[knightrider]

This

 

[348Winchester]

Lime the hell out of it. You really can't overdo it. 1 ton per acre is a good rule of thumb. Lime is more important than fertilizer.

Seed it heavily with cereal rye as soon as possible.

This winter do like others have said and cut trees that are casting shadows around thye edge of your plot. They are also sucking moisture away from your plot.

Cover is king as others have pointed out above. Do some hinge cutting and flush cutting of several small 1/4 acre areas to thicken up the place if needs be.