Deer Food Plot ATV Equipment

[Grunt L]

Just got a 4X4 ATV. Need some advice on what food plot equipment to get for about 5-6 acres of food plots I need to put in. Food plots are everywhere from perfect land to right in the middle of my forest where I cam currently removing some trees to put small plots in. Lots of tall weeds and roots in the soil there. I may actually rent a tiller to rough up the ground first in real tough areas but some side hills I have no way of getting a tractor on so will need to use the ATV in those forest areas. Any suggestions on good quality equipment and what to buy or even where to buy woudl be appreciated. Don't want to break the bank on something like a new $4000 PlotMaster either. I have about $2000-$3000 for equipment in my budget.

Thanks,

James

[Scum Frog]

I have something called a GroundHog Max. It works great behind an ATV.

[Jameson]

5-6 acres?

Get a tractor.

[InTheNorthwoods]

The first piece of equipment I would recommend for 5-6 acres would be a tractor...

I know, not what you were asking, but based on experience, doing that amount of work - from scratch no less - with an atv is tough. Here is my best advice for an atv plotter:

1. Don't waste your time renting a tiller at the start.

2. Buy an atv sprayer and lots of glysophate (active ingredient found in Round Up). If the grass/weeds are really tall, buying a brush mower will be handy to prepare for sparying.

3. Spray everything when green growth starts (or resumes after mowing) with glysophate.

4. Wait two-three weeks, spray again.

5. Wait two-three weeks.

6a. Depending on location and conditions, a burn may be possible at this time (and may be the best thing you can do if you have lots of thatch/grass residue).

6b. If you plan to rent a tiller, now would be the time - after you have killed all the grass/weeds and you have minimized the grass residue. If there is lots of grass, or growing grass, a tiller will simply clog, the ground won't break as intended, and you will have a really hard time getting any ground broken.

6c. Rent/hire a tractor and a plow/disc for initial soil breaking.

7. An atv disc may be sufficient to break ground from this point forward depending on the type of soil. Otherwise, I've found atv ground breaking equipment to be mostly insufficient to break ground in anything other than very sandy/loose soil.

8. You can seed a bare (after spraying and mowing) seedbed that hasn't been tilled with certain types of seed. Brassica's, clovers, rye, etc. don't need much seed depth to germinate (minimal soil contact necessary, seeding before a rain can suffice). If you plan to go corn/soybeans/etc., you'll need to work them into the soil to acheive proper seed depth - these are tough plots for an atv plotter IMO.

The single best tool a atv plotter can own - and I'd deem necessary - is a sprayer. Second would be a brush mower. Third, an atv disc. Fourth, a roller/cultipacker (to get seed-soil contact).

I'm not saying its impossible to plot with an atv, but it can be a hassle.

[Grunt L]

Thanks guys. My main issue with a tractor is the areas where I need to work. Some places a tractor will simply roll over and other I would have no way of getting a tractor into without significant chainsaw work. Thanks! Keep us the suggestions.

James

[Jameson]

Very good stuff by InTheNorthwoods.

...The single best tool a atv plotter can own - and I'd deem necessary - is a sprayer. Second would be a brush mower. Third, an atv disc. Fourth, a roller/cultipacker (to get seed-soil contact)....

But that list takes all the work out of it. Three gallan hand-held sprayer can do a fine job. Push mowers, weed weeps, and riding mowers will work in many circumstances. I love my disc, but wouldn't use it much if I didn't plant corn or beans. And the tires of my ATV have cultipacked some awfully nice plots.

[farmallnutz]

I tried 2 acres of food plots with an atv years ago, and it was real frustrating. You will hit wet spots, even the slightest incline makes things tough. I purchased a farmall Cub for this now and do not have the headaches.

[Grunt L]

Well, to get rid of the undergrowth I burned about 11 acres over the weekend. Took me a few hours to setup fire lines but it went very well. Nothing left but soil with the new growth coming up. I think I can plant turnips now with an old harrow section I have after a few hits of Roundup in the area. My buddy has a flip disc so after I get dome mowing the throns down in some other areas I should be able to put down some lime and urea and till that in and then go back over with the disc and put in some corn for quick cover for the year. I have about 2000 pines and dogwoods coming from the IA DNR and will plant those for long term cover. Thanks for all the suggestions. As money becomes available I will start collecting equipment. Plan on going to some farm sales this year. I remember watching in disgust as my grandfathers 1950s 4 row John Deere planter sold for $50 and it was in perfect condition. Hope to get some good deals like this over teh summer Thanks again,

James

[hockeybc69]

I am with everyone else.... 5-6 acres of food plots with an ATV is overboard.

Two things are going to happen using an ATV on 5-6 acres of plots.

1. you are going to be disappointed/frustrated

2. You are going to wreck that new ATV you just bought.

I dont know if you are disappointed about the 4 row planter being sold and want one of those, but I will tell you a 4 row is way too big for an ATV.

I have a 4 row 490 with most things stripped off of it. I also have a pair of 2 row 290's.

I can pull the 4 row with our Yamaha Rhino, but not an ATV. The 2 row planters are max size if you intend to use an ATV.

[hockeybc69]

Quote:

Three gallan hand-held sprayer can do a fine job. Push mowers, weed weeps, and riding mowers will work in many circumstances.

Hey Jameson,

maybe on some small remote plots thats a good plan, but on 5-6 acres you would kill yourself with those items and you wouldnt come close to completing anything.

[Jameson]

For sure Hockeybc69!

...my plots total maybe 1 acre, with the biggest being .2 acres...

[lovebigbluegills]

I am with everyone else.... 5-6 acres of food plots with an ATV is overboard.

Two things are going to happen using an ATV on 5-6 acres of plots.

1. you are going to be disappointed/frustrated

2. You are going to wreck that new ATV you just bought.

I dont know if you are disappointed about the 4 row planter being sold and want one of those, but I will tell you a 4 row is way too big for an ATV.

I have a 4 row 490 with most things stripped off of it. I also have a pair of 2 row 290's.

I can pull the 4 row with our Yamaha Rhino, but not an ATV. The 2 row planters are max size if you intend to use an ATV.

Where did you find your 2-row planters? I've seen one at a somewhat-local sporting goods store new for about $1000, but if I could find an old one that works that would sure be the ticket.

[hockeybc69]

Craiglist is your friend for all things food plotting!

I found my 2 row units for sale last spring sitting in a yard off Hwy 10 in Henning, MN.

Paid $150 and $175 each for them...... Steal of the century! And they are not rust buckets. Both fully functional and in great shape.

I found an add on Craiglist last year for a guy selling everything on his Dads farm, due to his Dads passing... He had everything under the sun. I sent a friend up there, and he bought a planter and some other food plot gear.

[lovebigbluegills]

Thanks for the info, I'll give it a shot.

[USDA3]

Not to Highjack the post, but what size wheeler would you guys think be sufficient for pulling a flip over type disc? Obviously bigger the better, but how would a 400 perform? I have pulled one with a Ranger 700 with ease, but how but the 400-500 range?

danke

[hockeybc69]

400 minimum. Preferably liquid cooled. Not required, but preferred.