when i started a couple of years ago i couldn't find a good post that covered my particular situation:
The following is what I have distilled, in good measured from your replies yoderjac. Thanks for the suggestions!
New Food Plot created with a Forestry Mulcher
The goal is to get wildlife food plot going starting with a food plot cleared with a forestry mulcher. The forestry mulcher
will incorporate a lot of biomass which will consume nitrogen as it decomposes. Therefore at all times a legume will be
part of the cover to supply nitrogen to grain cover. The forestry mulcher may bring dormant weed seeds in the seed bank
into growing so initially be prepared to chemically control.
Be prepared for the soil conditioning affects of the winter rye (WR) and buckwheat (BW) coupled with perennial white clover to take
3 years before the soil is conditioned so that alternative forage crops (brassicas, peas, etc.) may be grown. Before
the soil has been improved trying to grow other crops is likely a waste of time and money and missed opportunities.
Very important: Soil test ASAP. Begin adjusting pH. Apply other conditioners (fertilizers as indicated)
If cleared by August 1st:
August 1st-15th
100#/A WR, 25#/A; 10#/A White Clover, 2#/A PTT and 2#/A Daikon
Reason:
The winter rye becomes the early attractant as well as the Daikon tops. As the season goes on, the Daikon tubers get hit. After a frost or two
(coincidentally, not causally) deer begin to use PTT tops. After the season, in late Jan and Feb they
hit the PTT bulbs hard. The winter rye gets hit in early spring again before it becomes rank. By then
White Clover is in full swing and deer use it until I'm ready to cycle back to buckwheat and sunn hemp.
After 4 weeks 100#/A 19-19-19
This will feed the WR and initial clover boost
Following Spring:
Spray with glyphosate early May after beginning greenup. 2 qts glyphosate + 1 qt 2-4D + 2# AMS
Kill all grasses weeds that have been released from the seed bank.
Late May/Early June - 20 lbs/ac Buckwheat with 20 lbs/ac Sunn hemp.
Reason:
This provides summer food and the sunn hemp fixes a lot of N into the soil.
Back to August 1st:
Spray with Clethodim to control grasses (if necessary)
Mow to control annual grasses/perennial weeds.
Overseed w/ 50#/A WR, 25# Forage Oats; 5#/A White Clover, 2#/A PTT, 2#/A Daikon. Adjust based on clover health
Brassicas (PTT) should be planted every other year.
Shouldn't be necessary to fertilize. Adding nitrogen will boost competitive cold season weeds.
Following Spring:
10# BW + 10# SH /A. Adjust based on clover health