How it all got started

[bowhunter73]

  About 7 year ago I started thinking about the possibility of food plots. Then I quickly realized there was no way I could afford all the equipment I thought was needed. So after two more years of not the best hunting I thought this land could provide. I had this great idea; I didn’t have to buy everything the first year. I could piece it together one piece at a time Kind of like jonny cash. 
  So at least now I had a plan that was more than I had before. Knowing I would complete this plan no matter how long it took I fired up the chain saw and went to work. Now realize I do not have a square foot of field where I hunt It’s about 50/50 swamp and forest. That summer I cut around 40 trees and removed them then I rented a stump grinder and went to town. Now in hind sight I realize that I did not need to pull the entire root system, Trust me on this. So far my cost was a few gallons of gas and I already owned a wheeler and saw.
Now comes the money part I shopped around and looked at what would help my plot the most just as a single piece of equipment. I chose a pull behind disk tiller at the time I think I paid $425. That was a lot of money for me at the time but Just the other day I seen the same one on sale for $600.  I ran the disk and it almost looked like I knew what I was doing. I was a farmer, a farmer with no way to smooth out his mess. I made some homemade drags to help smooth thing out that year but I knew next on my list chain harrow.  So the next year I got my chain harrow and in the years to fallow was a 15Gal sprayer, broadcast spreader
I now have two plots on that land and having learned tons on the way. I have more deer on my property Better hunting and most of all now that my kids are starting to hunt they will have more success early and will know the value of land and deer management. I imagine in 25 year my grandchildren will have a great piece of hunting land and sit around the fire telling stories about how grandpa thought he knew what he was doing. But don’t forget where it all started.

I guess what I am trying to say is if you want a food plot you can have one. Team up with a friend or some family and make it happen. Unless you plan on not hunting anymore in 5 years. The next generation will thank you.


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[schwinger]

That is awesome. I am sure it was alot of work.

[dakids]

What are you planting this year and have you had more failures or success along the way?  What is your best and worst experiances with your great looking plot?

[Mayfly]

Great post Scott. Thanks for sharing!

[beeker]

that looks good.. but I need to know.. what do you plant?

[deadeye]

You just demonstrated how little you need to start a plot.  Rome wasn't built in a day and most plots take a while.  Thanks for sharing.  I took a picture today of a plot.  I fenced an area so I will see what the deer are doing.

[Big E]

Awesome Scott thanks for sharing. It only takes a little sweat to establish a plot that you can hunt over for a lifetime

[bowhunter73]

Well seed hit the ground today on these two plots. It was a 50/50 on both of spring peas and sugar beets. I got a real good feeling about the upcoming season on these two plots. I think they will offer my son and wife there first deer with my wife on the bow and son on the gun.
 I will post pics in a few weeks and we will see if I screwed something up or if my family is eating venison this fall.

[Mayfly]

I think they will offer my son and wife there first deer with my wife on the bow and son on the gun.

Yeah yeah yeah.... we all have wives and kids but what about our favorite cousins!? What will it offer them??
 

[bowhunter73]

Now that all I need is rain you want to come up. What the heck should I build you a fence too?  Lets just wait and see

[bowhunter73]

your own deer play ground will be up and running soon. with bigger Bucks than I got up there

[stevejedlenski]

your story sounds a lot like what i am starting with ours. we planted about a week ago for the first time on this plot, just before all the rain so hopefully soon i can post some pics of it sprouting up.

[bowhunter73]

I think this plot is a bit thin and week rooted (spring peas)and it’s my fault I was spending so much time on a new plot I neglected to do a soil sample on this one. It will help my hunting but I may scrap the whole thing –lime, fertilize and replant a fall crop. I will see if I have the time?

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[bowhunter73]

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