Need help: Plot in Timber??
 

I'm relatively new to the whole foodplot scene and as an experiment I cleared a section of shrubs out and got it down to bear soil, then I planted the throw and grow stuff and it worked, so I want to make the plot larger maybe 20 yards wide 40 long? But its going to have to be in the timber, so after I clear the shrubs and brush and leaves and everything, what the heck can I plant? I'm only hunting whitetails so that's what I'm gearing this towards. Any help would be awesome. I'd like something that's gonna hopefully hold deer in this area a lot better also, have healthier deer with better racks. I'll put out minerals in the spring to help with those minerals.

Thanks, any help is greatly appreciated

Ryan.

Here is a Picture of how the Throw and Grow Grew. You can see how thick it is in the background of the picture.


Ryan.

It will take a much larger plot to hold deer and help growth. 20 x 40 yards is a kill plot, and a small one at that. You can plant anything you want, but make sure you clear enough trees that sunlight reaches the ground.

Your problem is going to be finding something that will grow with low sunlight being available to it, and I don't know of anything that will flourish under those conditions. You might have more light than I expect. I would mix Rye, wheat, oats and clover together and broadcast it. Watch and see what does best, if anything, and then next year plant that. Any pruning of the limbs in the trees that will let in more sunlight will help.

For holding deer, clear the area so it gets good light to the ground. Then leave it alone for a couple years. It will be a thick ol mess in a little bit.

If you want to stick with food plots, I'd try rye first while you figure out what you need to do longer term from a soil test. Maybe some clover mixed in the second year as your pH rises.

I added a picture of how the throw and grow took off and you can also see the type of brush I'll be taking out to add onto the plot.

Ryan.

I have Absolutley no idea why the picture wont upload. Sorry guys.

Ryan.

That's a great idea, and it's a good mix down here in Florida. I don't know what grows well up your way. I would suggest utilizing your local Extension office. They can help you with a soil test (inexpensive) which includes your pH and fertilizer recommendations. pH is important in successfully growing a food plot. Another idea that might be beneficial is to take the varieties mentioned in the above post (or whatever you choose) and plant them in "mini" plots in your food plot... don't mix them. Plant them individually. Indicate the edges of your mini plots with paint sticks. The benefit here is it will tell you what the deer will eat first... what they like the most. In a shady area you will have less growth. It will be spindly and thin, but it should come up for the most part. You will not get the same fullness as a sunny plot. You don't have to buy expensive "off the shelf" advertised mixes. Go down to your local Feed and Seed store and buy the raw ingredients. Get a hand-crank spreader if you don't have one (the kind that straps to your chest... not a little dinky one). You can use it to seed your plot and distribute your fertlizer mix. HTH