Food Plots

Not all of us are lucky enough to have farmland.  For those of you who do, kudos!  But for the rest, it's a struggle to consistantly attract bucks.  If you're trying to draw in more deer to your hunting property, a food plot is guarenteed to help.  For us, it's been a trial and error process.  But you know you're getting somewhere, when you check your property the night before rifle season and there is a 6 pointer standing in your clover!!!  We have found that talking to local feed stores is key. They can recommend what will work best in your location, depending on the many factors involved.  Things to consider are; soil type, moisture level and watering ability, what season you're targeting, and cost. Also make note of certain plants that break down and improve soil quality after the growing season.  Planting wildlife mixes can extend you're crop duration!

Location is also a key element.  With the wolf numbers rising, deer are more leary of wide open spaces than years past.  We don't see bucks out in fields like they show on the television hunts!  We've found that small plots surrounded by ample cover is essential.  And possibly the most ingenious plot we made, was running food plots all the way down our four wheeler trails!  Check it out, here is a photo of the boys standing in a long narrow clover plot!

The second tip we can offer is to compound the appeal of your property by putting out salt or mineral licks annually.  Nothing draws a buck in antler velvet stage like a Trophy Rock!  These are our "tried and true" favorite lick available.  Put one these in by a food plot and a water source, and you've got a regular ol' deer utopia!  You can bank on patterning the deer by finding the bedding area and catch them on their way!  Find a funnel and you've hit a "honey hole". 

Now is a great time to conjure up some plot plans.  Then, come spring the land preperation and discing can commence!  Throw a deer camera up in August to monitor things and you'll be well on your way to seeing and shooting more and better deer!  And if it doesn't pay off the first year, you can still pat yourself on the back for improving the wildlife's forage quality.