Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: predatorG on June 11, 2016, 03:00:43 PM

Title: Food Plots!!
Post by: predatorG on June 11, 2016, 03:00:43 PM: It seems to be that time of year again. Most people have already planted a plot or are about to depending on where they live or the area they hunt.

This of course brings up many different thoughts and perspectives of how or why or if they should be done. So here is a spot to post everything. Trail cam pics, ideal plot sizes, best plants, weither or not to do mineral licks, and also pictures from animals harvested off last year's plots.

I hope this year to open up a new plot. I've found an ideal little field hidden in some thick trees and brush. This will be a step up from the apples and cob that I used last year. I plan on growing clover mixed with maybe some grasses and fruits. I also want to put in a large mineral lick. Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Food Plots!!
Post by: fishnfur on June 11, 2016, 10:44:28 PM: Thoughts? I'm thinking you should have just graduated HS, or were you a junior this year? Hope you had a good year.

I'd skip the grasses in the mix. Most studies show less than 10% of a BT's diet is grasses. Clover on the edges - periodically mowed so that it keeps putting on new growth. I've heard sugar beets are good. The deer will come in and dig them up in the fall, maybe soy beans or corn too.

Many people find that BT don't hit the salt licks past spring/early summer. It depends on the area. They rarely use them at all down here, but elk seem to love them. Your results may vary.
Title: Re: Food Plots!!
Post by: predatorG on June 12, 2016, 07:44:35 AM: I'm going to be a junior this year, I was a sophomore last year.

Up here we had deer absolutely tear up our licks but they would only come out at the dead of night. I'm hoping to draw them out a little earlier by having more of a plot. My friend shot two of the biggest bucks I've ever seen about a mile or two from my house using feeders to draw in the does.

I also wondered what it would be like to plant some strawberries out there just for kicks. The beets were a good idea too. I haven't been able to decide between putting together my own mix or just buying some stuff meant for whitetails.
Title: Re: Food Plots!!
Post by: nwwanderer on June 12, 2016, 08:13:33 AM: Clover is a great choice, several varieties blended is a good idea. If you have lots of deer it will not last long, they hit it pretty hard. Peas work great. You probably will not see the pea plants, they consume them as they emerge. Cereal grains might last long enough to go to seed and provide some winter feed. Winter triticale planted next October produces like crazy, good spring nesting cover with great grain production. For your mineral source try Wolfkills Northwest beef. Good balanced blend for our region and will not break the bank. Making your own seed blends from local sources will save dollars and out perform Midwest blends. Post some pictures. Good luck with your plots!!
Title: Re: Food Plots!!
Post by: lokidog on June 12, 2016, 10:05:51 AM: If you are tossing out a seed mix, throw in some broccoli, our deer seem to love that when they get into the garden. Talk to your neighbors with gardens, many will have leftover seed that they don't plan to plant. Of course , this will likely not provide an acre of seed, but the mix might give you an idea of what grows well and what the deer will eat.

Eventually, I will be planting for deer, for now, I'm just trying to keep the nettles and thistles down in the areas I plan to eventually plant.
Title: Re: Food Plots!!
Post by: Bowcrazy on June 21, 2016, 03:31:29 PM: I tried the clover food plot deal . The best setup by far is an orchard of apple trees . The deer eat tee leaves when there is not apples and the deer switch to ivy in the winter time which my house has plenty of both . Hang up some tampons covered in doe piss starting in October redo every 3-4 days . I have apple trees and pear trees . Deer prefer pear to Apple because of higher sugar content . A garden of broccoli and cauliflower is amazing too . They already destroyed mine. I have apple trees that start producing in August and are finishing up in mid December . Hope this helps .