Option Thoughts

tynimiller

5 year old buck +
So, to condense an entire story to a long sentence: after splitting fert cost with landowner but us supplying the seed, prepping and planting of an acre brassica plot at a property we get to bow hunt before and after firearms season....only to learn now that firearms is done we are not being allowed back on till some idiot gets done ML hunting (dude does nothing but mooch from owner) which will be from Saturday through Christmas Eve.

Not mad at landowner persay because it is his property, what he says goes, but everything was done with the understanding things were like always.....alas not.

So thinking forward to 2018 we've made the call to not incorporate anything for late season brassica wise.

I am thinking a couple avenues to go with the plot and want some thoughts from like minded fellas here:

Option #1 - A cereal grain plus a serious amount of soybeans planted. Yes, the beans are 100% not going to pod, but I'm planting it for the attractive growth stage not pods. This could be deadly from October 1st opener as the beans struggle to grow against browsing demands. Probably go with Oats as we see those get hit incredibly well and could still depending on browse be a benefit for the landowner during firearms season (mid-Nov).

Option #2 - Go purely soybeans, seed incredibly thick (like 2x normal amount). This would benefit us the most but the second cold temps stop growth this plot goes desolate and landowner would not have any benefit.

Option #3 - Purely extremely heavy on cereal grains (maybe mix oats/rye).

Thoughts?
 
If I was looking for an early archery only hunting plot I would do one of two things.

Option #1 - plant a mix of Barduo red clover and chicory. My deer love the clover and come the right time in the fall my deer will eat every blade of chicory they can find.

Option #2 - fall planted soybeans (for forage and not grain - don't even have to be RR) or AWP or both with oats.....maybe an annual clover as well.

You will notice that most of what I listed will not persist well into November.....what the deer don't eat the frost will kill.....maybe a little underhanded of me...but if I'm doing the work and footing the bill....then I plant what I want. Of course plot size and deer numbers and the like all have to play a part in your decision. If your going to get screwed out of 4 weeks of hunting this plot....I certainly would NOT be doing the majority of the work just for someone else to reap the reward.
 
If I was looking for an early archery only hunting plot I would do one of two things.

Option #1 - plant a mix of Barduo red clover and chicory. My deer love the clover and come the right time in the fall my deer will eat every blade of chicory they can find.

Option #2 - fall planted soybeans (for forage and not grain - don't even have to be RR) or AWP or both with oats.....maybe an annual clover as well.

You will notice that most of what I listed will not persist well into November.....what the deer don't eat the frost will kill.....maybe a little underhanded of me...but if I'm doing the work and footing the bill....then I plant what I want. Of course plot size and deer numbers and the like all have to play a part in your decision. If your going to get screwed out of 4 weeks of hunting this plot....I certainly would NOT be doing the majority of the work just for someone else to reap the reward.

Agreed, chicory is one of my favorite plants and I cannot believe I forgot about it...mild years this could still have some attractiveness for the landowner but harsh cold years it like you said gets targeted quickly and gone (my personal property right now is cleaned of chicory now thanks to the boogers). I love your option #2....incorporating another plant to assist browse pressure makes me lean to your AWP rec'....thanks J-Bird!
 
I'm with j-bird, I'd make that plot work for me then Peter out.
Spring beans with oats broadcast into them about mid sept would be attractive until the first hard frost if pod production was low.
 
Agreed, chicory is one of my favorite plants and I cannot believe I forgot about it...mild years this could still have some attractiveness for the landowner but harsh cold years it like you said gets targeted quickly and gone (my personal property right now is cleaned of chicory now thanks to the boogers). I love your option #2....incorporating another plant to assist browse pressure makes me lean to your AWP rec'....thanks J-Bird!
IF any of the AWP escape the mouths of the deer with some snow cover they can survive the winter. I have had it happen here, but I have a low deer density and lots of food. It also means you could still have some legumes after a frost that kills off the beans. AWP is like candy to deer so it may not last that long, but it might be worth a shot. I'm not sure what happens to chicory, but in October a switch gets flipped here and the deer just hammer it. They eat it at other times, but when that switch gets turned on they really seem to search for it. It's also a perennial so you wouldn't have to replant it every year. If a perennial is an option don't over look that Barduro red clover (I can tell you where to find it in a BOB source if you need that info). The deer really liked it on my place this year.....and it was actually planted as a fall planting last year. You could easily see where the deer where just eating the crap out of it. I made a post about it in my property tour as well.

Good luck with which ever way you go.
 
Rye with 8lb/ac radish added in.
 
Rye with 8lb/ac radish added in.

No we want this plot spent by early to mid November so freeloaders don't get to use it :)
 
No we want this plot spent by early to mid November so freeloaders don't get to use it :)

I know, but good luck. I cover-cropped my garden with radish, rape, turnips, and rye. It's ML in Indiana soon, and it's all still green and growing. You could try and play the game of planting "just enough" to be exhausted by gun, but how do you figure that. I'd just do what's best for the herd and hunting, and let karma work the rest out.
 
I agree with bill. Soybeans and oats.... maybe add a little buckwheat as well.
 
IF any of the AWP escape the mouths of the deer with some snow cover they can survive the winter. I have had it happen here, but I have a low deer density and lots of food. It also means you could still have some legumes after a frost that kills off the beans. AWP is like candy to deer so it may not last that long, but it might be worth a shot. I'm not sure what happens to chicory, but in October a switch gets flipped here and the deer just hammer it. They eat it at other times, but when that switch gets turned on they really seem to search for it. It's also a perennial so you wouldn't have to replant it every year. If a perennial is an option don't over look that Barduro red clover (I can tell you where to find it in a BOB source if you need that info). The deer really liked it on my place this year.....and it was actually planted as a fall planting last year. You could easily see where the deer where just eating the crap out of it. I made a post about it in my property tour as well.

Good luck with which ever way you go.

One of the hardest things for me is realizing and moving in on my limited chicory spots before they gobble the stinking stuff up. You are 100% right because it is ridiculous when they decide to nail it, they wipe the dang stuff out!

I hunted a stand overlooking clover chicory this year on like a Friday...chicory was 4-8 inches depending everwhere...middle of the week following headed back in, and I was hard pressed to find a blade of the stuff over an inch. I made the decision right there and then to incorporate what I've always wanted to and that is a chicory plot with maybe some clover dusted in and not the other way.
 
I know, but good luck. I cover-cropped my garden with radish, rape, turnips, and rye. It's ML in Indiana soon, and it's all still green and growing. You could try and play the game of planting "just enough" to be exhausted by gun, but how do you figure that. I'd just do what's best for the herd and hunting, and let karma work the rest out.

You the other hunter? LOL

I completely understand that viewpoint...but if I'm gonna invest some serious cash, days and do all the work for the plot I dang well want it prime for my hunting personally.
 
If you are worried about browse pressure on the beans why not try a forage soybean like Eagle. I tried them for the first time this year in a small plot(1 acre) with high deer density and they held up pretty well. Not as much pod production as ag beans, but it doesn't sound like that is what you are wanting anyway.
 
If you are worried about browse pressure on the beans why not try a forage soybean like Eagle. I tried them for the first time this year in a small plot(1 acre) with high deer density and they held up pretty well. Not as much pod production as ag beans, but it doesn't sound like that is what you are wanting anyway.

Yup could care less about pods with this approach. Strictly looking for something that deer will desire early and can even decimate as far as I'm concerned before November hits.
 
Have you tried talking to the guy muzzle loading? Maybe he wouldnt have a problem sharing the woods with a bow hunter. Then you dont have to be pushed out of the woods for 4 more weeks.
 
Have you tried talking to the guy muzzle loading? Maybe he wouldnt have a problem sharing the woods with a bow hunter. Then you dont have to be pushed out of the woods for 4 more weeks.

This guy never even talks to the landowner until he shows up opening morning every year. Not my place to discuss with him as it is not my land. We worry only about making the landowner happy and that is it. After the year we may discuss with him the situation and if he desires we keep putting a plot in (he has even hinted at he'd like one in another spot) we will do it but we need to have permission to hunt once firearms is done.

In the end it is just the life of hunting land that isn't yours. Still a blessing to have the spot for early season...but if it is going to stay only that way now and this year is the new normal, it will change how invested we remain in doing things.
 
I like the radish idea. They pound the tops early here. A great draw. Throw in some oats and rape maybe. Should be good early and used up by Dec.
 
Fellas, radishes will never get included. Deer love hitting the tops but typically not until mid-November around here (bulbs month or so later). That is outside the time frame I desire the plot to be a draw as outlined. (I LOVE radishes too..but not here)
 
I would seriously just have a conversation with the land owner and politely mention that you would like to bowhunt there during muzzleloader and Feel out the situation especially if he wants you to put in another plot. It might be fine honestly and that could turn the table on the guy muzzleloader hunting. If he’s the one that complains maybe he gets kicked off. Just an idea.
 
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