Food Plots First food Plot. Need step by step

jard · Jan 9, 2014

Have a lease near lewisburg thats about 100 acres and touches the duck river. Its almost all hardwoods with 3 fields/openings that were created by the owner that are all give or take an acre apiece. They were created by dozing down all of the thicket and trees but this happened years and years ago. At one time they were planted with clover but over the last 5 ish years have just let to sit and grow whatever weeds and mowed prolly once a year. I've hunted this place for the last two seasons without the ability to do anything. It is a pass through spot as there is nothing here besides acorns for deer to eat. I want to plant all 3 fields this year. I can get equipment to 2 easily and the 3rd with some effort. I"VE NEVER DONE ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. Someone be kind enough to give me a step by step breakdown. Mow, lime, seed, disc, when, books to read?? Also, the soil is not great in most places, fairly rocky and shallow, and the fields all drain well and are elevated around them and hard bordered by thick areas.

Blessings,
Justin

tellico4x4 · Jan 10, 2014

Get QDMA's book and you'll be off & running.

http://www.qdma.com/shop/quality-food-p ... er-hunting

redblood · Jan 12, 2014

do u have equiptment?

348Winchester · Jan 19, 2014

This is what I do with new plots. First, get a soil test. They are inexpensive and give you much needed information. In the beginning 2-3 years of a plot, lime is vastly more important than fertilizer. Lime, lime, lime! It's nearly impossible to over-lime.
In new plots with poor soils, winter grain rye will be your best choice for a deer forage. You can mix in some crimson clover and Essex rape for good measure. The grain rye will provide much organic matter which will help build the soil over time. Come late winter (early-middle March) frost seed some red clover into the plot. Frost seeding is simply directly sowing the seed without using any equipment. The freeze/thaw process of nature will work the seed into the soil very well.
In late May mow the plots. The rye will be really tall and this is where its decay will aid in building up your soil. The clovers will fill in nicely. At this point, if you wish, you can broadcast buckwheat heavily into the plot. If you do this right before a rain, it will germinate and grow well. Deer like to browse buckwheat and the red clover. Your plots will be used by deer throughout the summer! In early to mid-September, disk the plot THOROUGHLY. This will work all the plants into the soil as green manure. At this time, re-seed with your rye, rape, crimson clover mixture and fertilizer/LIME.
With this method, you will have a very nice plot that is attractive to and used by deer almost year round. The only dead time will be in late September while your fall plot takes root.