50 | BOWHUNT AMERICA • Reprinted with

50 | BOWHUNT AMERICA
• Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2013 Zebra Publishing Inc.
A late December blizzard had blanketed the landscape in white. It
seemed wildlife on this once bustling piece of creek bottom had
vanished. The woods, usually alive with both whitetail and mule
deer, were silent. But rounding a bend on the south end of the
property, I came across a standing cornfield nestled in a maze of cottonwoods. It was a small field—one acre to be exact—but it was
teeming with deer. Sixty-three tan bodies filtered in and out of
the golden stalks. I was blown away. I had never seen such a
concentration of deer in a single area.
It’s scenes like this that make food plots so attractive to
bowhunters. Food plots deliver vital nutrients—nutrients
specifically formulated to boost herd health and antler
growth—which make for bigger, healthier deer overall. Food
plots also help you attract and keep does on your property. And as
all savvy bowhunters know, where does reside, bucks will be close
by. In addition, strategically planted food plots provide invaluable insight into whitetail behavior. Because food plots
hold deer on your property, you will have more visual
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2013 Zebra Publishing Inc. • March / April 2012 | 51
and trail camera encounters
with them. Nothing adds to
a whitetail hunter’s wisdom
more than observing deer.
Planting and maintaining an effective food plot isn’t
exactly easy. But with a little
knowledge, the right tools
and some elbow grease, you
can create an attractive food
plot of your own.
Food Plot Know-How
Educating yourself about food plot technique is key to success. The
more you know, the better results you will see. Having a food plot
that produces isn’t as simple as scratching the ground and tossing out
seed. There’s a science to planting a successful food plot.
Different soils have different levels of acidity, and you need to
take this into account before planting. A simple pH test, which can
be easily accomplished with a digital pH meter like those from
Mossy Oak BioLogic, will tell you the exact pH of your soil. If you
don’t want to invest in a digital pH meter, you can always purchase a
standard meter or send your soil away for testing.
When using a digital or standard pH meter, it’s important to
insert the meter into moist soil. If your soil is dry and crumbly, place
some in a bucket and add distilled water to moisten. The time it takes
a particular meter to calibrate an accurate readout depends on the
unit you’re using, but most take only a minute or two.
Most pH testers will start with a
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• Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2013 Zebra Publishing Inc.
readout of 7 on a range
between 1 and 14. That’s
because 7 is considered to
be neutral soil. If your soil pH is
below 7—say a 5.2—then you’ll need
to add lime. Lime raises the pH of soil
and adds calcium. How much lime will
depend on the size of your food plot.
If your pH level is high—say an 8.1—this
indicates alkaline soil. Two materials commonly used
for lowering soil pH are aluminum sulfate and sulfur.
Both can be found at a variety of garden and landscaping
supply centers.
Next on the agenda is to determine what region your hunting
area is situated in. This is very important as plant species that perform
well in the southern region will not do as well in the transitional or
northern regions. Most popular seed distribution companies will have
some sort of planting map for you to go by. Two planting maps that I’ve
found very helpful are located at plantbiologic.com and evolved.com.
Before moving on to planting and labor, you must select the type
and function of your food plots. Do you want a perennial plot, an
annual plot or a combination of the two? Are your plots going to be
a spring and summer food source or a fall and winter food source?
There are different seeds designed to serve different purposes. To find
out more about certain seed species and the best time to plant them,
visit the website of the manufacturer you’re purchasing the seed from.
Now you need to estimate your food plot’s yield. This will depend
on the size of the plot and the agricultural belt you are located in. It
has been estimated that an adult deer will consume between 5 and
6 pounds of food per day. If you do the math, you’ll see that a single
deer will consume nearly 2,190 pounds of food per year. That’s a lot.
A little research will allow you to estimate how much food your plots
will produce, how long your plots will provide food for your deer and
how long you should use deer deterrents to prevent overgrazing.
It’s also very important to understand the difference between
annual and perennial plots. An annual plot is one that you will have
to replace each year. Many growers don’t utilize annual plots because
they have to be replaced, but don’t overlook them. Annuals can be an
instant attractant for deer. Their lush green nature is both appealing
and nutrient-packed.
Perennial plots come back year after year. The major benefit
with this type of plot is that with the proper care and maintenance,
it will keep producing food for years to come. I’ve found that having
a healthy mix of both annual and perennial plots produces the best
results.
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2013 Zebra Publishing Inc. • March / April 2012 | 53
Time to Get Started
Now that you’ve done your research and gathered
how-to knowledge about preparing to plant a food
plot, it’s time to get your hands dirty. If you’re planting a new food plot, start by removing existing vegetation. Depending on your budget and access to
equipment, this step can be done in a variety of ways.
A trusty John Deer with a brush hog implement and
disc can speed up the process. Other options include
herbicides, a four-wheeler disc or just a good old
shovel and chainsaw.
After clearing the area it’s time to prepare
the soil. Again, how you go about this process
depends on your budget and access to equipment.
For larger plots that are more than a couple of
acres, you’ll want to use a tractor or some form
of motorized vehicle with a disc. When planting
a smaller plot, you can get away with using a
rototiller or even breaking up the soil with
a hoe and shovel. Regardless of the size
of the plot it’s important to work the soil
well. The only exception to this rule is
when planting in dry land conditions.
Depending on the results of your soil
test, broadcast the appropriate amount of fertilizer into the topsoil before planting. Many food plot
growers will broadcast fertilizer, mix it into the topsoil and plant all in the same day. While you can do
this, I prefer to plan everything around the weather.
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Most often I prepare the soil, broadcast and mix fertilizer in the same day. Then
I watch the weather and pray for rain. Food plots planted before a gentle rain
will sprout and begin to develop quickly.
Tools of the Trade
There are plenty of tools out there to help make your planting experience
more productive and enjoyable. Some of the best I’ve found are from Chapin
Outfitters’ new line of BioLogic Sprayers and Spreaders.
For both seed and fertilizer distribution, look no further than Chapin’s
series of BioLogic Spreaders. Featuring oversized tires and durable rust-proof
frames, the BioLogic Push Broadcast Spreader (available in 50-, 85-, 100- and
125-pound models) is excellent for off-the-beaten-path plots. The BioLogic
Handheld Broadcast Seeder holds 25 pounds of seed and features waterresistant, heavy-duty fabric and gears. Rounding out the lineup of spreaders
is the BioLogic ATV Spreader. Offered in an 80-pound model, this quickconnect spreader is perfect for larger plots in rough terrain.
Chapin’s line of sprayers makes it easy to deliver chemicals to your food
plots. The BioLogic 40-Gallon Tow Behind Sprayer pulls easily behind an ATV,
and its Everflo Pump helps produce excellent vertical and horizontal spray.
Also available from Chapin are the BioLogic 60-Gallon Tow Behind Sprayer,
BioLogic ATV 25- and 15-Gallon Sprayers, the BioLogic 4-Gallon Backpack
Sprayer and BioLogic 2-Gallon Hand Sprayer. Depending on your herbicide
or fertilization needs, Chapin has the right sprayer for any situation. See your
dealer or visit chapinoutfitters.com to learn more.
Maintaining Your Food Plot
Don’t let all your hard work go to waste. After your food plots begin to sprout,
there is still work to be done. One of the most important tasks is weed control.
How you control weeds will largely depend on the type of plot, or plots, you
have planted. Last season I used a small cultivator to control weeds on my small
corn plot.
Aside from weeds, you also need to keep deer and other game animals out
until your plot is open for business. This can be done in a variety of ways, but
what I’ve found most effective is the Plot Protector from Mossy Oak BioLogic.
Each kit allows you to protect one acre for 90 days. The Plot Protector is effective because it features a powerful scent that repels whitetail deer and other
game. See your dealer or visit plantbiologic.com to learn more.
Give Them More
A great addition to any food plot is extra minerals and supplements. One that
has caught my eye is the Trophy Rock All Natural Mineral Lick. While some
people believe that all salt is the same, the Trophy Rock proves this simply isn’t
the case. Trophy Rock is mined, not created, which means that it offers a variety of minerals in a naturally balanced ratio. These trace minerals are essential in
helping animals reach their full potential. Not only do these minerals increase
Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2013 Zebra Publishing Inc. • March / April 2012 | 55
antler growth, they also improve the overall health of your deer
herd. Putting Trophy Rock out in the spring and summer months
will greatly benefit the deer in your area. See your dealer or visit
trophyrock.com to learn more.
Deer co-Cain Black Magic from Evolved Harvest is a beneficial mineral supplement that attracts deer with a mineral vapor
trail. Enriched with calcium, phosphorus and sodium, Black Magic
improves the overall health of your deer herd. Best of all, moisture
will cause Deer co-Cain to keep reacting, meaning that deer will keep
coming to it. See your dealer or visit evolved.com to learn more.
BioRock by Mossy Oak BioLogic delivers a readily available
mix of over 50 all-natural minerals. With calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and sulfur, BioRock is perfect for boosting herd health and
growing bigger antlers. See your dealer or visit plantbiologic.com to
learn more.
Deer have been going crazy for Acorn Rage from Wildgame
Innovations for years. If your deer love acorns (and what deer
doesn’t?), you’ll love Wildgame’s Acorn Rage Salt Block. Acorn
Rage Salt Block combines the effectiveness of Acorn Rage with
the convenience of a mineral block. See your dealer or visit
wildgameinnovations.com to learn more.
Another exciting product is Real-Deal Mineral. High concentrations of calcium and phosphorous make Real-Deal particularly
effective at helping does replace the minerals lost during lactation.
Boosting doe health is critical to improving the health of the herd
overall. But don’t think Real-Deal is just for does—this attractive
mineral supplement is ultra-appealing to bucks, does and fawns alike.
See your dealer or visit realdealmineral.com to learn more.
One for Every Budget
You may dream of having the ability to plant and develop massive
food plots, but the good news is that you don’t have to have large
plots of land, expensive equipment or years of farming experience
to attract deer and keep your herd healthy. Many of my most productive food plots are a half-acre or smaller. Little plots tucked away
in the timber serve a big purpose. And planting these plots can be
done with tools from your garden shed. D
Get More Info Online Want to learn more about food plots? Follow Jace Bauserman as he
blogs about planning, preparing, planting, maintaining and hunting his Colorado food plot. Over the course
of the next few months, Bauserman will provide additional tips and secrets, answer questions and respond
to comments, and post trail camera photos. Visit BowhuntAmerica.com/plots101 to follow along.
56 | BOWHUNT AMERICA
• Reprinted with permission. Copyright © 2013 Zebra Publishing Inc.