Category: Food Plots

Across much of the whitetails’ range deer managers plant fruit tree plots. Fresh fruit is very attractive to deer and can be the key to tagging an early season bruiser. Just like any other food plot, fruit trees require care.

A fruit tree before and after pruning.

Fruit trees require pruning each year. Proper pruning allows fruit trees to produce more and better tasting fruit. It is important to wait as late into the dormant season as possible before pruning. The GrowingDeer team likes to watch the weather to ensure a warm day follows the day of pruning. A warm day allows the tree a day of growth to cover the wounds from pruning.

When pruning, cut any limbs that are not growing up at a 60-degree angle. A 60-degree angle is ideal for bearing the weight of fruit. It is also important to look for any limbs that are touching any other part of the tree. Rubbing limbs leave the tree scarred and exposed to disease. Trimming more is usually better than being conservative. Prune until there is a scaffolding like structure that allows sunlight to reach all parts of the tree.

It has been a rough winter, but hang in there – spring is close! If you are blessed with a warm sunny day take advantage by getting out there and showing those fruit trees some love.

Chasing Whitetails together,

Brian

Every deer manager wants to pull those trail cameras mid-summer and see giant velvet antlers. It is important to remember that quality antlers rarely come without hard work and intense habitat management. So where does a deer manager start?

Just like building a house, big antlers start with a solid foundation. In the deer world the “solid foundation” for antler growth is the soil. This is the time of year to take soil samples. Frequently we are asked how often soil samples need to be taken. Soil is of the utmost importance when managing for whitetails, so we take soil samples every year.

Brian and Adam enjoyed their day taking soil samples. They even found a few sheds!

Adam and I spent a day earlier this week collecting soil samples from all the food plots at The Proving Grounds. Using a soil probe, we take several samples from one food plot and mix them in a CLEAN bucket. We then put the mixed sample into a pint size zip-lock bag and clearly label which plot it came from. Be very careful not to get your samples mixed up! Once you have collected soil from all the food plots, send it off to a lab for testing. A local university lab can test the samples or they can be sent to a private lab. The Growing Deer Team uses Waters Ag in Kentucky.

With the test results we know exactly what needs to be added to the soil to produce bigger antlers. Taking soil samples is a great way to improve wildlife habitat and an even better way to enjoy a beautiful day that the Lord has made! You might even find a shed or two!

Chasing whitetails together,

Brian

If you look outside today in Branson, Missouri you’ll see a blanket of snow. We received 4 inches of snow Sunday and a few more inches Tuesday. This winter has certainly broken the trend set over the last few years. We have had numerous snowstorms that have left southern Missouri covered with snow. There are areas of the country  that have received much more snow than we have!

Winters like these can be very stressful on wildlife. With a good portion of an animal’s food source covered with snow they have to resort to browsing on food sources above snow level or digging through the snow for food. Recently Grant and I took a walk to try and learn more about what our food plots were providing during the snow.

Standing soybeans can be the ultimate attraction with snow on the ground.

As we approached the food plot of standing beans you could obviously see the bean pods above the snow, with several deer tracks around. The deer had found the beans and were using them as a food source. Next, Grant and I stepped into a part of the food plot that was only wheat. The only thing you could see of the wheat was the very tip of the wheat which was covered in ice. Looking at this we also noticed there were not very many deer tracks in this section of the field. Probably because the deer would have to dig in the snow for food, while a better source of carbohydrates could be found not far away with the soybeans. Next, we moved to a section of the field that was planted in Eagle Seed Broadside blend. There were deer tracks in this part of the field but certainly not the amount of sign that was in the 100% bean field.

After all this walking around we pieced the information together to see what we could learn from these observations. First, on snow covered days the standing beans are hands down the most attractive thing we have provided. Second, a field of straight wheat isn’t going to provide much forage for deer when there are multiple inches of snow on the ground, although wheat can still be a great attractant when there isn’t snow. Finally, when considering the entire hunting season a food plot that provides both greens and standing beans can have the greatest attraction for deer. By planting Eagle Seed beans in the spring and then drilling back through them in the fall with the Eagle Seed Broadside blend we have the best combination food source that I have ever laid eyes on – a food plot that can provide year round forage and the most ideal forage during hunting season.

Daydreaming of whitetails,

Adam

Brian wrote about burning up our debris piles in his blog last week. We took that one step further this week. Not only did we burn up debris piles from past storms but we also burned dozer decks. These dozer decks have laid next to our food plots for a few years with the goal of drying out. Once they reached a point of being dry we could burn them and remove over 90% of the pile. That’s exactly what we did this week!

One of the dozer decks after being burned. Once the stumps are pushed away it will be ready to plant.

During these last few years the piles have only provided housing to the local groundhogs and snakes, irritation for the tractor operator when trying to plant, and the overall worst thing, obstructed views when trying to hunt.

Adam standing next to one of the big brush piles that was in the center of a food plot.

All of these have been a nagging element when waiting for them to dry out. Finally, this winter, we decided they had dried enough to burn. We didn’t receive the average amount of rain throughout the growing season when our beans were trying to survive. After we add the groundhog variable on top of that, our beans took a hurting! After debating whether to burn or not everyone at GrowingDeer.tv came to the same answer, Burn Baby Burn!

Once they’re burned, we’re only left with root wads that will be pushed off out of the way permanently! We now have open areas that will be great for planting, which is exactly what our goal is. Now that all our work is finished removing the piles, the bare ground is a perfect site to plant clover or even expand our food plot more for Eagle Seed soybeans. We’re turning the calendar from January to February soon so we have some time to decide what we’ll plant. Be sure to follow GrowingDeer.tv to see what we decide to plant and when we do it! As always thanks for the support and good luck on all your off season management projects!

Daydreaming of long beards and long spurs together,

Adam

For me this time of year is a test of mental strength. Deer season is over and cabin fever sets in. The occasional warmth of a sixty degree day brings on thoughts of chasing long spurred gobblers. A bone chilling cold front quickly snaps us back to reality. There is work to be done.

This is the perfect time of year to get projects accomplished that would otherwise be hindered by pests like snakes and ticks. Those pesky debris piles left over from last summer’s storms can be piled up and burnt without fear of uncovering a venomous snake. More importantly, those clearings that we have wanted to turn into clover plots can be cleared without getting covered in ticks.

A beautiful crimson clover plot at The Proving Grounds in the spring of 2013.

If you are like us there are always those few areas that have been overtaken by saplings before you can establish a good clover food plot. We spent some time this week mapping out those areas and clearing out those saplings before things get grown up with the warmth of the spring sunshine. It is the perfect time to evaluate the amount of clover seed that you are going to need before frost seeding. Ideally you have your seed on hand and your clover plots ready for seeding.

The GrowingDeer.tv team will be preparing our clover plots and watching the weather. When the forecast indicates that there are approximately four frosts left we will begin frost seeding clover. The freezing and thawing action of early spring will lead to great seed to soil contact. Before we know it we will be enjoying beautiful blooming clover and strutting gobblers. In the meantime we will be working hard to better The Proving Grounds. I hope you have a chance to get out and do the same to your property.

Chasing whitetails together,

Brian

January 15th is a bitter sweet day for me. Why? January 15th marks the last day of archery season here in Missouri. On one hand I’m extremely upset that the season is over. We started chasing deer in the beginning of September and now, the middle of January, is when we hang up our Prime bows for a rest. That’s where the “sweet” part comes into play. After all these months it is nice to step back and take a breather and rest, charge our batteries, and clear our heads.

We start our management plans by reviewing our property map.

After we clear our heads we then start putting in thoughts and ideas for the upcoming season. Yes, you heard me correct. It’s January 17th and we’re already thinking about next deer season! Great management plans aren’t drawn up and executed in a matter of a few months – that’s why we’re starting now. Obviously we’ve been doing management projects throughout the season but we’ve postponed the projects that will add more disturbance to the property. Now with this season complete it’s time to start back up!

Like most years we start by looking at our map. Where are our stands located? Where is the food located? Where are the bedding, bottlenecks, and water sources located? Finally, how can we hunt the property more successfully? One of our biggest projects for this year is dealing with the southern part of The Proving Grounds. This part hasn’t been as highly managed and has very few food sources and stand locations. Our plan is to provide both of those and bring it all to you in coming months, stay tuned to GrowingDeer.tv!

Other goals we are looking forward to completing are clover maintenance and additions, invasive species control, and prescribed fire.

First we’ll talk clover. We manage about 10% of our food plots in clover. Every year we’ll watch it progress or decline and study which areas need to be replanted and which plots are being used heavily and could possibly be hunted more regularly.

Invasive species control can bore most people, including myself, but it’s part of good management. Over the last couple of years we’ve tackled a huge infestation of honey locust trees but I’m happy to say we’ve knocked about 90% of the population out and we’re now searching the hillsides for any squatters that may still be surviving. This next year we’ll be shifting our focus to multi-floral rose bushes. They’ve begun to spread into the food plot edges so it’s important for us to eliminate the problem before they start to gain ground and compete with the food sources we’ve planted.

Lastly, one of our biggest and most time consuming projects, prescribed fires. We spend a lot of time working for fire, it all starts by making the fire line to finishing it with the lighting of the fire. This is a huge project but when it’s all said and done the benefits are huge! Be sure to check out our progress throughout the off season!

But – we’re not completely locked up inside! Cabin fever is real ya know! We’re going to be doing a little predator hunting to see if we can’t have a little fun and deal with the depression of deer season closing.

Daydreaming of whitetails,

Adam

During late August when the temperatures are soaring and sweat pours from your body, it is tough to be excited about the work required to plant food plots. It is strenuous work that seems lost for many months. However during December and January you may be rewarded for your work!

This week has been frigid in the Ozarks and the food plots that were planted in August have been great stand locations. It is alternative methods season in Missouri and we have been taking to Redneck Blinds that overlook large feeding plots with hopes of seeing smoke pour out of the black powder rifle!

Glen Woods tagged an Ozark Mountain buck in late December during the alternative weapons season.

Keying in on the fact that deer need to eat to stay warm, we had high hopes that a hit list buck would come to chow down on the Eagle Seed food plots. The first sit this week we were not disappointed. Just before dark a hit list buck we call Two Face appeared in the bushes at the edge of the field. Sadly, he out-smarted us and never left cover to present a kill shot. The very next night Grant’s dad, Glen Woods, joined us for an afternoon hunt. Once again, the bucks hit the food plot just before dark. This time the deer hung around a little too long and Glen Woods dropped a buck where he stood!

We will continue to hunt evening food sources after Christmas and we hope you are blessed with the opportunity to do the same! Good hunting and may everyone be blessed with a prosperous and happy New Year!

Chasing Whitetails together,

Brian

There is an 80% chance of rain for Friday so I did one of my favorite activities this morning! I broadcast some Broadside fall food plot blend into existing soybean plots. In a couple of the smaller food plots here at The Proving Grounds the deer have browsed the soybeans so aggressively that 30-50% of the soil is exposed to the sun. Deer are still using these food plots so there’s probably 2,000+ pounds of quality forage in these plots per acre.

Deer have browsed the soybeans so aggressively that 30-50% of the soil is exposed to the sun.

I don’t want to destroy the existing soybeans. They are attracting and benefiting the deer. In fact, I may hunt over one of these plots soon. However, the soybeans in these plots won’t make enough pods to feed deer during the late winter. Therefore the table in these locations will be cleaned and deer will feel unwelcome and probably go somewhere else to eat (maybe other properties).

Rather than clean the table, I simply start serving the next meal. I walked through the plots and broadcast the Broadside blend with a hand operated spreader. The wheat, brassicas, and radishes will germinate rapidly if it rains as forecast. The special soybeans in the blend are bred to germinate and grow quickly. These beans won’t survive after the first hard frost, but are an incredible tasty appetizer to keep the deer feeding in this plot until the radishes, wheat, and brassicas are large enough.

You can broadcast right into your existing soybean plots.

This plan keeps the deer foraging in the plot without interruption and provides quality nutrition until spring when I’ll plant Eagle Seed forage soybeans again.

There’s another advantage that food plot farmers rarely talk about. Keeping forage growing year round drastically reduces erosion and nutrient losses to leaching (fertilizer leaching too deep in the soil for plants to use). Radishes and turnips are very good at “mining” nutrients. That is to say they capture nutrients in the deep roots and bring them back to the surface. Either deer consume the nutrients (the purpose of the plot) or the big bulbs rot and provide them at the surface for the next crop.

This is the system that kept the great prairies extremely fertile for centuries! It’s an inexpensive and natural way to provide quality forage for deer at your proving grounds.

Growing and hunting deer together.

Grant

This week I received LOTS of questions through Facebook, etc., about when to plant fall food plots! That’s a relatively simple answer. Most fall food plot crops do well if planted 45-60 days before the first expected frost (click here for a link to a map showing average dates for USA).

I plant 45-60 days before the average first frost when there is ample soil moisture.

In addition there needs to be ample soil moisture for the seeds to rapidly germinate and seedlings to survive. There’s plenty of soil moisture throughout most of the eastern states now. However, throughout much of the Midwest the conditions are dry and there’s no rain in the 10 day forecast.

I live in southwestern Missouri. The average date of the first frost here is October 15th. That’s about 55 days from now. However, there is very limited soil moisture now and no rain in the forecast during the next 10 days. If I planted now, another source of stress on the seeds (or seedlings if they germinated) is that the daytime temperatures are forecast to be hot! Planting now would certainly be a gamble.

If the seeds did germinate, it might not rain soon and the very young and fragile seedlings might die or at minimum be severely stressed. The Broadside blend from Eagle Seed I plan to plant is in my carport. The plots we plan to plant have already been sprayed. We are literally ready to plant but it will be best to wait for a strong chance of rain. Remember that plants, especially young forage crops, need ample moisture to survive and thrive!

Healthy forage crops not only produce more tonnage but usually are more attractive to deer than plants that are stressed from drought, etc. For best results schedule the planting of fall food plots based on timing (45-60 days before the average first frost) and ample soil moisture being available.

Growing and hunting deer together,

Grant

Last week I shared why I prefer soybeans for food plots. I also plant food plots during the fall I call Hidey Holes. These are small (often a ¼ acre or less) plots usually tucked in the woods where there’s never been a food plot or recent hunting pressure. I plant these plots to attract mature bucks.

I frequently share with hunters that the largest motivation for a mature buck is not food, cover, water, or even a receptive doe. The strongest motivation for a mature buck is fear. Let a mature buck smell or spot you while he’s chasing a doe and he’ll usually forget about the doe and put some distance between the threat and him!

Hidey Hole plots planted with Eagle Seed Broadside is a proven tool to attract mature bucks!

Hidey Hole plots combine the attractiveness of quality forage and an area bucks don’t associate with danger. I simply find an opening in cover where there hasn’t been any hunting pressure recently and ensure the location receives at least ½ day of sunlight. I remove any duff (leaves, debris) from the soil and add plenty of fertilizer and seed. Since I’m broadcasting seed I like to plant just before or during a rain. Rain helps the seed have seed to soil contact by splashing dirt on the seed and ensures there is ample soil moisture for germination. The wet and warm seeds will rapidly germinate thus reducing the amount of seed lost to birds, squirrels, etc.

I prefer to plant a blend of soybeans, radishes, forage wheat, and bulb and non bulb producing turnips. Deer will be attracted to the soybeans first. They will likely have all the soybeans consumed before it frosts. Bucks usually go after the radishes next. Unlike turnips, deer usually readily consume the radishes before it frosts. About the time of the rut deer tend to favor the forage wheat. By this time the wheat has produced enough tonnage that it is rarely damaged by over browsing. Once the weather turns cold bucks seem to prefer the forage turnips – the ones that don’t produce a bulb. And during the late season bucks are attracted to the bulb producing turnips – both their forage and bulbs.

I’ve been tweaking this blend for years and finally have it balanced to provide attractive forage throughout deer season! Eagle Seed now offers this blend. I usually use 3 bags of 13 13 13 fertilizer since I rarely can add lime to the remote Hidey Hole plots. So with one bag of seed, some fertilizer, and a hand rake or other hand tool, I can have a Hidey Hole food plot! This has proven to be an effective tool to attract and harvest mature bucks! Next week I’ll share how I hunt Hidey Hole plots.

Growing Deer together!

Grant