Discussion on deer food plots

I can remember the very day when I first had the thought, "owning a Cub might be a good idea." A friend plowed up a total of about an acre with his JD M and I bought a little, pull-behind-the-atv disk (what a joke) so I could plant some clover for the deer on my property. I do now garden and mow and many other things with Cubs, but when I think about it, it was the deer food plots that really brought my attention to the fact that I NEEDED a tractor (or 2 ... or ?) I figure that there are others out there who use their Cubs for the same purpose ... planting food plots. I think those planting food plots on a relatively small-scale would be silly not to use a Cub, just my opinion. I am midly surprised that there's not more discussion about planting food plots.

Over the past few years, I have planted some clover plots because they'll last a while. I'm thinking about oats for hunting season attraction. I live in Illinois where it is illegal to attract deer with any method other that food plots. No feeders, no salt blocks, etc.

So ... what do you plant and for what purpose? Annuals vs perennials? Nutrition vs attraction? Time of year to plant? And anything else you'd like to discuss.

Trent, Good Topic! I will be going to a local deer classic this weekend, and I will try gather as much info as I can on food plots. I will post back with what I find out. I too, Love my cub tractor for working food plots/garden work. Ill keep in touch, Jim

My gardens have turned into food plots. I guess they grow protein now. when the beans die in the fall, I'll plant rye.

I'm midly surprised that there isn't more discussion on this topic. To my mind, Cubs and food plots are a match made in heaven.

Here is a fine article written by our member Lyle7289 on this subject.

http://www.farmallcub.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=33981

My gardens have turned into food plots. I guess they grow protein now. when the beans die in the fall, I'll plant rye.

Is the rye for attracting deer in the fall? I've heard its popular.

Trent, Good Topic! I will be going to a local deer classic this weekend, and I will try gather as much info as I can on food plots. I will post back with what I find out. I too, Love my cub tractor for working food plots/garden work. Ill keep in touch, Jim

I look forward to the info! Do you currently have food plots? If so, what do you plant?

Is the rye for attracting deer in the fall? I've heard its popular.

Winter rye is a great deer attractant. It can be planted after the garden for a cover crop to control soil erosion, and be turned under in the spring for a soil building "Green Manure" crop. Plus, it is cheap.

I disk up and seeded about 3/4 acre of white (dutch) clover for a deer food plot. The food plot is electric fenced to keep out the cattle. Neighbor and I was going to square bale the first cutting then let it grow for deer season.

Several neighbors plant milo. One neighbor plants 4 or 5 acres in milo for a deer food plot. Last year they shot 5 or 6 deer feeding in the milo. After deer season they turn in cattle.

The other night, I saw 1 deer on the property from the road. I have seen as many as 7 in the 3/4-acre clover plot at one time. There are soybean and corn fields scattered around the woods in my area. Its hard to compete with the beans this time of year and they'll be in the corn later in the year. I'm looking for something that will attract the deer during the hunting season. I might plant a variety of different things ... a smorgasboard.

Fall planting time is fast approaching and hunting season will be here before we know it.

Trent, have used white clover, alfalfa, wheat, rye, chicory. The very best I've tried is winter oats, deer will leave everything else to graze on winter oats because oats are more tender than wheat or rye. You should have no problem down there with winter kill.

Thanks Red! I have been leaning toward oats. No one around here plants it. That should make my plot very popular with the deer, however, I'll have to order the seed as I doubt I can find it local.

Buck forage oats is the well advertised brand but you will pay 2to 4 times the price of a varietal such as Harrison. Surely some of our southern cubbers could locate some for you! I bought mine at a gunshop in Peoria, Il.

Its time to start thinking about getting a new plot ready. Planting time is sneaking up on me! I've decided to go with oats, just need to find some.

At the edge try a patch of turnips. Our hardware store sells in the bulk and three bucks will do about a thirty by sixty foot area. They take the frost well too. Small seeds so I drill holes in a lid just big enough for the seeds and shake them out.
Ron in Mid Missouri

Ron- Good idea. I think I'll do that. When I was a kid we always mixed the tiny seeds with some dirt and just tossed it around.