Any of you do deer food plots? Can you tell me about them

JOCCO · Dec 2, 2019

I live in an area with low deer numbers to start with. Some people do food plots but not to many. Guess what I am wondering is what to plant and how. I have two places I want to do next year, they have little use other than part of timberland I own. I dabbled with a few things years back but very small scale. I am pretty used to planting hay, including liming and fertilizing. Corn, grain and such is not to big close to me. So fire away

tmillersells · Dec 2, 2019

Too much to write but feel free to call me Terry 715 559 4337 and I can give you a tutorial on FP's

jm. · Dec 2, 2019

About like Terry been doing it for forty + years and know what works where,and when to plant, Send me a e mail with you phone number and I will call you.

504 · Dec 2, 2019

Try your state conservation site. I know MO has links to food plots.

Moonlite37 · Dec 2, 2019

Soybeans, I lost several hundred bushels to deer

old · Dec 2, 2019

I've done food plots on and off for decades now. Before for $$ got so tight here in Missouri the conservation dept would give out seed for food plots. Common seed was Milo and sunflower and Lepadize clover. I've also done winter wheat in the fall and sweet corn in the spring

Briar Hill Brittanys · Dec 2, 2019

For me, cereal rye and turnips is the magic. The rye will provide browse throughout the winter, the turnips if planted in late September, eary October will provide food for them through the Christmas timeline. They eat the tops early, the turnips mature later, and provide for them after the frosts. The rye also will keep weeds from coming up the next spring. Rye also provides good early season food in the pre-spring period. HTH.

GordoSD · Dec 2, 2019

What state?

Ultradog MN · Dec 2, 2019

I've been planting food plots for about 10 years now. There are no farms or crops raised within at least 5 miles of where I hunt except there is one small hayfield about a mile from me.
I have written about this before that here in MN only about 37% of deer tags are filled each year. Since I started plotting we are averaging closer to double that average.
I keep two plots going that total about 1 1/2 acres. That is not enough forage to feed many deer. But it is enough to draw in quite a few deer for some tasty morsels as they go about their daily browse.
For us plots work!
Another thing I enjoy about plotting is it is something to do in May or early June that is hunting related when the opener is still months away.
Oh, and it's fun to plow and disc a bit with an old tractor.

Russ from MN · Dec 2, 2019

We bought some seed years ago,I think it was from Prairie Restorations, they have multiple locations around MN. Also bought some from Northern Farmers elevator in Williams MN, and the Coop in Blackduck MN. They all sell mixes for the deer in that area. Some are perennial, come back year after year. The neighbors at the cabin have fields of oats, rye, and soybeans, so the deer have lots to eat.

da.bees · Dec 3, 2019

Plant beans or peas and they will come,,,,,,,,and keep coming til they eat them to the ground.

Traditional Farmer · Dec 3, 2019

I've found a mix of Crimson Clover,turnips,oats works good and is a good draw.The trick is to time what you plant to be available when hunting season is in.A good place for excellent advice is is the Whitetail Institute website their products are pretty expensive but the advice is free.Also Hancock seeds carries good products.I try to target large bucks with my plots which in an area with deer everywhere is sort of hard to do,but small plots in secluded places works for me.

randyrenfro7 · Dec 3, 2019

Plant anything you intend to eat or make a profit on, they will come.

JOCCO · Dec 3, 2019

I am guessing 5 to 10% get deer around me. Yes plenty of old tractors and equipment to do it with.

steve19438 · Dec 3, 2019

I have tried the expensive custom mixes but always go back to just plain wheat and clover.

Steamboat · Dec 3, 2019

Deer plats are a waste of time and money. Deer will subsist quite well on what is available naturally, although they may concentrate deer for easy hunting.

RobCons · Dec 3, 2019

Lots of different ideas on food plots out there. I think if you just plant for the fall you miss deer. Get them used to the area by planting for year round browse is my way of thinking. Your local feed & seed will have blends for your area that will work fine for deer and other game also. Dont forget a soil test and its recommendations.

WNYBill · Dec 3, 2019

Keep plots small <4 A and close to the cover, edges! Corn is great but is labor intensive and EVERYTHING eats it. I agree most of the prepared seed mixes are too expensive. In WNY, we plant in late July or early Aug.. 1st year a mix of brassicas and rye and oats. 2nd year a light mix of brassica, rye and oats and a mix of red and white perennial clovers. The clover should last 4-5 years, if you keep it clipped. We like the brassicas because the deer don?t touch them until after a frost and nothing else eats them. Purple globe turnips and field radishes are high in carbs and last all winter. Rye greens up early in the spring. We bottom plow in the spring and then run the tiller over it before we plant, run the cultipacker over it after planting, we use a cyclone seeder. Do soil tests and keep the ph right, apply herbicides as needed.

WNYBill · Dec 3, 2019

Be prepared, planting food plots will raise the cost of venison higher than prime beef!

Bill

Phlash in OK · Dec 3, 2019

In an area where there is not a lot of winter wheat white tail deer really like wheat. It stays green even in snow.

caterpillar guy · Dec 3, 2019

If there is nothing else for them to eat when winter comes. And they are used to only eating one thing. The time it takes for them to change to the other food supply can kill them. Since it takes about 2 weeks for that. Was a big thing about the feeding of hay to deer in Northern MI years ago when the Cedar boughs would get ate off to the end of their reach people would put hay out for them and some of them died before they could get their system changed for hay. Was told would be ahead to cut some cedar down for them either in the mean time or to feed them.

fusion · Dec 3, 2019

I have been doing food plots for 10 plus years Central Pennsylvania,
It s great hobby, I have good luck with the Crimson Clover, winter wheat , Rye,
Brassica Plus, Millet , I have had real good luck with Chicory the deer love it
have not had and luck with Turnips for some reason
start small till you find what is best for your area.

fusion · Dec 3, 2019

PS
Also make sure you have a soil test done

JOCCO · Dec 3, 2019

Probably going to try a few things as one plot is very long. Might help from a total failure.

Any of you do deer food plots? Can you tell me about them

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