Food Plots Food plot ponderings?

[PalsPal]

I have a couple of fields that we have planted plots the past 3-4 years, and I'm always tinkering with the best way to lay them out.

One field is shaped like a capital "L" and is probably 4 acres or so total.

The other is a standard squarish shape, and is also probably 4-5 acres.

Do you normally plant the entire plot all the way to the edge of woods or do you leave a buffer of field grass between the woods and the edge of the plot? My thought on the buffer was to hopefully get them further into the field before too dark.

Also, we have tinkered with 2-3 smaller plots of different things in each field. Would we be better served to do the whole field in the same thing?

Opinions?

 

[PickettSFHunter]

If I have a decent size field like that, I prefer leaving borders or doing strips.


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[foodplot]

If I have a decent size field like that, I prefer leaving borders or doing strips.


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i agree with the borders and strips... also i think you are better off doing a variety of plantings.....

 

[Hunter 257W]

My preferred layout, but one that I rarely actually get to put into practice for a variety of reasons, is to plant the outer 2/3 of the field in corn or WI Alfa Rack both of which are tall enough to hide deer and make them feel secure. The I put something like No Plow, clover or Winter Greens in the middle 1/3. Having the taller growth around the edges tends to make deer more likely to use the entire field. I also do this to make my food plot harder to hunt for anybody who slips in when I'm not there. I rarely hunt the actual plot anyhow but prefer to sit in the woods trying to ambush deer as they make their way to the plot.

 

[Grnwing]

I have changed my plots to have a more "S" shape design and narrowed it with tall over grown fields on either side and woods 200yds from the plot edge. I have it planted with Eagle soybeans and when they dry will over seed with wheat and winter peas. I read and seen that the deer will enter and use the more protected plot a lot more in the daylight versus an open field, square shape plot.