Food Plots for Deer

[VTSasquatch]

Hi guys: I need some advice. I have a property in New England that is 6 1/2 hours from my home so my food plot work has been a bit restricted. I have a few small plots but I want to connect two to make it one large plot. Here are a couple pics. In the first pic you see the northern plot (planted to rye) - facing east - and the area on the right of the pic is brush and small trees that I need to clear. The second pic is the lower plot and the plot in the prior pic is directly behind the brush (i.e. this is a pic of the back side of the brush I need to clear.

Here is the equipment I have:
A 30 hp diesel Massey Ferguson with a loader and subsoiler
A 750 cc Atv with a disc harrow, sprayer and brush mower
Chainsaws
A 4x4 truck and a tow strap (I've pulled stumps and small trees with it.

I am also planning to get a 5' box scraper with scarifers that I think I could set low to pull some of the roots out.

How would you guys tackle this job? I know a dozer would be ideal but I don't have access to one.

 

[MMagis]

Unless it’s worse than what it looks like, it appears any brush hog could take care of that. Unless the trees have to go too? Your sub-soiler will do a decent job of pulling up roots.

 

[DG 225]

I did my clearing with a skid steer fit my food plots and it worked excellent. My local dealer rented me the machine, delivered it, and picked it up when I was done. Good hunting!

 

[Ford tractor]

Hire a dozer for a day (about $1000).

 

[Quickster2]

Not what you want to hear but I would plant more brush to make the food plots more secure to the animals. We have much more luck with smaller plots planted in different types of forage than the larger plots for killing deer. If all you want is food for the animals than larger is better. I would rotate cool and warm weather type blends for a killing plot.

 

[Boeing]

Quickster, I noticed that you said "ROTATE crops"..... I want to plant 3 or 4 small plots in my Virginia woods and I was planning on planting BOTH early and late crops at the same time and in the same plots and thought they would come up at different times. Is this wrong logic?

 

[foggy1111]

smaller narrow plots will provide more security for the deer during daylight hours.....which is when you can see 'em and shoot 'em. Be careful about opening too much up....IMO.

Here is a pic of one of our best plots. "Thin is in".

 

[beenthere]

I think foggy1111 has the right idea IF hunting is in the plan. A few pear and apple trees along the edges too will help.

 

[Thomas]

I would hog down what I could than take another look at project.
Leaving tree here and there will make the deer feel safer as they feed,also heavy brush line.
Plant some local wild apple trees from the area.
Does VT offer program to do sample soil?

 

[MMagis]

Quickster, I noticed that you said "ROTATE crops"..... I want to plant 3 or 4 small plots in my Virginia woods and I was planning on planting BOTH early and late crops at the same time and in the same plots and thought they would come up at different times. Is this wrong logic?

Yes, that is the wrong logic. If you plant them at the same time, they will grow at the same time.