2020 Food Plot Experiment

[wildsausage]

This year I am giving some strategically positioned food plots a try as a experiment.
The hunting group rented a rototiller July 24th and the younger lads tilled 4 small plots. Each are approx 12 ft x 75 ft.

I planted August 1st - and crossed my fingers for rain as it had been so damn dry.
So far so good ... the significant effort seems to be well worth while.

Above: Almost done the first plot.

Raked, seeded and rolled.... August 1st

The picture above is another plot (created 4 total) on day 22 after seeding (August 22)

Another plot's progress as of August 30

Couple buck's visiting the same plot that shows the stand and ATV above

And a couple does absolutely loving it. This food plot is visited multiple times daily by a number of different deer.
Hopefully the plots will keep the Doe's on the property this rifle season ... Doe's should bring the bucks as they say.
Time will tell.

Will keep posting interesting pictures and updates...

Like this. Love this trail cam picture....

 

[wildsausage]

Food Plot Experiment

This food plot has really taken off, and offers a great archery opportunity.
This stand provides excellent cover and has consistently harvested deer year after year.

All plots were planted 50 / 50 with two types of food plot seed to see which one works best.
One product is growing better than the other but will see which one performs better when November rolls around.
Products used: Rack stacker Sweet Success vs Cabela's Quick and Thick

 

[257Roberts]

Finished a tower blind this summer and will work on a food plot next year.
Your work has inspired me to make it happen.
I have multiple pictures in the area over the last 10 years and have permission to hunt the property.
Last week a doe with twins 30 yards out.
Two weeks ago 2 does where I will be setting up the food plot.
Just waiting for the buck.
Thanks,

David

 

[KMG Canada]

Good luck this season, big fan of food plotting and have had great success and fun with it over the last ten years. Be careful, it's addictive!

 

[wildsausage]

Finished a tower blind this summer and will work on a food plot next year.
Your work has inspired me to make it happen.
I have multiple pictures in the area over the last 10 years and have permission to hunt the property.
Last week a doe with twins 30 yards out.
Two weeks ago 2 does where I will be setting up the food plot.
Just waiting for the buck.
Thanks,

David

I had planned to do some food plots a few years ago but never got to it. Glad I took the plunge this year.
Best of luck with your hunt.

 

[wildsausage]

Good luck this season, big fan of food plotting and have had great success and fun with it over the last ten years. Be careful, it's addictive!

Yes I am already addicted. Have purchased 15 lbs of seed for next year already with plans of expanding these four plots 3 fold. And maybe work up a couple more.
I figure time spent outdoors at the hunt camp doing something like this is better than inside any day!

 

[53Izzy744]

Nice work! If you are going to do more, i HIGHLY recommend buying yourself a groundhog maxx. It tills as fast as you can drive your atv lol

 

[VanIsleCam]

Thanks for posting OP! Very cool.

 

[Jaaska]

Rack Stacker minerals are great .

 

[wildsausage]

Nice work! If you are going to do more, i HIGHLY recommend buying yourself a groundhog maxx. It tills as fast as you can drive your atv lol

I will have to look into one of these Ground Hog Maxx... Sounds like a good addition.
The two younger lads that did the tilling sure felt the "love" for a few days after.

 

[wildsausage]

Experiment Continues

Cleared out (cut) the entire field at the Cedar Stand on September 15th.
That plot is exploding and should prove to be one of the best of the four ... but we will see.
The positioning of the food plot is excellent.

From the stand it is likely 20 - 45 yards to both ends of the food plot.

This photo is from 2019 (Nov 13) hunt. It shows the view from the cedar stand and deer activity in the snow digging for a mineral block that was buried in the ground. I have indicated roughly the position of the food plot in green. Bow hunters dream!!

Another view from the same same stand November 15 2019.

Just to remind myself why all this work is worth while ... 8 pointer taken from the Cedar Stand November 4 2019

 

[fingers284]

The wife plants a "food plot" yearly for our local deer population. in order of preference we have noticed over the years, they prefer garden peas the most with beet tops, onion tops (that surprises me) and a couple varieties of lettuce are all visited regularly after the peas are eaten right to the ground. They will stop for a touch of tomato or potato tops as well if in a "salad bar" sort of mood...oh ya I almost forgot...they really go for the flowery hanging baskets as well every time something colorful blooms on one ( they have been known to put their front feet on the front step to my house to reach them).

The one garden growth that we have notice that they will not touch is carrot tops, they can have the rest of the garden eaten to the ground but still wont touch the carrots.

Edited to include: I forgot to mention that for late season food attractants I would certainly include pumpkins, squash, and corn. All of the above (especially the corn) get all the attention after all the aforementioned have had a touch of frost. The corn wont get any attention from the family groups during the summer but when it has turned dry & brown they will start on it. another interesting observation is that when the corn is dry & brown that is when the bucks start to spend time in the garden, especially the bigger mature bucks. Don't know if its the time of year that they start to pay attention to the family herds or if they just like the dry corn but I have observed them spend hours in the fall (full daylight) in a little corn patch without leaving.

 

[53Izzy744]

The wife plants a "food plot" yearly for our local deer population. in order of preference we have noticed over the years, they prefer garden peas the most with beet tops, onion tops (that surprises me) and a couple varieties of lettuce are all visited regularly after the peas are eaten right to the ground. They will stop for a touch of tomato or potato tops as well if in a "salad bar" sort of mood...oh ya I almost forgot...they really go for the flowery hanging baskets as well every time something colorful blooms on one ( they have been known to put their front feet on the front step to my house to reach them).

The one garden growth that we have notice that they will not touch is carrot tops, they can have the rest of the garden eaten to the ground but still wont touch the carrots.

Edited to include: I forgot to mention that for late season food attractants I would certainly include pumpkins, squash, and corn. All of the above (especially the corn) get all the attention after all the aforementioned have had a touch of frost. The corn wont get any attention from the family groups during the summer but when it has turned dry & brown they will start on it. another interesting observation is that when the corn is dry & brown that is when the bucks start to spend time in the garden, especially the bigger mature bucks. Don't know if its the time of year that they start to pay attention to the family herds or if they just like the dry corn but I have observed them spend hours in the fall (full daylight) in a little corn patch without leaving.

Lol i know they love the Hostas we have in front of our house!

 

[Jaaska]

Nice work! If you are going to do more, i HIGHLY recommend buying yourself a groundhog maxx. It tills as fast as you can drive your atv lol

I have one and do a total of 4 acres on 3 food plots . Works good . I also bought the screw down mount .

 

[wildsausage]

I have one and do a total of 4 acres on 3 food plots . Works good . I also bought the screw down mount .

Where did you purchase the Groundhog Maxx? I see them on Amazon but am curious as to another supplier.
Also what is the screw down mount? Does it get attached to the bike in order to install the Ground Hog hitch to?

 

[wildsausage]

Food Plot October 19 update

Well the 2020 food plot experiment is still drawing lots of interest. All four plots have deer stopping by "almost" everyday.
Lots and lots of pictures to choose from but here are a few random shots from the cameras.
Bucks that are visiting are already going nocturnal - becoming a bit shy.

Couple healthy looking does at the 1st plot

Young Buck 1st plot

Turkeys pay a visit over the Thanks Giving Weekend - Sunday to be exact!!

A Doe at another plot #2

A Doe and Fawn at another plot #3

I have also dug in some mineral blocks (Sweet-licks) at all four plots that the deer cannot ignore. The racoons and rabbits are regulars to these mineral licks as well.
The deer were tearing up the snow to locate them last year.

I am hoping the plots will hold most of the does well into the deer hunting season. If they remain on the property or even in close proximity I am sure we will see some bigger bucks out on tour.

Good Luck Hunting Everyone!

 

[Jaaska]

Where did you purchase the Groundhog Maxx? I see them on Amazon but am curious as to another supplier.
Also what is the screw down mount? Does it get attached to the bike in order to install the Ground Hog hitch to?

I got the Groundhog Max and the screw down mount out of Sportsmans Guide in the USA . Rack Stacker now sells the Groundhog but the screw down mount is a different company . The mount fits to the trailer hitch and the Groundhog mounts to that . A big screw handle so you rotate it and lift the Groundhog up off the ground to travel and then screw it back down to disc . Makes life much easier and they come with adapters for any size hitch . I do 4 acres on different plots in two afternoons . They recommend a machine of 500cc or larger but i've used my 300cc Honda and mostly use the 850cc CanAm . I'm too old to rototill so with the Groundhog and screw mount i take a cooler and drink beer without sweating . Takes on my land about 4 passes on one lane to have it tilled and chopped up after i've sprayed glysophate . A 25 gallon sprayer mixed on the heavy side with glysophate will do an acre . About 2 acres in Imperial Whitetail Clover , and it is the best as i've tried them all and 2 acres in annuals . I get my soil tests done by Imperial Whitetail also as they are specific for food plotters and they have a call line where you can talk to an expert for help . I got one soil test done by a university in Canada and couldn't understand the results and there was no one to talk to . I use Slay and Arrest with crop oil for grass and weed control in the clover .

 

[Nashville]

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