From forest to food plot, suggestions?

[Tororider]

Kbiddle,
I had thought about that originally, and now may have to rethink that as a good option again. I may just have to decide on a date that we work through and then stop at that point and seed, waiting til next year to get it to where we really want it.

It is easy to have blinders on when you are in the middle of a project. Thanks for the reminder that the solution that you are currently working on isn't always the only solution.

I will keep updating on how the project goes, and hopefully some deer that we are able to harvest from this project.

 

[EddieWalker]

If you decide to spread some seed, I'd only do one side of it. This way, while the seed is germinating, you can continue to work on it while the weather is nice.

Do you have a hunting blind or shooting position planned out? I made this mistake on my first food plot. I found an area that I saw allot of tracks and some small bucks. I cleaned it up, planted it and let it sit until deer season. Then when it came time to hunt it, I didn't have a good place to sit where I could see it without being too close, or where I'd scare off the animals!!!!

I also had just one way to get there, and if the wind was wrong, my scent went there long before I got there. hahaha

My current food plot was supposed to be ready for this years season, but it's not even close. Too many distractions got in the way, so now I'm hoping for it to be ready to disk and plant this spring. Hopefully.

One thing about new food supplies is that it might take awhile for the animals to find it and even longer for them to eat it. When you don't want them to eat your plants, they will, but when you want it to happen, it seems to take forever. My best food plot was a total bust the first year, but the second year, I had several small bucks on it almost every morning.

Keep us posted, it's a fun project and I'm looking forward to hearing how it all turns out for you.

Eddie

 

[Tororider]

Eddie,
We do have a couple stands there already that will still be in good positions and will allow us to adjust based on the wind. I may just throw down some clover this year and really finish it the way I want next year.

Once we get a little bit closer I will try to take some pictures from a tree stand view to let you know what we are looking at Eddie.

While clearing the past couple days, my dad and I have run into what we are pretty sure is poison ivy. Fortunately my family has no known allergies and so far that includes poison ivy as well. I will try to take some pictures and get opinions as to whether it is really poison ivy or a look alike. Either way, I have been making sure that I wear long pants and longsleeve shirt, along with gloves. I know that I will be more careful now as well as washing off good when done.

 

[frwinks]

couple of buddies of mine, got together one weekend and set up a couple of food plots around our property. They used the whitetail institute secret spot product.. all I did was backdragged the bucket to get the grass off and expose dirt, in less than three weeks, we had a great plot and lot's of action. The season here starts in less than a month....

 

[Tororider]

frwinks,
I would have done that, but the place we are making the plot is/was a part of our forest, so we have to clear everything out first. Should be pretty cool when we get it done, and it is going to have a better view than I thought with the pond/swamp right next to it. I will try to take more pics next time I go out, I forgot the camera last time. The seed I got is TECOMATE MONSTER MIX WHITETAIL WILDLIFE FOOD PLOT .5 AC off ebay. The description is as follows.
ｷ Tecomate Monster Mix Attracts & grows more & bigger bucks!

ｷ Unmatched Year Round Nutrition & Attraction!

ｷ Great for fall or spring planting

ｷ Perennial mixture! Provides 3 5 years of whitetail food plot!

ｷ Pre Inoculated for improved nitrogen fixation!

ｷ 4lbs. Plants up to ｽ Acre!

ｷ Perennial Legumes & Chicory


Now I need to get/make some bat boxes. The mosquitos down by the swamp are ridiculous! Anybody have any plans for some easy bat boxes?

 

[john_bud]

You will need lime and probably a lot. A guess would be 2-3 ton per acre. Buy a soil test kit and check it out.

jb

 

[kbiddle]

Tororider,
One other thing you may want to coinsider I am not sure if they have many in Michigan but would think so. If you take the list of whats in the Teco., or Biologic mix to the Co-Op or local seed store... most will do a custome blend for a fraction of the price as one of the name brands. I thought this was BS when I had heard it before... well it's true and to be honest the quality of the seed atleast for me, seems to be way better. I dont recall how big your plots are or going to be I have about 10 +/- AC and Biologic etc starts to add up quick. The other thing is it is typically a known good brand of whatever it is specific for your area.
Good Luck...

 

[EddieWalker]

I've heard this too, but don't know first hand. One thing that I found with the name brand, pre-mixed food plot seed mixes is how much rye grass seed they put in there as filler. Before you buy, be sure you know what you're getting. If the deer love rye grass, then it's allot cheaper to buy a sack of plain rye grass. Here, they ignore it.

I've been told that lab-lab and peas are the two main things that bring them in and keep them there. One guy who I talked to does this for a living all over Texas. He said Austrian Peas are the very best, but other types of peas work good too.

Eddie

 

[Tororider]

Kbiddle and Eddie,
Great suggestion! My uncle actually said the exact same thing last week when he was in from WI. I just need to find a local place and then glean every bit of info I can from them. Plus it will give me a lot more ability to customize the seasonal food that I plant. I am hoping that the plot will bring in deer as well as turkeys and other birds. Hoping to get out there this afternoon.

 

[Tororider]

Well, after making a few phone calls, I have found a seed mill not too far from here that will custom mix seed. I think I will wait until it is raining or sometime during the day when I can pack up the boys and go on a seed buying field trip.

Any suggestions for midwest seed, or Michigan specific. I am looking for perrenial as I would rather avoid having to replant year after year.