Anyone from Illinois have any? If so, what are you planting in them? I' m trying to hold more deer on my end of the timber rather than the north end that someone else hunts. I have a nice open area with timber on all 4 sides that I think will be a good spot to have a half acre or acre plot. Thanks for the help.

One question, are you near Rend lake? A couple of things come to mind. Winter Wheat may be a good crop, or Austrian Winter Peas. Another might work is Turnips. It could depend on how severe your winter is on plantings. Is the first shotgun season still around Thanksgiving? I lived in northern IL ' til 1977 but had no land of my own to hunt. What you may have to do is try a strip of each type of food you might think would work. This might help to determine what the deer prefer and also what will persist long enough to draw them to your area. A strip of Ladino clover might also be a good bet. I wouldn' t go with a single planting until you know for sure it will be what you want. Deer like to eat off the buffet.

Russ

I' m about 70 miles north of Rend Lake. I forgot to add to my first post I' m not wanting to plant right now. I' m talking about next spring and having a plot for the summer through hunting season and into winter.

Sounds close to Mt. Vernon.
If you' re planning to plant in the spring, get some soil samples and check out the condition of your potential plot. Find out what additives you may need where you intend to plant. Our temp. here is already below freezing, so you need to get them soon or wait for spring thaw. Especially if you need lime as it takes time to work. Run through all of these posts, and take notes. Ther' s a lot of info here and a lot of websites for more info that a lot of the posters have found to help. And some of these guys have been at it for years. Good Luck.

Russ

Thanks for the help Russ. I' m too wrapped up in hunting now. I' m gonna hve to wait till spring thaw to get the tests done.

Don' t wait. Do the soil samples now and lime now... Plant what isn' t available in the are with s stand of a forage crop.