My Whitetail Deer Food Plots.

[Adam Helmer]

I enjoy my resident deer here on my farm. For the last 3 years I planted field corn in two strips in the 20-acre hayfield that were 50 feet by 900 feet, or about an acre. Field corn is "one and done" and provides nothing for my deer over Winter.

After the ground dries out, my 2016 food plot will be "Throw & Grow" and "Deer Food Plot" stuff from Tractor Supply. The green foliage is various stuff that goes on and on far past the chawing of one ear of corn per stalk. I will record what was planted where to determine the best food for the deer in the future.

Hereabouts the only crop I see harvested on local farms is hay and after bailing, there is nothing left for the deer. I am still learning as I go. I have several tractor and ambition to do better for my deer.

Adam

[Dan Morris]

Dang, that should increase the odds~
Dan

[Jack]

We spend a lot of time and effort on feed plots on the property I hunt in Georgia. We have a number of feed plots so we can try some different things.
We use a deer mix from the local feed store more than anything else - it's a mix of predominantly oats, rye, and wheat (about 30% each), with a little clover , too. That provides feed year around. We've begun experimenting with some different things, too.
Clover tends to be expensive, but has the advantage of being multi year planting, where the deer mix we use is an annual.
Last year we tried radishes for the first time, and the deer love them! The deer eat the greens, and if the ground is soft, they'll pull up the whole radish and eat it, particularly after there's been a frost.
We also plant millet and milo on one larger plot, but that's for doves rather than deer.
If you belong to the Wild Turkey Federation, they have some food plot mixes that work equally well for deer and turkeys.
Turnips is a crop we've been wanting to try, but we haven't yet.

[Jack]

We've planted corn in the past, and the deer do like it, but, we found the same thing you did, Adam - corn is an attractant for a very short period of time. Our aim is to provide feed all year long, if we can.

[wrenchman]

try a blend for year round late seasen is the problim we have here in michigan.
i have been reading about sorgum for small plots lots of protein late seasen.
i have not planted it yet i lost my hunting lease a couple years ago and am looking to buy

[Adam Helmer]

Yesterday I bushogged the corn with a six-foot bushog and a 65 Hp tractor. Next I will lime and fertilize and then harrow the plots to put the seeds in contact with the soil. I will plant and then lightly drag the plots, if the rain holds off.

Dan: Last rifle deer season I had from to 10 to 15 deer every afternoon in the far end of the plots. I never took a shot even though I saw a few bucks and many does. My doe tag is only to dispatch any wounded doe I see. Happily, I saw none. The deer know they are safe in that 400 yard long field with woods around it. Despite the PGC, we are rebuilding our deer herd.

Adam

[Dan Morris]

Only crops I have ever shot over were Alfalfa.......this is what the ranchers were going to bail.....man, that was several lifetimes ago!
Dan

[Adam Helmer]

It is 78 degrees and sunny with rain predicted for tomorrow. I got out the 1953 Ford Jubilee tractor and towed the 12-foot drag (harrow) to the food plot. I managed to harrow the entire plot despite a few wet spots that nearly got me stuck. I went back with loyal hound and planted 80% of the plot. I ran out of seed, but will get another bag of "Throw & Grow" tomorrow at the feed store and be done with it.

Other agriculture business: yesterday a neighbor came by with his tractor and 5-foot PTO tiller and did both my gardens. The Old Garden is 50 feet X 75 feet and New Garden is 45 feet X 90 feet. Just before the neighborly till, I had put 120 pounds of lime on each garden and 200 pounds of dry cow manure and humus on each garden. Over the Winter, I had dumped/spread wood ashes on both gardens from the woodstove. Like I said, Agra Bidness....

Adam

[Adam Helmer]

This morning just before the rain, I went to the far end of the food plot and planted 5 pounds of oats and peas and then 5 pounds of oats, tying in the plot with the other seeding stuff. I pulled a drag (log) over the new seeding with the Polaris Ranger and now the rain is here.

Adam