I enjoy foodplotting almost as much as the hunting....always liked the smell of fresh turned dirt.

Deer like a variety, doesn't seem to matter if you are surronded by corn and beans, put something else in such as brassicas, snow peas, triticale and youll bring the deer in. Im right on the edge of big dairy, fields of corn, alphalfa and wheat everywhere. Deer come running if you offer them a little variety.

Needless to say, Im not saving much money..

Sun hemp seeds lay in hot dry dirt for 10 days with no rain after planting.

Past 5 days have been getting rain daily.

The plots are rapidly growing...

I have heard that pumpkins are the only thing that works for attracting deer.

Maybe in BucksandBears part of the world.....lol

Purple top turnips and Daikon radish have never failed me. Overseed with winter rye and top dress with nitrogen before a heavy rain.

That'll work 4 sure!

I like a bit of sorghum sudan hybrids in my summer plots. Sun hemp does what ragweed does for me around here. Minus the nitrogen.....ragweed easier to plant

Cant keep deer out of my sunflowers and strawberries currently

Good stands of sun hemp sometimes can be an issue wrapping around a disc. If it gets too tall - might want to keep it mowed down a bit if you plan on putting in later plots on top of it - just like ragweed wrapping a disc

That's the plan. Keeping it about 24" tall.....then mowing it completely in mid-September and incorporating into soil.

You must have some sissy deer SW! I planted a mix a couple years ago that was heavy on sun hemp in 2 acres. It included cowpeas. Buckwheat, sunflowers, etc. Within a month there was nothing left that I planted. Sorry deer will only let me plant millet and sorghum

Some of my past sun hemp plots..

I've got about 10 acres of plots ranging in size from 1/4 acre to 1 acre. These are scattered across my 400 acre property. I tried to overwhelm the deer with pure sun hemp in about half of my plots so they hopefully dont over-browse any one plot....we'll see. So far, so good...this time.

I have quit plowing and planting. I have just as good success by correcting the soil ph then fertilizing the natural grasses and weeds. Once the natural browse fertilized properly and mowed twice a summer. The deer will browse without over grazing. Proper fertilization sweetens the natural browse to. Works just as well as seeding every year.

I can't make myself put high-priced fertilizer (and lime) just on weeds.

I can't make myself buy high priced fertilizer and lime just to shoot a deer, LOL

Neither can I.

I don't shoot "just a deer".

Im looking for certain deer that provide a one on one challenge for me.




Anybody can kill a just a deer. They are everywhere.

I enjoy giving something back to the wildlife...instead of being just a taker.

Im blessed to have access to private property that I can do this on. I know that everyone doesnt have the opportunity.

Some seasons I'm not successful, but the deer are fat and a year older...lol

A couple of bucks' antler growth coming along nicely. About a month and a half to go b4 velvet shedding.

Being a game keeper is a foreign idea to many Patrick.
I won’t show what we do to duck hunt. Someone is going to say “you do all that to kill A Duck” lol.

LOL I was just ribbing him a bit. I just have no great love for deer hunting in general. I do feed my fish though, so I guess I can't say too much.

Ha! You spend money on feed just to catch a fish?

Lol! I do too! I enjoy throwing a scoop of feed to the bluegill every morning.