Management question.

[muddyboots]

My best lease is 500 acres with 10 plots 1/2 to 1 acre in size. We spend lots of time and money in fall planting plots. Mixture of greens radish and corn.

Our plans are working pretty good. We have 3 members and a 120 and 2 130 inch Dee killed this year. Lots of ag land around us. We kill most deer in the acorns. If no acorns our deer sightings will b down so I was wondering if we just frost seeded all the plots in clovers and maintained them would make any difference. Better worse or no change?

It would b a lot less work. Any thoughts?

 

[Boll Weevil]

One reason I went to clover is precisely as you mentioned...time/resource requirement. Seed, lime, fertilizer, chemical, disking, and mowing for annuals just consumes too much time and money for the limited window of time they provide food. I put in Durana and while the establishment cost is higher I simply mow once a year and maybe spot spray grasses. I've got plots that are 5-6 years, going strong, and provide good food 9-10 months of the year.

 

[muddyboots]

Thanks. That's what I was wondering.

 

[MickThompson]

You have to also weigh the maintenance of perennials- mowing and selective herbicides. I wouldn't completely abandon annuals because they produce much more early on than perennials.

 

[BSK]

muddyboots,

From what I've seen, in an acorn failure year, food plots alone will not draw deer to a hardwood property if agricultural fields are nearby. Deer will stay around the cut fields to pick over spilled or missed crops and they will eat the fertilized browse around the edges.

That said, with proper maintenance, I've been able to maintain cheap crimson clover plots for years. Once the clover blooms and dies in May, mowing the plots will spread the seed and germination will be fairly rapid. Regular mowing (once a month) and twice a summer application of grass-specific herbicide can produce productive clover all but one month out of the year (the bloom and death month from mid-May to mid-June). Cereal grains and/or brassicas can be broadcast into these plots in fall to add to the attractiveness.

So far, the only thing I've seen attract deer to a hardwood environment in a poor acorn year (when agriculture is nearby) is having the best cover habitat in the area. Deer will travel considerable distances at night to feed if they can be in or near the best sanctuary cover during daylight.

 

[diamond hunter]

Time to sharpen the chainsaw,Beech trees and ironwood are my targets,since Ive expanded my beekeeping operation Im not cutting anymore poplars or black locust.Sassafrass is a problem tree here as well.