Food Plots Food plot options for summer

[lpo1981]

I have approximately 2 acres that I'm going to plant in a food plot. What is the best plot I can plant for both summer and winter both. Or I'm open to planting one and then discount and planting for fall. Any help would be great.. Thanks

 

[Hunter 257W]

Here is my what I consider the very best Spring/Summer deer mix.

http://pennington.com/pc-_16-pd-_82

It's the same thing as Whitetail Institute's "Power Plant" except that it costs about 40+% less. What makes it stand out is that not only does it give deer a lot of high protein feed but it grows 6 feet tall so that they can stand in it and eat without being seen. If the deer feel secure eating your plots, they will eat more of the high protein feed and less wild stuff which contains less protein. Also this height makes the plots much better for early season hunting as the deer won't spook away from the area nearly so fast as they do other knee high plantings. Every plot that I've planted of this mix ends up being used for bedding. The only negative is that the 1st frost will kill it. For that reason I like to mix in some corn so that there is something for them to eat after frost.

 

[jmb4wd]

I'm my opinion one of the best options outside of planting corn is a mixture of IronClay peas and buckwheat.

You have very little weed competition as the buckwheat shades it out and this combo produces a bunch of green leafy forage. We even added in some forage soybeans as well.

It will dry down late summer or early fall for you to put in a fall plot and you don't feel bad about discing it under. It actually adds a lot of organic matter back to soil.

I've done the power plant thing before and it was an expensive weed patch as no herbicide can be used on it.


If your set on powerplant, by all means nix your on at the local feed store and use those savings on fertilizer and lime.

 

[jmb4wd]

Here's a couple of pictures of the mix o mentioned from last summer.

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[tellico4x4]

I'm my opinion one of the best options outside of planting corn is a mixture of IronClay peas and buckwheat.

What was the deer density like where that plot is planted? Looks like they haven't even browsed it...I've got 2-3 newer plots that thinking about doing the same.

 

[jmb4wd]

I'm my opinion one of the best options outside of planting corn is a mixture of IronClay peas and buckwheat.

What was the deer density like where that plot is planted? Looks like they haven't even browsed it...I've got 2-3 newer plots that thinking about doing the same.

I'm not real sure tellico. This is in lewis county southern middle tn. Not many row crops in the area.

There was some browse here although not very visible. I came back a month later to mainly stems.

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[Hunter 257W]

I'm my opinion one of the best options outside of planting corn is a mixture of IronClay peas and buckwheat.

You have very little weed competition as the buckwheat shades it out and this combo produces a bunch of green leafy forage. We even added in some forage soybeans as well.

It will dry down late summer or early fall for you to put in a fall plot and you don't feel bad about discing it under. It actually adds a lot of organic matter back to soil.

I've done the power plant thing before and it was an expensive weed patch as no herbicide can be used on it.


If your set on powerplant, by all means nix your on at the local feed store and use those savings on fertilizer and lime.

The "PowerPlant" clone I mentioned contains both Buckwheat and Iron Clay Cowpeas along with a Vine Soybean and a little Sorghum and SunFlowers. Not sure why it wouldn't be at least as good as the pure Buckwheat/Pea mix you suggested. My experience with it has been that it grows so fast and thick that it overwhelms most weeds in a little while. Even if some weeds survive in it, deer will eat and benefit from weeds a lot more than most food plotters want to believe. There's not much to be gained as far as deer nutrition between a perfectly clean food plot and a plot with a reasonable amount of weeds mixed in.

The main thing I like about this mix is the sheer amount of feed it produces. You'd have to have a ton of deer to even make a dent in it. I usually plant plots from 1 to 3 acres in various places around the farm and while you can see signs of leaves that have been bitten off everywhere, they absolutely can't make a dent in the overall growth.

I think the real Powerplant from Whitetail Institute has dropped Buckwheat from the mix. Regardless, they charge so much for it compared to Pennington that I don't consider WI anymore for this particular planting.

 

[tellico4x4]

Looks like a good mix as well - thanks

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Putnam Farmers Coop sells a Powerplant like mix for much cheaper than the Powerplant version, they mix it themselves. Very good Spring/Summer mix.

 

[BigGameGuy]

If the deer feel secure eating your plots, they will eat more of the high protein feed and less wild stuff which contains less protein.

This is actually a misconception that was probably the product of false advertising by seed companies. There have been numerous studies conducted that shows pound for pound that native plants are equal to, if not better than, most agricultural crops in fat and protein content.

 

[Hunter 257W]

If the deer feel secure eating your plots, they will eat more of the high protein feed and less wild stuff which contains less protein.

This is actually a misconception that was probably the product of false advertising by seed companies. There have been numerous studies conducted that shows pound for pound that native plants are equal to, if not better than, most agricultural crops in fat and protein content.

Interesting - I've never heard this before. Is that true for actual natural vegetation that hasn't been limed or fertilized? Hard to believe. I can't keep from believing they are comparing the very best wild plants to some true agricultural crops rather than plants developed specifically for deer. Where can we read some of these studies?

 

[pass-thru]

If the deer feel secure eating your plots, they will eat more of the high protein feed and less wild stuff which contains less protein.

This is actually a misconception that was probably the product of false advertising by seed companies. There have been numerous studies conducted that shows pound for pound that native plants are equal to, if not better than, most agricultural crops in fat and protein content.

You have made a couple of blanket statements here, and I don't see how they are relevant to discussion regarding specific crops. Certainly not all wild browse is equal. And certainly not all food plot seeds have the same properties, nor are they all designed to be high protein. But it would seem awefully foolish to indicate that wild browse generally has a high protein content similar to a good alfalfa or clover, and if there is some data to the contrary it would be nice to provide a link so we can review that data ourselves.

 

[Quailman]

If the deer feel secure eating your plots, they will eat more of the high protein feed and less wild stuff which contains less protein.

This is actually a misconception that was probably the product of false advertising by seed companies. There have been numerous studies conducted that shows pound for pound that native plants are equal to, if not better than, most agricultural crops in fat and protein content.

You have made a couple of blanket statements here, and I don't see how they are relevant to discussion regarding specific crops. Certainly not all wild browse is equal. And certainly not all food plot seeds have the same properties, nor are they all designed to be high protein. But it would seem awefully foolish to indicate that wild browse generally has a high protein content similar to a good alfalfa or clover, and if there is some data to the contrary it would be nice to provide a link so we can review that data ourselves.

Pass-thru, there is tons of data collected right here in TN that provides proof that many native plants provide nutrition that rivals anything planted for a food plot. When I have time, I will post this information. Most of the studies in TN were conducted by Dr. Craig Harper at U.T. Craig is a good friend of mine and we have discussed as well as presented this topic numerous times over the years.

For example, some of the more preferred native plants are:
Common Ragweed - crude protein 18-22%
Pokeweed - crude protein 30+%
Beggarweed - 16-18%
Prickly Lettuce - 24%
Three-seeded mercury 18-20%

The list goes on and on. Also, the TDN (total digestible nutrients) is very high on these plants, meaning they are easily digestible and nutrients are readily available to the animal eating these plants.

 

[pass-thru]

Quailman, it doesn't matter if there are some wilf forbs that are high in protein. Deer don't go through the woods picking out the very highest protein species and browsing only those. They eat all kinds of stuff. And a lot of it is not high protein. When they are in the middle of an high protein food plot, what do you think they are eating?

 

[Quailman]

Quailman, it doesn't matter if there are some wilf forbs that are high in protein. Deer don't go through the woods picking out the very highest protein species and browsing only those. They eat all kinds of stuff. And a lot of it is not high protein. When they are in the middle of an high protein food plot, what do you think they are eating?

Pass-thru, I think you completely overlooked the fact that the plants I mentioned are PREFERRED species, meaning deeer actively seek out these plants for consumption. It just so happens that they are highly nutritious. Also, you won't find these plants in the woods unless the timber has been aggressively harvested.

When they are in the middle of an high protein food plot, what do you think they are eating?

When they are standing in the middle of an idle field that has been correctly managed for native vegetation (disking, burning), they are eating plants that are high in protein and high in preference. And guess what? That idle field only cost me about $15/acre to establish, with no cost for seed or fertilizer.

There is nothing wrong with planting food plots and I plant them on my own farms every year. However, food plots should only be there to supplement your native vegetation, which is what deer predominantly eat during the year.

 

[Boll Weevil]

This has been a good discussion; especially the native vegetation dialogue. Totally agree with plots being supplemental rather than the base or core of a nutrition plan.

I invest way more effort on improving native vegetation than maintaining plots these days and a lot of it can be done from the seat of a tractor. I also burn a little every year. Cost/acre for this work is minimal so bang-for-the-buck is high. As well, the volume/scale of good food is far more than what I can otherwise achieve.

A little over 11% of the farm is in well-established perennial clover that requires hardly any maintenance at all with part of my goal being to help bridge the gap in growing seasons until things green up and row-cropping begins.

 

[Quailman]

with part of my goal being to help bridge the gap in growing seasons until things green up and row-cropping begins.

Great point! This is exactly what I recommend to landowners and also what I try to key in on my own farms. I look for "gaps" during the year when available nutrition is at it's lowest, and this is when I feel food plots can provide the most benefit.

 

[TheLBLman]

If the deer feel secure eating your plots, they will eat more of the high protein feed and less wild stuff which contains less protein.

This is actually a misconception that was probably the product of false advertising by seed companies.

You have made a couple of blanket statements here, and I don't see how they are relevant to discussion regarding specific crops. . . . . . .

Pass-thru, there is tons of data collected right here in TN that provides proof that many native plants provide nutrition that rivals anything planted for a food plot. . . . . .
For example, some of the more preferred native plants are:
Common Ragweed - crude protein 18-22%
Pokeweed - crude protein 30+%
. . . . . . The list goes on and on. Also, the TDN (total digestible nutrients) is very high on these plants, meaning they are easily digestible and nutrients are readily available to the animal eating these plants.

Quailman has hit all the nails on their heads and speaks the truth (same for BGG).

I've many times observed deer totally ignore my lush clover plots only to pick out and consume the native ragweed, growing in and around my lush clover. Now, I'm sure if that native ragweed (or some other native forb high in protein) was NOT available, my clover would be much more attractive.

But I will make a "blanket" statement:

Perhaps the best and most economical method of creating better nutrition for your local deer herd is to simply allow more sunlight to hit the ground. Better yet if you can "disturb" the soil so that more native plant seed lying dormant may sprout; better yet if you can mow lots of acreage at least once annually; and often even better yet if you can add some lime.

I'm saying this in the context that most food plot addicts tend to have only a tiny percentage of their available acreage in cultivated food plots, with their limiting factors often being money and time to do more. Say you have 2 acres on a 100-acre area in cultivated food plots. Would it be better to have 20 acres of "more native" food-plot-type areas, created mainly by mowing, disturbing the soil (such as by light discing)? Sometimes it can be more feasible to have 20 acres of more "native" plots instead of 2 acres of very expensive cultivated plots.

I think that our cultivated food plots often work well simply because we're not addressing creating the greater availability of more native food sources. If I have a 2-acre cultivated food plot surrounded by 200 acres of mature hardwoods, that little food plot should get hammered. But I could create a lot more year-round deer food by simply clear-cutting 20 acres of those hardwoods, then doing some rotational mowing in the clear-cut areas in the subsequent years.

Another point that is often overlooked: The vastness of availability. We can have more better nutrition available to more deer simply by having it more available over larger areas. And related to this is "security", particular during hunting season, as the older deer will prefer greater security over more palatable food sources.

This past deer season, despite my belief that deer prefer lush clover, oats, and wheat over honeysuckle, most of the deer seemed perfectly content consuming honeysuckle during the daylight hours of deer season. I had never before seen so much honeysuckle, and the deer sure took advantage of it. Will also add those deer did hammer our food plots, too, but mainly at night. I suspect we would have killed a lot more older bucks had we had no cultivated food plots at all.

There are many ways to skin a cat, not just those "advertised".

 

[TheLBLman]

I look for "gaps" during the year when available nutrition is at it's lowest, and this is when I feel food plots can provide the most benefit.

These are neither spring nor summer for me.

My biggest gap may be late winter, probably the month of January, and into early February. But my deer don't go hungry, just may not have their most nutritious food sources in late January.

More and more I've favoring more brassicas in the cultivated fall plots, since they can sometimes retain more forage mass into January. At the same time, a 2-acre plot (big for mine) doesn't seem to really compete that well with a bordering 20-acre 2-yr-old clear-cut chock full of young greenbiar and young honeysuckle.

Depending on summer rainfall, there can be a nutritional gap in late summer, typically right before the first acorns begin to fall. This certainly wasn't the case last year, but have seen years of summer drought when deer had relatively little to eat in late summer. But again, many native plants are more drought-tolerant than most things we might plant in a cultivated plot.

I am experimenting with some things I can plant during the summer (both in my plots AND mowed areas) that can help bridge this potential gap. Am starting to like milo, since it requires little ground prep, can be top-sowed, and I can plant it right after turkey season in late May and thru June. Cheap and efficient, yet can provide a good forage food in late summer.

 

[Football Hunter]

If the deer feel secure eating your plots, they will eat more of the high protein feed and less wild stuff which contains less protein.

This is actually a misconception that was probably the product of false advertising by seed companies. There have been numerous studies conducted that shows pound for pound that native plants are equal to, if not better than, most agricultural crops in fat and protein content.

You have made a couple of blanket statements here, and I don't see how they are relevant to discussion regarding specific crops. Certainly not all wild browse is equal. And certainly not all food plot seeds have the same properties, nor are they all designed to be high protein. But it would seem awefully foolish to indicate that wild browse generally has a high protein content similar to a good alfalfa or clover, and if there is some data to the contrary it would be nice to provide a link so we can review that data ourselves.

Pass-thru, there is tons of data collected right here in TN that provides proof that many native plants provide nutrition that rivals anything planted for a food plot. When I have time, I will post this information. Most of the studies in TN were conducted by Dr. Craig Harper at U.T. Craig is a good friend of mine and we have discussed as well as presented this topic numerous times over the years.

For example, some of the more preferred native plants are:
Common Ragweed - crude protein 18-22%
Pokeweed - crude protein 30+%
Beggarweed - 16-18%
Prickly Lettuce - 24%
Three-seeded mercury 18-20%

The list goes on and on. Also, the TDN (total digestible nutrients) is very high on these plants, meaning they are easily digestible and nutrients are readily available to the animal eating these plants.

I agree,but I seem to get a lot more grasses and undesireable weeds,mint,fireweed,etc,than the good stuff.

 

[huntingfool]

Good timing, I was looking into buying some powerplant very soon. Is there a place in Davidson or Rutherford county to buy a cheaper mix?

 

[Farm manager]

I agree with Quailman that deer can thrive on native plants and have seen firsthand where deer will find an area where they feel comfortable and make a good living off tender young blackberry leaves, smilax (greenbrier), and other herbs and forbs not to mention all the buds and stems they browse. Always keep in mind that deer are browsers (weed eaters) more so than grazers, standing in one place, eating till they are full, out in the open, is not the nature of a deer. Disturbances of the soil at the right time of the year can generate a lot of great deer groceries as can clear cuts and burning.

 

[BSK]

Quailman, it doesn't matter if there are some wilf forbs that are high in protein. Deer don't go through the woods picking out the very highest protein species and browsing only those. They eat all kinds of stuff. And a lot of it is not high protein. When they are in the middle of an high protein food plot, what do you think they are eating?

pass-thru,

Actually, there is considerable research indicating deer do have the ability to seek out and choose to eat those plants highest in nutrition and digestibility. How they do this is unknown (perhaps smell), by studies of deer feeding habitats (observers watching what plants deer are choosing to eat) strongly indicate deer are choosing plants by their nutritional benefits and digestibility.

 

[BSK]

If the deer feel secure eating your plots, they will eat more of the high protein feed and less wild stuff which contains less protein.

This is actually a misconception that was probably the product of false advertising by seed companies. There have been numerous studies conducted that shows pound for pound that native plants are equal to, if not better than, most agricultural crops in fat and protein content.

In addition to the high nutritional content of native plants, several studies have indicated that outside of major agricultural areas (where little else but crops exist), agriculture plants never make up the majority of a deer's diet. In essence, even when deer have access to large volumes of agricultural plant material, most of their diet is still weeds and browse.

 

[pass-thru]

Quailman, it doesn't matter if there are some wilf forbs that are high in protein. Deer don't go through the woods picking out the very highest protein species and browsing only those. They eat all kinds of stuff. And a lot of it is not high protein. When they are in the middle of an high protein food plot, what do you think they are eating?

pass-thru,

Actually, there is considerable research indicating deer do have the ability to seek out and choose to eat those plants highest in nutrition and digestibility. How they do this is unknown (perhaps smell), by studies of deer feeding habitats (observers watching what plants deer are choosing to eat) strongly indicate deer are choosing plants by their nutritional benefits and digestibility.

That's probably why they're always clustered in my foodplots mowing them down

 

[BSK]

Quailman, it doesn't matter if there are some wilf forbs that are high in protein. Deer don't go through the woods picking out the very highest protein species and browsing only those. They eat all kinds of stuff. And a lot of it is not high protein. When they are in the middle of an high protein food plot, what do you think they are eating?

pass-thru,

Actually, there is considerable research indicating deer do have the ability to seek out and choose to eat those plants highest in nutrition and digestibility. How they do this is unknown (perhaps smell), by studies of deer feeding habitats (observers watching what plants deer are choosing to eat) strongly indicate deer are choosing plants by their nutritional benefits and digestibility.

That's probably why they're always clustered in my foodplots mowing them down

If that's the best food available, they will seek it out. However, what I often find is that properties where habitat improvements have been implemented see far less usage of their food plots, even when the food plots previous experienced extensive use. WHEN AVAILABLE summer forbs are generally deers' top choice. Unfortunately, summer forbs are only available during about 5-6 months out of the year. And it is the other 6-7 months where food plots can be very helpful (depending upon acreage).