Food plot location strategy poll - numerous kill plots (<0.25 ac) or larger feeder plots (>1.0 ac) throughout property

[Wanabhunter]

If I brush hog, all the stumps will be left. Is there an easy way to remove them?

 

[Foggy47]

$100 pretty reasonable for another perspective.

When he started doing this service....he did one for my property....gratis. He did a very good job of analizing the issues I have with access to our stands.....and the movements of deer on my property. I made a couple of screens to help with access and changed some routes. I think Brooks knows his stuff. Not sure he is doing this anymore? He sorta evaporated now that he operates Marty's feed and seed stores. Seems to be enjoying his new occupation......and I suppose it keeps him off the streets...lol.

 

[Foggy47]

If I brush hog, all the stumps will be left. Is there an easy way to remove them?

I spent countless hours grinding over 4000 stumps with my tractor and a 3 point stump grinder. I suppose I ground most of my stumps over three years. Today I would hire a forestry mulcher (or rent one from a large rental store) to reduce the stumps to ground level and spend my money on a small 3 point drill.....and operated that drill slowly over those stumps.

When I ground out the stumps.....I was still into tilling and row crops (corn and beans). No more. Now I'm more into regenerative crops. Stumps provide hours of enjoyable time (grin).....Lots of work any way you slice it.

 

[bigboreblr]

The foodplot in the middle of the woods is best. However, I mentioned cleaning up the field because it's the quickest way to get a decent plot without alot of work. Litterally could make an acre plot area in a day or less., if not a bigger one. No tractor or ATV, you can use a truck and drag a tire drag around if your easy. We have a few members using lawn tractors to make plot, once the place is established of course. Several years I made foodplots with nothing more than a quality weedwacker and a backpack sprayer.

Brush hog what you can, then anything the brush hog can't chop up, cut as low as you can with a chainsaw. I have a piece of plywood with a V cut into it. I can cut real low without getting into the dirt and beating up the bar.

Stumps take work, take equipment. Take a cordless drill and put marker stakes in them so you can mow around them. No cheap n easy solution for stumps without equipment.

Small trees I would push over with a tractor bucket if possible. 4-5 inch diameter or smaller.

 

[Wanabhunter]

The foodplot in the middle of the woods is best. However, I mentioned cleaning up the field because it's the quickest way to get a decent plot without alot of work. Litterally could make an acre plot area in a day or less., if not a bigger one. No tractor or ATV, you can use a truck and drag a tire drag around if your easy. We have a few members using lawn tractors to make plot, once the place is established of course. Several years I made foodplots with nothing more than a quality weedwacker and a backpack sprayer.

Brush hog what you can, then anything the brush hog can't chop up, cut as low as you can with a chainsaw. I have a piece of plywood with a V cut into it. I can cut real low without getting into the dirt and beating up the bar.

Stumps take work, take equipment. Take a cordless drill and put marker stakes in them so you can mow around them. No cheap n easy solution for stumps without equipment.

Small trees I would push over with a tractor bucket if possible. 4-5 inch diameter or smaller.

This is great! Unfortunately, the field is not mine, I am able to use it as access, but I’m not allowed to do anything besides use it to walk into my property.

I think what I’ll do after reading this forum is I will make two plots. I’ll make one on the north east corner but that one will be set back in the woods about 60 or 70 yards off the field edge in hopes that they use it coming out of bedding as a staging area and making their way out to the neighbors goldenrod field.


The plot will be in the southwest corner closer to the neighbors ag field and will be setback in far enough that no one can see it in hopes that they go from betting to my plot then out to the neighbors field.

Both I will have easy access with the wind in my favor and several different trails to hunt them on the way to my plot. This will also allow the middle or interior to be untouched and have plenty of bedding.

What do we think?

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Food plots in cover are always a good thing. Cover just makes deer more comfortable - feeding in a plot or staging for travel elsewhere. Keeps human eyes off the deer too, if it's a hidden plot. None of us can change the wind direction, so access routes must be planned according to your prevailing wind direction(s).

 

[Wanabhunter]

Thinking something like this. The top of the picture is north and as we know the west is our dominant wind.


I’ll sneak up the property line on a trail and e bike and walk about 20-40 yards to a pre set stand.

Blue line is a deer trail. Most of the deer come out to the edge at night and walk west.

 

[PatinPA]

I don't have the option to put in any large plots. After I had my place timbered I set up my main plot (1/3 acre) to run along an existing trail on a small bench. However, I have noticed as the undergrowth has changed, it changed the way I intended the deer to use it. Instead of them entering one end and walking along the same path they used to, they tend to cross it. Smaller plots are definitely not a consistent draw. I've added water and eventually some pear trees to add to the enticement.

 

[Wanabhunter]

I don't have the option to put in any large plots. After I had my place timbered I set up my main plot (1/3 acre) to run along an existing trail on a small bench. However, I have noticed as the undergrowth has changed, it changed the way I intended the deer to use it. Instead of them entering one end and walking along the same path they used to, they tend to cross it. Smaller plots are definitely not a consistent draw. I've added water and eventually some pear trees to add to the enticement.
View attachment 71422

Would you say more deer use it now than there were before?

My goal isn’t to necessarily see more deer but to keep deer in the bedding area longer so they don’t get shot by all the neighbors.

 

[PatinPA]

Would you say more deer use it now than there were before?

My goal isn’t to necessarily see more deer but to keep deer in the bedding area longer so they don’t get shot by all the neighbors.

It definitely gets used more than before when it was just a trail. It attracts deer, just not consistently. One day there's 10 deer in it and then nothing for 3 or 4 days. Other than my little button buck friend who lives there almost every day. I can't hold deer consistently, it's just not possible. I only have 12 acres and there are much better bedding areas on the neighbors.

 

[Wanabhunter]

It definitely gets used more than before when it was just a trail. It attracts deer, just not consistently. One day there's 10 deer in it and then nothing for 3 or 4 days. Other than my little button buck friend who lives there almost every day. I can't hold deer consistently, it's just not possible. I only have 12 acres and there are much better bedding areas on the neighbors.

Ok that makes sense. Was it hard to make that plot? I’ll be doing it all by hand and brush hog.

 

[PatinPA]

Ok that makes sense. Was it hard to make that plot? I’ll be doing it all by hand and brush hog.

I did it all my hand with a metal rake. It took me a few seasons to get it where it is now. Started out as two small circles that I kept expanding.