Food Plot Rookie

[cnelk]

Okay - I’ve done a lot things over the years, but never a food plot.

The area I’m doing is approx 120yds long and 10-15’ wide. I opened up the strip yesterday from old grass. The ground is nice black dirt. Never been turned.

The neighbors hayfield adjacent is old sainfoin but mostly timothy hay now and we are wanting to do something a little extra.

There are plenty of deer around, the does make it a nursery during the summer. Sometimes there are 20-30 in the field

We are wanting the food plot to attract turkey, deer (maybe elk) after the hay is taken off the field - November or later.

What do I plant? When?
Like I said - complete rookie

 

[Deerhunter6250]

In Iowa I plant Ladino Clover and the deer love it and it comes back every year. I do have to spray it a couple time a year to keep the grass out of it and mow it a couple times. The deer like the younger mowed clover more than the older clover. Not sure if this would work in your climate. I also like turnips and radishes. I tried corn and beans but the deer eat it off faster than it grows.

 

[wytx]

Do you plan to kill the grass left? It may out compete your food plot seeds.
I'd add some chicory for turkey and clover for deer and elk.
We tried some Imperial WT clover and got decent results til it quit raining. Deer and elk were hitting it.

 

[Team4LongGun]

do a soil sample test. It’s cheap and maximizes your growth and saves you money and frustration.

 

[Beagle1]

The forums at Habitat Talk will be extremely helpful to you.

Wildlife Habitat - Lets talk.....

Habitat-Talk, habitat manipulation and more.

habitat-talk.com

I would plant clover for the early season and winter rye and brassicas for the late season.

Ideally you want a smooth weed free seedbed to start. The clover, winter rye and brassicas only need to be planted a 1/4” deep. You can broadcast the seed from a hand seeder and then lightly roll it or seed it before a good rain which is what I do. Seed to soil contact, no weed competition and rain will get you a good food plot.

 

[brancher147]

Even if you kill that grass it will continue to creep in and seed in from the hayfield. I would try clover but grass will outcompete most anything

 

[bowrunner81]

I wouldn’t get fancy. A nice clean clover patch will do really really well.

 

[Rich M]

Any way you can go bigger? That's like a trail.

120x3 = 360 x 12.5 = 1,500 sf/43560 = 0.1 acre

Can you do a little bit more and come up to 1/4 acre in size? Most of the seeds you buy will do 1/4 acre anyway.

You need a soil test to tell pH and fertilizer requirements for best results.

With a little knowledge of the pH, you can plant some stuff that will work for your area. Locals who do the food plot game can help and so can the folks at the local feed & seed store.

 

[Ken158]

Done the food plot thing for years in VA and weeds seem attracted to all areas I process. What I have found to be the ticket is pear trees and apple trees. Be prepared to circle the trees with fencing to keep the critters from eating the branches and scraping the trees for a few years. Put some PVC in the ground for watering purposes should the weather not cooperate.

 

[Agross]

That’s very similar to the size of my plot but mine is in the middle of my woods/thick brush. I think mine is about 110 yds long and 15-20 feet wide. This past year I simplified it and just did clover and rye grain. The deer loved it.

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

I don't think you'd go wrong with clover and cereal rye to keep it easy. Awnless wheat would be another cereal grain to try.

Again, I would refer to what others are doing around you given that you're in WY. You could definitely plant annual clover like red or crimson now. You could potentially frost seed it, as I bet you'll get some more winter weather before all's said and done

 

[KenLee]

Oats, rye, wheat mix in early September.
Unless the deer have other fertilized crops they like, your poor will be mostly dirt by mid October

 

[cnelk]

Thanks for replies - A couple things to answer

* No - I cant go any larger. The woods on one side are on a slope, and the fence is on the other. The deer bed on the slope.

* I havent heard of anyone doing food plots in the area. There are lots of big cattle ranches in the area that have hay fields and some oats for cover crops. But no other grain fields.

* I figured clover was a good bet, so I ordered a $20 / 2lb bag of Imperial Clover - should be plenty for the size.

* Im going to try and seed it at the end of April, early May when I go back for turkey hunting

* This is more of a playing around type thing. Im not out anything by giving it a try. Kinda fun, brings back memories of my farming days