Jeff,

I own and operate a property enhancement business in the summers when I am not teaching. This includes selective logging, brushing, reducing fire hazard and initiating food plots.

I put in, clover/alfalfa mixand winter oats are the three main plants we use. We don't plow, instead we scuff the ground with the dozer and throw the seed out. So far in this neck of the woods it has worked great for the landowners I have as clients. Our most productive bow plots are smaller in size and are positioned insecluded hideout feeding areas next to bedding areas...versus the big plots that are wide open and are used mainly for nutritional purposes versus bowhunting. Deer here especially older deer do not like to be out in the open during daylight hours. My most recent landowner shot a bull elk and buck with his bow this season on his small secluded plots this past fall. We did two secluded plots for bowhunting and one big main feeding plot...The Bowhunting plots are positioned very close to bedding areas and are only about 40 yards in diameter and both are oval shaped. He has multilple stands on the hunting plots for wind direction.

The clover/alfalfa mixis planted for in the bowhunting plots for early season when the deer are craving proteinand the oats for the late season when carbohydrates become a necessity. If you build it they will come. Good luck.

Troy