10 Myths about Food Plots
10 Myths about Food Plots
By Jessica Graham
It is no secret that food plots play a primary role in attracting and holding a diverse wildlife population on your property. A recent study confirmed that starvation is the third biggest attributor to deer mortality. Planting a food plot will aid the survival of deer in your area, and will provide the animals with necessary calories to thrive through the harsh winter months. To plant a thriving food plot, do not be fooled by these 10 food plot myths.
1. Food plots cost a lot of money.
While it is true that food plots can cost a lot of money, they do not have to cost a lot of money. One of the more attractive and cheaper food plots, as far as seed and inputs are concerned, are brassicas. Brassica is the name of the genus that encompasses vegetables such as radishes, kale, rape and turnips. Depending on where you go for your seed needs, both purple top turnips and radishes can be purchased for under $5 per pound of seed. Constructing a blend of 5 lbs of radishes per acre and pairing it with 3 lbs of turnips per acre will cost you under $40 in seed costs to plant an acre of an attractive food plots for deer and other wildlife.
Another benefit to planting a mixture of radishes and turnips is that radishes are highly attractive to deer early season and before the frosts come. Turnips, on the other hand, peak in attractiveness after the first hard frost, as the bulbs start collecting sugars for winter storage. The turnips end up being a sweet attractive treat for the deer after the snow falls. Fields of brassicas also provide a home for insects, which will attract turkey and other birds to your food plot. With the attraction of turkey and other critters, you will likely see a predator lurking around the brassica field sometime during the year. With a little investment in some seed and proper seedbed preparation, you can have a cheap food plot ready in time for fall hunting seasons.
2. All food sources are equal.
Different foods peak attractiveness during different times of the year. For instance, soybeans are attractive to deer while they are green and growing, then they lose their appeal for a period of time once the leaves begin to turn yellow and defoliate. Alfalfa tends to be most attractive prior to frost, and once the snow falls, deer will seek another food source, such as standing grains like soybeans and corn. In order to maximize the benefits of food plots, plant a few varieties of food sources to attract wildlife through the whole hunting season.
3. You need a lot of equipment to establish a food plot.
There are several different methods to get your food plot prepared. One option is to use a lot of equipment such as a plow and disk to work the sod, then plant with a planter, drill, or broadcaster, and finish with a cutipacker. This requires a lot of equipment, time, and fuel to prepare a prime seedbed. An alternative strategy hunters can use, called frost seeding, involves little to no equipment. With increased time and effort, you can improve or establish a lush field of clover. To frost seed, broadcast clover seed either by hand sowing or mechanical broadcasting onto the sod. Frost seeding in Iowa takes place shortly before spring arrives in order to capture the freeze-thaw action in late February throughout March and early April. The freeze-thaw action helps break some seed dormancy and improves germination. The action also helps work the seed into the soil to promote growth. Once the clover starts growing in the spring, you can discourage weed growth by mowing the food plot.
4. Planting soybeans later in the year will make them stay green longer.
One of the most popular myths around food plots revolves around the thought that if soybeans are planted later in the year, closer to July, the soybeans will stay green longer into the year and provide a green food source for deer through the month of October. The reality is soybeans are phototropic; physiological changes are triggered by the length of daylight. The sun triggers the soybeans to flower, mature, and defoliate, just as the length of day triggers tree to lose their leaves in the fall. Whether soybeans are planted in May or July, they will mature at approximately the same time. To achieve green soybeans later in the year for an enticing green food plot, plant a late maturing variety instead. Soybeans are classified by maturity groups correlating to geographical area from north to south. Generally speaking, group 1-2 soybeans are planted in the northern half of the state and mature earliest. Group 2-3 soybeans are planted in the southern half of the state and mature later in the year. To achieve green soybeans later into October, plant a later maturing group, such as a group 3 or group 4 soybean. Green soybeans will provide deer, upland birds, and turkey with necessary fats and calories to get them through the winter.
5. Food plots require a lot of maintenance.
One of the lowest maintenance food plots are also the most overlooked food source, trees. Trees such as persimmons, apples, pears, chestnuts and acorns provide a significant source of food for wildlife. Acorns are one of the most favored sources of food for deer and turkey, and compose a significant portion of their diet. Planting hybrid oak trees can provide wildlife with a mast crop in just a few years. Native white oaks and red oak trees, on the other hand, can take approximately 20 years to produce their first mast crop. Chestnuts and hazelnuts are also attractive to wildlife and draw deer and turkey to the timber every fall when they start dropping acorns and nuts. At maturity, oak trees can produce about 1,000 lbs. of acorns, chestnut trees produce about 400 lbs. of nuts, and a mature hazelnut tree produces about 25 lbs. of nuts per tree and supports wildlife through the fall and winter months.
6. You can put a food plot anywhere.
Wildlife are shy creatures and avoid human contact. For maximum attraction, careful thought should be taken to appeal to targeted wildlife. For instance, food plots for waterfowl are more attractive when planted near a pond or lake. Some food sources, such as Japanese Millet, can be flooded to provide both habitat and food for waterfowl. There are not many crops that can withstand the flooding environment, and they will die if flooded. During early and late hunting seasons, deer like to bed near food. In order to see an increased amount of deer, plant food plots closer to some cover, such as near timber, an evergreen grove, or near a native warm season grass field. You will see more wildlife when planted close to a habitat source.
7. One small food plot will sustain your hunting needs.
One person planning on harvesting a deer or two, may think one tiny food plot will provide just enough attraction for a shot opportunity at a deer. However, deer can be hard on food plots and can maul the plants and rob you of the opportunity of a chance to hunt your food plot.
Soybeans are tender and have a somewhat high protein content which attracts a lot of different wildlife while emerging. Rabbits, deer, and turkey will quickly browse the emerging soybeans killing the growing point and heavily reducing the stand count of the food plot. By planting a small food plot, you might have trouble keeping wildlife out and establishing a field for fall hunting. In dense deer populations, food plots work as they should and attract neighboring deer to your property. The added deer frequenting your food plot increase the browsing pressure and could destroy a small food plot. Make sure your hunting property has enough food to support heavy browsing pressure.
8. Dirt is dirt.
In short, different plants require different soil types with preferred PH levels. For instance, corn requires well drained soil during the early stages of growth; it does not tolerate wet spots and will drown out when exposed to too much moisture. Food plots with soybeans growth is greatly suppressed in heavy clay soils. By planting a food plot in favorable soil types, you will increase the food production and be able to attract and support more wildlife.
9. Food plots require a lot of space.
While it is nice to have large destination food plots to support the wildlife population, one common misconception is that you need to have a large open area for establishing a food plot. Food plots can be constructed on small acreages and in creative ways to attract wildlife. For instance, clover is attractive to deer and turkey during a large portion of the year. If there is not a lot of snow on the ground you can catch wildlife grazing on the clover. If you do not feel like there is adequate space, consider planting a clover path to your stand. Clover can be planted near the edge of a timber line, or you can even seed in clover on an existing pathway. Clover grows quickly and is more durable to browsing pressure than other crops. For this reason, you can use clover to maximize available space to attract deer, turkey, and upland birds to your hunting area.
10. Species and variety selection is not important.
Deer browse on a lot of different types of foods: brambles, grains, legumes and grasses just to name a few. What makes one food source more attractive to a deer over other food sources? Aspects such as tannin levels have a powerful influence on selection of food. Tannins are natural organic compounds that release a bitter taste when consumed. Tannins are often present in higher concentrations in plants containing red colors. Knowing this fact can help you plant the most desirable food sources in the area, and will help you pull wildlife from neighboring properties by planting an enticing food source. For instance, while deer will eat red clovers, they have a higher tannin content and therefore white clovers are sweeter to taste and preferred by wildlife. The same concept is applicable to oak trees as acorns falling from red oak trees are bitterer than those falling from white oak trees. Planting food plots that have a superior taste and quality will increase deer and wildlife traffic to your property and will make your food plot more attractive than neighboring sources.
Food plots are versatile and can be tailored to fit your hunting property and hunting needs. Do not allow food plot myths to keep you from establishing a thriving food plot suitable for your hunting area. They are one of the best tools to draw targeted wildlife to your area, and a great way to experience a fun filled hunt. With a little planning and preparation, you can improve your hunting property and can enjoy the wildlife frequenting your food plot.
