Alternative to Corn Field Plots

[DougG]

For the past 5 years or so, we have been planting around 5 acres of corn as food plots for deer. The deer seem to hit it hard starting early September and usually by December, end of when we usually hunt, they have cleared the fields of 98% of the corn and there is nothing left. We usually see quite a few deer during bow and this corn plot has worked out well for us.
This year, with the higher prices of fertilizer and herbicide, we are rethinking the investment, and I am looking for recommendations of something to plant as an alternative. We may still do a 2 or so acre plot in our main field, but that leave the balance needing something else. We have tossed around the idea of still planting corn in it all, but only fertilizing and spraying the 2 acre section, and just letting the other part do what it can do without help.
Anyone have any suggestions or ideas? Would the non fertilized and sprayed sections produce at all with the weed competition? We do have a 1/3-1/2 acre "orchard" that is clover that is pretty decent that has a dozen apple and pear trees that produce as long as there isn't a late frost.
Thanks

 

[cutman]

I’m working through the same dilemma. I’m going to most likely plant a warm season mix instead of corn (soybeans, sunflowers, cow peas, sunn hemp, etc) due to the expense.

I would definitely not plant corn if you don’t intend to spray and fertilizer it unless you just want it for cover.

These higher prices suck.

 

[RGrizzzz]

For the past 5 years or so, we have been planting around 5 acres of corn as food plots for deer. The deer seem to hit it hard starting early September and usually by December, end of when we usually hunt, they have cleared the fields of 98% of the corn and there is nothing left. We usually see quite a few deer during bow and this corn plot has worked out well for us.
This year, with the higher prices of fertilizer and herbicide, we are rethinking the investment, and I am looking for recommendations of something to plant as an alternative. We may still do a 2 or so acre plot in our main field, but that leave the balance needing something else. We have tossed around the idea of still planting corn in it all, but only fertilizing and spraying the 2 acre section, and just letting the other part do what it can do without help.
Anyone have any suggestions or ideas? Would the non fertilized and sprayed sections produce at all with the weed competition? We do have a 1/3-1/2 acre "orchard" that is clover that is pretty decent that has a dozen apple and pear trees that produce as long as there isn't a late frost.
Thanks

Are you soil testing? A cheap test might show you're able to cut back on the fertilizer you need. Chances are, nothing will stand as long as the corn. Your clover will likely be gone by December. Maybe a forage soybean, but I'm not sure you'll save much money there.

 

[BoneCrusher20]

Corn/Soybeans = overrated expensive and longevity of food is minimal.
Buckwheat in spring(end may/early june) this is your fertilizer and cover crop, brassicas in august, follow it up with winter rye in september and by you can even do one more spreading of rye in october. There will 100% be food still there in march. 0 fertilizer needed unless on poor soil may need a little bit of urea to get the brassicas going after about 3-4 weeks from planting date.

 

[RGrizzzz]

Corn/Soybeans = overrated expensive and longevity of food is minimal.
Buckwheat in spring(end may/early june) this is your fertilizer and cover crop, brassicas in august, follow it up with winter rye in september and by you can even do one more spreading of rye in october. There will 100% be food still there in march. 0 fertilizer needed unless on poor soil may need a little bit of urea to get the brassicas going after about 3-4 weeks from planting date.

All the cover crop folks really like Hairy vetch as a pre-corn planting. It might be too late to get the benefit this year.

Read through some of the articles in the search results here, or just give them a call.
You searched for » Green Cover

 

[THE LLC]

Milo

 

[DougG]

Milo

For milo/sorghum, the only eat the heads and not the green leaves, correct?

 

[THE LLC]

For milo/sorghum, the only eat the heads and not the green leaves, correct?

Correct. If you have high deer densities they will hammer it in the dough stage. If lower densities it will make heads that they will hammer when it gets cold. Mine love the stuff. I like the way it looks in the winter too. Makes pretty good cover.

 

[Elkaddict]

How much snow do you get in a typical winter? What is the native browse like? Depending on your answer, I would would go with grains (rye, triticale or perhaps wheat) or brassicas, particularly if you planted a longer maturing variety like rutabagas and Winfred. If your weather permits, the buckwheat/brassica rotation might work well (it is not ideal here). You might also consider LC’s brassicas and grain/clover rotation which works exceptionally well if your deer numbers are high. FWIW, to get optimal growth out of brassicas, some fertilizer is necessary in my experience. With proper fertilizer and planting in late July, rutabagas/Winfred can grow thigh high and produce tons of forage and tubers.

 

[SwampCat]

Correct. If you have high deer densities they will hammer it in the dough stage. If lower densities it will make heads that they will hammer when it gets cold. Mine love the stuff. I like the way it looks in the winter too. Makes pretty good cover.

Do you grow a standard AG milo or Wild Game Food sorghum?

 

[DougG]

Here is a soil test of our different fields. Keep in mind, we have a very poor soil to start with. Would the S and NN fields support Milo/Sorghum ok without too much need for fertilizer?
also, does anyone have a good link for knowing if these numbers are in good ranges? Do the M, G, L values mean Good, Moderate, Low?

 

[MarkDarvin]

Are you dead set on a single species planting, or are you open to a blend?

 

[DougG]

I am strongly leaning to single species, especially of row crop, as we can get it for free. If I have to go a blend, I would have to pay for that.

 

[cutman]

My only issue with milo/sorghum is that it likes fertilizer like corn. It also hates weeds like corn.

 

[Mennoniteman]

All good ideas here, I'm X2 on the rye idea if you are looking for midwinter food. Otherwise, since you have 5 acres, I wouldn't give up on corn too easily. 5 acres is a totally different food plot than small plots, considering that you kindof want to stay with a single species planting, and you have some clover otherwise. If you know how to do corn, and it's been working for you, you will probably be disappointed in anything else, as much as I dislike certain aspects of it, Corn is still the king of deer attractants. If I had a 5 acre crop field and wasn't going to do corn my number two choice would be forage soybeans, feed the deer all summer and all winter, my deer are still cleaning up dropped beans from my 5 acres of forage soybeans.
My third choice would be to scrap the corn and bean idea altogether and turn the 5 acre field into a "Lick Creek" rotational plot. You can read more about that on the dedicated thread elsewhere on the forum.

 

[THE LLC]

Do you grow a standard AG milo or Wild Game Food sorghum?

Whatever Pheasants Forever uses.

 

[Longleaf]

Any reason you aren't considering soybeans or cowpeas?
I am in the multi species camp, but I understand what you are saying about the single species seed availability. If I had to go single species and couldn't do corn, it would be beans or peas.

 

[DougG]

we have done beans in the past and they get into them so fast they never make it to full growth.

 

[Triple C]

With the rising costs of inputs - fuel, fertilizer, seeds, equipment n such, I'm beginning to think that Native Hunter may have it figured out best with his prairie system. Low or no inputs and plenty of good stuff growing in it to feed n hide deer. Just read the article someone posted about the evolution of food plots and the trend toward more native habitat / early successional manipulation producing forbs/browse n such. Makes a lot of sense - particularly in my area where managed pine stands thinned to a basal of 50ish or so produces tons and tons of native forbs/browse without any manipulation other than running fire thru it every 2 to 3 years.

 

[swat1018]

Correct. If you have high deer densities they will hammer it in the dough stage. If lower densities it will make heads that they will hammer when it gets cold. Mine love the stuff. I like the way it looks in the winter too. Makes pretty good cover.

I've found it to be pretty Nitrogen needy, if you want descent heads.