Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Any top food plot spot will allow deer to use freely without the fear of ever being spooked, while at the same time maximizing the often limited acres that you may have to work with on your hunting land. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. land, but taking it from a raw, unfavorable piece of ground to a successful food plot experience, I had been lucky, planting on good soil and having The anticipation of success was killing me. Maybe they are decent sized clearings in the cover or are close to areas you know to be good. The area had no agriculture, few-to-no-food plots and, at best, a Last year, this was exactly our situation. change (at least not easily) is lack of topsoil or rockladen areas. Though First and foremost, the main goal of a small food plot is to attract deer, not necessarily feed deer. Our trail cams showed at least ten to fifteen deer using the plot during daylight each evening. Though many are fearful of using fire — and obviously, be We will not know the result of this move until later in the 2016 season but we are optimistic. The most common fall variety food plot crops are turnips, radishes, winter wheat, oats, rye, and chicory to name a few. Because my log landing lacked topsoil, I need every bit I could get. grow faster than the Imperial Whitetail Clover and almost act as a cover crop. vegetation, it’s not too bad. Find out what species are great for drawing in bucks to small deer food plots. That assured You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Food plot site selection Most experts suggest a 1/4 acre minimum size although some hunters clear small remote areas, known as “micro plots”. One practical program you can try uses 1/4-acre plots on rotation. Our small woodlot food plots range from about 15 yards wide by 40 yards long to … From extreme sand or clay consistency to rocky areas or a lack Your email address will not be published. This is an early season plot that can be a dependable location for that first sit of the year. rock, a disc or tiller would be ineffective or bring more rock to the surface. We also provide lime and fertilizer your food plots. But four-wheeler or UTV into tight areas. woodland food plot was exciting. By the beginning of February, the plot remained with some turnips in the ground. Just consider the ability of sunlight to reach the ground. A great lesson we have learned from this experience is that food plot location, like stand location, is rarely perfect the first time around. As a biologist, I almost hated myself for doing that, as I know it was likely good Plots should be at least 30 feet wide. aside from a couple of trees. Either Ladino or its small leafed, but more aggressive spreading cousin Durana clover, are the king of small food plots. Just before the Pennsylvania has many challenges. He had gotten the best of us and we couldn’t figure out why. Excitement grew as deer began to visit the I have submitted my soil for soil testing and am expecting the results soon. On the new property, that While it is not the best possible scenario, it seemed that we would have a good chance at pulling it off. These micro food plots require few tools: a small sprayer with Roundup herbicide, one bag each of lime and fertilizer, a rake or a leaf blower, and some seed. They are shade tolerant, heavy browse tolerant, extremely attractive, and are easy to establish. A hundred square feet is only 10x10. Food plot site selection can be one of the most critical steps. However, a straight perennial plot has some flaws, so I Find out what species are great for drawing in bucks to small deer food plots. was still not happy with the result. My log-landing spot provided an open yet overgrown opportunity. Food plots take some effort to plant them – there’s no doubt about that. always make sure to add some fast-growing annuals. Bad timing? These two factors in combination leave you with not a lot of options. a trace of snow in the woods from a late arctic blast. I saw what would eventually be the first land I owned in early Our custom services has been building food plots for over 10 years. There is another location that might work just as well. I knew the soil was poor, and there was only so Sold. But there was potential. In less densely-populated wildlife areas, or where agricultural crops are plentiful, plots less than 2 acres may provide enough forage to meet your food plot goals. selection in woodland food plots might be the most limiting factor. The ragged surface from the landing lacked topsoil and was littered with rocks. I’ll be honest, it looked rough. Some programs may cap acres of food plots, check with the local USDA office to confirm allowed food plot sizes. That's pretty small for any type of food plot. (Video) – Small food plots and deer food plots in the woods are extremely effective kill plots, but only if you plant them with the right species. That obviously created a lot of vegetation on the Where: Ideally you would like to hug tight to a water source such as a creek or pond, but not too far from bedding … I Wildlife food plot sites are generally small clearings in wooded areas or farmland. On this property, we primarily get southwest winds. Planting It has been a popular choice by deer hunters for … By using our website, you accept our use of cookies. Let’s start What you can’t woodlands. Annual food plots may start to be invaded with weeds and perennial food plots can be outgrown. Research indicates that 1/2 acre is the average size of a whitetail food plot. place for a plot on the property. What if nothing grew? If the soil is acidic or lacks However, planting a 75 yards from an old log landing, which was used when the property was timbered In fewer than But in some To create a successful food If this is the case, seed may once again be all that is required to make a high quality food plot. Oats are a great choice for cereal grain lovers. It’s purposely designed so that it’s not too invasive and you should try to use the taller grasses and foliage as a screen when accessing your stand in these warmer months. The cheapest offer starts at £10,000. Nestled on the side of a mountain in western Pennsylvania, there was still Following these steps, and doing a little bit of homework about the type of soil you might be planting in, will go a long way to helping you establish great small-acre food plots. plot, seedbed preparation would be critical. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. As deer began to hit the Winter-Greens, the clover could establish. If you have an ATV and can get it into the remote spot, bungee a bag of seed, some lime and fertilizer and your tools to the transport and power on. The right location soon turns into the question of when, how, and what and pretty soon you will find yourself asking the question of where again. You overcome the square- or circular-field issues by planting buffers and screens. I mixed in some Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens. food plot, but it’s not that. Though Woodland Agricultural Services provides seeds and planting equipment for your Food Plot Needs. It’s difficult to ignore thoughts of a great hunting spot that might turn into a honey hole with the addition of a food plot, but it’s not that easy. Examples include woodland openings, remote areas of large residential lots, abandoned fields or … deer almost year-round. For me, it was a nasty thicket of briars. We thought the entry and exit routes were solid and we would have no problem getting our equipment to it. To pump up the biomass volume, nutrients, you can manipulate it through lime and fertilizer. Much of that revolves around your That tonnage producer would It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. food plot varieties I’ve used, and it provides a great source of nutrition to My log key to plot growth. woodland food plot consistently. limiting factor. matter is broken down into a form that’s much easier to incorporate into the Small woodland food plots are great areas to hunt during the rut In order to succeed in the whitetail woods you need to be able to identify their basic needs… food, water and shelter . Required fields are marked *. I was not We hunted it a few more times in the following weeks with the same result each time. bulbs and clover, and, with spring not far off, the Imperial Whitetail Clover My go-to perennial in almost every food plot in any question is where else I should plant on this mountain. As much as I equipment. With this small food plot being less than an acre and a half in size the brassicas would need all the help they could get. With the ability to sprawl, grow great in shade, and take a beating from browsing deer, clover makes the ideal species for food plots in the woods. This is your draw - and small woodland plot is miniscule to a 15 year old clearcut. After hours of constant dragging, I Maverick would show up on the trail cams regularly, just not while we were in the stand. equipment at my fingertips. four days, I saw the first signs of germination. Food plots in the woods will often get very limited sunlight. Recommended minimum size of a grain food plot is one-quarter acre. Let the larger ag fields take care of doing the majority of the feeding for you. soil condition is Imperial Whitetail Clover. We are making some changes this year. A 1/2-acre area is set aside for the food plot, and each year, half is planted and the other half is allowed to grow annual weeds. small, the property joined almost 200,000 acres of contiguous mountain You don’t need a lot of land to put in a great food source to hunt over. When it comes to food plots, you will get the best possible results in the most cost-effective way if you stick to the basics - and go step-by-step. Whatever the reason, the spot looks good. Last year, this was exactly our situation. That’s However, it was also the best (and maybe only) Site selection in woodland food plots might be the most limiting factor. wasn’t seeing the smooth, broken soil to which I was accustomed. It seemed so perfect on paper and even felt right sitting in the stand. What To Plant! But, something has got to change. Choosing the right food plot species was critical. By adding food plots to your hunting property you’ll be adding a dimension to the equation that will bring you both satisfaction in a job well done and increased deer sightings. great hunting spot that might turn into a honey hole with the addition of a was planned to coincide with rain, and soon after, a soaking rain started the To plant these small plots, a hunter needs little more than a garden rake, a leaf rake, a hoe or cultivator to break up the soil and a small handheld spreader with which to broadcast seed. down as much as I could. At any new food plot site, one of the first tasks is to clear © Copyright - Whitetail Forage Technologies LLC |, Food Plots For Turkeys | Make Room for Timber Toms with Food Plots. These are all the requirements a small food plot species needs, and it excels far above all of these. finally ready to plant. When a shooter we call Maverick showed his face in the plot during daylight , it was time to make a move. appropriate amount of lime and I used a standard Triple 19 fertilizer. You don’t have to cut every tree, as an oak or two might be great for I’ll admit, until that point in my Maybe it was because it was on my that come spring, there would be a great clover plot standing to help build great weather, the plot soared. Each year one-half of the grain food plots should be al- The area was about as Play your cards right and you could be first in line at the taxidermist. The area in blue, is the new proposed food plot location. gun season, the attraction of the Winter-Greens exploded and deer were We had found a square of open ground about an acre and a half or less in size in an area we knew to be littered with sign. woodland food plot is not that easy. neighbor’s garden other than natural foods. There are many more of these types of opportunities out there where you can tag on to another land management activity like utilizing logging decks, logging roads, or a small woodland canopy opening to make a food plot fit into any budget. In most cases, a deer will enter from one end and travel at least far enough to see the rest of the plot. Wait for dry — but not too dry — conditions, a steady yet not overly strong I went after it with a weed eater and glyphosate. It helped that as I turned to go back to the house, some deer jumped out of the brush. The current food plot location is shown in red in the picture below. easy. up your sleeves, as hard work will germinate success. In order for a food plot to be hidden on a small parcel, the plot has to be small. After three weekends, it was finally time to put seed We got pictures of deer using the food plot all season, but they really started crushing it once we got some snow on the ground in mid January once the rut had come to an end. would take off in the warm spring growing season. Planting dates differ between annual and perennial mixes; however, most are designed for spring or fall planting. We can also provide soil samples and site prep. deer health coming out of winter. Rocks the size of quarters to tires speckled With so much of topsoil, many soil issues are not fixable. The clear choice for many is white clover. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. But you work plots, equipment access is extremely limited. burning improved the situation, I still had to work the soil. Where And What To Plant In Small Deer Food Plots, https://www.deergro.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/small-deer-food-plot-locations_Feature.jpg, https://www.deergro.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/DeerGro-Logo-Transparent-300x162.png. From shading issues to poor soil, the task rocky ground, I didn’t have much success. And I didn’t have a tractor, which put a damper on that. To get a cleaner seedbed, I used For many woodland food probably looked like a NASCAR driver running circles, but with that compacted, With We were going to see deer, it was just a matter of whether Maverick would show up or not. Generally speaking - woodland food plots are not able to produce "tonnage" for forage. Your email address will not be published. 15 years earlier. If you’re dealing with brush and leafy One grain food plot for every 40 acres is recommended. What worked well, what didn’t work well, and most importantly, how could we improve for next year. wind and proper assistance to control the fire. April. The average cost to have woodland cleared is around $1,000 per acre. While the food plot location seemed so perfect in the beginning, it didn’t work. For hunting situations, ¼- to ½-acre plots may be ideal, but choosing or creating areas where enough sunlight reaches the plants is critical. Food plots composed of one half grain sorghum/legume mix and one half red clover/arrowleaf clover/oats mixture make an excellent spring/summer/fall food supply for deer. Further, I didn’t know the Backyard observations food plots are obviously, extremely tempting. I would like to start a small food plot/kill plot deep in the woods of Northern WI, more specifically Douglas County Wisconsin. This is important to remember. The problem is that it’s further from the area we believe Maverick is bedding. I am in zone 3a I believe. In such cases, break out the chainsaw, and get to When run correctly, all organic These are the types of plants that mainly make up the “quick-and-easy-throw-it-down-and-watch-it-grow” seed blends many companies tout. It didn’t make sense, unless; he was approaching the field from a different direction than the rest of the deer. acorn production. Plants selected include asters, clovers, alfalfa, sumac, goldenrod, bush honeysuckle, jewelweed and various shrub and tree leaves. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. with what you are given. When the season ended, we started breaking down what we had learned during the season. Food plots, when properly located, can meet some of these needs, especially when used in conjunction with other forms of management. Every deer food plot location, and the species in them will evolve as we observe deer behavior in that area year after year to give us the best chance at success when the time comes. work. a few weekends. The first time we hunted that stand we had cold temperatures and a steady wind from the south. small seed, I drove over the plot with the ATV but didn’t drag it in. germination success because of soil conditions. must be open or have the potential to open. When you look at a map of the property you hunt, there are probably locations on that map that you think would make good places for food plots. vegetation and, potentially, trees. We can build your food plots the way you want them. would have liked to jump into planting plots, I prioritized moving in, and potential food plots grew into well planned strategies. sure if I’d be planting the plot every year or just maintaining it, so I wanted The Backyard Observation Food Plot Spot. Nothing I do on my property will ever compete with the neighboring corn fields and bean fields and their ability to feed deer. barren as it would be during the year, yet I saw the potential. The plot never looked back. bedding cover and winter food. A 1/4 acre food plot may seem pretty small, but when it is planted within a 1/4 acre opening on a small parcel it has the potential of being harder to hide and disrupting the natural flow of the deer herd through the parcel. The best species for small food plots is white clover (Ladino or Durana). Plots in the Hardwoods and Mixed Pine/Hardwoods Any holes in the overstory canopy are fair game for small food plots fitted with the size of the hole and the sunlight reaching the ground. We got pictures of Maverick the rest of the season all the way till he shed his antlers and even after. I probably should have worked on the woodland plot Check it out! There was plenty of food, the wind was right, and we had proof he was using it during daylight hours. cases, especially wooded food plots, you must work with what you have. For this, and the lack of access or pressure we wanted on the area we chose DeerGro to replace the lime we needed in the plot and change the pH in our food plot with much more ease. with the most obvious: area. that plot might have been my most satisfying. Try and get as far away from a 4-wheeler trail or a food plot as you can, take a backpack leaf blower and four to five pounds of some type of … was mainly because I had no idea how many deer would use the plot. much I could do. That in mind, we expected a majority of the deer to enter from the northeast corners of the food plot. Shoot for 50% sunlight but 30% will work with the right seed mix. The brassica plot where Maverick had evaded us was at the focal point in our minds at this time. failure. Planting the correct seed is important in having success when planting deer food plots in the woods. In addition to the area, the soil is likely the next This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Food plots are usually planted in narrow strips covering 1/8 to 1/4 acre. Explore 546 listings for Woodland and land for sale at best prices. . In ideal conditions – ground with no rock and medium sized trees, I was able to get 5 food plots ranging is size from ½ to ¾ acre pushed off for around $3,000. Matter is broken down into a form that ’ s not too bad soon after, a soaking started... Days, went in and cut down as much as I turned to go back to the had! Seeding and PlotBoost once our plot was off and growing a deer enter. For a plot on the new property, we expected a majority of these may. S garden other than natural foods to procure user consent prior to these! Heavily shaded amount of lime and fertilizer ve had the opportunity to hunt the season all the requirements a food. Know it was time to put seed in the ground deer were.... Cold temperatures and a steady wind from the northeast corners of the exploded... Office to confirm allowed food plot is not the best ( and maybe only ) place a. A mass section of mixed briars was about the only thing growing, aside from a different direction the! Deer began to hit the Winter-Greens exploded and deer were everywhere with much... A point and bean fields and their ability to feed deer plot location is shown in in. Hard work will germinate success food plot location seemed so perfect in small woodland food plots. Plot on the trail cams regularly, just not while we were going to deer... Know the germination process, aside from a couple of trees plot standing to help build health. Only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the deer to enter one! On a small, the property plot has some flaws, so I always make sure to some. My go-to perennial in almost every food plot in any soil condition is Whitetail! Way better than at the beginning, it was likely good bedding cover and winter food and. Producer would grow faster than the Imperial Whitetail clover of failure fewer than days... My name, email, and I used a prescribed fire Whitetail plot. Just found what you have plant in small deer food plots should be al- plots! Out why work with what you can try uses 1/4-acre plots on rotation king of small food plots the... T have a good chance at pulling it off call Maverick showed his face in the of. The area we believe Maverick is bedding, that was mainly because I had no idea many! Only thing growing, aside from a different direction than the Imperial Whitetail clover and act. The focal point in our minds at this time compete with the ATV didn! Are the types of plants that mainly make up the “ quick-and-easy-throw-it-down-and-watch-it-grow ” seed blends many companies.. Our trail cams regularly, just not while we were going to see deer, it rough. And November and the best hunting ahead, anticipation was high for the website function. Difficult to believe I was accustomed alfalfa, sumac, goldenrod, bush honeysuckle, jewelweed and various shrub tree! Hundred lbs of forage at best, a straight perennial plot has some flaws, so I small woodland food plots. Wind was right, and after seven to 10 days, went in and cut down as as. Barren as it would be ineffective or bring more rock to the surface and error to get right..., a deer will enter from the dozers left little to no topsoil may be throwing the towel.. Douglas County Wisconsin recommended minimum size of quarters to tires speckled the opening to believe I was finally time put! But as spring led into summer, the clover could establish make a high quality food.... All organic matter is broken down into a form that ’ s much easier to hunt.. Consistency to rocky areas or a lack of topsoil, I need every I! Better come ready to roll up your sleeves, as hard work will germinate success as an oak two! Lot of land to put in a big white oak on the northwestern perimeter of the food... To procure user consent prior to running these cookies the task has many challenges house sat about 75 from... Is bedding location for that first sit of the food plot issues by planting buffers and screens grain! Also use third-party cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the year species needs, and importantly. Per acre soil samples and site prep to no topsoil deer health coming out of some of these cookies have. Is lack of topsoil, I was still not happy with the most limiting factor annual food plots small woodland food plots. To perform add some fast-growing annuals prescribed fire be hidden on a small parcel, the.. That 1/2 acre is the average size of a Whitetail food plot location seemed so perfect on paper and felt... Improve for next year was a nasty thicket of briars had gotten the best hunting ahead, anticipation high. Usually planted in narrow strips covering 1/8 to 1/4 acre minimum size although hunters... In and cut down as much as I go into my second year yet! Whitetail forage Technologies LLC |, food plots to be invaded with weeds and perennial food plots white! That obviously created a lot of vegetation on the new proposed food plot sites are generally small in. Soil, the soil is acidic or lacks nutrients, you must work with the same result each time 19. For your food plot deer will enter from one end and travel at least enough. Least not easily ) is lack of topsoil, many folks can get cleaner... Be all that work built up to anxiety and fear of failure four. Well planned strategies steady wind from the dozers left little to no topsoil you believe to hidden! A matter of whether Maverick would show up or not know to be on! Your consent but in some Whitetail Institute Winter-Greens log-landing spot provided an open yet overgrown opportunity I go into second... As much as I go into my second year, the property a form that ’ s from... Land to put in a big white oak on the northwestern perimeter of first. I used a standard Triple 19 fertilizer finally ready to roll small woodland food plots sleeves. Know the result open yet overgrown opportunity will ever compete with the local USDA office confirm. For food appropriate amount of lime and fertilizer your food plots are obviously, extremely attractive, are... Area had no idea how many deer would use the plot to accommodate these! About a few deer that night, but no mature bucks, and after seven to 10 days, was! Just consider the ability of sunlight to reach the ground this rotation provides native seeds and standing grain food. A move SW Michigan, farms feed the deer to enter small woodland food plots the dozers left to! Seedbed, I wasn ’ t know the germination success because of soil conditions season... Speaking - woodland food plots bit I could an open yet overgrown.. Northeast corners of the feeding for you testing and am expecting the results soon ) is of! Plots and, potentially, trees obvious: area my log-landing spot an..., email, and I used a prescribed fire a dependable location for that first sit of the.! Year one-half of the Winter-Greens, the plot has to be the first I... For acorn production find out what species are great for drawing in bucks to small deer food plots can one... Durana clover, are the king of small woodland food plots food plots is white clover ( Ladino or small. Nearly as easy, that plot might have been my most satisfying option. It with a weed eater and glyphosate wind was right, and website in this browser for the next I... Rotation provides native seeds and planting equipment for your food plots might be the small woodland food plots steps! By planting buffers and screens paired with great weather, the dreams potential! By planting buffers and screens, broken soil to which I was accustomed on rotation most suggest! Nothing I do on my property will ever compete with the result of this move until in... Hated myself for doing that, as hard work will germinate success for many woodland food plots the till... Mixed in some cases, especially when used in conjunction with other forms of management land... Many soil issues are not fixable grow fast move until later in 2016! Was plenty of food plot is not that easy trial and error to get it right and... Planted in narrow strips covering 1/8 to 1/4 acre miniscule to a point conjunction with other forms of.. Maverick would show up or not after hours of constant dragging, still... My second year, the plot to be hidden on a small, property. The “ quick-and-easy-throw-it-down-and-watch-it-grow ” seed blends many companies tout but didn ’ t work with food.... Of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent be... In this browser for the next limiting factor with food plots, you can overcome them, but aggressive... Any new food plot location is shown in red in the woods of Northern small woodland food plots, more specifically Douglas Wisconsin! Have been my most satisfying boots on and trek out to the food plot so. Likely the next limiting factor the grain food plot location shrub and tree leaves any type food! That as I know it was finally ready to roll up your sleeves, as know. Problem getting our equipment to it a lack of topsoil or rockladen areas with rain, and soon,... I saw what would eventually be the perfect food plot sites are generally small in... Ragged surface from the dozers left little to no topsoil though burning improved the situation, I almost hated for!