Fall food plot

Just looking to talk some food plot ideas - What do you guys have the best luck with for a late season plot? Do you do anything special for fall plot preps? How about some pictures of bucks taken off kill plots? 137 days till archery opener... 

This is what I have learned so far.

PH reading 6 to 7

Fertilizer in spring time with 13 13 13 or 10 10 10

Rye grass and winter rye grows just about anywhere. 

Spring planting and a fall planting..

Try to stay away from big buck seed companies if possible..

Anyone have mineral pit and a water hole? 

I don't cultipack. I have seen where ever I had driven my tractor after seeding, the weeds would start to grow and take over in the tracks before the food plot seed got going. After dragging my plot, I just broadcast the seed prior to a rain. It hasn't failed me yet! And is mostly weed free!

Huntfishcrappie,

Congrats and enjoy the process with your kids! Keep at it and you will get there. 

My 120 acres was basically untouched also. I’ve carved out 4 acres of food plots out of dense aspen stands. Spread 5-6 tons of lime. Cut 3-4 miles of good atv/utv trails with just chainsaws and loppers. Put in 2 ponds. Planted hundreds of conifers and the list could go on. It’s a process but I enjoy it. Would like to add more food plots but everything is just getting to expensive. 4 acres is enough to maintain. 

This is a let's throw shizt at the wall and see what sticks....This was untouched land.. previous owner when up once or twice a year never did much on the land... My son's and I have laid 100 feet of bridge to get to the high ground and cut north/south East/west trail's..My youngest son cut out the area and poisoned it by himself...We can not get in nothing but hand tools..

We hand broadcast the seed and raked it in with a plastic rake just to get contact with the soil.. Just learning how to do a food plot and what will grow. Next year I will till it I just bought a small tiller. Till it remove rocks and stubble and make something for dragging over the seed..The pictures of the food plot is awesome and lot of work.. that's something to be proud of..

Really depends on how much thatch is laying there. 

I honestly think you would get decent to good germination on the winter rye using your method described but only you know how well the seed to soil contact will be in current conditions. 

Personally, I would broadcast the seed, roll it with cultipacker or drag harrow lightly and then spray with 1-2 qts/acre gly. 

Probably not necessary to spray but I’m a perfectionist and like clean plots. I’m Slowly getting away from chemicals and realizing some weeds is not the end of the world. 

I attached a couple photos of a very thick clover plot that I just broadcasted rye, ww, and oats into, rolled and sprayed. Got excellent germination considering how thick the clover was.

Seeking an opinion from those that have used winter rye. I have a small1/4-1/3 acre food plot that was last tilled 2 years ago. It is mostly grasses now with a little clover. I have mowed it twice this summer. I intend to mow again this week and then surface seed some winter rye. After seeding I will drag it with a logging chain mounted on a 2x4 to work the seed down to achieve ground contact. Doing this Thursday and Friday. Rain predicted for Friday evening, Saturday and Sunday. Mostly lighter scattered showers and a thunderstorm here and there. Hoping for enough moisture to get good germination. Will also add a bag of 10-10-10 fertilizer to get it going. I can drag a pull behind lawn thatcher to further disturb the soil. Tilling isn’t a real option but if absolutely necessary it could be done. Any advice, tips or recommendations welcome. 

Cut a little more area and poisoned it... still ruff looking with stubble from cutting but not bad for just starting it this year.. Getting late to do much more..     PH was 6 laid 25lbs of lime for about 1200 square feet.                  5lbs of winter rye 1 lbs of cereal rye and 1 lbs of rape no feterlizer... Not a huge area but it's a start for a small plot in the woods.. Need rain now.

Clover and brassicas are growing good by me. Added 100# 19/19/19 a couple of weeks ago. Rain and timing is everything!

Got some good growth started. Just broadcasted another shot of fertilizer and now we have a light rain starting. I have another small 50’x100’ area that was mowed early August and has 4-5” growth of some clover and assorted grasses. Going to surface seed some winter rye in the next two weeks on top of the mowed area. Will try and time that right before a good rain.

The info you have given is awesome...You are right on the big buck seed bags.. I have read them but never paid attention to them just half azz on info.. 

Yes hunting ag country is awesome I hunted trempulea county most of my life.. Soybeans and corn fields make for some great hunting..Deer are very predictable.. Lost family land cause of bad decisions on my father...Hunted public land the last 4 years..I have been blessed with purchasing my own land but it is on the Taylor/Price county line... It's not great area but it's paid for so any thing we can do to improve it helps.. Plus spending time with my boys is great... They know I will not sell it...

I will look into more clover.. What is better? White Red or Crimson.. l got the winter rye seed from Ace hardware 5lbs bag 10.00