Screen around a food plot?

[wisconsinteacher]

My plot is 1 acre in size and is shaped like and L. The long leg is 120 yards long and the shorter leg is 90 yards long. The plot is 25 yards wide. I'm thinking about planting the outer edge in switchgrass to create screening around the entire plot. My thoughts are to make the switchgrass about 3 yards wide, so I would loose about 1/10 of an acre of food for the deer. Do you think it is worth giving up 10% of the food for the screening to make deer more comfortable in the plot?

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Is the plot surrounded by open fields or woods?

 

[Stubborn1VT]

What are you screening the plot from?
I think there are many better options for screening than switch.
I would add structure to the plot unless you're screening for a specific reason.
I think you would end up losing more than 10% all told, and I don't think it's worth it.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

On the east side, I would be screening from the road that you can see cars drive down as you are looking from the plot to the road. The other sides would be from the woods (10 year old popular trees). If you stand back in the woods 10-20 yards, you can see into the plot when the leaves are gone.

 

[Electrodigical]

Been thinking about this myself (to some smaller degree). Can't decided if the screen would make them more comfortable or more nervous.

 

[omicron1792]

Consider just screening the road side. I would plant switch and giant miscanthus at the same time

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I would plant 2 rows of spruce trees along the road with switch behind it (or some other fast growing plant). I wouldn't add any screen along the woods edge, but I would thin it pretty heavily to let some sunlight hit the ground. You will have a tangled mess of annuals, briars and shrubs along with some young tree growth within a short period of time.

 

[Mortenson]

I had leftover RCbig and screened (seeded) 2 plots that are open on one side. Guessing it'll be ~15 ft wide when it comes up. Like mentioned, not sure if it'll help them feel more comfortable or make them more nervous. I could see it going either way. Just wanted to experiment a little, and have more cool stuff to look at while I'm in the stand getting skunked.

 

[BenA]

I've liked having my feathered edges. It gives good screening. I've watched deer just stand in the edge and feed around in it too.

 

[270sniper]

I will be using Northwoods HD Screening this year because by late season all my cover is down . They say it will grow up to 14 feet & I want the deer that come from the woods to peek into the plot to see if they have any friends or to feel more secure

 

[gwm]

I've screened all my 1/2 acre and larger food plots with switchgrass. I want to cut down on the sight lines as much as possible, especially when all the leaves are on the ground. If I need more height, I plant miscanthus. Below is a 1/2-acre food plot surrounded by woods.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I've screened all my 1/2 acre and larger food plots with switchgrass. I want to cut down on the sight lines as much as possible, especially when all the leaves are on the ground. If I need more height, I plant miscanthus. Below is a 1/2-acre food plot surrounded by woods.

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I'll take that as a success!!! How wide is the boarder screening?

 

[gwm]

Approximately 10-12'.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Approximately 10-12'.

Great, I'm hoping to do 2 passes with the ATV disc around the plot. 8-10'.

One last question. What is the narrowest distance from side to side on your plot? If I do 2 passes around, I will have a narrow spot that will be 15-18 yards wide.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

I think breaking up sight lines is a great strategy. We try to do this for all of our larger plots, and even do it in sections that face woods that are thinner. The original idea was to try and pull bucks into visible range during the rut - force them to come into the open to check for does in plots.

Here is a buck that basically did what we were trying to accomplish. He was tending a doe in the woods and was standing right next to the screen and keeping an eye on other deer in the plot:

We have since moved away from this mostly because I have been too busy to drill the plots and screens. We have since bought a drill which will give more time for planting. We mostly use miscanthus or sorghum-Sudan VNS.

Here are some photos of various screens in plots

 

[gwm]

Great, I'm hoping to do 2 passes with the ATV disc around the plot. 8-10'.

One last question. What is the narrowest distance from side to side on your plot? If I do 2 passes around, I will have a narrow spot that will be 15-18 yards wide.

The narrowest distance is approximately 18 yards. I think the blind to the scrape tree in the plot is around 15 yards. My wife bowhunts, and at that distance, she doesn't have to wonder if they're in range for her.

 

[BenA]

In this plot, you can't see the edge feathering I've done as much, but you can see the NWSGs. I have edge feathered trees perpendicular in some spots and left openings in some. Some, I've cut and fell back into the woods. The deer feel comfortable in it, and it's about the size you're describing. But, if it were me, in your case with just timber around it, I'd do more edge feathering with the trees instead of taking up plot real estate. It will give you more food and more light to the plot.

 

[omicron1792]

You can spray plot edges (not the plot but into the woods) with triclopyr and Imazapic mix. Will kill woody mess and encourage native grass growth there. Does a good job of creating a feathered edge

 

[TreeDaddy]

In this plot, you can't see the edge feathering I've done as much, but you can see the NWSGs. I have edge feathered trees perpendicular in some spots and left openings in some. Some, I've cut and fell back into the woods. The deer feel comfortable in it, and it's about the size you're describing. But, if it were me, in your case with just timber around it, I'd do more edge feathering with the trees instead of taking up plot real estate. It will give you more food and more light to the plot.


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......and the buck is smiling in the pic agrees with you

bill

 

[Northwoods Whitetails]

My plot is 1 acre in size and is shaped like and L. The long leg is 120 yards long and the shorter leg is 90 yards long. The plot is 25 yards wide. I'm thinking about planting the outer edge in switchgrass to create screening around the entire plot. My thoughts are to make the switchgrass about 3 yards wide, so I would loose about 1/10 of an acre of food for the deer. Do you think it is worth giving up 10% of the food for the screening to make deer more comfortable in the plot?

Yes
If you can hide plots and hide deer.
IMO, I’d rather give up some food in favor of creating security.