food plot 2013

[Big wisky]

This is the wife's first buck. She hit him with AR platform 5.56. We tracked him 150 yards into the neighboring swamp. It was amazing to see all the beds that were just a short distance away. As for the food plot, next year I plan on running some oats in tandem with brasicus and beets. Im not looking to support their eating needs fully. Just grow enough food for them to create a habit of frequenting my acreage.

[Big wisky]

Just thought I'd share some of the latest pictures from trail cam we have set up. We decided on oats, beets and some alfalfa. The beets haven't been touched yet, the oats and alfalfa seem to be the driving force behind their traffic.

[FJ540]

Beets won't until the other live stuff starts dying off. When it gets cooler, they'll start hitting them.

I did turnips last fall - same thing. They went from untouched to completely GONE in one week.

[LittleWisky81]

Well, the oats are surely a hit. They're gone! Been gone for a few weeks now. At this point, we have 4 bucks that frequent about every other day to forage on the remaining oat remnants, and as well as the brassica tops, which are now being eaten.. 1-2 bucks are something I would take, 2 are just too small yet. Maybe 2 more years for those guys. Hopefully, they make it that long. I've attached a pic of our big guy which we've named Shaq, just because his tines appear to be so tall
Over the summer, we purchased the 5 acres next door so we're excited on growing the additional property over there.

Onto the Oats..... The hubs' was determined to grow oats this year, and we're more than happy to plant them next year as well, since they grew so well and so easy, and are so loved by the bucks and beards. BUT seeing as they're gone at this point, we need to figure out when to replant them. I'll blame the fact that they've already been 90% eaten due to the late planting and being nieve in that we thought it was late already, but once planted, those suckers just took off, and were irresistible from the get-go. We've never had turkeys on our property before this year.

Very satisfying to have new wildlife come into our plots-- even had a few grouse this weekend flutter about. If only we had a gun dog, as opposed to our 80LB lap dog..

The Doe activity is, at this point, totally reversed itself from last year. They seem to be quite scarce, which is the complete opposite from last year. Hoping that they find their way over just in time for the rut...

So, the big question-- how often do you plant and/or replant oats/grains? Would you suggest a just as easy grain to supplement with?

[FJ540]

Oats are most favored when young, but will be eaten mature when there's not other food that's better. My first attempt had gone to seed before the deer figured out they weren't just more grass. After that it was mowed to nothing.

Late august would be the earliest for a bow opener crop. Mid October for rifle season. They're cool season plants, so unless we end up with an extra early hard freeze they'll be fine. They grow down into the 40's without any trouble.

I wouldn't try to use them as supplemental nutrition, as you'd just keep putting them down every couple weeks and then having them gone again. They do work awesome for an attractant though. I'm regretting not planting them this year.

[Jackpine Savage]

Have you looked at winter rye? It's more cold hardy than oats. When I was grazing milk cows they and the deer seemed to prefer rye over all the other grasses in the fall and early spring.

[LittleWisky81]

Winter Rye? Tell me more-- Can I get it at the local store? I can't say that I've seen a whole lot of Rye at my local Gander Mountain…

[OldmanFCSA]

All animals need SALT ,,,,,,,,,,,, I hear salt blocks are available and work well ?????????????????????????????????????????

[LittleWisky81]

We tried salt blocks- both regular old salt blocks, and fancy apple ones. Neither produced any luck, and they basically just washed away with the rain.

[FJ540]

Mineral licks are used heavily in the spring and often in the summer, but not much if at all in the fall.

Stop shopping for seed at gander mountain. Go to a seed store, the kind farmers use.

[LittleWisky81]

I know, I know…. Gander Mountain….. Point taken- I'll stop by the local feed store on the way to the cabin in the spring

[Jackpine Savage]

Winter Rye? Tell me more-- Can I get it at the local store? I can't say that I've seen a whole lot of Rye at my local Gander Mountain…

This is a good outfit: Albert Lea Seed House http://www.alseed.com/ . They have several dealers in southern MN and a couple north of St. Cloud. But like FJ540 said most feed store/elevators will probably have it or can get it.

You would want to plant it late August, early September. It will start to put out a seed head in late May. If you have a decent stand you can probably disk it down in the end of August and it will reseed itself.

I think I'm going to start some food plots next spring. We've got our place rented out and next year it will be all soy beans.

[FJ540]

I need to get going on my plotting next year. The acorn crop I have is such that it makes hunting very difficult. They could be anywhere on the property and find food. I need something to make a destination. I might even try E-fencing it to keep them out until I hunt it.