Food Plots Need help with food plot location

[double browtine]

I am fixing to buy a house with 50 acres almost all wooded except for around the house. It has a creek with about 10 acres of creek bottom and two draws and 3 ridges that all run perpendicular to the creek. Where would be the best location to clear 2-3 acres for a food plot? I walked it with the owner and saw his stand locations. He has killed deer on both high ground and creek bottom areas. There are no ag farms within 2 miles. All the farmers have cattle and cut hay. The woods funnel the deer right through the property. Any suggestions? I have access to a backhoe and a d3 dozier. Property also has 3 old loggingroads the owner has kept maintained for access.

 

[spoon]

If it was me, I would clear out a spot for 3-4 acre row crop field. Also clear out couple if 1/2-1 acre spots in top of the ridges. The soil on the ridge tops normally aren't very good, so you will have to worked them pretty good. Would look into having some chicken poop delivered for the ridges.

 

[double browtine]

We have chickens so I will make sure and save the poo we save when we clean the roost house. So some corn and beans in creek bottom and maybe some clover on the ridges. That's what I will try first. I figure lots of lime after the soil tests. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Hunter 257W]

Try to keep the plots away from your land boundaries if possible so that neighbors can't hunt directly beside your spots. Since you are working with wooded property, most any spot you choose, you are going to be dealing with less than full sun on your crop much of the day. I've found that a long plot because it will get more sun. The worst Fall/Winter luck I've had is with plots on the North side of tall trees. other than that, I can't really say much about your specific property without seeing it.

 

[double browtine]

Try to keep the plots away from your land boundaries if possible so that neighbors can't hunt directly beside your spots. Since you are working with wooded property, most any spot you choose, you are going to be dealing with less than full sun on your crop much of the day. I've found that a long plot because it will get more sun. The worst Fall/Winter luck I've had is with plots on the North side of tall trees. other than that, I can't really say much about your specific property without seeing it.

Good info. The creek runs from east to west so I plan to clear my plot in the creek bottom about 100 yards wide and 200 yards long. That should give be about a 4 acre clearing and hopefully I can get about a 3 acre plot to grow there. I sure it will take my father in law a while to knock down the trees and dig up al the stumps. Then we can use the dozier to smooth it out and I think he has a ripper plow he can pull behind it to help loosen the ground and remove some tree roots. Im sure it will take a coupe years to get it all done up right like I want it.