Getting Started

Where to start? So you want to do food plots? Well, there's a lot to learn. No matter what month you are reading this in, you have to formalize a yearly schedule of events. I am writing this on April 13. In 6 weeks, it will be time to plant those seeds that cannot be frost seeded. It is ok to plant right now if you are putting in clover. The rains of April are perfect to get the seed going.
I'd say the first thing you have to do is to determine what you are attempting to do. Do you want a system that is going to require frequent maintenance, or one that is maintenance free? Do you have access to equipment or is it going to be a no-till operation? Is your soil light or heavy, dry or wet? Where do you live regionally-West/North/South/East, etc. How much land do you have?
Ok-enough questions-lets put down some guidelines. Annual vs Perennial. Annuals are plants that die off after a frost. Perennials come up every year. Annuals are a lot of work, requiring re-planting yearly. Perennials are a one-time deal. Annuals usually produce more protein per acre than perennials. Annuals encompass a lot of plant types, but normally soybeans, corn, wheat, oats, all types of legumes, fall into this category. Perennials include clovers, birdsfoot trefoil, alfalfa, etc.
Alfalfa acts like a perennial in that it does go dormant after a frost.
It's important to make a decision about your lifestyle, desires, and resources when it comes to what you plant.

If you simply want a hunting plot attracter, you will want something like is offered by Buck Forage. Their oats are planted in late summer for a fall hunting plot. Even better is to put in a plot of brassicas, like is offered by the Whitetail Institute Their Winter Greens product is an excellent long lasting variety of protein rich forbs that are planted late summer, and become very sweet after a frost. They will last throughout the entire hunting season, and even into the new year. This is critical for deer nutrition, especially for bucks after the rut, as they have lost much of their protective fat, and need proper nourishment.

If you have the time and equipment, annuals are great, simply because they produce such huge tonnage/acre of food for the deer. Products like the Whitetail Institute's Power Plant are an excellent choice.

In summary, before you rush out and buy a food mix of any sort, first decide what your needs and goals are for the plot. This will dictate what product you will purchase.

Picking a tractor for food plots

If you're serious about food plots, you'll need a real tractor, although it is true that much can be done with a quad and even no-till methods can be appropriate for those in a pinch financially, or those that simply don't have accessibility to an open space to warrant a tractor.

I just purchased this 1948 Ford 8n along with a brushog and a disk and cultipacker. If you're thinking of a tractor, consider the Ford 2N/8N/9N series, or any tractor with a 3 point assembly. This baby runs great, parts are readily available at great prices, and getting repair work done on them is a snap. The 3 point allows you to pick up implements while moving, whereas tractors that do not have this are much more cumbersome to operate.

Quads also do a nice job, but they will take longer to get the job done.

Another option is simply renting a tractor, or finding a local farmer that will do the work for you. Considering that most clover food plots will last 5 years, that rent money is well spent.

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