I have 25 acres in WNY that is my family's get away; about an hr from home. I bought this property in 2005 and have spent so many hours working the land. Well, when I first bought the land I watched all the food plot videos, read all the articles from a QDMA forum that used to exist, etc. Little did I know that not knowing how many other variables and factors play into food plots, deer activity, I was about to make some big mistakes. My property is mostly a ravine filled with overgrown brush, old apple orchards, hemlock trees etc. Theres not a lot of timber value, but I didnt care about that. So when I designed the stand sites I got a dozer and a chainsaw and for years went to work.
In the end I created 4 small 1/4 acre food plots and trails connecting them. The ground was worked, fertilized, limed, everything. My plots look great every year. I have two perennial plots of clover and chicory, and 2 annuals that are winter peas, winter wheat, and some brassicas. My deer love my plots, love them! My trail cams have so many pictures of deer in them. So you ask, whats the problem? Well, you know what time they come into these plots?
My trail cam pics start about 9pm and end about 5am. So now what? well I have to start over. For everyone that thinks, "just put your stands on trails that come to and from your plots." My property is small. There is probably only 17 of the 25 acres huntable. There is nowhere to do this before your off the land. The deer bed in my golden rod and walk to my plots at night, its just that simple. You know who benefits from this? My neighbors. Their property 4 acres away see the deer during daylight and they shoot them.
So now I am trying to fix this, literally trying to undue years of clearing by replanting. If I had known then what I know now I would have done very little clearing other than trails. We are in a very good AG area. The deer have plenty of food. Right across the street from me is a 30acre corn field. The deer dont need food. They need cover and trails and they are all set. So now I am trying to plant things to close these open areas up. Is it working, yes. Two years ago I tilled one of the plots and planted hybrid willows and poplars all over and let it go fallow with the exception of one 8ft strip down the middle I planted in clover. Well this year, year 2, there is brush and junk all over. The willows and poplars (literally like weed trees) are about 6ft tall, have rubs all over them, and are filling in nicely. I saw 4 different bucks during the rut walk down that strip I assume looking for doe. I shot at one of them and went over his back with an arrow at 35yds. I was ecstatic to see the movement I havent seen in years.
So anyone starting out that has a similar set up to me, before you go renting a dozer and make a 2 acre food plot that looks great on TV, be aware the deer may not like the look of it until its dark out. This year I am planting a couple hundred wild apple trees and american plum trees. Food and cover. The american plum trees are shrub like but have fruit as well. I am also planting a bunch more of the poplar and willow trees. I know they are junk trees but they grow fast and provide great cover, which is apparently all my deer care about. I have planted Norway spruce trees, but they are slow growing . Thanks for reading, please feel free to comment or add suggestions.
In the end I created 4 small 1/4 acre food plots and trails connecting them. The ground was worked, fertilized, limed, everything. My plots look great every year. I have two perennial plots of clover and chicory, and 2 annuals that are winter peas, winter wheat, and some brassicas. My deer love my plots, love them! My trail cams have so many pictures of deer in them. So you ask, whats the problem? Well, you know what time they come into these plots?
My trail cam pics start about 9pm and end about 5am. So now what? well I have to start over. For everyone that thinks, "just put your stands on trails that come to and from your plots." My property is small. There is probably only 17 of the 25 acres huntable. There is nowhere to do this before your off the land. The deer bed in my golden rod and walk to my plots at night, its just that simple. You know who benefits from this? My neighbors. Their property 4 acres away see the deer during daylight and they shoot them.
So now I am trying to fix this, literally trying to undue years of clearing by replanting. If I had known then what I know now I would have done very little clearing other than trails. We are in a very good AG area. The deer have plenty of food. Right across the street from me is a 30acre corn field. The deer dont need food. They need cover and trails and they are all set. So now I am trying to plant things to close these open areas up. Is it working, yes. Two years ago I tilled one of the plots and planted hybrid willows and poplars all over and let it go fallow with the exception of one 8ft strip down the middle I planted in clover. Well this year, year 2, there is brush and junk all over. The willows and poplars (literally like weed trees) are about 6ft tall, have rubs all over them, and are filling in nicely. I saw 4 different bucks during the rut walk down that strip I assume looking for doe. I shot at one of them and went over his back with an arrow at 35yds. I was ecstatic to see the movement I havent seen in years.
So anyone starting out that has a similar set up to me, before you go renting a dozer and make a 2 acre food plot that looks great on TV, be aware the deer may not like the look of it until its dark out. This year I am planting a couple hundred wild apple trees and american plum trees. Food and cover. The american plum trees are shrub like but have fruit as well. I am also planting a bunch more of the poplar and willow trees. I know they are junk trees but they grow fast and provide great cover, which is apparently all my deer care about. I have planted Norway spruce trees, but they are slow growing . Thanks for reading, please feel free to comment or add suggestions.
