gonzalezeb
5 year old buck +
Looking at trying to get some food plots established this sping in the Southern Black Hills of South Dakota (mix of rolling praire and pines on 160 acres). On the property I have mule deer, elk, and turkey. The elk typically disappear just before rut and thus far I have never seen any cows only bulls. This year I seem to have a very young group of mule deer - in particular the bucks are small at best a 3X3 (though in the last week a 4X4 has showed up - this is in contrask to last year when I had several 6X6s, a 7X7, and an 8X8 - all of which survived hunting season but thus far are no where to be found since they dropped their antlers).
Here are some of my challenges:
1. I live about 1700 miles away - so I am looking for something that requires little to no effort.
2. Due to this, killing off existing prairie brush weeks before planting seed is not much of an option for me. At best I will be able mow/weed whack to dirt.
3. In most cases soil is less than ideal and very rocky (think limestone).
4. Not sure if this is a challenge - trails cams have picked up at least 6 different mountain lions (one with cubs). So my thoughts are to have lower to the ground food sources).
5. Water source is limited (I have a small spring in each of the two canyons on the property - which is quite the distance from where I am planning to put food flots and is in the canyon so on top of my large meadows this will do no good.)
Goals:
1. Attrack and keep Mule Deer on property (I have one neighbor who baits - so this will always be a competition)
2. Attrack more Elk
3. White Tail are encrouching in the area...I did see one doe early in the summer, one time, but have not seen her since (hoping she moved on)- for the most part White Tails are still several miles away.
Last year I did throw down a couple pounds of Clover (but again couldn't prep the soil much). A small amout took, but far less than desired.
This coming spring I am hoping to spend a week at the property to try to establish a food plot and do some other property maintenaince. Would like to get at least two 1/4-1/2 acre food plots established. Any tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Here are some of my challenges:
1. I live about 1700 miles away - so I am looking for something that requires little to no effort.
2. Due to this, killing off existing prairie brush weeks before planting seed is not much of an option for me. At best I will be able mow/weed whack to dirt.
3. In most cases soil is less than ideal and very rocky (think limestone).
4. Not sure if this is a challenge - trails cams have picked up at least 6 different mountain lions (one with cubs). So my thoughts are to have lower to the ground food sources).
5. Water source is limited (I have a small spring in each of the two canyons on the property - which is quite the distance from where I am planning to put food flots and is in the canyon so on top of my large meadows this will do no good.)
Goals:
1. Attrack and keep Mule Deer on property (I have one neighbor who baits - so this will always be a competition)
2. Attrack more Elk
3. White Tail are encrouching in the area...I did see one doe early in the summer, one time, but have not seen her since (hoping she moved on)- for the most part White Tails are still several miles away.
Last year I did throw down a couple pounds of Clover (but again couldn't prep the soil much). A small amout took, but far less than desired.
This coming spring I am hoping to spend a week at the property to try to establish a food plot and do some other property maintenaince. Would like to get at least two 1/4-1/2 acre food plots established. Any tips/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
