Have approx 1 acre clover plot which grows pretty well and gets hammered during summer and early fall (ground is literally brown with scat). It never fails I will get daylight pics of outstanding bucks but no more sightings into the season. Not sure if we had an earlier than normal frost this year but my deer sightings during the rut where way down which I attribute to clover becoming bitter after a frost(?). What would you guys recommend to add to provide late season attractant to my clover? Is overseeding with winter wheat or rye in early fall my safest bet??
Food plot advice
- Thread starter Bushape
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Omega
Well-Known Member
Couldn't hurt to overseed with a covercrop, but I got tired of buying clover so just spread some cheap (cheapest I could find) grass seed and ended up with some large clover all over which the deer hit pretty hard. I had the same problem though, plenty of deer during non-hunting seasons and scarce during, so I added some mineral blocks which keeps some coming back, the buck are still scarce though, seems they just use it as a summer/spring hang-out.
Legumes (clover) looses its attraction with the cool weather, as you know. Brassicas (turnips/ radishes) are not attractive until it gets cold. Ive had great luck spreading purple top turnip and Daikon radishes( aka. gorund hog or tillage radish) in my hunting plots, and wheat is just too dang cheap to not put in any winter plot.
Hunter 257W
Well-Known Member
I'm wondering if you are lacking cover around your clover plot. Or is the plot so large that the deer feel exposed when in it. Clover is so short that it doesn't hide deer at all if planted in a pure plot. I like having the outside of my plot planted in corn with clover in a relatively narrow strip in the center so that deer feel secure coming into the clover.
gobblesandgrunts
Well-Known Member
Hunter 257W":2p7b35dp said:
Good point hunter, more secure they feel, more will utilize it
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MickThompson
Well-Known Member
Add some wheat. Cool season grains stand up to the freeze better than clover will.
And I'll second the cover and add managing pressure. Save your best spots until the best time.
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And I'll second the cover and add managing pressure. Save your best spots until the best time.
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MickThompson
Well-Known Member
Deer usually don't eat corn while it's growing but they may well clean out an acre of ears before season opens.
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