What to Plant??

[jkratz5]

I have picked up a new piece of land and the landowner was kind enough to allow us to have a 2acre section to put in a foodplot. We can plant this section at any time during the year and was hoping to get some input from the fellas on here.

The ground is 120 acres, about 60 timber and 60 tillable. Surrounded by much of the same land. The tillable ground in the area is average, producing 135-150 bushells an acre corn, and 45-50 beans.

The area that we were given is in bottom, has decent drainage for the most part (we are flooded here in IN and it was only slightly wet last week during this time, not holding any standing water). The area is surronded by timber on all sides, but the canopy is removed so receives decent sunlight (I would guess it receives sunlight from noon on most days).

Knowing that the ground around us will be all corn or beans I am looking for some suggestoins on what to plot. I would like to provide the deer with a decent early season plot as well as something for early/mid winter. Any suggestions for what to plant and what would survive best in the area described. For anyone interested I can provide aerials for a better lay of the land.

Thanks
Kratz

 

[SWBUCKHNTR]

Clover is always a good early season plot. DBLTREE has a lot of good ideas with what he does. I would suggest to not put it all into 1 thing but to get as many different things in as you can so the deer will use it all year. I would personally do a mix of clover, tunips, and some other cover crop. I dont want to tell you how to hunt but I would stay off the food plot and hunt trails that come into the plot. I seem to have a lot better luck shooting mature bucks this way. If you want to shoot a doe and have a fun filled hunt full of deer then by all means sit over the food. this is just my opinion I am sure there are a lot more and pry far better ones.

 

[Sligh1]

you said decent early season AND early/mid winter....
I'd be planting 1/2 acre to clover and 1.5 acres to turnips & radishes mixed with winter rye- the 1.5 acres would be planted in late summer- could put clover on that too until then? I'd be fertilizing the dickens outta the radish/turnip area (lots of N with a good slab of P&K and lime) so it produces everything it can for 1.5 acres (makes GIANT difference).