Food Plot Season is HERE!

[Mayfly]

Hey Guys -

A buddy of mine has been putting out some awesome articles that relate to a lot of us here in Minnesota with land and without our own land. I don't know about you but we just finished all our plans for our food plots this year and can't wait to get started!

Check out this article, I thought it was a pretty good read! Might try and post some here as the year goes on!

Tim (MNO)

Managing Small Acreage for Larger Deer
http://www.faded-camo.com/articles/small-acreage-no-problem/

This one is my Fav... Opening Day Success. Talks about a plan start to fiish and easy!
http://www.faded-camo.com/articles/opening-day-success/

[glenn57]

I have read with great interest over the years about food plots, but I hunt in northern Minnesota back in the bush. by that I mean all woods. we tried planting a clover based seed in your area but it seems that the leaves each fall and the lack of summer sun seems to kill it. and would be interested in any ideas!

[Boar]

as old as you are glenn is probabley been multiple decades since you been in any kinda bush,

[glenn57]

as old as you are glenn is probabley been multiple decades since you been in any kinda bush,

ha  ha funny guy. just for your info I be old enough to know better, but yet young enough to try'er again.

[Boar]

yeah those that cant get it right the first go around are inclined to try again in their golden years.

[Mayfly]

I have read with great interest over the years about food plots, but I hunt in northern Minnesota back in the bush. by that I mean all woods. we tried planting a clover based seed in your area but it seems that the leaves each fall and the lack of summer sun seems to kill it. and would be interested in any ideas!

Hey Glenn -

Without seeing your area its hard to say but I was just talking with Erik and we came up with a couple ideas.

First thing you should try to do if possible is find an area where you can open the canopy up a little bit. I personally have had success with limited sun growing a rape and clover mix. Buy the seed from your local feed mill. Do not rely on stuff off the shelf from the sporting goods store. Go to your local farm shop and get seed that they are selling there. They are selling it because farmers in the area want it because it grows.

Also when finding an area leave the deer out of it. Don't feel you have to plant an area you see deer. You put food in and they will come so just find a spot that will work.

Erik told me his cousin has this problem and this is what work for him...

Like I stated above they try to open up the canopy as much as possible. Then they do a fall planting of RYE GRAIN and CLOVER mix. I would emphasis the Rye Grain to get things started but also get some clover in there. Get the seed down in August before the leaves fall. Also try to work the top of the soil a little bit. This can be done by dragging it, tilling it, or even getting in there with a lawn mower and then running a rake over it. Then get the seed mix down and hope for the best. If your area has a good canopy i'm sure you probably don't have much weed competition in there?

See how that goes and what I would do is supplement that with a good frost seed! Later in November or right about now... March, I would go in there and lay down some more clover. Clover will germinate at soil temps around 40 degrees. Your clover that grew in fall will come up and the new seeds should germinate. My personal experience with these type of plots is over seeding.

Erik mentioned a brassica mix in June but I will let him touch on that.

Take a minute and read through the articles we have up you should get some more ideas.

Tomorrow we are going in the woods to do a frost seed and also going to build a rain catch! We'll have that video up late next week.

I hope this helps? Stay tuned for more. Erik's working down at the sport show today and when he gets time he'll chime in.

[glenn57]

thanks for the info MNO. but I really don't think I can open anything up as I hunt on public land for the most part up in Itasca county. its nothing but forest country up there. just looking for something that would grow under all the leaves and shade.

[Mayfly]

thanks for the info MNO. but I really don't think I can open anything up as I hunt on public land for the most part up in Itasca county. its nothing but forest country up there. just looking for something that would grow under all the leaves and shade.

Have you tried Rye Grain?

[Boar]

that is a good read, I have 80 acres of river bottom with a  clearing running down the middle, an would like to plant something in for muzzy season, looking at barassicas to plant, have heard after the first frost they sweeten up an cant keep the deer off them.

[dakids]

thanks for the info MNO. but I really don't think I can open anything up as I hunt on public land for the most part up in Itasca county. its nothing but forest country up there. just looking for something that would grow under all the leaves and shade.

Have you tried Rye Grain?

Rye grain is great.  It will sprout on concrete and is usually sold for about 16 bucks a bushel. Easy to plant.  Nuke the existing plants where you are going to plant. wait for rain in the forcast and then just broadcast seeds by hand.

[glenn57]

I'd be willing to try it but will this stuff grow in the middle of nowhere.like in a woods??????

[Mayfly]

I'd be willing to try it but will this stuff grow in the middle of nowhere.like in a woods??????

Do not make the mistake and plant RYEGRASS. Use RYE GRAIN. Two different things.

I would def try the rye grain.

My buddy Erik has some experience with this so I will point him this way and let him put in his two cents.

[Cody Gruchow]

Ryegrass is in a lot of the no-till food plot stuff aint it? ive used that stuff in thick canopy areas and it grew fairly well and the deer did eat it in passing, but weren't drawn to it. now I have scouted enough and have my stand sites pretty much down, but I would like to add a little extra to 2 of the areas

[Mayfly]

Ryegrass is in a lot of the no-till food plot stuff aint it? ive used that stuff in thick canopy areas and it grew fairly well and the deer did eat it in passing, but weren't drawn to it. now I have scouted enough and have my stand sites pretty much down, but I would like to add a little extra to 2 of the areas

Cody.. Don't confuse the two. They put ryegrass in becasue it grows but is not preferred by the deer. Its basically an invasive grass that will ruin your food plots.

What you want is Rye GRAIN.

People should really stop buying overpriced seed with a pretty buck on the bag. I bought a 10lb seed mix last week at the local feed mill for $34.00. For the heck of it I looked on-line at some popular food plot seed companies and found similiar (less desirable) mixes for 8lbs selling at $60.00! UNREAL

But yeah Cody... you want the Rye Grain1 

[Boar]

is rye grian a mid season type of food source, when would one want to broadcast that.

[Cody Gruchow]

well I plan on putting my plots back in this summer. and im gonna try out Rye grain

[dakids]

We have planted 2 small kill plots (20 yard circles) on our land in july and the does and fawns pound them daily.  They never get taller than 4 inches.  They are the only green plants during the rifle season.

[dakids]

If you want to try a really cheap food plot.  Go buy a bag of horse feed(oats) at mills for under 10 bucks for 50 pounds. It will die before rifle season but it will be good for bow season.

[whiteoakbuck]

I'm planning on planting some FrigidForage not sure wich one i will go with leaning towards Wallhanger or Wild Game Buffet but that might change