New small food plot ideas

[Charman03]

I recently cleared a spot in the woods for a little kill plot. I have 2 apple trees planted back here. I also cleared a spot just behind the main clearing and a path that connects the two. Deer like to pass through here, I just want to give them a better reason. I sprayed last weekend and roughed up the ground somewhat.

Ideas on what to plant for a good draw?

 

[Riggsgwp->]

Oats, rye, chicory, clover and add a waterhole. Maybe turnips if they eat them but may not have enough sunlight.

 

[scott44]

Oats, rye, chicory, clover and add a waterhole. Maybe turnips if they eat them but may not have enough sunlight.

What Riggs said plus radishes

 

[SD51555]

If you're lacking sunlight, it's gonna be tough. If you got it, I'd do rye and daikon radish. They are on the easier end of the spectrum for germinating in a throw and grow situation. If no sunlight, clover. But that'll end shortly after a frost. You could always fire up the chainsaw and make sunlight, as well as a natural fence, browse, and cover.

 

[Charman03]

Thanks for recommendation

 

[tooln]

Looks awfully shady in there...I'd be going with white clover and winter rye

This is the way I'd go. With a touch of chicory.

 

[dipper]

Get those apple trees out of there and in some real sun!!!!!

 

[Charman03]

The clearing with the Apple trees actually get a lot of sun both morning and afternoon. Later in afternoon and evening gets blocked out. I cut some trees to let it in. I know it's not ideal but I have others in more ideal areas around the property. Hoping I can get something out of these for the deer.

 

[dipper]

Your call, way to many guys try to plant try to plant apple trees in the woods, and those are in the woods. You are mu u better off with just a food plot, especially since you will be lucky to get any fruit off those trees.

 

[wiscwhip]

You may get some brassicas to grow in the plot with the apple trees, although it has enough shade that you will not likely get anywhere near maximum tonnage out of them. The connecting trail, not much but cereal rye and white clover is going to grow in that heavily shaded area and the other smaller less open plot will likely be the same. Like others have said already, rye and white clover will be your friends. You will likely need some lime in that whole area ASAP as well, have you sent in a soil test yet? I wouldn't bother worrying about fertilizer too much before you start correcting your ph.

 

[Charman03]

Thanks for the advice everyone, very helpful and appreciated

 

[phil@thesidehill]

Stu,

My clover goes dormant by November 1st every year. I've used Alice White,Dutch, Ladino, and Kopu. I don't mow after August 1st. Nothing seems to work. The deer here will hit it hard in the fall up until that point. I'm sure we have several single digit days though. The only thing they'll dig for on the plots are turnips and any radishes that aren't mush.

I think its a pretty similar situation to how brassicas get hammered in one area but are left untouched by deer in other areas. for many years i was all about the clover plots after having had hunted some properties with clover plots/hay fields with lots of clover and deer were all over it will into december...but on my property the clovers just don't seem to draw much attention much past mid october.....but brassicas do. I still plant clover but more for spring/summer/early fall and as a part of a cover crop rotation.

In some areas clover can be a very attractive food source deep into the fall...while in others it doesnt really get touched past early fall. I guess it just comes down to experimentation and observation...go with what works for your goals.

Hey Charman its nice to see another PA guy here! Is your hunting property near Carlisle or is that just where you call home? I'm up in NE PA, in Sullivan County.

 

[Greta&Gus]

I think its a pretty similar situation to how brassicas get hammered in one area but are left untouched by deer in other areas. for many years i was all about the clover plots after having had hunted some properties with clover plots/hay fields with lots of clover and deer were all over it will into december...but on my property the clovers just don't seem to draw much attention much past mid october.....but brassicas do. I still plant clover but more for spring/summer/early fall and as a part of a cover crop rotation.

In some areas clover can be a very attractive food source deep into the fall...while in others it doesnt really get touched past early fall. I guess it just comes down to experimentation and observation...go with what works for your goals.

Hey Charman its nice to see another PA guy here! Is your hunting property near Carlisle or is that just where you call home? I'm up in NE PA, in Sullivan County.

I agree with the clover brassica comparison but a clover rye mix is a good starting point for new plots. Maybe some oats too.

 

[Charman03]

I think its a pretty similar situation to how brassicas get hammered in one area but are left untouched by deer in other areas. for many years i was all about the clover plots after having had hunted some properties with clover plots/hay fields with lots of clover and deer were all over it will into december...but on my property the clovers just don't seem to draw much attention much past mid october.....but brassicas do. I still plant clover but more for spring/summer/early fall and as a part of a cover crop rotation.

In some areas clover can be a very attractive food source deep into the fall...while in others it doesnt really get touched past early fall. I guess it just comes down to experimentation and observation...go with what works for your goals.

Hey Charman its nice to see another PA guy here! Is your hunting property near Carlisle or is that just where you call home? I'm up in NE PA, in Sullivan County.

I'm not far from Carlisle near York and Cumberland county line. I ended up buying winter rye, ladino clover and Buck forage oats for now. Thought hard about this brassica, turnip, rape mix they had but being so shaded I didn't. Tsc has this plot spike clover mix that actually looks half decent, I think it's a clover mix with some chickory.