FOOD PLOT HELP!!!

Hello My name is Alex,
I have been hunting my uncles farm land south of the twin cities for some time now, and he has finally granted me permission to put in about 5 acres of food plots/CRP. Now I know I have a lot of research to do cause I know nothing about food plots. I need to “A” figure out what MN definition of CRP means and what I can plant. Next I need to figure out a mix bag of what exactly I am going to plant, I do every type of hunting and the area really needs this CRP, I want to target the Deer, and Pheasant. I have attached a map outlined in red that I can plant in, they are basically divided into 2 area, swamp and trees on one side and then Corn or Soy beans on the other. Currently the land is disc’ed. He has lots of large equipment but I am willing to bet that I will need to hand spreader seed it. Is there a Perennial type of seed that I can use as I am not sure how much time I have every year to keep it up. Or if there is someone I can meet with to help me, seed rep’s, and of course since this is all new I don’t have much time to get it planted for this year, but that is the goal.

ANY HELP IS APPRECIATED!!!! Thank you in advance.

Alex

Attachments:

1. Google-Maps.pdf

Well, before we get to far into this, is the area that you want to work with actually enrolled as CRP set-aside?

If it is, there are going to be hard limits as to what you can do as far as food plots. In most cases, the planting requirements are clearly laid out in the CRP contract, so you don’t have much latitude in what you do/don’t do.

If you’re using “CRP” as a term for “managed wildlife cover” you have more options.

I can’t tell a lot of details from the picture you posted. What direction is what on that picture? is that swamp ground to the right of the two areas you’ve outlined?

Grouse

Yep, what Grouse said. Is the land in true CRP?

I see ag fields next to this land you want to plant. What is planted in them? Are they rotated every other year?

Are you looking for row crops or more of a clover or brassica type of plots? Corn left standing all winter is great for deer and pheasants. It provides great cover and food.

Sure, I will ask my uncle if he is actually enrolling the land in a CRP program, I am willing to bet maybe not cause this area is very small compared to the rest of his Tillable land (9,000 acres…) they take care of this land/soil very well doing surveys and samples every years to optimize their yields, lime, Nitrus what ever it takes to make a couple more bucks for them. If the map is opening for you like it is me, the top of the map is to the north. His goal is to keep the deer focused on the food plots instead of his corn, and letting the deer and pheasant flourish, cause we really loving going to the farm and utilizing his land and he loves having us down there. The crops are typically soy beans and corn rotated every year to the left or to the west of the red outlined areas. the swamp is to the right or east side of this land. Not many options to leave the corn standing unless its flooded, just for the simple fact that they have quite a big production just to combine a little corn or soybeans.

If I tell him we are restricted with CRP rules on what we can plant, he will say just go for it plant what you want, knowing my uncle…

THANKS GUYS! I am really excited for the opportunity, I just need a little direction.

I hate to say it, but if he is planting 9000 acres of soy beans there is nothing you can plant in the 2 small plots that will compete with the soy beans. The deer prefer soy beans to anything else during the summer and early fall in my experience.

I guess if it were me I would give them some variety with the 2 plots. In one plot, work up the ground in late spring/early summer. Then about mid July go in and spray the plot with gly to kill off any weeds. 2-3 weeks later go in and plant winter rye and jumbo ladino clover. The clover won’t do a lot this fall, but the rye will and the deer will browse it pretty heavy. Next spring you will have the rye coming back early and strong and the clover should come in really well also. Just as the rye heads out go in and mow off the rye about 8-12″ high. This will leave a beautiful clover plot for that fall. The deer will not only hammer the rye and clover in the fall, but it will be the first thing to green up the following spring.

The other plot I’d put in brassica. Same deal as the other plot, go in late spring/early summer and work the ground. Around July 1st hit it with gly to kill off anything growing. Then around July 15th go in and work up the ground slightly again, spread your seed (turnips, rape, radish). Lots of seed varieties and I am sure Grouse may have a lead on some top notch seed for you. Once you have broadcast the seed drag or cultipack the plot and wait for lots of greens to show up for the deer to eat. come late fall/early winter they will love the turnip and radish bulbs…probably most of the winter.

Good luck

Agree with Sticker. No way are a couple of little food plots going to compete with hundreds of acres of corn or soybeans.

IMO, you have to look at the big picture and get a strategy that will work for what you want to hunt and when.

First thing is what are you hunting goals? Shotgun deer? Bow deer? When would you want the plots to be “prime” as far as attracting deer?

Secondly, I think you need to look at the big picture. Food, water, cover. Deer need ALL 3. If you don’t provide them, they will go elsewhere and if they leave your property, they have a chance of getting shot by the neighbors.

From the picture you posted, it’s hard to see for sure, but first I’d think about cover and screening. In order to have any impact on hunting, you have to have a food plot that deer feel comfortable and safe using. Otherwise, you’re essentially creating a food plot that’s only open for business at night.

Are the food plots visible from a road?

I’d think strongly about using Egyptian wheat as a hedge/screen to cut the plots off from the fields. Long term, I think you should add to the woods along the swamp, perhaps with some spruce or other shelter trees.

Food plots depend a lot on your goals. Personally, if it’s gun hunting, I’d be looking at a “mixed” plots that have strips of different types of foods in each plot. I’d think about a clover plot with strips of a winter grain blend, and then brassicas plot.

Costs for 5 acres are not inconsequential.

Grouse

I really appreciate your guys help with all of this. I get that with the amount of corn and soy beans in the area might not keep the deer pinned down, but think it might help sustain some of the deer populations in the area. And I think it might be just flat out fun! I do some bow hunting when I have time, then transition into shot gun hunting if necessary, maybe even a little muzzle loader. one of the reasons I would really like the deer to favor our area of land as there is a group to the north that like to harvest everything… Looking at some of the points you make above I think that i have a lot of it covered, there is a bedding areas on either side of the food plots I would like to establish, with watering holes between each proposed plot. The areas are about 500 yards off the highway, so I think the deer feel protected there. I think I will try exactly what you guys are recommending, with the clovers, brassicas, and some sort of winter blend. I will keep you guys posted on my progress, again its all about experience. Thanks again guys!

Food plotting is fun as heck and very addicting. Have fun with it and experiment. You will find what they like. Always good to have food around when the ag crops get harvested. Then your place will be the place to be…especially muzzy season!