With more and more sportsmen and women making the transition from deer hunter to deer manager, the interest in planting food plots has never been higher. Unfortunately, many would-be deer managers simply buy a bag of seed, work up an opening, scatter some seed and hope for the best. While this may occasionally work out, more times than not it is going to lead to wasted money and disappointment.
Some causes of food plot failure – like weather factors – are beyond our control. However, many can be avoided with proper planting, planting technique and maintenance. Let’s take a look at five causes of food plot failure and how you can avoid these common pitfalls with your next wildlife planting.
Reason # 1 – Planting in the Wrong Place
One of the first decisions that has to be made when planning a food plot is where the planting will be located. For many of us, our choices are limited based on the amount of open land available. Even with limited options, however, careful consideration should be taken regarding the type and quality of the soils, the amount of sunlight that the area receives daily, as well as how well (or poorly) the soil drains. All these factors will weigh heavily on what, if anything, you should plant in your potential food plot. The fact is that some areas weren’t meant to grow lush, green food plots. In those cases, you’d be better off to spend your time and money enhancing the native vegetation or working on other aspects of your deer hunting property.
I was reminded of this very fact recently, when I was laying out the dove fields on a property that I manage. One field in particular – regardless of how much lime and fertilizer gets applied – never produces acceptable results. The plants are always stunted. The soil is rocky and lies so that it drains quickly – holding little moisture. It was decided that the field would be better suited to a native warm-season grass planting to provide small game cover, as well as travel lanes and bedding areas for deer.
– Read More at: www.qdma.com
