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Why Food Plots for Wildlife?
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Some Whitetail Deer Study Background
Recent studies have shown that upwards of 60% of whitetail deer bucks in the wild would reach record book proportions with nutrition and age. So if you want to shoot a “Mega Buck” then don’t shoot a little one, “Let Him Go So He Can Grow!” So how are we going to best accomplish that?
Let’s cut right to the chase; there are three main ingredients to the “Mega Bucks” formula, namely; genetics, age and nutrition. The first two pieces are probably the most difficult and will no doubt take the most time to achieve. Of these three key elements incident to producing big bucks, nutrition is without a doubt the quickest and simplest to provide.
Look around when you’re out for a ride in the country. You see acres and acres of barren fields, mostly golden rod, where there used to be farm crops. Many of the small family farms that used to dot the countryside are gone along with the food sources they once provided for wildlife in that area. That’s where food plots come into play.
Know also that food plots do require planning, time, some investment of your hard earned dollars and a certain amount of sweat equity. The amount of time, money and sweat required is directly proportionate to the equipment available. Food plots can provide year round food sources for deer, turkeys, grouse and other wildlife. Food plots can also provide levels of protein well above the 16% benchmark level needed for Whitetail Deer to thrive and reach their genetic potential.
The Kerr study, a five year study in the 1980’s by the Kerr Wildlife Management Area in Texas, took two groups of 1.5-year-old bucks. One group was fed an 8% protein diet (similar to what is found in nature) and the other group received a 16% protein diet. The 16% group averaged 230% more antler development and 25% more body weight. It was determined that bucks need high levels of protein year round, but especially during the magical 200 days of antler development. Does also need the protein provided by this food plot protein to maximize body development, provide proper nutrition for their fawns during pregnancy and during lactation after the fawns are born.
So, here are some simple conclusions about why food plots:
· Food plots, in combination with mineral supplements, will give you the ability to meet these critical protein needs.
· Food plots should be considered an integral part of any wildlife management program.
· Food plots provide more stand locations during hunting season.
· A food plot is a great place for wildlife enthusiasts to view wildlife even if they don’t hunt.
· Food plots, in concert with other sound management practices, will in time provide the “Mega Bucks” you’re looking to grow on your property.
Following are consensus suggestions made by quality deer management proponents:
· Set age and size standards for the bucks in your area.
· Enforce those standards for example: one group in NY imposes a 2 year “no buck” penalty if a member harvests a substandard buck. Harsh? Maybe, however, it’s working for them.
· Talk to your neighbors, partner with them, get them involved and work together towards a common goal, “Mega Bucks”, “Let Them Go So They Can Grow!”
· Sound management practices combined with a food plot based nutritional program will make the difference. It will take two or three lean seasons, but your plan will work and it will be well worth the wait.
· Let those over populated does provide your table fare.
· If you just want venison, shoot a doe. Be selective here too; take older possibly barren does and older, smaller bodied does.
· Be careful not to shoot button bucks.
· These practices will have the tendency to
- Lower (improve) the buck to doe ratio.
- Make bucks more receptive to calling.
- Shorten the rut period. When too many does exist the rut can be extended to as much as three months. An extended rut puts tremendous pressure and unbelievable stress on your best bucks and many may not survive the winter; those that do may be so weakened that they can’t reach their potential the next year.
THE HOW AND THE WHERE TO PLACE YOUR FOOD PLOTS
It All Starts with Good Preparation
Determine the size(s), location(s), and number of food plots needed consider:
- A good rule of thumb is that 3% of your total acreage should be devoted to food plots.
- This percentage may vary with the population density of the deer.
- Choose secluded sites.
- Several small plots scattered throughout your management area will provide better results than one or two large ones.
- This will reduce competition for food.
- Spread out the deer over your management area.
- Provide more stand locations for hunting season.
- Keep plots in their youngest vegetative state thus providing increased protein levels.
· Three to five hours of daily sunlight will be needed to establish a successful food plot.
· If your property is mostly wooded consider clear cutting marginal timber areas and plant your food plot there.
· Understand that a lot of time, work and money may be involved, but it’s worth it. Some state’s DNR offer financial assistance to produce and carry out a forest management plan or wildlife habitat enhancement plan. Check with your state DNR. For the DNR website in your state, click here.
· You may be able to use money from the sale of the timber to finance some
or all of the project.
· Long narrow/ winding plots work well. Whitetails are edge creatures and prefer these types of plots. Don’t be afraid to plant your main trails.
· Consider planting tall cover crops on the edges of plots that don’t boarder wooded or brushy areas making these plots more secluded.
· Try planting a food plot in the center of another crop, for example corn or our
Ringneck Ranch.
· Leave some trails seeded with the food plot blend leading to/from and through the cover crop. Ground blinds could be utilized to hunt this type of plot.
· Trails and right of ways are also good choices for food plots. These areas provide good ambush stand locations for hunting season.
· Complete soil test(s) for all site location(s) to determine lime/fertilizer requirements for each site(s). Take several random core samples from each site(s) at 4” – 6” in depth. A bulb planter works great for this task.
· Place the samples in plastic bucket mix them, remove a sample of that mixture,
place it in a plastic bag, label it to identify it by site and have the sample(s) tested. (Coop office or the store where you buy your lime/fertilizer can tell you where to get the soil sample(s) tested.)
· When you get your results back, if you need help, simply provide us with the
results and we will help you determine the quantities of lime/fertilizer to apply.
Determine the Specific Seed Blend for Each of Your Plot(s)
Considerations should include:
· Till or limited tillage process.
· Type of plot; annual or perennial.
· A perennial plot should last three to four years before replacement is needed.
· Both types have their benefits and in combination with mineral supplements can
provide the necessary protein and nutrition levels on a year round basis.
· Determine the quantity of seed needed for your plot(s).
· Order the seed. If assistance is needed, please contact us for specific advice from the grower.
Let’s Go Plant Your Food Plot
· Brush hog the entire area and apply herbicide, especially if you don’t have the
equipment available to actually plow your new food plot.
· Plowing, disking and float/drag to firm up the seedbed.
· Spread lime/fertilizer and broadcast or drill the seed
· Wait until the soil temp is at least 55 degrees.
· If it’s dry, especially with low humidity, it’s best to wait until rain is in the forecast. We want to avoid a worst case scenario of there being sufficient moisture to
germinate the seed but not enough to keep it growing.
· You can plant all summer as long as long as you have sufficient moisture, so you needn’t rush it.
· Roll or drag lightly to achieve the needed soil to seed contact.
If you don’t have access to farm equipment, here’s what you can do:
· Dragging/roughing up the top 2 – 3 inches use whatever you have, wait a couple of weeks, then rough it up again, spread the lime/fertilize/seed and drag/roll.
· Use whatever you have, for example, an old bed springs section of a drag. We have had past success using a section of chain link fence stapled to a 2 x 4 and dragged behind a four-wheeler or garden tractor like a harrow drag.
· Smaller plots can be tilled using a rototiller.
· You may be able to hire a local farmer to prepare your plot(s).
Enjoy Your Hard Work
Now you can begin enjoying watching the wildlife using the food plot(s) you have planned, sown and grown! With a little luck, your deer will keep your plot(s) mowed for you; if not, when plants reach 12 – 14 inches in height, cut them back to 4 – 6 inches. A brush hog will do the job.
Mowing will encourage new, thicker, tender high protein growth and this new growth will, in turn, keep the deer in your plot(s). However, if it’s very dry, consider delaying mowing until you get some rain. Without moisture, it will take longer for your plot(s) to regenerate.
Now might also be a good time to pick up that new trail cam you’ve always wanted. A good, infrared trail cam will allow you to see exactly when the deer and other wildlife are visiting your plot(s).
FOOD PLOT PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION
As concerned sportsmen, hunters, property owners and/or leaseholders, we can all take action by stopping the talk and getting more serious about providing nutrition for deer and other wildlife we are fortunate enough to enjoy for our recreational pursuits. We are all probably familiar with this story told in some fashion or another and related to us by our food plot seed grower and supplier:
“For years I sat around hunting camp during the season talking to fellow hunters about
how “next year,” during the spring and summer, we “should” put in some food plots. Meanwhile, we were all still spending a ton of money and time hauling bait to our camps and “planting” it; sometimes probably more than the legal limit, at sites deemed worthy of sitting over for most of the season or until the bait ran out, scavenged by nocturnal feeding deer.
Then, we got “surprised” by Bovine Tuberculosis and baiting restrictions. Rather than hang onto our favorite spots, we tended to move camp to where we could still spend more money and more time to bait. Then, in some areas a new threat of Chronic Wasting Disease threatened to ban baiting in its entirety. Maybe it’s time we heeded the wake up call.”
The time to begin your food plots is now! Remember that there is planning and preparation required for creating successful food plots.
Since the time that story as first told, this same individual started looking for food plot seed. As most food plot seed companies were located in the Deep South, there was general concern about the plants’ ability to survive the harsh, Northern and Midwestern winters.
He, like many other of our valued customers, discovered Wildlife Buffet and the rest, as they say, is history. As he tells it, he has since planted over 20 food plots; most done with only a four-wheeler as his steed. Many of those plots were created on relatively small acreage of less than 10 acres, but still accommodating as many as four plots, which are regularly visiting by as many a 10-15 deer at a time.
Bottom line, he said, is if you want to help feed the wildlife on your property, provide more stand locations, grow bigger, healthier does, and have your buck fawns turn into “Mega Bucks,” then food plots are the only way to go!
Here’s a Recap of Where to Go from Here
1. Every journey begins with a first step! The first step on this journey is the planning process.
2. We have discussed food plots and the important role they play in any whitetail management program. Now, simply apply and adapt the information we’ve covered to your property.
3. Develop a long-term, 3 – 5 year plan to include food plots, mineral stations, possible
supplemental feeding and management standards for the harvesting of game in the
management area.
4. Set goals and benchmarks, don’t try to do it all at once, it may be too overwhelming and discourage you from getting out of the starting gate.
5. Topo maps, aerial photos and hand drawn grid drawings will help and planning can be fun. These are often available through your state DNR. For the website of the DNR in your state, click here.
6. Keep records of every plot planted, mineral and supplement usage and animals harvested. This will enable you to monitor your progress and revise your plan if necessary.
7. Establish an annual budget for food plots.
8. Take the path of least resistance. If available, put your first plots in good areas that require the least amount of preparation time.
9. When you see your results here you’ll be excited and anxious to do whatever is
required to stay on track and implement your plan.
10. At this stage most plots should be perennial, since they should last 3 –5 years and
won’t need to be replaced until you near the end of your long-term plan.
11. The exception might be Alpha Buck Fall Blend™ planted in August to provide needed carbohydrates for winter or cover/food plots used to create edges for your perennial plots with 2 or more sides bordering open fields.
12. Stay the course and review your long term plan and results each year. Revise as needed and continue to work towards your established benchmarks and goals.
13. The “when” is now, not tomorrow, next week, next month or next year? Start planning today and then work your plan.
Food plots and wildlife management do require some effort but the rewards will be worth the time, effort and dollars invested. Just imagine your excitement when you harvest a homegrown Boone & Crocket or Pope & Young buck on your property? What a rush!
“PLANT IT AND THEY WILL COME!”
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Wildlife Buffet™ is a family of food plot seed blends and mineral supplements grown specifically to excel and thrive throughout the Midwest and Northern climates. Black Hills Deer Camp, LLC in conjunction with its online store CabinLivin.com is an authorized Dealer for Wildlife Buffet™.
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