Spring/Summer Food Plots

[N80]

I'm in NC with very similar circumstances as you are. I planted peas,(cowpeas I think), and the deer, rabbits and turkeys ate them to the ground...stems and all!

Hmm. I'll look into the cowpeas.

I planted oats in the fall and they have been popular all winter.

It's funny, my oats never looked great except right when they were coming up, but I'm pretty sure it was because the deer (or something) are cropping it less than an inch tall. It is still being eaten. So that's what I'm going to plant again late this summer. I'm only hunting over one of these plots. I mainly using them to try to get the game to stay on may place. They had tons of food in the form of acorns this year so I'm just trying to provide some variety and something for when the acorns are gone.

Lime, Lime, and Lime! Followed by 10-10-10! You can't put too much lime on clay soils like we have in NC & SC!

Yep, I haven't soil tested yet but I am in the process of putting out about 2000 lbs of lime per acre. Fortunately my total acreage for food plots is probably only an acre and a half. Even so, I've spent close to $200 bucks just on pelletized lime this spring.

They have pH testers for about $20. I may get one of those.

 

[Slamfire]

I used some mix I got at the Coop, it had rye for cover, winter wheat, and white and red clovers. I put some chufa grass in the hopper too, fall turkeys love that stuff.