opinions on best food plot??

[ccwhitey]

Need some help with food plots. I was going to put in about a two acre food plot on my property maybe plant an acre of one thing and the other in something else but didn't know what to put in. I know it's too late for anything this year but I will prolly get the ground ready for next year. I am lookin for something that will attract deer about Nov. There is a lot of alfalfa around so I would like something that deer would eat after that goes sour. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Jorden]

A clover/chicory mix is a popular one that a lot of people use. It provides good nutrition all year but me personally, I have never had luck with it attracting deer late in the year. This year I planted a mixture of rape/turnips/oats in hopes of providing some attraction later.

[wtnhunt]

Usually plant our perennial plots in the fall(around Sept), and have had good results with using an annual as a nurse crop planted along with the perennials. If you decide to go with a perennial, would look at planting a mix of clovers and chickory, add some winter wheat or rye grain when you plant as your annual. If you are wanting to split the plots, might try a brassicas mix for the other acre, don't know how well the mix dogdoc posted in this thread would do in Central Illinois, but that might also be a consideration. While we have not had great results with brassicas mixes here, seems where there are lesser food sources available during the season that they do very well.

[starbux]

With it being mild this year, I'd plant clover right before a rain around labor day. It's hard in IL to find something they'll eat since they're spoiled with unlimited crops. Then around the last week in Sep., broadcast wheat and/or oats in the clover before a rain for a winter nurse. Mow the wheat off in the late spring and your clover will be under it.