Newbie - Recommendations!

[Newbie]

Well I got out to check the plots briefly this weekend. After a few weeks of some cooler weather and a few good rain showers it seems like the clover is starting to fill in nicely and a few good patches of chicory coming along. Mixed results on brassicas, last time I checked them they seemed to be coming along nicely, this time it appears most have been nibbled down to nothing. It'll be interesting to see if we get any bulbs or not. I overseeded 50lbs of rye about a week ago and noticed some shoots coming up as well. I'll try to get down to take a few pictures of the plot sometime this week.

The deer have been grazing it heavily. It is not uncommon to catch 5+ deer on the plot in the morning and evenings. My only hope is that there is till some forage left by the time the season rolls along. As I anticipated, I'll have to go substantially bigger next year.

 

[Newbie]

Little update:

Checked on the food plot up in the woods and the clover is coming around. Threw some leftover brassicas and some rye in there as well to see what will grow (a couple weeks apart). Seeing a little bit of everything which is nice to see. I'm actually surprised at how well it seems to be doing considering that it was just a patch of woods a few months ago, its poorly drained, and from the results of the soil test (low PH, low nutrients). The dead spots are areas of Japanese stilt grass I sprayed with Cleth a few weeks ago. My initial plan was to establish this as strictly a hidden clover plot but if I'm able to diversify the forage some I certainly wouldn't be mad about it! It is a small plot so it doesn't take much for things to get grazed down rather quickly. Still quite a few bare spots and some weeds mixed in.

I've attached some photos below. I'm completely open to any suggestions in this area and would love some feedback.

 

[Tree Spud]

With it being poorly drained, will be interesting to see how what you planted will do. I have had good luck with brassicas in similar conditions. Alsike clover is a good choice for wet soil areas.

 

[Newbie]

With it being poorly drained, will be interesting to see how what you planted will do. I have had good luck with brassicas in similar conditions. Alsike clover is a good choice for wet soil areas.

To clarify, there's a very wet area in the center of the plot that seeps downhill (the whole thing is on a pretty significant hillside). The surrounding areas seem to stay damp but not under water. Interestingly enough, the areas that have been consistently damp (borderline soggy) seem to be the areas that are doing the best. The worst off of the areas is that which is most dry. I'm considering trying to divert the natural drain to the dry side of the plot next year to get that going.

 

[Tree Spud]

Here is some info on Alsike

https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2022-12/AlsikeClover.pdf

 

[jsasker007]

I have a spot that's wet most of the year and alsike is one of the few things that can survive there. It's the only clover that I've had any luck with in that spot and it's done well.

 

[Newbie]

Thank you both for the tips, I’ll order some and get it in the ground

 

[Newbie]

I got a couple new stands hung today over the plots. Here are a few shots from the platforms.

 

[Newbie]

Well, the newbie plot isn’t the prettiest one on this forum, but it is good enough for now! My wife bagged her first buck on the opening day of archery sitting over one of the plots I started this summer. Hoping to continue to improve them & take a few more good deer on them over the years.

Thank you all for your help getting these up and started, a bit of this success goes out to you!

 

[omicron1792]

Well, the newbie plot isn’t the prettiest one on this forum, but it is good enough for now! My wife bagged her first buck on the opening day of archery sitting over one of the plots I started this summer. Hoping to continue to improve them & take a few more good deer on them over the years.

Thank you all for your help getting these up and started, a bit of this success goes out to you!
View attachment 69291

Congrats brother!

 

[Newbie]

Congrats brother!

Thank you!! Thank you for the advice!

 

[Newbie]

Well, I was going to update this thread with some of my proposed plans for the upcoming year. However, I thought it would be more appropriate to start a thread in the Land Tour section. If anyone wants to check it out and offer some suggestions on some upcoming plans I'd appreciate it! It is under "Newbie Land Tour." I hope all you are getting some good action and productive hunts this fall after all the work you put in this year!

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Congrats on your wife's buck!! Cool to see results after putting in the work.

 

[Newbie]

Starting to plan for the upcoming year. My plan as of now is to expand the lower food plot to 3-4 acres in size. Early spring I am going to nuke the standing pasture with herbicide and no till. Still trying to decide on seed mix. I am leaning toward the following:

Medium Red 4#/acre
Ladino 3#/acre
Durana 3#/acre
Chicory 3#/acre
Rye 50#/acre

All this planted first thing in the spring, then come September throw/mow a brassica mix in.

Any thoughts/feedback? My goal is to establish a nice perennial plot that I don't need to fuss with too much from year to year.

 

[rocksnstumps]

If going no till as in throw and mow would bump amounts of seed mixes higher. Almost double the amount of what you have listed would give better results. If not double call it at least 50% more. If you have a no till drill might keep it closer to your numbers but no experience with that myself. My 0.02

 

[omicron1792]

Yep. I would throw 200lbs an acre of rye. And double or triple amounts of clover.

 

[Newbie]

If going no till as in throw and mow would bump amounts of seed mixes higher. Almost double the amount of what you have listed would give better results. If not double call it at least 50% more. If you have a no till drill might keep it closer to your numbers but no experience with that myself. My 0.02

Thank you! I'll either bump the #'s up or add a few different varieties to boost the #/acre. As recommended above, I think I'll add in some alsike. Maybe some yellow or mammoth red.

Just for giggles I might throw in a bag of sunflower seed or other random seeds to give the plot some variety.

Typically I spray, wait till things begin to green up again, spray again. Then seed/roll. I don't have a drill unfortunately.

 

[Newbie]

Yep. I would throw 200lbs an acre of rye. And double or triple amounts of clover.

Thank you! I'll increase seeding rate.

Any recommendations on other varieties or species? I'd love to keep it semi-low maintenance. Correct me if I am wrong, but I plan to plant rye in the spring just to take a little browsing pressure off the clover and provide a little shade so hopefully by mid-summer/fall it has a healthy clover growth under the grasses. I'll likely knock down the rye and overseed brassicas early fall.

 

[Newbie]

I also have access to a decent amount of alfalfa seed for free. I'll throw some of that in as well. I know alfalfa can be a bit fussy on prep/soil conditions so I'll monitor the growth from this year and see if its something I want to pursue more in the future.

 

[Derek Reese 29]

Thank you! I'll either bump the #'s up or add a few different varieties to boost the #/acre. As recommended above, I think I'll add in some alsike. Maybe some yellow or mammoth red.

Just for giggles I might throw in a bag of sunflower seed or other random seeds to give the plot some variety.

Typically I spray, wait till things begin to green up again, spray again. Then seed/roll. I don't have a drill unfortunately.

With the smaller seeds, no drill is needed.(though definitely double or triple the amounts you think you might need..it’s just $$right!?!)...I’m doing something similar this spring in my front plot..which my wife wants to turn into a sunflower field….in gonna try to hit it with imox when stuff starts greening up..then wait a bit to get the sunflowers in there and maybe just rub my lawn tractor over it or hit it with my homemade cultipacker..I’m in the same boat with no drill..I like your “shotgun” (some would say diverse) approach..never hurts to have more variety!