How To Design A Food Plot Program
Brassica Food Plot Program that is created in big timber settings long and narrow Designs can help attract bigger bucks as its not a wide open field.
What I always like to do when designing a deer food plot program is take a evaluation of the area and the deer herd. Food plots are supplemental so I always look at the habitat as well and evaluate the amount of natural browse as well. When taking a evaluation there is a few things to consider when wanting to know what and when to plant.
looking at a aerial photos on apps such as hunt stand I look at what is around the property roughly a mile in each direction. looking at things such as open fields, big timber settings and what is the agriculture situation. Are they planting beans, and or corn?
Driving around the property as well helps to see how the land lays, looking for deer and just to get a general idea of the area.
Once on the land ill have a better idea of what I would need to plant. When touring the land i am looking at the browse value, the canopy to see if we need more sunlight to increase the tonnage of natural food within.
I would also like to look at the deer maybe by setting trail cameras and looking at the type of browse they are actually eating. When checking the trail camera cards after a few weeks I am looking at one main thing. Do I see ribs showing or not? If I see ribs showing they are hungry and I know I need to do something to increase the food value.
incorporating some green manure back into the soil not only improves organic matter but it will also improve your CEC levels.
Once I gather some basic information with the steps above I then decide on what and when to plant. I need to decide if I need to plant spring/summer plots or just fall plots. D I actually need to try to FEED deer all year with my supplemental program or do I just need to plant a fall food plot to attract them for better deer hunting and herd control.
If I am in AG country and the deer look healthy and I only have say less then a acre of food plots to plant then I most likely will be saving my resources to plant only a fall food plot. Most hunters are only working with small acreage so I am using this as a example.
open timber areas that lack sunlight and has limited browse value. No food for wildlife
If I am in big timber settings most likely the deer will be skinny and there will be lack of natural browse then I will be planting food plots year round because YOU CAN IMPROVE THE HEALTH OF THE HERD!
Now in situations where you are in AG settings and you have many many acres of food plots you can plant then I am planting them year round. Realize that in areas that deer have plenty of food your efforts wont be as rewarding as they would be in areas that lacks food. Deer eat 4-8 pounds of food per day and the highest quality food you can create the better off that deer herd will be.
The entire idea is you have to have realistic goals. If you are planting a 1/4 acre spring and summer food plot in AG areas trying to feed the deer your efforts will not be very rewarding. We all want to feed deer because that is what has been pounded into our head and I am all for it but you have to be realistic. Instead use your resources improving the soil by taking soil samples adding lime and planting things such as buckwheat leading into fall plots. Improving the soil in the spring and summer will only help boost your fall food plot efforts..
Trail camera pictures are a good indication of herd health. Be careful when looking at this in the winter because deer have thicker coats and its not as east to tell as it would be in the spring and summer ehen coats are not as thick.
Remember you can make a difference but you have to stick with it. Its what we do year after year after year is what adds up. You cant start something then stop for a year then start again and expect results. Keep at it and you will be rewarded.