Food Plot in the woods?
 

I'm curious if anyone uses or has used No-Plow or Secret Spot or a similar type of seed to plant near thier stands.
I hunt in the woods on ridges w/ a canopy and not many openings for too much light.
Has anyone had success w/ this stuff and can you just throw it down w/o too much prep work.
I assume a little raking would be required.
Pics would be welcome.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

ive always wondered the same thing because your set up sounds a lot like mine.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

i put one out today...i just raked all the vegatation from the area and used a broadcast spreader. The bag just said to use a spot where it gets atleast 6 hours of sun a day

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

here's a bump as I'd be interested to hear how something like this works too.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

Have you done this before? I have a bag of Secret Spot that won't cover a real big area.
I'm curious if it will work in a wooded area like a hillside or ridge top.
It probably won't cover a large area , but will it pull deer on their way to a bedding area in the AM.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

i put no "secret spot" behind my house about 2 years agoand it came up well but it didn't seem to bring in the deer like i woulda liked to see..it may be because we only have 4 "regulars" comin to the dinner table and i live between the township and city...they still eat it now and then tho!

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

I'm actually surprised this thread hasn't had more response.
Maybe no one usesthis tactic.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

I have tryed it where they have cut logging trails. We could drive up in there so I took the roto tiller and rake. With a bag of Lime and 10-10-10 and it works fine. You need to get it in the ground when it wet and in plenty of time thought. I got mine in a little late and we had a dry spell about the time I put it in. I came up about a week later after a good rain. I dont have any pics but it worked great considering I did everything wrong you possiable could of. I seen 3 or 4 deer afternoon they were the regulars in the area I guess

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

im really curiouse about this as well i put up almost the same question in the wildlife forum section. Im def gonna try it this year and i will keep you upo to date on the progress. I live on Cape Cod MA and we have really sandy soil here.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

I have just started amy plots 2 weeks ago. A test spot with no-plow, extreme, and Alfa rack. The no plow is coming up pretty good with very limited light. The extreme and Alfa-rack are not coming up as well. The majority of my plots are Clover and throw and go(or grow) don't remember. The mixture seems to be doing well. I will try and post some pictures soon. I added Lime and no fertilizer( why I am not sure, But they are coming up fairly well considering very little rain). The clover is also doing well with the limited light as well. This is my first year with plots, so I am kind of learning on the fly. Having fun though.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

The lime and fertilizer is a question in my mind. The soil probably is acidic due to the oaks. I'm planning next weekend to plant the Secret Spot below my stand on a hillside. It has a spring seep so I know water will not be a problem. I'll plant on both sides of the seep.
It sounds like the No-Plow may be a better choice though if it's coming up better than the others.

For sure keeep us posted.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

how long does the no-plow last until you have to replant it again?

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

Until it dies in the winter/late fall.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

no this is my first one also...i used the throw and grow as well....i put 2 out one just inside a fence row off a field and one in about 20 yards in a woods around a good rub line and dedicated fence crossing

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

archer,
How much is a bag of no-plow for about an acre? I am looking at the same deal...I hunt thick woods in Northern New England and would like something to draw the deer in!!!

Thanks
Jim

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

im going to be doing some plots in the woods were i hunt as well as some feeders this year. hopefully the combination will bring in the big boy's.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

I thought most of the Secret Spot was for late fall when the leaves fell off the trees. I have not used it but plan to this year.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

A 9lb. bag to cover 1/2 an acre is about $30.00. There is a 25lb. bag that's $75.00 or so.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

It doesn't say when to plant on the bag,however it does say it is more attractive during the first few weeks of growth.
May be better to plant right before the season.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

North Carolina, South Carolina
Coastal: Sept 15 - Oct 15
Piedmont: Sept 1 - Oct 15
Mountain: Aug 20 - Oct 15

Archer this is right off the Whitetail Institute web page for Secret Spot...
http://www.whitetailinstitute.com/info/planting/fall.php

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

I planted Secret Spot a couple of years ago and it came up OK. Not great. My mistake was planting it in an area where there were too many trees. Not so much a sunlight issue, as it is an issue of the tree roots sucking the nutrients out of the soil.

My BIL, nephew, and I planted about 10,000 sf of Easyplot along an old skidder trail this weekend. We cleared it pretty well and used a weed eater to get the dirt uncompacted. After we planted, we drove over it with four wheelers to get good contact with the soil. PH was 6.5. That PH seems to be adequate though not perfect. We have some real good wild clover growing in an area with the same PH.

Next year I'm going to start earlier by preparing seed beds in January or February as long as it doesn't conflict with my late season bowhunting.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

Take a chainsaw, cut a hole in the canopy. Use the trees to make travel routes (or block ways you don't want them to go). Round up the vegetation. Wait a week, go in and rake your butt off. It is a pain, but worth it. The bonus you get is that you can use any clover or seed you want. In the undergrowth that you round up'd to give your seed a head start; raking = plowing. Plant clover, not the semi attractive stuff in no plow. It is very tiring, but worth it. I don't have pictures, sorry. But I have done in 4 years in a row. Every time I find a OOOHHHH spot in the woods.

RE: Food Plot in the woods?
 

I dont mean to be a smart one but the bag says give it time to reach matureaty and then it is good for 45 days so I would plant it a little later on or just refresh it