Let's Talk Food Plots

[hogpatrol]

We limed a 100x100 plot of grass in a large mulch hay field. At dusk, deer would leave a small woodlot and cross 600 yards of the same field to get to that small plot and start eating. Happened enough to convince me that lime was the key ingredient. We used fine soft white ground limestone, spring & fall applications.

 

[LHSmith]

A note on proper pH- too low a pH the plant will germinate and grow however small, but with shallow root systems and tend to taste bitter. Most forage crops require a pH of 6.5 for optimum palatability. If you are adding urea or other Nitrogen fertilizer it will tend to lower pH. My soil has very little organic matter since it has been fallow on and off through the years, so my soil tests called for potash ( K) to be added. This reconcilled with the fact that my crops were not producing the bio-mass that should have been expected. Actually potash will raise pH a bit. Also brassicas should not be planted in the same spot more than 2 years in row due to insect and fungus damage. And my notes show radish only once every 3 years. You can see that with our small plots these regimens can become a logistical problem complicating normal crop rotation practice. FWIW, deer naturally feed on browse, (leaves, twigs of woody plants) this time of year and the critical period is March when these have been already consumed and just before spring green-up and the deers fat reserves have been used up. This may be the time when the only option is to put out supplemental feed -oats with a small amount of corn as found in common "sweet feed" found at the local feed store.

 

[timeout]

A note on proper pH- too low a pH the plant will germinate and grow however small, but with shallow root systems and tend to taste bitter. Most forage crops require a pH of 6.5 for optimum palatability. If you are adding urea or other Nitrogen fertilizer it will tend to lower pH. My soil has very little organic matter since it has been fallow on and off through the years, so my soil tests called for potash ( K) to be added. This reconcilled with the fact that my crops were not producing the bio-mass that should have been expected. Actually potash will raise pH a bit. Also brassicas should not be planted in the same spot more than 2 years in row due to insect and fungus damage. And my notes show radish only once every 3 years. You can see that with our small plots these regimens can become a logistical problem complicating normal crop rotation practice. FWIW, deer naturally feed on browse, (leaves, twigs of woody plants) this time of year and the critical period is March when these have been already consumed and just before spring green-up and the deers fat reserves have been used up. This may be the time when the only option is to put out supplemental feed -oats with a small amount of corn as found in common "sweet feed" found at the local feed store.

Supplemental feed is a no-no here

 

[LHSmith]

How about hinge cutting to make browse more accessable?

 

[hogpatrol]

FWIW, deer naturally feed on browse, (leaves, twigs of woody plants) this time of year and the critical period is March when these have been already consumed and just before spring green-up and the deers fat reserves have been used up. This may be the time when the only option is to put out supplemental feed -oats with a small amount of corn as found in common "sweet feed" found at the local feed store.

Tractor Supply, Blue Seal Rider sweet feed works in my area.

 

[jackson1]

You guys have nothing on the Hefty Brothers. Reminds me of another issue of Ag PHD. Hope all have great food plots. Sounds like you all have the right scientific approach.

 

[bsekf]

Thanks for your response. The deer ate the radish tops quite well early and some munching on the radishes themselves, but not much. I know that everyone says they don't taste well until after the freeze. We have been at that point almost two months and the radishes themselves, turnips and Winfried remain untouched. Perhaps these ag land deer are just spoiled?

We never had a problem with deer eating the brassicas, however I have heard of instances where it took them a while to start eating them. They do stink!

 

[LHSmith]

Our camp's plot is on top of a mountain plateau surrounded by scrub oak and swamps. The nearest ag fields are 2 miles away. So attempting to grow anything green is a challange. We have learned to plant larger plots in order to overcome the heavy browsing. Being limited to 5 acres the annual crops are about half of that. The radish crops have fared the best so far in the brassica family, the leaves are not touched until they are about 8" tall, but with-in 3 weeks the tops will be gone leaving 1" diameter radish tubers sticking out of the ground. By November, the tubers will have been eaten to ground level. Dwarf Essex rape grows similar with the exception that once the plant is eaten to the ground there are no tubers to provide additional food. Contrast this with 3 miles away off the mountain in farm country where turnips can be grown unmolested until they're as big as your arm. These wont be bothered by deer until late December after many freeze-thaw cycles and they will dig through snow to get them. Yes they do stink. Rape has a similar odor.

 

[pdhntr]

Hello Timeout, Southern Sawyer county landowner here. I have been doing food plots for the deer for 30 some years now, and have made enough mistakes and adjustments to finally settle on a plan that has been doing well for the last 10 years or so.

The plot I cultivate each year is exactly 1/2 acre. I rotate half of this with Daikon Radish and Rutabaga. In the pic the radish is to the top and rutabaga to the bottom.
I am planting the rutabaga before the radish, usually mid June. I try to get the radish in before the 4th of July. I fertilize at planting and again after the plants are several inches high.

When I take the fence down the deer spend the most time on the radish tops. Later in the fall they will eat off some of the radish that is sticking out, but for the most part, it seems to be an acquired taste on the part of some deer. Most deer don't seem to care for the radish part. I don't have a problem with that at all, as they are leaving the rutabaga alone to continue to grow. Most of the radishes rot and will not be eaten, however, the deer will eat any of the remaining "top" and stems after they freeze.

If I had to pick one thing to plant for the deer, it would be rutabaga. They like the tops and readily develop a taste for the tuber. After freezing they are in daily to chew off the tops of tubers, and will dig all winter for them. In the spring, as the ground is thawing, the deer will hammer what is left in the ground. They will spend hours pulling up what is left as it thaws out, giving them a good boost of energy when they need it the most.

I use Deer Creek seed as it is locally available and distributed by Wisconsin folks. There are a few turnip seeds that get in the rutabaga, and grow well, and the deer don't seem to know the difference so that is the larger tubers you see in the following pick.
And it wouldn't be complete without the input of some of the "Fat Girls". On the left is Long Limbs Lenore, next is Beggar, Sleepy and Watch Deer. I can't afford a watch dog.

Unfortunately, this might be the last time you or I see them, as the wolves moved in last week. I have seen wolves in the field three time in one week.

By the way, the fall has been pretty warm and the deer have been eating green grass the whole time. They have not been as interested in the food plot as other years. Don't know what it is like by you, but an observation nonetheless.

Jim

 

[6fatrat]

Good thread, Jim you know what to do.
The guys I know here in northern Michigan use sugar beets and a hybrid turnip.
From mid November on they will dig them up with their hooves.
Steve Bair

 

[timeout]

Hello Timeout, Southern Sawyer county landowner here. I have been doing food plots for the deer for 30 some years now, and have made enough mistakes and adjustments to finally settle on a plan that has been doing well for the last 10 years or so.

The plot I cultivate each year is exactly 1/2 acre. I rotate half of this with Daikon Radish and Rutabaga. In the pic the radish is to the top and rutabaga to the bottom.View attachment 1220789
I am planting the rutabaga before the radish, usually mid June. I try to get the radish in before the 4th of July. I fertilize at planting and again after the plants are several inches high.

When I take the fence down the deer spend the most time on the radish tops. Later in the fall they will eat off some of the radish that is sticking out, but for the most part, it seems to be an acquired taste on the part of some deer. Most deer don't seem to care for the radish part. I don't have a problem with that at all, as they are leaving the rutabaga alone to continue to grow. Most of the radishes rot and will not be eaten, however, the deer will eat any of the remaining "top" and stems after they freeze.

If I had to pick one thing to plant for the deer, it would be rutabaga. They like the tops and readily develop a taste for the tuber. After freezing they are in daily to chew off the tops of tubers, and will dig all winter for them. In the spring, as the ground is thawing, the deer will hammer what is left in the ground. They will spend hours pulling up what is left as it thaws out, giving them a good boost of energy when they need it the most.

I use Deer Creek seed as it is locally available and distributed by Wisconsin folks. There are a few turnip seeds that get in the rutabaga, and grow well, and the deer don't seem to know the difference so that is the larger tubers you see in the following pick.View attachment 1220794
And it wouldn't be complete without the input of some of the "Fat Girls". On the left is Long Limbs Lenore, next is Beggar, Sleepy and Watch Deer. I can't afford a watch dog.

Unfortunately, this might be the last time you or I see them, as the wolves moved in last week. I have seen wolves in the field three time in one week.
View attachment 1220795
By the way, the fall has been pretty warm and the deer have been eating green grass the whole time. They have not been as interested in the food plot as other years. Don't know what it is like by you, but an observation nonetheless.

Jim

My folks had a place on the Chippewa flowage near Radison many years and retired there until Dad's health failed. Our fall was great until a 5" snow and a lot of wind little over a week ago. I have used Deer Creek Seeds some. It's only a 10 minute drive from where my daughter and son-in-law live. Last year she made a couple of pick-ups there for me and they were very accommodating. This year they got spooked by the Covid and would not allow any pickups on site. I'll probably use them some again next year. Yes, the wolves are bad in the North. I had a friend who is now retired that worked the wolf program in the UP and now a friend of mine works for Wildlife services out of the Spooner area. Wolf season is set to resume next November. I have two preference points built up so unless the Libs get it halted I should be in for a tag. If so, I'll hang a bracelet on one for sure. Thanks for the plot tips and stay warm up there in the Northwoods!

 

[pdhntr]

Good thread, Jim you know what to do.
The guys I know here in northern Michigan use sugar beets and a hybrid turnip.
From mid November on they will dig them up with their hooves.
Steve Bair

Hi Steve,

I have tried sugar beets and had less than good results. I know this does not make sense but talking to other guys that do food plots, beets seem to grow well in some areas, and not in others.

You should be able to seed, fertilize, water and get beets, and for some reason it doesn't work here.

I mentioned in my previous post about some turnip seeds getting mixed in with the rutabaga. I have been observing the few turnips that got mixed in, and they are mush in the spring when the rutabaga are still firm, but the turnips grow faster than the rutabaga, and provide more during the winter while they are frozen.

I may plant a rutabaga/turnip mix next summer to try it out.

Jim

 

[dunraven]

So this was year # 4 in my food plot experimentation. I live in an agricultural area where the deer have a smorgasboard to eat say April to end of October. All the Corn, soybeans, alfalfa and more readily available to them. So I dabbled in a few different things along the way and decided to plant brassicas in my main food plot the 3rd week in July. The plot was well fertilized and had sufficient rainfall to provide a good crop. I have approximately 80 acres of mature timberland and 120 cropland. I have 40+ acres that are sanctuary where I have not entered them to hunt or otherwise, in the past two years. My food plot sizes are small, with the largest one being 3/4s of an acre. I have some small clover plots and some small corn, soybean plots. My focus this year was to provide a great food source for after the ag crops were harvested. Now I do have a neighbor that probably has somewhere around 50 acres of corn still standing (he had corn standing all of last winter also). So my brassica plot consisted of Winfried brassica, purple top turnips, and a white radish sugar beets mix. The sugar beets did not germinate however. I read great things about the Winfried brassica. We have had plenty of cold weather to supposedly turn the brassicas to a sugary taste. In my plot from day one the only plant the deer are touching is the white radishes. One caveat is that my deer population isn't super. To see 6 or 7 deer at any time feeding is tops. So to say that I am quite unimpressed with the brassicas is probably an accurate statement. The kicker is that all of my cropland was in soybeans this year. Following the fall harvest, my observations are that the deer are almost always more numerous out in the soybean fields eating the bare bean stems that came out the back of the combine. Blows my mind! I have a luscious brassica food plot and they are eating dry soybean stems!! So in my experience, I'm leaning toward planting soybeans early in the spring as a food source for the does and fawns, then disking them under and planting the white radishes about August 1st. Let's hear your food plot experiences!

Have tried the brassicas a couple times, but the deer just don't seem to be interested. In my agricultural area the deer will choose chicory over 90% of the time, so my 5 acre plot is planted exclusively with a chicory/whitetail clover mix. Late summer/early fall I had over 60 deer show up in an evening twice; average night around 30. Most of them move out in winter though, so that may explain not using the brassicas.

 

[chop house]

great info, thanks to all

 

[timeout]

Have tried the brassicas a couple times, but the deer just don't seem to be interested. In my agricultural area the deer will choose chicory over 90% of the time, so my 5 acre plot is planted exclusively with a chicory/whitetail clover mix. Late summer/early fall I had over 60 deer show up in an evening twice; average night around 30. Most of them move out in winter though, so that may explain not using the brassicas.

Update on my end here. We have had snow, then bare ground and back to snow again. Still zero interest in the Brassicas. Now I don't have 60 or even 30 deer on my plots ever. Lots of hunting pressure around me. I planted two small patches of chicory on steep and somewhat stony areas last year and much to my dismay, the weeds overtook it. Did some research on herbicides to combat the weed problem in the chicory and the only thing I could come up with was extremely expensive. I'm very interested to know how you controlled the weeds in your chicory. Any tips greatly appreciated!

 

[Treerat-sniper]

I have 5 acres of alfalfa planted on my ground, the neighbor kid to my north did a winter wheat & turnip mix with good results.

 

[TrapperBR549]

I have read several places over the years that it takes deer time to aquire a taste for turnips. I plant 2 or 3 acres every year and they flat out mow them down and then eat the bulbs. As cheap as they are I would plant at least some for a couple more years because if they do start utilizing them it will be your favorite food plot.

 

[msinc]

My best fall ‘hunting’ plant is hands down straight chicory. As soon as the beans brown up and the grasses start to dry out they seem to just hammer it. I wasn’t terribly impressed with the clover this year but there was a point in late summer the deer really hit it hard. I did have to mow both the clover and chicory, twice for the clover and once on the chicory, and both came up thicker and more lush which keyed up the deer even more.

Chicory has the added benefit of coming back too, it is also a very easy low maintenance plant to grow. I have had very good luck with it, even in pretty acidic soil.
Brassica is tricky. These days I mostly bow hunt and where I live we typically don't get a heavy frost until the end of November at the earliest. Deer wont even give it a look until it has had a good heavy frost to kick the starch into sugar. You can easily check it, just take a leaf and chew it up and taste it. If it's bitter it's not ready and you can forget deer eating it. I always buy Mossy Oak brand "Maximum" brassica seeds if I plant it at all.
The thing I have seen is that once it kicks over they will not leave it alone until it is gone and that wont be very long. They will eat it right down to the ground in a few days {my brassica plot is about a half acre} and you will see the white stems cut off level with the ground.
As with any food plot and deer, if there are acorns in the woods or beech nuts you can forget drawing deer. You just cannot pull deer away from either of those wild masts.
I mostly plant white clover. They eat it as long as it's there and it stays green for a pretty long time around here. I never plant corn, it takes too much fertilizer {nitrogen} to get it to go good and takes up too much area for no more than what you get out of it. It also needs a lot of rain. I find it is cheaper and better to just buy shelled corn and feed it in PVC tube feeders. That way they have variety and I don't have a corn field taking up the entire food plot.

Edit: as far as "best" to plant...if you can get them to go, sugar beets will absolutely put deer at your front door if that's where you plant them. I always bought the little plants and planted them. Pain in the neck, but then you have a chance. Seeds are hit or miss and mostly miss. Crab apples really work fantastic too.

 

[msalm]

I agree on the corn and beans (as in not planting it). For me I look at the yield as in mass of edibles/acre. The one missing link this year was keeping something green through Dec, thinking of winter wheat or rye next fall.

 

[CaptainMal]

Rode around my place in Georgia yesterday. I have 5 different food plots and “took” all my deer earlier on three of them. Well yesterday, after many freezing days lately, the check was interesting.

The two plots with lots of planted radish were torn apart by deer. The others did not show much sign.