| 1/4 acre worth it??? |
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By:
Scoot
Date:29-Jun-12
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I'm considering putting a food plot in this piece of woods. I want the plot to be on the East side of the woods. I've got three basic options, as I see it: 1) put the plot in the abandoned farmstead on the SE side of the property, 2) cut out an acre to an acre and a half opening in the woods, 3) plant it in 1-2 acres in the woods immediately NE of the abandoned farm yard.
Although option #3 is my long-term plan, it's not currently a viable option- no point in discussing it further...
Option #2 appeals to me the most, however, it'd take more money and/or time than I currentl have to devote to it, so I'm leaning away from this.
Option #3 would be pretty easy to do, but it's only a 1/4 acre opening and farm implements will be frequently driven across a small path within that 1/4 acre.
So... option #3 won't work right now, option #2 is expensive and will take quite a bit of time and effort (I don't have a ton of time or money right now), and I'm worried option #3 will be a complete waste of time because it's not big enough.
Thoughts?
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By:
Scoot
Date:29-Jun-12
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Here's the piece of woods.
Here's a zoomed in shot of the SE corner of the pic above- the abandoned farm yard. Obviously (I think), the plot would go in the middle of the opening where there is grass now. FYI- I believe there'd be considerably less shade for most of the growing season for brassica (leaves will be off the trees here about five or six weeks after the brassica will be planted.
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By:
Mark Watkins
Date:29-Jun-12
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Probably not, but it will make you "feel good!" My vote is go for it and try with something that is unique to the ag crops in your area. Buck Forage Oats comes to mind because it is an attractant.
I really like the pinch point, just to the "north" for a rut stand!
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By:
Jaquomo_feral
Date:29-Jun-12
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Scoot, there's a mushroom patch near the creek bottom in my plains spot that is less than 1/4 acre, and deer come there nearly every morning to root around after they leave the winter wheat field.
Sooo....
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By:
BowMad23
Date:29-Jun-12
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If you could get something in there that the deer would much prefer I think they would hit it. Is your main access coming in right at this area? If so, I think that'll keep them out of it come season. Any thoughts on the highline r.o.w.? Just thinking out loud...
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By:
Scoot
Date:30-Jun-12
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Thanks for the feedback, fellas. BowMad, she doesn't own the land just West of the highline wires, so I hate to try to pull deer that way. During the gun season someone always gun hunts just on the West side of the wires and I don't care to do anything to help them out. Plus, the prevailing West winds make me want to put something on the East end.
Jaq, it sounds like I've got a chance!
Mark, the "pinch point" you're referring to isn't quite what it looks like. Just East of the pic the woods actually disappear and it's open field. Deer do come from East to West into the area you're referring to, but about 95% of this traffic is well after legal shooting hours. However, when the crop rotation is right, that general area can be good.
Part of the problem is that the crops in this area are beans, corn, and sugarbeets. The deer LOVE all three of these crops. However, my thinking is that a brassica will work well when the first frost hits- before sugarbeat and corn harvest and after the beans have come off. Who knows...
I haven't given up on the idea of opening up a spot in the woods. However, I need to find the right person for the job. Hopefully I can find a local guy to do this on the cheap.
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By:
Pat Lefemine
Date:30-Jun-12
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Scoot, lots of us started with small plots like yours. It's a great learning experience. Go for it!
Keep us posted on your progress.
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Date:30-Jun-12
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Yes, small is the way to start, and that looks to hold a lot of potential. Your deer density will dictate what you need to plant, so experiment, learn and enjoy! Good luck and keep us posted.
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By:
ctdad
Date:30-Jun-12
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I put in plots that are 1/10 of an acre and they do attract deer.
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By:
Iowa bound
Date:30-Jun-12
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We have planted several plots that size only to find them completely gone by the seasons start and we were not able to keep them established due to over population. We now plant them a little later in the year. Had pics of 14 deer on a plot at one time. Either way you will have fun and put out your cameras, they will come....
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By:
Foodplot
Date:02-Jul-12
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I would call it a kill plot at that size.I have that size plots for kill plots.The main thing is that the deer don't eat it up before you get to hunt it.The deer feel safe in those small plots.Plant it!!!!
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By:
badlander
Date:02-Jul-12
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Scoot -
As many have said 1/4 acre can be good, you just have to be selective as to what you put in there. Soybeans would probably be a waste. You mention brassicus which the deer will browse but not too badly until the frosts come.
You and I have spoken before and if I recall you were only about 90 miles South of where I hunt, the deer hit our turnips heavily a few weeks after rifle season, usually during the muzzleloader season and until the end of the year.
With all of the ag around you, a corn plot could be a good possibility too - that way once the field crops are gone you'll have a few weeks of being the only food around - but if you have high deer density that may only be a couple of weeks? Also, ive never had much luck hunting clover plots, but with vehicle traffic and heavy browse a clover plot could do well there too?
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By:
Canuck
Date:02-Jul-12
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hey there, I'm doing it for my first experience at plots. Check in out on the food plot site. H Hergott/Canuck. Mine is maybe based on a different strategy. There are thousands of acres of crops right next to my property. I am planting brassica in mid August to draw deer in December crops are off and snow covers the spillage. I am also planting it in the staging area near there bedding area (all property that I own). good luck and post your stuff on the plot site.
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By:
milnrick
Date:02-Jul-12
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Between '78 and '84 I was stationed outside of Sumter SC, I hunted a few local farms, the swamp and Ft. Jackson.
I often hunted along fire breaks and swamp edges and can't tell you how many micro patches (10' X 50') of oats and rye grass I would occasionally find growing on the base. I never figured out how those patches got there (I was pretty niave back then) but I was sure glad to hunt over them in the evenings.
One evening I had an older guy walked up to me while I was waiting to check a buck I'd killed in at the Check Station. He said "Rick, I saw your truck over by Firebreak XYZ, were you hunting the rye grass patch?"
He said explained that he and a few other guys had been planting grass and oats for years and that while he wouldn't tell me where they where, I was welcome to hunt the patches if I ever found them.
Point is I don't think size really matters, if you plant something they like, they'll probably show up to eat it, again and again.
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By:
Scoot
Date:12-Jul-12
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Update: I'm going to clear out a place in the woods just North of the old farmstead. I'll put it back far enough to be tough to see from outside the woods. My goal is to open up enough area to get adequate sunlight in there for a decent plot.
One question: on the S and E side of the plot, is there a different plant or tree that I can plant that'll do better in more shade? How about an apple tree- are there apple tree options that do better in the shade? If yes, I'd sure think that'd be a good option- I'd have oak trees on the edges, apple trees on one side, and brassica throughout most of it.
I'm having the woods cleared this coming week and a buddy and I are lined up to roll up our sleeves immediately after that and get to work. Should be fun!
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By:
stonecold
Date:13-Jul-12
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I started a food plot two years ago just a little larger than the 1/4 acre that you are thinking about. I planted a fall mix of oats and rye. The deer are always around the plot from late October thru Dec. Have take 3 to 4 from the plot both years. Take your time and kill the existing grass and weeds before you plant. Good luck.
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By:
Stikboman
Date:17-Jul-12
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with big ag fields around it is unlikely that the deer will concentrate on your plots entirely. so my thought is to plant something very attractive, regardless of size, they will at least hit it on the way to the ag fields.
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By:
Scoot
Date:18-Jul-12
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It looks to me like no matter what I do, I'm going to have some ground on the S and E side of the plot that are relatively shaded. Any suggestions on what I can plant in these areas that won't require as much direct sunlight as the brassicus? I'm wondering about apple trees along the S and E side- they won't get too high and won't create too much shade. However, are there varieties that don't require a ton of direct sunlight?
