My first food plot for deer (questions)

[shedhunternick]

This year i am thinking of making my first food plot, I want a perennial that the deer will love and have huge drawing power, also what size plot will feed 50-100 deer? I want this plot to go well into late fall and still have deer feeding from it in winter?

I was thinking Tecomate Chicory mix planted with brassicas but not sure what kind.

[wtnhunt]

Welcome to the forums.

Think I would lean towards a mix of clovers and chickory, maybe even some trefoil in the mix. Depending on where you are, clovers might last a good ways into the fall.

Size of plot really depends, that is a lot of deer. If you are intending a large feeding plot and you have the land and funds for it, I would probably plant a minimum of 5 acres probably but more likely 8-10 acres if possible with knowing you have that many deer potentially to feed in the plot.

[shedhunternick]

Welcome to the forums.

Think I would lean towards a mix of clovers and chickory, maybe even some trefoil in the mix. Depending on where you are, clovers might last a good ways into the fall.

Size of plot really depends, that is a lot of deer. If you are intending a large feeding plot and you have the land and funds for it, I would probably plant a minimum of 5 acres probably but more likely 8-10 acres if possible with knowing you have that many deer potentially to feed in the plot.

Just thinking about it once the deer disperse during the summer months there will probably be less than 50 around my plot. but im not sure if the plot will draw deer in from the surrounding farms.which there are a lot.

[PotashRLS]

In my opinion you will have a hard time accomplishing all this for a few reasons.

1. Perennials typically are a staple food source and not the "huge drawing power" type plot unless you are planting quantities similar to a farmer.

2. 50 to 100 deer can cause significant damage to a farmer's operation so you will definitely have a problem feeding that many with a food plot.

3. A perennial is typically not a major fall/winter food source. A large plot or two of an annual forage like corn, soybeans and brassicas is a better choice for this. Winter wheat and ryes/oats are very attractive in the fall but are not overly high in nutrition.

Some additional info on your land and neighboring properties would probably help with establishing a game plan. I don't want to sound negative but looking at the big picture will certainly help you better manage your hunting property and you won't be throwing your money away.

[wtnhunt]

Just thinking about it once the deer disperse during the summer months there will probably be less than 50 around my plot. but im not sure if the plot will draw deer in from the surrounding farms.which there are a lot.

What kind of deer density do you have? What other food sources are available nearby?

Clovers and chickory in some parts of the country will continue to hold deer into the winter, and while they may not be "magnets", they do attract deer.

I have to agree with the above that planting a fall annual to go along with your perennials being a good idea too. We plant beans in the spring here and leave them standing, have sewn in wheat into those plots early fall too.

Brassicas here have never been a draw, have tried a couple different blends and the deer just will not eat them. Better off here going with grains, but brassicas do work very well in some places.

Really what you plant and how it will do will depend a lot on where you are.

[dogdoc]

wow--deer herd of 100--that's a lot of mouths to feed. How much of your land can you designate for food plots.

If you want a perennial then IMO your best bet is to go with a good clover blend with some chicory mixed in also. This will provide a lot of nutrition but after it goes into winter dormancy and gets eaten to the ground will not provide anything but it should rebound the following spring. I personally would try to designate about 60% of the plot to perennials and 40% to cool season annuals such as wheat, rye, and brassicas.

[LETMGROW]

If you are planning to feed 100 or more deer you really have your work cut out for yourself. Deer will consume over 1 ton of food each year.

How much land do you have available, and are you truly willing to spend the coins to develop it? If you are surrounded with farms, what do they have planted for crops? For Ex: if the farms all have alfalfa planted, I would shy away from planting more. The same goes for corn, wheat, clover etc. You would be better off selecting a different plant to provide a variety and a reason for the deer to come to your plot. If there is sufficient food available in the summer I would concentrate on the cool season food sources to hold the herd and attract them to your plot.

Provide a little more about your location and goals and we can all help you a little more.

Lynn

[shedhunternick]

My location is in iowa and i am hunting around a lot of soybeans and corn. during the summer/fall months the deer have their own schedules and group up in Winter and we see herds of 50-100 deer sometimes on one food source. but in fall and summer there will probably be only around 20 or so different deer that are always around my stand. Would rye grass be a good winter source? Mixed in with Biologics perennial food plot mix for fall?

[Flintlock1776]

The best thing you can do is get a soil sample done before you put ANY money into a food plot. Your County Extension Agent should be able to direct you on this and I believe there is no charge. Once you know what type of soil you are dealing with; then you know what you will have success with growing; or if you are determined to try something; then at least you will know what fertilizers will be necessary to make your planting successful.

Plenty of choices for a well tilled & fertilized plot:

http://www.evolved.com/

http://www.whitetailinstitute.com/

http://www.mossyoakbiologic.com/prod...section=annual

http://www.tecomate.com/

I like to use this with seeds:

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...set=ISO-8859-1

This may work, I don't know, but I like the concept to protect the field until you are ready to start hunting over it

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/te...356&id=0027568

Invest a little time and read through them all and pick what you like.

Let us see the plot in progress!!

[wtnhunt]

My location is in iowa and i am hunting around a lot of soybeans and corn. during the summer/fall months the deer have their own schedules and group up in Winter and we see herds of 50-100 deer sometimes on one food source. but in fall and summer there will probably be only around 20 or so different deer that are always around my stand. Would rye grass be a good winter source? Mixed in with Biologics perennial food plot mix for fall?

I would suggest a rye grain. The only seed from biologic I have had any luck with has been their chickory seed and their clover supreme mix. My first choice for perennials would be one of the hamann farms clover/trefoil mixes, second choice would be a pennington clover blend, but where you are those perennials will probably not be much if any draw late season.