Classifieds & Organizations > Washington State Bowhunters
Food Plot Discussion
bearpaw:
I would suggest planting oat seed and clover. Oats are the easiest crop to grow and will probably grow even if your clover don't. Best option is to plant a mix of both white and red clover if you're not sure what will work. White clovers live longer but need more moisture. Red clovers are shorter lived but don't need as much moisture. I suggest 2 pounds of each clover (4 pounds clover) planted over 50 pounds of oat seed for 1/3 to 1/2 acre of ground. Oat seed is only about $20 for 50 pounds, clover will run $3 to $10 per pound, so you can do 1/3 to 1/2 acre planting for well under $100. The oats will grow one year, the next year your clover comes back in. Every other year you can add a little red clover seed if desired or just let the white clover take over, the white clover should last 4 or more years, the clovers both may reseed them self if not over grazed by wildlife.
Plant as soon as the snow melts, first work the soil with an atv dragging a piece of harrow or atv disc, spread oat seed with a handheld seed spreader, drag the harrow again to work in oat seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, next spread the clover seed and drag with something flat like a 4 foot piece of plywood or use a yard roller if you have one. If you can't get an atv with a piece of harrow to the food plot you could use a stiff garden rake or garden weasel to work the soil and to work in the oat seed to insure seed germination. After you work in the oat seed then sprinkle clover seed and rake lightly over the clover seed or drag a small piece of plywood over it to cause the seed to have good soil contact, don't work your clover seed deeper than 1/8th inch or it may not grow. Your area is small so it won't cost much to buy a few pounds of seed and try again. If your plot grows it will likely get wiped out by wildlife if it isn't big enough, you may need to clear additional area next year. Good Luck!
jasnt:
Good info bear paw. I will add for those that can irrigate the plot, it greatly improves your plot health and opens up many more options.
I my self have irrigation and a "watering hole" I also chose to go with whitetail clover from whitetail instatute. Higher protein than red or white clover more heat tolerant and a little more drought tolerant.
If irrigation is not an option I've had great luck with whitetail instatutes "Extreme" it is a blend of plants that all seem to have a different peek attraction time allow for some to get grazed while others grow. In the fall they dug up all the tall time tubars Then some of it came back the next year.
I know that seems like a commercial for whitetail instatute but after doing this for years and trying many other brands I will only use these products.
Rainier10:
--- Quote from: bearpaw on April 28, 2016, 09:30:55 AM ---I would suggest planting oat seed and clover. Oats are the easiest crop to grow and will probably grow even if your clover don't. Best option is to plant a mix of both white and red clover if you're not sure what will work. White clovers live longer but need more moisture. Red clovers are shorter lived but don't need as much moisture. I suggest 2 pounds of each clover (4 pounds clover) planted over 50 pounds of oat seed for 1/3 to 1/2 acre of ground. Oat seed is only about $20 for 50 pounds, clover will run $3 to $10 per pound, so you can do 1/3 to 1/2 acre planting for well under $100. The oats will grow one year, the next year your clover comes back in. Every other year you can add a little red clover seed if desired or just let the white clover take over, the white clover should last 4 or more years, the clovers both may reseed them self if not over grazed by wildlife.
Plant as soon as the snow melts, first work the soil with an atv dragging a piece of harrow or atv disc, spread oat seed with a handheld seed spreader, drag the harrow again to work in oat seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch deep, next spread the clover seed and drag with something flat like a 4 foot piece of plywood or use a yard roller if you have one. If you can't get an atv with a piece of harrow to the food plot you could use a stiff garden rake or garden weasel to work the soil and to work in the oat seed to insure seed germination. After you work in the oat seed then sprinkle clover seed and rake lightly over the clover seed or drag a small piece of plywood over it to cause the seed to have good soil contact, don't work your clover seed deeper than 1/8th inch or it may not grow. Your area is small so it won't cost much to buy a few pounds of seed and try again. If your plot grows it will likely get wiped out by wildlife if it isn't big enough, you may need to clear additional area next year. Good Luck!
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Where do you get oat seed? I tried getting some for my place after the fire but could only get winter wheat.
PolarBear:
--- Quote from: Special T on April 25, 2016, 02:22:39 PM ---
--- Quote from: bowtechian on April 25, 2016, 02:14:49 PM ---Curious if anybody has went this route for blacktail?
Sent from my C811 4G using Tapatalk
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In several of the past discussions and observations clover does help BT during the spring when fawns and antler growth make food important. It does not appear to help much in whacking mature bucks. It does help the herd but doesnt make them that much easier to hunt 2c
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:yeah:
When I replanted my lower pasture I seeded with 3 types of clover as a food plot for deer and for a little treat for cows with new calves. Some of it grew to about 2 1/2- 3 feet tall and the deer LOVED it! The does would leave their fawns hidden in it while they grazed on oat grass and clover. The fawns loved eating it as well even though the first few times it gave them the squirts. Bucks would hit it at night but once the taller stuff was gone, so were they. Clover won't do you much good during hunting season but it will make the deer healthier.
KFhunter:
Oats and sweet beets or radish, the oats will draw them in early and after frost or two the beets will sweeten up and they'll paw for them even in the snow. You want beets that will grow above the surface and there's lot's of food plot derived beets for that. The oats will keep the beet tops from being sunburned.
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