PoisonSnake Tip of the Week (Week 10)

[PoisonSnake]

As promised, I'm talking food plots. Well, my best advice for you is to place a 50 gallon drum full of corn within 20 yards of your back deck. That is a fool-proof method of drawing in deer. Problem is, mature bucks tend to be a bit leary of the situation even after dark.

Now, if you seriously want a foodplot that will last 3-5 years with minimal work involved, I recommend ladino clover. Here is how the Snake does it. To your plot, hit it with Roundup sometime in early August. Mow it down first and then hit the growing fescue/weeds really hard. Two weeks later, hit it again. Sometime around the 15th of September, come in and lightly disk it. A good harrow might be all that you will need because the root systems should be dead and gone, allowing the soil to easily work. Anyway, plant it with winter wheat, and then lightly harrow or drag it in so that there is some contact of the seed with the soil. Fertilize with Triple 13. By the first of October, you should have a decent stand of winter wheat. That will be a magnet for deer throughout the winter. The following March (generally shoot for March 1), seed your ladino directly in to your winter wheat. I tend to overseed as the Snake splurges on everything. You should see clover underneath that wheat sometime in late April. I would recommend hitting it with some 6/24/24 around that time. You should only have to do this one time. Once the clover is established, it will fix its own nitrogen. Around the first of June, mow the wheat down to expose the clover. Then, depending on how well it is establishing, mow it accordingly. I generally mow 3 times, the last time being about September 1. My clover looks plush, like a carpet. Sure, I have some weeds and some nutsedge, but I'll hammer that accordingly. Also, don't be so concerned about bare spots. Eventually, when the clover spreads via the stolins, that should fill in quite nicely. A plot like this will last a good 3 years for sure. I don't hunt over my food plots much. They are there more or less just out of my desire to watch deer. But, ifn' a giant presents itself, I'm not against trying to run the thing down in my underwear to try and kill it.

One last thing... a corn feeder is a sure fire method to draw in deer.

[Warmouth]

How big are your plots? Do you do soil samples?

[PoisonSnake]

The one is about 1.5 acres. The other about 1/4 of an acre. Oh, and no, I have not done a soil sample on either. But, that is a pretty good idea. Wouldn't hurt to lime in the event you are a bit acidic. I'll take some pictures of my plots sometime and post them up.

[Warmouth]

I'm interested in putting in a plot this year. I have done one no-till type of plot the first year I was in the new place, and a lot of it eroded away, but what did come up was getting hammered by the time it was 1/2" tall.

I like the idea of multiple varieties of plants in the plot, so that all of the pressure isn't on the whole plot at once, and the benefit of added variety.

It is going to be pure luck to catch one of the decent bucks traveling thhrough the area, unless there is something there to slow them down and make them spend some time on the place. So that is the goal. I don't like the idea of hunting over a plot, but not getting a chance at the couple of quality bucks traveling the area doesn't sit well with me either, so I'm going to try it.

It will either be a figure 8 shaped plot, or a donut with fat ends, I'm undecided on that right now, but it will be 1/2 acre or so, up by the pond. The topsoil is OK, but there is clay underneath, so I'm thinking clover would probably have the best chance for success.

I've got a pretty decent mix of fescue and clover as it is, but thickening up the clover would be better yet.

[SAMCRO]

Foodplots are only so-so at drawing in and keeping deer. You want a mature buck, you pour out the corn, tape a flashlight to your bow, and head out on a snowy night in late January.

[lonepine]

ha

[Warmouth]

Oddly enough Craig, the later in the year it is, the more deer traffic I have. Let me stew on that a while.

[SAMCRO]

Well, Dave, that's just how it is. Food is more of a motivator when it's harder to find.

[Warmouth]

I agree, but I would feel better if the corn pile was at least out of viewing distance. I may settle for it being behind a tree trunk.

[PoisonSnake]

It's just corn. No biggy.

[RB]

Snake, when are you going to post another tip of the week. Inquiring minds want to know.

[PoisonSnake]

I'm working on it. I had a really good one and forgot it.

[lonepine]

I know PS your just getting old, can't keep it up. wow that sad.the mind is second to go...

[RB]

I'm working on it. I had a really good one and forgot it.

="Lonepine"I know PS your just getting old, can't keep it up. wow that sad.the mind is second to go...

PS, that is called CRS syndrome...........can't remember shit.

LP, speak for yourself or get the blue pill.

[lonepine]

the blue pill is cool.