Killer Michigan Food Plot (great anywhere in the Midwest)

Mike: We are going to put in our food plot shortly here in southern Michigan. What do you think might be a good food source? The 32 acre-property is mostly wooded, hardwoods and cedars with some swamp (see map). There is a 3-acre piece we can plant. As you can see, farm fields are on 3 sides of this property. This year for the first time the farmer has put in corn! Before it has always been potatoes and winter wheat, so we’re excited to see what deer the corn will pull out of the swamp and across the road. I thought maybe soybeans would be a good choice for our small plot, or maybe alfalfa. Any suggestions? Thanks, Scott

Scott, I have the perfect plot for you. A few years ago, Midwest big-buck hunter, farmer and land specialist Don Kisky told me about one of his plans. Dang, it’s tailor-made for your spot.

Plant those 3 acres with soybeans now, but leave a 20-yard strip all way around the outer perimeter of the plot, and esp. tight to the woodlines. In late August to mid-September, go back and plant that 20-yard strip around the beans with Buck Forage Oats (buckforage.com). The lush, green oats will come up fast and attract deer during the October bow season, and the soybeans (20% to 25% protein) are the best food source for Midwestern deer from November to January. That, combined with the corn, will make for dynamite feed all season. A diverse mix like that is what you want anywhere.

Plant it and they will come. I predict you will see a lot more deer than usual, and at least one of you guys will smoke a really good buck (hope it’s you :)

Comments

[Scott]

Thanks Mike, this sounds like a great idea! There has been a couple of nice bucks in this area, with only 32-acres to hunt its hard to get on these big boys. I think this will definately help our odds on bringing them in.
Don Kisky is one big buck killing machine, i've wached him drop a lot of big boys on Monster Buck video's
Thanks again for your info, i'm looking forward to getting my trail cam out & getting in a tree!

[Doug In Wisconsin]

Hey Mike, what kind of experiences have you had or heard about for plots containing turnips, beets, and brassicas? The farmer is planting corn this year in our ag fields. Last year it was soybeans. He alternates yearly with those two. I was thinking that I would plant strips this years of a variety of food to see which gets hit the hardest. Sicne the corn will be the main source from late summer until it gets harvested in the fall, I was thinking about putting beets or brassicas in as they will get sweet after the first frost (about when the corn comes down) and I could pull the deer into the plots with the suddenly atractive tubers. I plan on putting something like alfalfa in as well. What do you all think? I'm new to this and could use the help.

[Hanback]

Doug, yes I think putting in some GREEN is a good way to go since you have corns or soybeans every year. Try the brassicas for a late food source--TIP plant a brassica plot/strips in a flat, accessible spot but near THICK cover, where the bucks will be later on in the season. The less spooky bucks have to travel to feed. the more apt one is to stick his neck out in or around the brassicas in daylight/shooting light.

Good luck boys, the work you do now will pay off later!

[Doug In Wisconsin]

Thanks Mike. My plan is to put one in an old over grown ag field that is boardered by a slough on two sides and thick river bottom on another side. The river bottom and slough is where I got lots of bucks pictures (including that big boy with the extra main beam and the huge ghost buck). My other spot is in the middle of the swamp on a one acre spot that is high enough to be dry (where I had the nice young velvet buck we talked about whether I should take or pass). Now I just have to find a place that'll rent a disc. Or maybe I can convince my wonderful wife that I NEED to buy a small disc...

[bill reiman]

I am in my second year with the food plot thing. I would like to know how many hunt over their food plot and how many use it simply as a draw and hunt the travel routes to the food plot.

We just planted 2+ acreas of mossyoak clover + in heavy woods. Our intial thought was to stay away from the clover but hunt the travel routes. Are we missing the boat?

[Dean Weimer]

Spot on Hanback about the Buck Forage Oats!! My buddy and I have used them two falls in a row now, and they're as good as advertised. Two season ago we watched two separate doe family groups fighting over this plot of BFO. I think a combo. of leaving in soybeans and BFO will make a super deadly food plot.

And, don't just think you can plant any old Oat and think it will benefit deer. Regular Oats (a.k.a "Bob Oats") are not the same thing as a cold hardy oat. Buck Forage Oats have been engineered to provide super palatable, choice, and ultra cold hardy for the cool season.

Scott, I'd also like to convince you to plant a portion of your available area in a great clover mix like Imperial Whitetail Clover. This is more of a warm season planting, but deer will hit it until it freezes out...and even afterwards. Also, this plot will be available nearly year 'round.

Many folks mistakingly think you don't need any warm season planting, because it's the midwest...and presumably they have plenty to eat here. REmember, deer love a variety of foods (like us) and will totally thrive if you have many available forages for them to choose from. As you know, soybeans will get hit heavy once they germinate and grow for about a month, or so. Provide them with a high quality clover as well.

One other note. While the corn and soybeans haven't necessarily popped up yet, a warm season food plot will have. I checked my plots just last night and they showed heavy browsing. There are no soybeans, or corn, up yet...so a warm season food plot can really get things going earlier than the crops.

If you plant it, they will come!

P.S. What part of Michigan are you from Scott?

[Scott]

Dean, from the Grand Rapids area. I hunt a little over a hour north of town. A couple years back we had some clover in, it work well. It died off last year so where ready for a new plot. I think this combination will do well for us!

[Dean Weimer]

Scott, the reason I asked is because I live in Indiana....not too far from the Michigan line. My dream plot consists of Imperial Whitetail Clover for the warm season. And, a combo of soybeans and BFO for the fall/cool season.

Last year about 2 acres of beans were left in a field that I hunt because they were in a a low, wet spot...too wet for the farmer to get early. Man, it was incredible to see the activity in that soybean patch. When the farmer and his son finally harvested it during our gun season they jumped a big buck that was laying right in the beans...hidden from everyone. And, this particular spot is on a pretty heavily hunted farm.

Good luck with your plot. Don't forget to do your soil and pH tests. I still talk to lots of guys who skip these all-important steps and then are dissapointed later on.