Food plots are such a widely discussed topic some people become overwhelmed by the ideas and the requirements. Yes, much can be done to create the best food available for your deer. However, you should not be disappointed when access to wide open fields with the perfect pH is hard to come by. To achieve your whitetail goals you must think outside the box and work with what you have! Food plots in the woods and poor man plots can have equal if not more impact on the success of your season if you play your cards correctly. Planting food in the woods takes a fair amount of sweat equity but the results can be dynamic! Making an effort to plant food in small secluded hideaways can give you control over tree stand locations never before possible. However, to create the perfect trap for your target deer it is important to understand what you are getting into.
Poor man food plots can be understood by the obvious name…equipment is either hard to come by or access is not possible into the plot. This creates the initial work. Clearing trees and brush with a chainsaw, using fire or sweat equity to expose the soil, and then finally planting. It is hard work. Take the time to consider this and the factors below. Just know that by the end of all this hard work, poor man food plots and food plots in the woods, in the right locations, are most definitely worth it!
When you locate the spot you’re going to plant food make sure to spray the area to kill weeds. Weeds in the woods must be killed quickly in order to give the food plot seed the proper place to grow. If you can mow or take a weed cutter with you and cut down the forage as close as you can to the ground. Within a week you should be back spraying the entire mowed area. Weed and brush killer is available at most home and garden stores. Spray everything in your planting area as it is worth the effort and will make your plot far more productive in the long run. Using a backpack type sprayer is more than sufficient as your areas ought to be fairly small. Within a couple weeks of spraying your chosen are will look different and you’ll be ready to take the next steps in cultivating the ground. Pack a good rake or leaf blower to rid the covered area of leaves if your spots are heavily wooded. Do not turn the soils over until you are ready to plant. This is in order to keep weeds from taking a hold of your inner woods spot too early even if you have sprayed. Break up the soils either with a tiller or a hand rake like you would in the family garden and use the appropriate amount of seed for the size of the area you are cultivating.
Planting food plots in the woods provides a new opportunity for your deer season and new locations to hang your tree stands. In a matter of a few months, you can transform your property from being a barren wasteland to a honey-hole. Proper planning and execution, advice from others, and genuine care for your food plots will be the difference maker come fall. Planting food plots in the woods is all about making your own luck. By taking matters into your own hands you become more invested in the pursuit and those venison steaks taste a bit better during the holidays.
Make Your Summer Food Plots Work with Your Hunting Strategies For most people, hunting…
Cutting Shooting Lanes While Hanging Tree Stands If you’re used to hanging tree stands in…
Box Blinds For Bow Hunting | Everything You Should Know If you’ve ever looked into…
Deer Hunting in Bad Weather with Tree Stand Umbrellas Year after year, whitetail hunters will…
Camouflage Cover for Tree Stand Concealment | Tree Stand Blinds Imagine sitting in your tree stand…
Hunting Spots for Bow Hunters | Early Season Bow Hunting Tree Stand Locations Early season…
View Comments
I've recently heard a bit about food plots and how helpful they can be to those who have used them. I really liked that you had mentioned that finding the right soil will help the most for growing within the plot. Since I don't know that much about food plots, I might just have to start looking around for a professional to help me out.