Deer (and Turkey) Plot Advice

firejim

firejim

CGN Regular
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Location
SW Ontario
Hey All;

With one more crack at Turkey tag #2, I'm starting to cast my eye to the fall season for deer and the fall turkey hunt and it's motivated me to finally get off my a$$ and do the plot that I've been thinking about. At the back of my parents' farm, there is a small hidden hayfield of approx 3 acres surrounded on 3 sides by hardwood. On the west side of the field is a creek. I've had some luck there with deer in the past and heard a turkey in there a few weeks ago (but haven't hunted it yet). I'm going to work probably 1/2 of the field this fall and put in a deer plot to help attract/grow deer and hopefully recruit a larger turkey population. So, I'm wondering what your advice is on what to plant. I'm in SW Ontario, and the land has grown good crops (hay, grains, and corn) in the past. I'm not sure what the exact soil pH is, but it should be slightly below neutral. I've been thinking about:

red and white clover
brassicas (Kale)
perhaps a few rows of corn

Any other ideas?
Also, if there are good references to read, I'd be glad to hear about them.

Thanks in advance,

Jim.
 
early season- Red Clover....... stops producing foliage and goes to seed around 80deg F

mid season- chicory....... Starts producing more as temps get hotter long tap root for hot dry conditions

late season- brassicas (turnip, Kale, Rape) the foliage from these are consumed during mid-summer right to early-fall the first frost increases starch in the foliage and root mass in the late fall deer will dig up the roots. Uneaten foliage left over on these plants will stay green during winter making it an excellent source of food for bucks after the rut. They will also continue to dig up the roots all winter or until the supply runs out if the ground isn't to hard.

I will be planting 30%red clover 30%Chicory and 40%Brassicas this will be my first food plot attempt.
 
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Thanks a lot for the information and for the links. There's a lot of info to go through - looking very forward to setting up the plot and making a home for the deer/turkeys.
 
firejim said:
Thanks a lot for the information and for the links. There's a lot of info to go through - looking very forward to setting up the plot and making a home for the deer/turkeys.
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Just remember if there is better food in the next field, even food plots won't help you.

I would also establish a year round salt lick
 
backyardwildlife.ca ( check them out )

check out this link
w ww.backyardwildlife.ca Steve has some excellent products. I personally have put up one of the mineral fountains and within 4 hours the deer were checking it out. ( have pics on game cam )

He also sells apples trees, though they are not listed on his site. ( 21.00 /tree ) We bought 21 of them and all are doing well.

He also sells food plot seed mix, and has researched his products, delveloped his own blends and is a member of the qdma.

I have no affiliation, other than a happy customer.

P.S he is in southern ontario.

Dave
 
Yup Steve is the man I have been talking to him for the last few days he's comin out to our farm to give me advice on where and what to plant.

looking at the superb-uck for my plots as well as a mineral fountain
 
I thought we weren't allowed to post links

rule no# 11. No "hotlinking" email/website info or posting of phone numbers for businesses who do not support the operation of CGN.

to me that means no links allowed to those sites that do not pay to advertise on CGN.
 
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not that expensive unless your planting acres and acres of forage.... to do my 3 60'x100' plots it costs $45 not bad for proven seed you will not get the same stuff at an AG supply that you get from backyardwildlife just look at the pic's of the plants no AG clover grows that big.....again if I was planting over 1acre then I might look at buying lower quality seed from an AG.....talk to any farmer who deals in any seed crop you pay for genetics and research and the better genetics the more they cost.
 
srt4u2nv said:
not that expensive unless your planting acres and acres of forage.... to do my 3 60'x100' plots it costs $45 not bad for proven seed you will not get the same stuff at an AG supply that you get from backyardwildlife just look at the pic's of the plants no AG clover grows that big.....again if I was planting over 1acre then I might look at buying lower quality seed from an AG.....talk to any farmer who deals in any seed crop you pay for genetics and research and the better genetics the more they cost.
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That's what the pretty pictures on the bag make you believe...that somehow its better. It's effective marketing.

Granted, there will be some specific plant species that will not be available at your local co-op.

But clover-red/ white/ alsike/ ladino and various alfalfa's will all be available at a significant discount.

If your want good genetics, purchase, "certified" seed, not "common #1". ;)

But in reality it's a question of seeding rates, proper planting techniques (seed bed prep), fertilizer, weed control, and a good growing season. :)
 
I buy giant white clover and blend it for $2.10/lb, I had to mow our plots 5 times last year and the clover was over the front racks of the ATV. Most of these wildlife companies are just owned by ag groups(ie. bishops and spear seed), you can any of the genetics seperately for a fraction of the price. The deer can't tell what I payed for it.


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lildave said:
I thought we weren't allowed to post links

rule no# 11. No "hotlinking" email/website info or posting of phone numbers for businesses who do not support the operation of CGN.

to me that means no links allowed to those sites that do not pay to advertise on CGN.
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The intent of the law..........

can't believe I just said that.

They dont want any links to sites/companies that would directly compete with the companies that support this site. As there are no supporting companies dealing directly in deer feed, i dont think its a problem
 
beefman said:
That's what the pretty pictures on the bag make you believe...that somehow its better. It's effective marketing.

Granted, there will be some specific plant species that will not be available at your local co-op.

But clover-red/ white/ alsike/ ladino and various alfalfa's will all be available at a significant discount.

If your want good genetics, purchase, "certified" seed, not "common #1". ;)

But in reality it's a question of seeding rates, proper planting techniques (seed bed prep), fertilizer, weed control, and a good growing season. :)
Click to expand...

Well I'm meeting Steve from backyard wildlife this weekend he's coming out to help me with my plots I don't see any AG companies doing stuff like that. I will concede there are good seeds avail else where for cheaper the pics above prove that. This seed is going to cost me $45 split 3 ways so I'm not to concerned about cost. I will use it this year if it does not turn out the way I want it to then I will buy from the AG next year.

The service that Steve has given me for $45 is just crazy he is truly devoted to QDM and if you live close to Belleville he is having a tour of his plots later in the summer. I have seen pics of his plots and the leaves on his clover are the size of your palm seeing as that's the nutrishisous part not the stems it has peeked my interest.
 
srt4u2nv said:
Well I'm meeting Steve from backyard wildlife this weekend he's coming out to help me with my plots I don't see any AG companies doing stuff like that. I will concede there are good seeds avail else where for cheaper the pics above prove that. This seed is going to cost me $45 split 3 ways so I'm not to concerned about cost. I will use it this year if it does not turn out the way I want it to then I will buy from the AG next year.

The service that Steve has given me for $45 is just crazy he is truly devoted to QDM and if you live close to Belleville he is having a tour of his plots later in the summer. I have seen pics of his plots and the leaves on his clover are the size of your palm seeing as that's the nutrishisous part not the stems it has peeked my interest.
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In your first post it was $45 for 3 plots(18,000sqfeet), now its $135 for the same area less than 1/2 an acre, you could seed that for less than $10, I`ve never met Steve and only heard good things but you are paying for that service
 
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