Hi, I'm from Lebanon County looking for a little advice on two small food plots. The 1st plot is about 20yds. x 10yds. & I planted Shot Plot last August and it grew very nice but the deer didn't hardly eat it. We have some trail cam pics of them eating & going through it but by and large they didn't seem that excited about it. That was the 1st yr the plot was planted. I was thinking of planting buckwheat in it this spring and then maybe putting winter rye in it this Sept. We have plans for clearing another plot but we probably won't plant anything till this fall. They're both on a farm so there is also corn & alfalfa fields nearby. These plots will be to try to keep deer on the property and also to hunt over. So basically I was just trying to get a little feedback as to what the best option is. Also we have a swampy area that I was wondering if anyone knew of any plot or kind of tree that could be planted that would attract deer. Thanks!
Food Plot Advice
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Buddy of mine has planted a brassica mix, which is what is in Shot Plot, for the past 7 years in his section of Lebanon County. The deer rarely touch it. I think there is just way too much food in his area for the deer.
Always a good idea to put annuals in new plots. Buckwheat, winter rye are both good ideas. Helps get weeds under control by tillage.
Always a good idea to put annuals in new plots. Buckwheat, winter rye are both good ideas. Helps get weeds under control by tillage.
I planted shot plot last year for the first time. They hammered it. We had corn and a bumper acorn, apple, and pear crop as well so they had other food sources. They ate the forage brassicas about 2 weeks after the first frost and then before we had the 1st big snow they where digging so much around the for turnips it looked like a roto-tiller went through. actually passed on 2 doe the last week of muzzleloader they jumped through the snow to get to the plot. was just nice watching them dig tunnels and also thought there was a chance a buck would show up?
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I'd try a brassica blend again. Sometimes it takes a season to attract the deer to a new type of food. Lime and fertilize when you plant. Two weeks before archery opens, add urea (46-0-0) to give a quick boost of nitrogen for some added growth at killing time. Once the deer start hitting your brassicas they'll be hooked!! It's like crack.
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PL Rohrers in Smoketown carry buckwheat.em23 said:
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Andre's in Montrose (Susquehanna County) carries buckwheat. Planted some last year and the turkeys loved it!! It's also great for fixing nitrogen. Plant it in marginal soils and it'll grow. The next year your nitrogen will be up and you can plant something more attractive for a kill plot.
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Dutch, I read up on buckwheat and from what I found, it does fix nitrogen. It doesn't "increase" it but it draws it up from below depths that are not usable to most plants and "fixes" into the topsoil.
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Buckwheat should not be planted quite yet, even in the southeast. Wait until chance of frost is about gone. It's a fast grower. Better to wait a week than lose it to a frost.
I used buckwheat last year...I put it in Late May. It came up good and the Deer hit it hard until late August.
I would mow it down then and out turnips in. Worked pretty well for me.
Decided to try Imperial Clover this year though....we'll see what works better.
I would mow it down then and out turnips in. Worked pretty well for me.
Decided to try Imperial Clover this year though....we'll see what works better.
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