Frost Seeding Clover For Deer
Frost seeding clover for deer on a woods food plot 6 weeks before spring green up.
I am sure everyone has heard about frost seeding clover. After all it is a powerful way to maintain and also establish a excellent perennial food plot for deer and turkey. I have used this method for many years as well as others. There is a reason why it works and a few reasons why it doesn’t. Lets talk about it!
Frost seeding into a annual food plot of brassica from the year before is a great way to get started with frost seeding.
When frost seeding clovers there is a few different ways to do it.
You can frost seed into a existing perennial clover plot that was already established the year before. When doing this some guys like to cut back to about half the rate of seed for a new plot. For me I like to use the same amount. Reason being is not all of it will germinate. You have birds that will eat some seed as well. You can’t really use to much clover so use enough that the areas will fill in. You want a thick stand of clover!
You can frost seed into a Food plot that was a annual from the year before. Say you had a food plot that was brassicas the year before and now you want a perennial clover plot. Well sling some seed into that and you can establish a amazing food plot. Again make sure to use enough seed! One of the biggest issues is people not using enough seed in food plots then wonder why they have weeds and bare spots.
Frost seed at a time that is right for your area. Typically I like to do it about 5 weeks before spring green up. It needs to be at a time when temps get above freezing during the day and below freezing at night. Reason being is you need the soil to expand and contact for maximum germination let mother nature work its magic.
Also when frost seeding I make sure to use a blend. When planting clovers its important to use blends so that plot can be attractive all year. Varieties of clover will be palatable at different times of year. That way you always have something working for you, the deer and turkeys.
Frost seeding a blend into a existing clover food plot that’s tucked into the woods.
As you can see frost seeding clover is a great way to maintain and establish food plots. In some cases having a clover food plot is a great way to feed wildlife for many months out of the year. Turkeys also love to get in clover food plots to search for bugs. A lot of guys think turkeys are in the clover to actually eat the clover. They are but the main reason is bugs.
What happens is on those cool mornings you get a dew on the leaves. When the sun comes out it heats up and the dew starts to evaporate and then you get the bugs. The turkeys know this and you will see them in the clover plots bugging. Take advantage of this and set up over the plots for turkey season and you will have amazing results!
Turkey hunting over clover food plots is a great way to see a lot of toms and have the chance of harvesting one!