So I have read most of the posts here and taken in as much as I can. But I still need a lot more help.

I hunt a 80 acre tract that belongs to my wifes family, It's considered a farm by the county but is not a working farm. They only grow straw to feed horses. The straw takes up around 30 acres, the rest is woods, two houses and a couple out buildings. I would like to make 3-5 acres for food plots. They have a tractor, disc, plow, and maybe a seed spreader. I'm not a farmer by any means so all of this is new to me. They let me plow up a small patch this fall in my attempt to grow a fall plot, but that didn't work (think it was to late).

Just a little more background before I get to all the questions. The property backs up to a federal park that doesn't allow hunting, on the other side of the park is the Potomac river. Last time I spoke with someone regarding the park they had a count of 118 deer per square mile in the area. The park is quite large, don't know the acreage. I want to grow the plots to draw the deer from the park and increase their nutrition, because there are so many deer in the area we don't have to many good bucks around (that I've seen). Four guys hunt the property, myself hunting it the most. We are trying also to start taking as many does as when can get shots on to try and thin the herd.

1st? With the farm already supporting straw growth and at one time sunflowers, do I still need to get the soil tested? And do I need to spread lime?

#2 What is the best way to setup the plots, they would be spread over three to four different areas. One area gets a lot of shade.

#3 I want to try and mix up the plots, maybe provide some cover. The woods here consist of mostly hardwoods and some pines. There are a lot of old trees around so light tends to get choked out and there isn't a lot of low growth on the forest floor, and what there is (browse) the deer have destroyed.

#4 I would like to have a fall plot or two, but not sure what to plant. I just really want to bulk up the deer and help with antler growth, farming here is not a big employer, thus we only have two Southern States CO-OP's, and one or two other grain elevators where I live.

#5 I read about what most of you guys plant, but a lot of you guys are much further north then me, do you have any suggestions for the mid atlantic?

#6 How much should I expect to spend, for the first time around I'd like to keep the costs down?


Thanks for any help/comments
Sorry for such a long post.

Tree Climber welcome to another addiction. I will try to help out. I will try to answer some of your questions.
[quote]They only grow straw to feed horses. [/quote]
I would think this is some type of grass as horses usually don't eat grass. Are the horses free ranging on the 30 acres or do they cut and bale this and then feed to the horses?
[/quote]1st? With the farm already supporting straw growth and at one time sunflowers, do I still need to get the soil tested? And do I need to spread lime?
[quote]
I would get it tested as there are some things that you may want to plant that require a certain PH and it will also tell you what soil needs for fertilizer.

[/quote]#2 What is the best way to setup the plots, they would be spread over three to four different areas. One area gets a lot of shade.[quote]
This is best for you you to decide according to how your land is laid out. try to keep plots close to cover as the deer will feel more at ease using plot. Plots always do better where they have good sunlight but some clovers do well in shaded areas.
[/quote]#3 I want to try and mix up the plots, maybe provide some cover. The woods here consist of mostly hardwoods and some pines. There are a lot of old trees around so light tends to get choked out and there isn't a lot of low growth on the forest floor, and what there is (browse) the deer have destroyed.[quote]

There are some things that you can plant that will grow tall enough to give deer cover but have you considered to do some tree cutting and opening up the canopy to get some new thick cover in your wooded area. Hinge cutting would help do this.
[/quote]#4 I would like to have a fall plot or two, but not sure what to plant. I just really want to bulk up the deer and help with antler growth, farming here is not a big employer, thus we only have two Southern States CO-OP's, and one or two other grain elevators where I live.[quote]
You have lots of options that we don't have in the far North as your growing season is longer.
[/quote]#5 I read about what most of you guys plant, but a lot of you guys are much further north then me, do you have any suggestions for the mid atlantic?[quote]
A couple of suggestions would be to plant a perenial clover blend plot. Spring plant a sorhgum and Iron Clay pea mix in another. Possible you could plant Round-up Ready soybeans or corn in another. For a fall attractant I would plant 2 different plots 1 would be a mix of Winter Wheat, Oats, Rye [Grain Type] and Austrian Winter Peas planted in Early September In the other plot I would plant a Brassica mix, this should be planted late July to early August I use Shot Plot by Evolved Habitat. The deer should leave this alone until you get a good freeze and then look out. Just a few of my suggestions
[/quote]#6 How much should I expect to spend, for the first time around I'd like to keep the costs down?
[quote]
Some of the seed can get expensive and some is cheaper you have the equipment the way it sounds so this will save you some money. Write your self a plan and go in steps. Maybe do only 2 plots this year and a couple next year. Also be advised that if your deer population is what you said, the deer could wipe your plots out in a hurry. So make sure that your plots are big enough to handle the deer feeding on them. Good Luck with your project and make sure to post pictures with your progress.

TT, thanks for getting back to me.

As far as the straw, I don't think it's a grass. Although if you keep it short it looks like grass, but if you let it grow it grows into a hollow stem. We cut and bale the straw(hay?) and feed it to the horses. The horses are keep on a connecting tract of land(sublease from the park).


What is hinge cutting? cut the tree and let it fall?


Thanks for the suggestions, I'll get planning things shortly.

Check this Link out. http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dfwmr/w...r/deerfeed.html

The ultimate deer steroid "Soybeans"

They provide the highest protein at the right time of the year "Winter"

Genetics and mineral licks are actually a very very small part of large horn growth.

A little over 90% of the horn is protein. Less than 10% is mineral. Protein is needed for everyday living, it is also used to produce muscle and bone mass, finally after the first 2 needs are met then the excess protein can be used for building horn. Rut and winter are the most stressful times of the year. The late fall and winter is when protein is needed the most and late winter is the time of the year for the start of horn growth. It also helps keep the stress level down on the Does in the winter to help produce a healthy large fawn crop in the spring.

I would plant 95% of the plot in Soybeans and 5% in an Alfalpha.

So how will this affect the deer for the next season, as I was going to start planting this March/April. So if I understand you the planting of plots this year won't have much effect on antler growth but would help with nutrition (weight gain)? Then the following year the plots hopefully would have an effect of antler growth.

Do you have to cut soybeans or can you just let it grow as is?



TT, thanks for the link...very helpful, going to round up the guys and go do some hinge cutting.

Soybeans do not germinate well in cold soil so I do not plant before 1'st part of may here. The deer eat the plants all summer and then eat the beans in the fall. The biggest problem I have is the deer destroy them before they can make any beans. That is not a huge deal since I am still feeding them but there isn't anything there in the fall or winter. I usually spread some oats/wheat/rye and some turnip seed in the beans around the end of August. These plants then feed the deer in the fall and winter.

Badgerbuckhunter with this kind of deer density, I don't think soybeans will make it to the bean stage even if he planted all 5 acres in soybeans. That is why I suggested the Brassica planting in late summer as most of the time the deer leave the brassicas alone until a good freeze and this will give the deer the protein they need in late fall and into the winter.

The deer density is high. The DNR says I have 165 sq/m in my area. Right now I have 80-100 deer in my beans as of late with this cold weather. I would go with the next best protien producer, Corn. Brassica is a very good forage, but nowhere near the winter protien level Soybeans or corn is. Forage is needed in a deers diet for digestion. A good forage will take a lot of pressure off the browse they do in the woods.

I would still stay with 95% Corn and 5% Alfalfa. Alfalfa is an excellent spring crop very high in protien which it produces during Fawning and Horn growth. If I remember my protien #'s Soybeans is 28-32% Corn is 12-17% Alfalfa (spring/summer) 22-25%

Also the size of deer has a lot to do with age. You start to see deer size and horn growth at 3+ years of age.

guys I'm attaching a picture of the place to help with things.
I spoke with a local guy who farms and plants food plots...got some ideas.

Also I found "Effective food plots of white-tailed deer in Alabama" for reading...quarter of the way through. It says to make separate warm and cold season plots. So I might plant the warm season plot in the middle and plant the cold season around the perimeter.

I still haven't finalized what to plant but was thinking about soybeans, brassica(turnip&kale), grain sorghum, Lablab, clover.

hopefully the picture will help guide some more discussion.

Thanks for all the help so far, I just want to gather as much info as possible before I break ground.


The green areas are where I want to plant.

Question on the Soybeans ... Can a person buy the harvested beans and feed them in a feeder or would they have to be roasted first ? i understand with cattle that the oils from the beans will effect the cattle in some ways, if they are roasted, it removes the oils from the bean.

Coonsc,
You can use the beans straight from the field. The reason the farmers roast them is they get more of the protein use from the bean by braking down the oil in the bean. Basically it aids in digestion. Be careful about feeding a lot of beans from a feeder, they can get too much protein.

"they can get too much protein."

Where did you hear this? I would like to see your source if you have one.
This is not something I have ever heard nor do I believe.
Maybe if you have one pinned up but the only effect would be on you doe's and milk production much like in dairy cows.

I don't have the source but I read that deer can founder on too much protein like a horse. Now I don't know where I read it or if the writer was correct but it does sound possible.

DeerProfessor, I had to dig out my notes on this, I had a class 20+ years ago on this and the problem is not the protein it is the acidity caused from the digestion process of a corn only diet. It’s called “Acidosi” which is a temporary issue. Acidosi on a long term can result in “Cronic Laminitis” or commonly known as “Founder” in the Equine community. It is a Corn only problem and can’t be caused from Soybeans or a high protein diet. Deer need a roughage with a corn only diet, which is basically a filler, and aids in digestion.