Property Management

Campbery

Campbery

CGN Regular
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Location
Bruce Co., Ontario
Hey guys, I was thinking about putting a couple "foodplots" in our hunting property next year. Anyone have experience with this? What types of plants to grow? Anything else I can do to improve the place for deer and turkey?
 
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Foodplots need some serious research... what type of soil and what is already there for plants and crops! We have three large properties with several large and small food plots and have been adding to them for about six years.
I have had very good results with Bishops seeds we have tried several including Biologic and the Bishops is the best.
You could feed the Turkeys and the Deer all winter if you wish but this is a serious commitment.... once you start you cannot stop and it can be very expensive.
If the snow gets deep you can pack trails with a snowmobile and you can cut browse (cedar) and brush pile it for the deer.
 
feeding cervids = CWD, I would think seriously about concerntrating deer around a feeding station/s This is ecxactly what happened in the riding mountain area in MB. Growing a perennial forage may be a better bet. I would try establish something legiminous like alfalfa/grass mix. If I were planting annual it would have to be corn...they love the corn, doesnt pack down under snow either.
 
Take a good look at the regs too. As far as I know, putting in a food plot in Alberta is considered baiting, as is putting out feeders and supplement licks or salt blocks.

Putting in a cover crop to prevent erosion, on the other hand...

Cheers
Trev
 
Thanks Bigredd, what kinds of plants do you use in those product lines? Clover, corn, etc. Just wondering what will do well with our snowfall and frost dates. Not really thinking of a feeder type scenario. More like cutting trails, planting certain crops, mineral licks, brush piles etc. Campbery
 
Been thinking about it for years now but the soil on my lots are really sandy.

Plums tree's seem to take to it o.k. and the deer really like it.

I've heard sugar beets are really good in a sandy soil as well.
 
trevj said:
Take a good look at the regs too. As far as I know, putting in a food plot in Alberta is considered baiting, as is putting out feeders and supplement licks or salt blocks.

Putting in a cover crop to prevent erosion, on the other hand...

Cheers
Trev
Click to expand...


How can planting a crop be considered baiting?? I hunt fields all the time.

I would be surprised if you are right, I have never seen that in the regs.
 
You can buy food plot seed. Shooter's Choice in Waterloo carries it, I think. Plus there are a host of how-to books.
 
The CWD thing is overstated and not a concern when you already have standing crops in an area. All the food plot does is give them different and healthy choices.
CWD and Tuberculosis are far more likely in areas of high density where the animals will yard in big groups.
 
There's a whole lot more to it than just "planting some seeds".

Try your search engine ..."Wildlife Food Plots" and look for some
of the more technical advice offered by both the stock & seed companies
and by government & NGO conservation agencies. A lot of the woodlot
management techniques espoused by the Ruffed Grouse Society for Grouse
and Woodcock are also very beneficial to deer and other species as well.

It is, as BIGREDD says, quite a commitment ... and not a "throw a hundred bucks at it and see if it brings in a few more deer" approach. The
food plot is only one part of an effective management plan.
 
I hunt in Cayuga which is deffinately farm country(or Indian country, depending on how you look at things) I have seen LOTS of crop damage from deer. They are always into the corn and soya plants. Both of which preserve well thru the winter unlike some of the leaf only plants. The area I hunt is rich in corn and soya. The particular farm I hunt on is mainly hay. Red clover, alf-alfa and timothy. After the first frost, the clover sours and the other plants die of fast. Back to corn and soya. They freeze well and the deer eat them all year round. Bonus is that they also attract turkey.

If I had my choice I would plant an apple orchard. But do not have my own property or the time to manage it. When there is no fruit the deer love to eat the sweet branches from the trees.

If you are going to plant an American product be aware it is designed for the American climate and may not be much good after first frost.
Salt licks work best in the spring as the deer are searching for minerals to build their antlers. A good thing for keeping deer iun your area

Do some research, I would deffinately plant corn and soya as my prime food plot. and some of the other stuff to keep them interested while the corn and soya are maturing. Come see me in August and I can show you acres of deer damage in the neighbouring corn fields.

Where you plant the stuff is almos as important as what you plant. Always plant it close to anything the deer can use as cover to get to and from your food plot.
 
Thanks for the info guys, tuns of material out there on the subject. We are planning on putting out some supplemental minerals in the next couple weeks to help with the fawning and antlers.
We have lots of good trees, apples especially.
Also huge amount of corn and soybeans on bordering properties.
After turkey season we'll cut some trails and put in a couple 1/2-1 acre perennial plots (clover mix). Should be a fun summer project
 
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