new plot

[K_Josh87]

So, this question is more so on plant/crop choice... not how to go about growing it. I want to put in a plot or two, but the area where we hunt is not very large, and is a long a smaller river. I am curious is there is a crop that can handle the potential spring flood waters, and still produce something worth munching on when it dries up in the fall. I have a couple options for placement, either on fields edge which is planted typically corn on corn. this area is old pasture ground, that in the past 12 years or so has gone from pasture, to timber weeds, now to thick underbrush with a few large tress and smaller saplings...I have noticed much more deer traffic in the past few years. It is attached to a larger woods along the river and is the "bottle neck" of the section of woods, I would like to give the deer GOOD reason to hang tighter in the thick cover and stay there more than just pass threw or bed down then back to the big woods... I think i will be placing this on the far end (narrow end of the bottle neck, further away from the big woods... we do not have access to the big woods, and hope to gain some more trafficking deer to our area... There have been more and more deer in this area as it grows thicker... and it is now becoming a place to sit and hunt, rather than sit and wait for them to be pushed threw as the neighbors drive the bigger woods... Just hoping to improve it!

[WaveWacker]

I'd forget about a spring planting or perennial for that matter if there is potential for flooding. Stick with an annual late summer (Aug. 20ish) planting. You can get as simple as straight winter wheat or rye to that plus winter peas, brassica's, etc. Even with the absolute minimal amount of moisture, I can't believe how well my plot did this year. Dealing with an annual plot may seem like more work but in my mind it's easier than dealing with a sod bound plot every 3 years or so.

Placement...I'd just focus on what's going to get good sun in the general area you're hunting. The deer will find it.

[nubbin]

Brush hog a few shooting lanes through the grass/small saplings. when stuff begins to green up hit with roundup. Let resprout and repeat roundup. Broadcast winterweat/rye grain/ and oats right into the standing dead grass and hit with a drag or simply drive over it several times with your wheeler. Tryed that this year for the first time and had my best food plot ever. plant in august. Mine never got taller than 4 inches as the deer were on the trails every night and the fawns never left them for more than 2 hours during rifle season. Does all hit them the last hour of light.

[K_Josh87]

Ok, these all sound doable... I do have a low spot that this could work great in, little less sun light directly to it, but it holds water longer, and right now has green in it yet while everything else is dried up and brown... winter wheat or rye would be a good choice i think...

[K_Josh87]

This is what I am thinking, there is actually a fairly large area that is a grassy ravine around the field road, This area I could probably get a good catch on a clover alfalfa mix. I could probably find a nearby neighbor that would cut and bale hay off of it a couple times a year as well to keep some finer stemmed new growth coming.

Then I could do a couple patches late summer or wheat or oats to catch for a good food plot for throughout the season...

any thoughts?

[LABS4ME]

Sounds like a plan. Most times finding someone to hay some closver is easy if you just want them to come and cut and bale it.

the only thing I see in your plan is if the 'ravine' is too close to a road. Poachers and road kills will help to reduce your population when you are trying to help it.

I agree with the above statements that an annual fall food plot will be the only way to go with an area that is covered in water in the spring.

Good Luck!

Ken

[K_Josh87]

the ravine area is a 1/4 section off the road and in no way visible unless you take the field road back there... and once the posted signs are up, the neighbors can take a hike the long way around threw there property to get there instead of driving and parking in that ravine, thus pushing all of our deer into there woods...

[dogs]

Hope you are taking advantage of the flooding and have some Swamp White Oaks.