T.P.'s 8th annual food plot prep picher thread

[davidhelmly]

I helped (a little) with 20+ plots in Alabama last fall and got them converted over to a 3 clover blend, oats and radish. They are really producing right now.

View attachment 1151058View attachment 1151059

Good job, that is a tough combo to beat!!

 

[Canuck5]

It is and less worries about what to plant "now" for the summer, if IHunt is right about a drought coming. The red clover with the longer root system, should preform well.

 

[fireman32]

Have a little patch of volunteer clover up near my road, believe it’s arrowleaf. Looks like deer are browsing it at night in a few places. My crimson clover in my plot has stopped blooming and this is still going strong, may try to transplant some of it to my plot.

 

[fireman32]

My bro in law tried to start a chestnut orchard in the field, would sure like to plant it with some type of plot seed. That 3 acres could be a buffet.

 

[Canuck5]

 

[fireman32]

Went and checked on some young swamp chestnut oaks I cleared around earlier this year. After watching Grant Woods and hearing him preach about sunlight hitting the ground I decided to see for myself. This small area had a bare understory, but now has scuppernong vines and beauty berry sprouting. One pic is the area right beside the clearing, you can see how dark and barren it still is. Baby steps and a never ending task to improve the land for wildlife.

 

[fireman32]

And they really like trophy rocks, putting out the third one this year.

 

[sportsman94]

Went and checked on some young swamp chestnut oaks I cleared around earlier this year. After watching Grant Woods and hearing him preach about sunlight hitting the ground I decided to see for myself. This small area had a bare understory, but now has scuppernong vines and beauty berry sprouting. One pic is the area right beside the clearing, you can see how dark and barren it still is. Baby steps and a never ending task to improve the land for wildlife.View attachment 1151523View attachment 1151524

Good to hear that you are seeing positive results from your efforts. I talk hunting/habitat with a few buddies and keep telling them that sunlight hitting the ground would improve their habitat greatly.

 

[fireman32]

Good to hear that you are seeing positive results from your efforts. I talk hunting/habitat with a few buddies and keep telling them that sunlight hitting the ground would improve their habitat greatly.

It’s a learning curve when figuring out how many trees to remove. I generally cut down any sweet gum, maple or sycamore first then think real hard before I cut an oak. This place was clear cut about 30 years ago and left to regenerate on its on. I’ve been “managing” it for about 15 years. My goal, since its mostly a bottom and only 40 acres, is to have as many oak and wildlife friendly trees as possible while still having year round browse and cover.

 

[deermaster13]

Let this one head out all it would do. Mowed it down Saturday. This end had clover and oats. Fat end rye and wheat with rape. I plan on hitting it with lime soon if we get any rain that is. Mowed 3 other plots on another tract Sunday. I've posted this plot in here before

 

[Gut_Pile]

What was the thought process around mowing @deermaster13 ?

 

[deermaster13]

What was the thought process around mowing @deermaster13 ?

it needed mowing. I let it head out and it wasn't going anywhere so I mowed it. I'm staying with the clover on one end again and the other I'll put it back in rape and probably wheat in the fall. I had good luck with the deer on the rape this season. In meantime I'll turn the wife's horse in it for the summer. I may hit that end with the rye with glyphosphate before fall planting. I'm slowly working the other end to just clover. This plot absolutely had deer using it hard this past season. I'm still learning though and get a bunch of info here.