Putting in a small food plot

[CP]

I’ve never done before but I’m considering cleaning up this logged off piece of land and planting it in clover or something that might attract the local wildlife.  This opening gets several hours of sunshine daily, not sure how good the soil is.  I’m no farmer but how hard could it be? 

[Jonathan_S]

You'll want to know what kind of soil you have.  Check around for a place/person who might do a cheap PH test.  Secondly read up on drainage requirements and sun requirements.

Of course none of this is necessary but it'd help you pick the right plant(s) for better results.

[kodiak 907]

Cheap and easy way to do it:
Transplant some young alders along the edges, and maybe a few vine maples. Throw some clover mix in the middle and hang a couple bird feeders. 

We tried that at my buddy's property and he had quite a few critters hanging around all year.

Good luck

[grundy53]

Plant clover. It doesn't need much sun and grows good. The deer love it. I have a similar small clearing on my property. I planted clover, barley, turnips, beets, and a cover crop mix. It's all growing good.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Clover is your friend. Some elbow grease and you will have a nice plot soon.

[LeviD1]

If your able to till it up good that would make your plot even happier. I just cleared out a plot this year and got it planted with a alfalfa,  chickory, clover mix just over 2 weeks and its starting to sprout! Im real excited. I removed hundreds of small pine trees where i put mine so I added a ton of lime before tilling for about an acre of plot. I bought my stuff from whitetail institute. I needed heat and drought tolerant.

[CP]

I can get in there with the ATV but I don’t have any tilling implements.  I’ll try rigging up some kind of drag to bust up the soil.

[jackelope]

http://www.plantbiologic.com/t-soil.aspx

Check this out. My buddy went this route in Pennsylvania and has food plots growing like mad with deer, turkeys and pheasants in them all the time.

[LeviD1]

Pennsylvania could be a whole lot different than where you want to plant. Whatever you buy call then first and make sure you get their recommendation on what till do best bases on conditions it needs to grow in. Water, sunlight, temps etc.

[jackelope]

Pennsylvania could be a whole lot different than where you want to plant. Whatever you buy call then first and make sure you get their recommendation on what till do best bases on conditions it needs to grow in. Water, sunlight, temps etc.

You send in a soil sample. They analyze it and tell you/sell you the seed mix they deem proper for the soil. It doesn't matter geographically where you are. They'll determine what's right based on the soil sample you send in to them.

[fishnfur]

Sounds like a fun project if you have extra time on your hands.  I like the idea of planting brush around the periphery.  I'd use Elderberry, vine maple, and maybe salmonberry.  Does will probably/eventually use the brush areas for bedding or staging before entering the plot.

 I would also spend a lot of time drawing out plans that illustrate what you feel would provide the best arrangement of brush/cover for animals using your plot, and also identify your potential tree stands and angles for maximum sun exposure for the actual crops.

NW conifer soils are notoriously acidic.  I'm sure you're going to want to lime the soil.  You may be able to get a local farmer to till it for you for a few dollars, if there was one close-by. 

Two years ago, I tried spraying herbicide on a forest opening, hand liming without any tilling prior to spreading clover seed over about a quarter acre.  I got a moderate amount of growth before native weeds and grasses seeded in an outperformed the clover.  I gave up, planted an apple tree, and let the weeds grow.  No more work!

[CP]

Phase 1 of the cleanup.  I’ve got a lot of wood; branches, stumps, half rotten logs, etc to deal with.  Anyone have any suggestions for getting rid of these piles? 

[JimmyHoffa]

Can you wood chip them?  If not...low temp burn them or bury them.  If none of those options, then scatter around the trees on the perimeter.

[kodiak 907]

Looks like some good progress so far, keep the updates coming.

[CP]

Can you wood chip them?  If not...low temp burn them or bury them.  If none of those options, then scatter around the trees on the perimeter.

Burning probably isn’t an option.  Since the Taylor Bridge fire any plume of smoke gets a lot of attention.

I do have a 3” chipper that can handle some of this stuff; I might give that a try this weekend and see how it goes.