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Successful Wildlife Food Plots |
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- Understanding basic wildlife needs when developing
your property will help you get started and lead
to much greater success. Making sure you meet the
basic needs of wildlife is essential to developing
a true wildlife refuge that will make your property
a real showplace and something you can be proud
of. Food, water, shelter and a place to raise young
are the basic necessities needed by wildlife to
survive and thrive on your property.
- The next step
to successful food plots is knowing and understanding
your objective. Land managers develop food plots
on their property for many different reasons. Determining
your main goals and objectives up-front will lead
to quicker success. Before you begin, ask yourself
these questions: is your food plot to facilitate
the harvest of game, to develop a wildlife viewing
area, to follow a quality deer management system,
to increase carrying capacity, or a combination
of these goals? Your goals and objectives will
help you determine the different sites, planting
materials, size of plot and plot management techniques
you use in establishing a successful wildlife food
plot on your property.
- After determining the goals
and objectives for developing your food plots,
the next step is site selection. The location you
choose is very important to the success of your
plot. If your goal is to establish a plot only
for harvest, you will want to locate it within
clear view and close proximity to your stand. On
the other hand, if you are developing a plot to
feed deer to improve antler size, promote milk
production in does, increase body size and promote
overall herd health, you will want to select a
site that is in an isolated area. A secluded, undisturbed
area will promote greater use of the plot allowing
wildlife to come and go as they feed without fear.
Many areas throughout a farm will make ideal sites
to establish a food plot. These areas would include
woodland openings, right-of ways, firebreaks, logging
roads, log decks, interior roads, thinned pines,
field corners, etc. Just keep in mind that all
plots need at least 50% sunlight to be productive.
In addition, soil type and weather will help to
deter mine which crops will grow best. Food plots
are very attractive to wildlife, so careful selection
is important. Never locate a plot near a roadside
or in plain view of a road or near property lines.
- The size and shape of your food plots can make
a difference. The size of the plots or overall
acres to be planted can be difficult to determine.
One rule of thumb is to plant at least 2 to 5 acres
for every 100 acres of habitat. You should start
off on the lighter side of the percentage and work
to build more plots as deer utilization increases.
Depending on natural habitat, deer density and
many other factors, you will need to increase the
total size of your food plots over time to maintain
a reasonable amount of growth within each plot.
Once again, it is important to understand your
goals and objectives because they will play a major
role in determining the size and shape of your
plots. For example, if you are strictly a bow hunter
looking to establish a harvest plot, you will want
to locate your plot close to a good stand location.
A number of factors will play a role in determining
the size and shape of your food plots. The factors
include, but are not limited to, overall number
of plots you will have, total acres you want to
plant, distance between plots, game species you
want to attract, lay of the land (slope, direction
to the sun, lowland or upland). Even the plants
you want to grow can determine the size and shape
of your food plots. How the food plot will affect
the surrounding landscape will also be a consideration.
For example, many game species benefit from edge
created along side a food plot. Creating an edge
effect will give wildlife more diverse habitat,
cover, more diverse food supplies and make them
feel more secure. A long narrow food plot with
a bend or two would be the most preferred shape
for creating the most edge effect. In addition,
leaving a natural grass/weed/vine habitat along
the edge of the plot or tree line is great for
attracting and increasing insects for turkey and
quail chicks. Edge areas should be disked every
third year to keep them from getting too over grown.
Disking Edge Areas: Divide edge areas into thirds,
so you only disk one third of the areas each year.
Disk across these areas multiple times to kill
any tough weeds that have established over the
past two years. Smooth the surface so that the
soil is easy for quail and turkey chicks to pass
through. Then let nature take its course. Grass
and weeds will soon fill in, creating cover, an
insect haven and additional natural food supplies.
- Once
you have selected a site or sites to grow your
food plots the next step is Soil testing. Food
plots are crops and understanding the soil, its
fertility requirements and its ability to grow
different plants is essential for success. Good
soil fertility can mean the difference in how much
food per acre you can grow, how well your plants
will compete with weed competition, the survivability
of perennials, simple nutrient uptake and many
other important factors. One of those other factors
is pH. Most plots require a pH in the range of
6.0 to 7.0. Many land managers overlook soil testing
and never realize that many of the problems they
encounter come from this oversight. Do not underestimate
the importance of soil fertility and pH. For example,
a soil pH of 5.0 will cause about 50% of all the
fertilizer you apply not to be utilized by the
plants you are growing. In dollar value, this means
that fifty cents of every dollar spent on fertilizer
is wasted. That being said, I encourage you to
test your soil and keep the pH around 6.5. It can
make the difference in your success or your lack
of success. In addition, a good, well-balanced,
complete fertilizer applied at ideal times is essential.
Pennington Wildlife Food Plot Fertilizer 8-12-12
at a rate of 400 lbs./acre or 10 lbs./1,000 sq.ft.
may be all the fertilizer your plots need to be
lush and healthy. This fertilizer is specially
formulated for wildlife food plots as well as native
and natural vegetation. It is made up of slow release
nitrogen that will last for months, plus it has
all the major and minor nutrients your plants will
need, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium,
calcium, iron, zinc, boron and more. In addition,
it contains dolomitic palletized limestone as the
filler to aid in neutralizing acidic woodland soils.
This complete fertilizer is made of 100% usable
ingredients, so you are not buying and hauling
heavy fillers that take up space, add weight and
do nothing to help your plot grow.
- Field preparation
is the next step to developing a successful food
plot. The current condition of your food plot will
determine how to get started. Young seedling plants
cannot compete with established weed competition,
so if weeds are a problem, a good chemical burn-down
is essential. In addition a good seedbed will make
a big difference in how well these plots establish.
The best method of doing this is to kill the weeds,
then disk and drag to prepare a smooth, firm seedbed.
Finish by firming the soil before planting the
seed. This will kill all of the existing weeds,
remove all vegetation and debris from the site,
break up the hard soil and firm everything back
to a smooth level surface. Fertilizer and lime
can be applied during the disking step so that
it can be worked into the soil. A fine soil texture
is most desirable, so break up clods and level
the soil as you work it. This will create an ideal
seedbed for even the smallest seed such as white
clover or alfalfa.
- Seed selection comes next and is vital to accomplishing
your goals in establishing your plots. Different
species of wildlife will utilize different plants
throughout the year, so know what you are planting,
where it grows, how it grows, when it grows, what
wildlife will be attracted to it and how productive
it will be. Other considerations will include knowing
the plant material and its ability to grow high
quality, high protein food plots and knowing if
they will be drought, heat or cold tolerant. This
wildlife catalog has been designed to help answer
these questions. In this catalog, each plant material
will be listed as an annual, perennial, mixture
or blend. A short description of the plant characteristics
and requirements will follow. This information
will help you determine what you should plant to
meet the goals you have set for your food plots.
Pennington Seed has the right seed products to
fit your needs, no matter how diverse your goals
are.
- Be as diligent at planting the plot as you are
in selecting the right seed. Today there are many
different planting implements to choose from including
drills, no-till drills, cyclone seeders that fit
your truck or ATV, and also hand-held seeders.
In addition you must consider the date, timing,
soil moisture, soil temperature, soil condition,
seed coatings, inoculants, planting depth and all
the other considerations mentioned in these planting
guidelines. Consider all of these factors while
you are in the planning stages. This will pay huge
dividends in the end. Plant the seed evenly at
the recommended seeding rate. Use a drag or packer
to cover the seed no deeper than the maximum depth
indicated. Good seed to soil contact is key to
establishing a productive food plot.
- Understanding how to manage your food plot is
another key component to its success or failure.
Maintaining a good soil fertility program, keeping
the plot weed free and scouting for potential insect
or other pest problems can aid in extending the
life of any food plot, increasing the over all
yield of the plot and achieving full satisfaction
for you.
- Food plots are supplemental plantings,
so knowing when wildlife will utilize these plots
will help you enjoy them even more. There are two
major periods each year when wildlife needs these
plots the most; late summer and late winter stress
periods. A good food plot will be growing strong
through the fall and pick up again in late winter
to supply wildlife forage during harsh winter conditions.
Likewise, the same is needed through the spring
and summer months to supply wildlife during summer
droughts and the late summer stress period. Managers
should expect utilization to be at its peak during
these two most stressful times of the year. These
times are also good times to evaluate your plots
to determine if there is enough food on the table,
or if more needs to be planted in subsequent years
to better meet the needs of wildlife through these
stressful periods. Attractiveness of the forage
also attributes to utilization. Simply put, certain
plants are more preferred than others and certain
plants are preferred during different times of
the year. During the 200-day antler development
cycle, bucks need a high protein food source, while
during the fall, they need foods high in carbohydrates
to store fat. Developing plots with diversified
plants is an easy way to cover all your bases.
Mixtures of seed that have been properly formulated
are easy to obtain to achieve this diversity.
- At
the end of the day every land manager wants to
evaluate and judge the plot on how well it was
utilized by wildlife. This can be done simply by
making an exclusion cage to keep deer, turkey,
rabbits and all other game out of a given area.
This will allow the same amount of sunlight, rain
and fertilizer on the area, but will eliminate
any browse pressure from that specific spot. In
time you should see the enclosed area grow and
mature inside the cage while the productive plot
around it will be eaten down, especially during
the stressful months of the year. An exclusion
cage can also tell you a lot about your plot. Many
managers will plant a plot and not return for several
weeks and in some cases, the return can be a disappointing
one. When the manager sees the area and it is bare
ground or full of grassy weeds, they tend to assume
the plot did not germinate, or perhaps germinated,
but did not survive. An exclusion cage is invaluable
because it gives you a protect ed area so you can
evaluate exactly what has happened in your absence.
If the seed did not germinate, then both inside
the cage and outside should look the same. But
if plants are growing strong inside the cage, but
don't appear to be growing outside the cage or
you only see weeds outside the cage, you will know
that wildlife moved in and ate all the forage production.
And it should tell you to plant more because wildlife
in this area does not have enough to eat.
- Natural
and native vegetation is important wildlife food.
As you establish supplemental food plots, be sure
to maintain native and natural fruit and nut trees,
shrubs, hedges, vines and other plant materials
already present so that the overall habitat is
more appealing to the species of wildlife you are
managing. Properly identifying, fertilizing and
caring for these plants is key to ensuring they
survive on your property. Pennington's Wildlife
Food Plot Fertilizer has a complete fertilization
label for these plants. Refer to the back of the
bag for complete details.
- Mineral licks can also
be an important part of an overall food plot program.
A good mineral lick can provide essential minerals
not provided by the food plot or natural vegetation.
Rackmaster® Deer
Mineral is a complete all natural, loose mineral
supplement that can help to achieve overall herd
health. This 2:1 ratio of calcium to phosphorus
plus sodium chloride can be applied straight onto
the ground or placed on a stump or a log. It is
easy to use and blends in well with its surroundings.
It is utilized most during the spring, summer and
early fall months. The loose mineral product makes
it easy to recharge licks and keep plenty of minerals
available as a free choice supplement.
- The final
step in creating successful food plots is keeping
records. Good record keeping will help you in a
number of ways. The information should be logged
into some form of diary or record book and should
include seed planted, time of year planted, rate
and depth of planting, growth and observations,
fertilizer and lime used along with rate and date
of application, animals observed or harvested and
any other information you choose to jot down for
future reference. It will be a valuable reference
for you at a later date.
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