considering a food plot in the Teannaway.

[GrampasGuns]

Ive got about a 4 acre meadow on my land that holds good moisture for most of spring and into the summer months.

I am considering planting something for the deer and elk and want a good protein mix to promote fawn survival and antler growth. Has anyone in this region had success with something other than alfalfa? I have water and some machinery to make the job easier, just not very knowledgeable what will grow well in this region and will draw critters.

I dont hunt my land but want to see the herd do better.

Any reviews of the mossy oak seed blends?

Thanks guys!

[Twispriver]

You're on the right track with the idea that it takes protein to make protein but most people forget that it takes good quality soil to grow good quality forage and just assume that if I plant XX brand seed I'll get the results I'm hoping for. I would start with a soils analysis and see what you can amend to improve things there first and then select your forage crop from what grows best with your soil profile. 

[KFhunter]

I've used these guys with good results

http://www.nwag.com/

Northwest Agricultural Consultants
2545 West Falls Avenue
Kennewick, WA 99336

Contact:
  Local: 509-783-7450
  Toll-free: 888-783-7450
  Fax: 509-783-5305
  Email: lab@nwag.com

Hours:
  Monday: 8-5
  Tuesday: 8-5
  Wednesday: 8-5
  Thursday: 8-5
  Friday: 8-4
  Saturday: Closed
  Sunday: Closed

[KFhunter]

You're probably going to want the lawn and garden test if you want to plant a typical food plot with lots of plant species,it'll be generic and not specialized towards one plant type, like alfalfa, and loading up on boron. 

LAWN & GARDEN TEST:
NO3-N, NH4-N, SO4-S, pH, Soluble Salts, Organic Matter, P, K, Evaluation and Recommendations   $36.50

[Special T]

Look into permaculture.
Water is the most important resource, and slowing it down should be your first priority.

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[KFhunter]

I do not recommend DIY soil test kits, I know farmers did that and had no luck and wasted a ton of money on amendments and had bad results, sent in for results and came back from the lab way different than the home test kits. 

[KFhunter]

Look into permaculture.
Water is the most important resource, and slowing it down should be your first priority.

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I can't see the video, but is that where they bury a bunch of logs or mulch to act as a water sponge?  Not sure how feasible that would be on a low budget food plot, then it has to be redone every 5 years or so. 

[KFhunter]

read this, I spend time on QDMA myself

https://www.qdma.com/food-plot-soil-test/


Has a nice walk through on soil sampling.

[Special T]

Look into permaculture.
Water is the most important resource, and slowing it down should be your first priority.

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I can't see the video, but is that where they bury a bunch of logs or mulch to act as a water sponge?  Not sure how feasible that would be on a low budget food plot, then it has to be redone every 5 years or so.

No, swales are on contour ditches designed to hold water and help slow and soak it into the ground. Capturing snow melt and rain water to saturate the soil. It is the kind of thing that would work well in your neck of the woods.

If that video doesn't load just type in Swale Permaculture and you will get the idea.

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[cougforester]

Get in touch with Kittitas Conservation District: http://www.kccd.net/

I had Snohomish Conversation District come onto my family's duck property on the west side, they collected samples, sent them in and had them analyzed for free. I'm assuming they'll do the same for you. It offered suggestions for fertilizer and pH.

Also install some mineral licks. You'll have a lot of happy does and cows during pregnancy and lactation. That means happy bucks.

[KFhunter]

Get in touch with Kittitas Conservation District: http://www.kccd.net/

I had Snohomish Conversation District come onto my family's duck property on the west side, they collected samples, sent them in and had them analyzed for free. I'm assuming they'll do the same for you. It offered suggestions for fertilizer and pH.

Also install some mineral licks. You'll have a lot of happy does and cows during pregnancy and lactation. That means happy bucks wolves

fixed

[GrampasGuns]

My property has a Swale, it looks natural and holds so much water after the snow melt it's insane. We cant even get machinery down there till about this time of year as the soil is so wet. I'll look into some resources as far as soil testing.

Thanks for all the input everyone.

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[GrampasGuns]

I'll add some photos of the land here soon

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[cougforester]

Get in touch with Kittitas Conservation District: http://www.kccd.net/

I had Snohomish Conversation District come onto my family's duck property on the west side, they collected samples, sent them in and had them analyzed for free. I'm assuming they'll do the same for you. It offered suggestions for fertilizer and pH.

Also install some mineral licks. You'll have a lot of happy does and cows during pregnancy and lactation. That means happy bucks wolves

Sadly you're probably right 

fixed

[bearpaw]

Hard to go wrong with a good clover alfalfa mix. I've planted straight alfalfas and clovers of various varieties, the advantage of a mix is that the variety that adapts best to each part of the area planted will grow best. Annual clovers will grow fast until the perennial clovers and alfalfa get going. We have a plot with some different clover planted in each part of it as a test, last year everything but one blend did well and we may have planted that blend too late. This year planted some alfa rack plus in a section and some Durana clover in a section of the same plot with the clovers from last year, both new plantings are doing very well so far. So far the deer are eating some of all of it, the last year clovers and this year's plantings, we can't say for sure there is a favorite yet.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/trail-cameras-feeders/food-plots/pc/104791680/c/104767380/sc/106630380/whitetail-institute-imperial-alfa-rack-plus-seed-northern/742347.uts?slotId=3

https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/trail-cameras-feeders/food-plots/pc/104791680/c/104767380/sc/106630380/pennington-rackmaster-durana-white-clover/2538119.uts?slotId=0

If you would rather buy some bulk seed and make your own mix you could mix some red clover, white clover, alfalfa, and oats. Be sure you get varieties that are winter hardy. It's best to test ph, but I've never done that where I'm at, most land around here will grow alfalfa, clover, or grains so I didn't bother. Everything I've planted has done fairly well except some sainfoin which I think was in too shady of an area or it may have needed some lime. We recently planted more sanfoin in a sunnier area that has had other crops in the past, it should sprout any day, I'm anxious to see if it grows. If it won't grow I'll just plant something else in the future, I don't want to have to be adding lime and fertilizer all the time, I want plots that are easy maintenance. If the plants look yellow and weak add some fertilizer, they will green right up and grow faster.

I've got some new fangled new zealand clover to try but haven't got it planted yet.

It's really fun growing food plots and seeing positive results!

[bearpaw]

weeds 

That's the toughest thing to deal with. The easiest thing is to buy the right herbicides for the problems you encounter and spray as needed. There are sprays for just about any situation.

[runamuk]

I would go native and natural not invasive and agricultural.  These are wild animals not beef cattle, they do best on their natural forage.  Increase that.  And in the teanaway the cultivated food is so readily available that it seems kinda silly to plant hay crops you wont be haying.

[time2hunt]

Look into this the deer love it

http://agresearch.montana.edu/wtarc/producerinfo/agronomy-nutrient-management/Sainfoin/NRCSPLantGuide.pdf


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[KFhunter]

Hard to go wrong with a good clover alfalfa mix. I've planted straight alfalfas and clovers of various varieties, the advantage of a mix is that the variety that adapts best to each part of the area planted will grow best. Annual clovers will grow fast until the perennial clovers and alfalfa get going. We have a plot with some different clover planted in each part of it as a test, last year everything but one blend did well and we may have planted that blend too late. This year planted some alfa rack plus in a section and some Durana clover in a section of the same plot with the clovers from last year, both new plantings are doing very well so far. So far the deer are eating some of all of it, the last year clovers and this year's plantings, we can't say for sure there is a favorite yet.

https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/trail-cameras-feeders/food-plots/pc/104791680/c/104767380/sc/106630380/whitetail-institute-imperial-alfa-rack-plus-seed-northern/742347.uts?slotId=3

https://www.cabelas.com/product/hunting/trail-cameras-feeders/food-plots/pc/104791680/c/104767380/sc/106630380/pennington-rackmaster-durana-white-clover/2538119.uts?slotId=0

If you would rather buy some bulk seed and make your own mix you could mix some red clover, white clover, alfalfa, and oats. Be sure you get varieties that are winter hardy. It's best to test ph, but I've never done that where I'm at, most land around here will grow alfalfa, clover, or grains so I didn't bother. Everything I've planted has done fairly well except some sainfoin which I think was in too shady of an area or it may have needed some lime. We recently planted more sanfoin in a sunnier area that has had other crops in the past, it should sprout any day, I'm anxious to see if it grows. If it won't grow I'll just plant something else in the future, I don't want to have to be adding lime and fertilizer all the time, I want plots that are easy maintenance. If the plants look yellow and weak add some fertilizer, they will green right up and grow faster.

I've got some new fangled new zealand clover to try but haven't got it planted yet.

It's really fun growing food plots and seeing positive results!

 spread on some borated gypsum and look out!  This whole area is low on boron, and it'll really help your apples if you have those.


Don't overlook trees in your plot too

[danderson]

I live in the Teanaway, been here 40 years best advise for anyone that wants to improve deer fawn survival is put out a good mineral salt block, I use the Trophy rock brand, old mill in Ellensburg has them. most folks dont realize deer like to eat native plants, they need cover and space as well as Habitat, and without all three will not thrive.

[Special T]

My property has a Swale, it looks natural and holds so much water after the snow melt it's insane. We cant even get machinery down there till about this time of year as the soil is so wet. I'll look into some resources as far as soil testing.

Thanks for all the input everyone.

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With the way water rights are going in this state installing a swale  now  is a good investment. What you going to do when they start metering wells? If done properly a swale should be a one time infrastructure investment.

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[MonstroMuley]

... if have water rights and right gravity flow (or powered from the Swale) ... at minimal cost, build the "Himalayan Ice Stupa".
Like building your own Artificial Glacier(s).