Proven Ways to Promote Healthier Game
Why Plant a Food Plot
Research has shown that growing and maintaining proper food plots for deer can be a valuable monetary as well as a nutritional asset to the management of deer densities. Food plots increase the value of hunting leases, ecotourism (a fast growing industry) and increased nutritional quality of the deer.
You need to decide on the reason for planting the food plots. This will determine the timing, location and type of the forage planted. Cool-season and warm-season plots need to be planted. Both seasonal extremes stress out the deer. In cool-weather the temperature is not as harmful to the deer as the food source being covered by snow and inaccessibility of the food source. Warm-season stresses due to lack of selection and amounts of food can stress the deer and reduce the chances of the deer’s growth pattern to reach its potential.
Care should be taken that the planting of food plots is not be a replacement for poor habitat management. The ratio of the deer needs to be taken into consideration and the food plot spacing needs to induce a healthy and actively maintained deer population. The plots need to be restricted from live stock grazing to ensure the establishment of the plot. The habitat and quality maintenance should be considered first before allowing the deer to feed off the plots.
Check State Regulations on Feeding
As an example in some states it is prohibited to have salt blocks, mineral blocks, feeding stations, lick pops and or other sources of saliva based feeding stations. It has been discovered that deer are the carriers of a saliva based chronic wasting disease. Due to the rapid spreading and severity of this disease most feeding sources have been banned except for food plots. You need to make sure that your feeding plot complies with the local state and gaming laws.
Decisions on Plot Locations
The lay of the terrain can impact the location of the plots along with the travel and bedding patterns of the deer. Several strategically placed rectangular plots are more desirable than a narrow row like plot. Clearing out all wooded plant life in the plot is very desirable if possible. Using a disc seems to work better for working the ground to plant the food plots than a rototiller. The tough terrain of the forest, such as rocks, plant roots tend to shear the pin of the rototiller. If equipment is not available then chemical products like glyphosate can be used to kill off the existing vegetation. Removal of all existing vegetation will ensure a healthier and better established food plot.
The location and ratio of food plots need to be taken into consideration with the population of the deer. These plots are not to be a substitute for food abundance. Maintaining too high a deer density in a habitat that cannot support the deer is very dangerous for the animals. Native forages comprise the diet of most deer. If the deer density is too high in lean years of drought or other disasters it can cause a rapid reduction in the quality of the deer in the future. Food plots are for supplemental feeding not as a main course.
Depending on the terrain of the area intended for the food plots, it is more ideal to plant smaller food plots that are about ½ acre in size. The plots can be bigger if the deer pressure gets larger. Planting plots along the woodland edges and inside the woods is recommended. It is also recommended to plant plots 200 yards or so away from heavy coverage. This will ensure that the big bucks and other deer that have been under cover in the coverage will come out during rutting season. Clover is a highly recommended forage to plant, but always investigate which forages are better suited for your area.
Fencing in food plot areas is highly recommended. This keeps the live stock out of the plot and keeps the deer out till the seedlings can mature to that the plant can sustain the deer. The warm-season variations are much more vulnerable to being killed off if the deer are allowed to graze on it to early. The plants should be at least four to five weeks old before grazing can be allowed. There are several conventional and electrical fencing methods that have been developed to allow the deer access to the plants once they have been established.
Deciding on Plant Selection and Fertilizer
Tracking the deer and becoming familiar with their bedding and travel patterns along with the lay of the terrain will help dictate the placement of the food plots. You will want to take soil samples from the area that you want to plant and send the samples to soil test facility to determine the types of fertilizers that needed to be applied. Check the agricultural charts for the pH balance recommended for the vegetation that is to be planted.
Plant selection can vary from area to area. Perennials do not have to be planted yearly, but they do not yield the best forages as annuals. A mix of perennials and annuals can yield the result intended. Care needs to be taken as to the planting of a cool-season and warm-season food plots. Each of these plots has different planting and growing seasons. Having both types of plots is essential for proper nutritional enhancement.
When possible it is best to plant food plots on terrain that the native plants have been degraded. It is not good habitat and herd management to plant food plots in areas that are rich with quality vegetation
Fertilization
Proper pH balance for your plot is essential. Taking soil samples is an easy process. Dig a 7” deep hole and core a 1” selection from the cut and place it in a container. Repeat this process three to five times and mix the samples together and then place two cups of the soil into a paper bag and then send it to your local soil testing lab.
Use local tables for your area for a guide as to how to get the pH balance of the soil conducive for the growth of the forage that you intend to plant. Once the fertility level of your plot has been established then you are ready to plant your forage.
Plant Selection and Planting Guides
The selection of your plants is just as important as proper fertilized soil. As stated perennials are easy to plant, but they do not yield the best yearly forage that is needed to maintain a healthy deer population. Annuals are a little more work, but the results are much more rewarding for maintaining a healthier deer population.
For the beginner, clover mixes are a good place to start. Soybeans, Timothy grass, orchard grass, alfalfa, winter oats, wheat, and corn are good suggestions for plants. Turnips, beets and sweet mixes are planted later in the summer so that the deer can dig these plants up from under snow in the cool-season. Check with your local farm supply outlets for suggestions and ratio amounts for your food plots to plant in your area, or get commerically predpared food plot seeds
. Always keep in mind your target season for the forage and mixing up perennials and annuals. Rotation of crops and location of planting is good to keep the soil from burning out.
The food plot areas are to be tended all year round and need to be protected from deer and live stock until the areas are well established. Remember that it is your goal to promote a healthy and well maintained ratio of deer. Do not use the food plots as a source of forage, but as a source of supplemental nutrition to ensure that the bucks will mature and grow to their full potential and that does will produce healthy fawns.
Get more in depth instructions on planting food plots here.
