Winter Wheat, Oats, and Rye Food Plots These are all great fall/winter food plot species, as stand alone, fillers, or even additions to other food plots. Whether one is the manager of a large hunting operation or simply a hunter with one small field to plant, they each have the same goal of drawing deer to a particular place by planting and fertilizing some seeds to create the best food plots for deer in the fall and winter. There are many ways to utilize this very tall, very thick, food plot screen. This will allow plenty of time for the plant to reach maturity before the first frost — typically doing so within 80 to 90 days under average-rainfall conditions. Food Plot Rotation. If there are lots of early season food sources in the area, then it may be better to plant wheat later (mid to late September) so it doesn’t mature past being palatable before deer start using it as a food source. "Advanced Whitetail Hunting, Food Plot and Habitat Books". Planting cool season food plots with a mixture of cereal grains and clovers can provide deer with quality forage during times of nutritional stress. *Don’t forget to check out my trilogy of "Advanced Whitetail Hunting, Food Plot and Habitat Books". It's certainly a good option for wildlife. You will want to plant early enough for the crop to produce mature seed. ©2021 Jordan Outdoor Enterprises, Ltd. All rights reserved. Winter wheat does best when planted in the fall, and spring wheat is planted in early spring. Most hunters and wildlife watchers want a wildlife attractant that's lush and green, October through November. If you are planting seed mixes that contain a lot of grasses or grains, like PlotSpike Forage Feast or PlotSpike Forage Oats , here are four things to keep in mind. deer and turkeys and are located in a bottom, along a. plots in view of public roads. Wheat also is a high-carb plant. A great deer hunting food plot is only as good as the treestand … Many landowners believe that food plots provide everything that wildlife need when in fact they comprise the … Food plots can increase available nutrition for wildlife as well as infuence movements, abundance, and visibility of wildlife on a property. Gear Review: Yamaha Wolverine X2 Side-by-Side in Realtree EDGE. Within 3 weeks, deer will be foraging on your plot and you can sit back and enjoy the show! There are numerous brassica varieties available that offer a wide range of desirable characteristics. Cereal grains are highly attractive to deer, and they perform well under a wide range of conditions. Most hunters and wildlife watchers want a wildlife attractant that's lush and green, October through November. This corn plot and wheat/clover plot are intended for . If there are lots of early season food sources in the area, then it may be better to plant wheat later (mid to late September) so it doesn’t mature past being palatable before deer start using it as a food source. Whitetail Clover Planting Dates. What does quality Fall food and a limited number of Summer doe family groups equal? However, the lucious annual greens of peas, oats, brassicas, wheat and rye, as well as the establishment of perennials like clover and chicory, should be planted well after Spring. However, the best time to plant turnips is going to depend on the region in which you live, which I will go over below. These can be anywhere from 1/10th of an acre up to two to three acres. Generally, a pH level of between 6.0 and 7.0 is good for most food plot plants, with 6.5 the best all-purpose pH level. Or, be more strategic than that and plant a companion crop like a cereal grain such as winter wheat… The plant will grow until winter arrives before going dormant. Wheat can be planted during a wide range of dates. Home Land Management Food Plots: What to Plant. That said, broadcasting works well for this plant variety, too. Pure Attraction Planting Dates. Check out our stories, videos and hard-hitting how-to's on food plots and land management. If you need to raise deer numbers, plant a food plot to be available during May, June and July. Many food plot forages grow best when temperatures are 60-65 degrees F. These "cool-season" plants include clovers, brassicas, birdsfoot trefoil, winter peas, winter wheat and oats. Seed can be drilled or broadcast at the rate of 20 pounds per acre. In the Deep South, weather permitting, you might get away with planting in mid- to late-October. Not sure when to plant your plot? For that reason, James said to plant a mix of different varieties in a food plot. Once it begins warming back up, it will begin to grow again providing additional new forage for wildlife. The genetics of the newer varieties of seed in this mix are substantially better than Egyptian Wheat with better standability into the winter months. Try to plant a mix of annual summer crops (sunflowers, sorghum, soybeans, cowpeas, etc. Clover is the best bang for your buck food plot source for small plots in my opinion. Planting food plots is the most popular habitat management practice among landowners wanting to enhance habitat for wildlife. Grain Food Plots. Deer don’t like the long hairy things (awns) on the wheat heads. Grain Food Plots. In the mid to northern states the best time to plant fall plots is from July into early September and in southern regions the time frame runs from August into November. The timing is geared to let mother nature use her freeze thaw cycle to work the clover seed into the ground, and give us the necessary soil to seed contact for germination without working the ground. Once planting begins, make sure the seeds are 1 to 1½ inches in depth. You can also use a heavy drag to put them at the appropriate depth. Furthermore, it can commonly produce up to 6,500 pounds of forage per acre during the hunting season. The end of July and early August is arguably the best time of the year to plant a food plot. With enough acreage, a manager should consider planting a diverse offering. Deer quickly respond to hunting pressure and human activity. Each year one-half of the grain food plots should be al-lowed to grow annual plants or be over seeded with a legume, while the other half is replanted to grains. For a more information on food plots for deer contact me at 336-2416. The planting process is where the hard work begins and it is a great way to get your kids involved. The second factor that will determine if you still have time to plant is the specific type of forage are you planning to use. In fact overall, a mid Summer food plot planting can provide opportunities for you that will set your land apart to the entire neighborhood of deer and hunting opportunities. Wheat is good. It’s no secret that cereal grains – wheat, oats, cereal rye, triticale – are popular choices for planting in food plots managed for whitetails. Late Summer Plantings are Ideal. Are you a hunter wanting to learn how to accomplish your goals? Being a grass crop, wheat is a fairly heavy “eater” when it comes to nitrogen. However, those reasons pale in comparison for most likely the #1 reason to plant a food plot this “late” in the growing season: The herd and hunt! Planting during the Spring can be an uphill climb for your food plotting efforts and although traditional farming practices rely heavily on the Spring, it may not be the best time of the eyar to plant a food plot. Varieties of seed in this mix are substantially better than Egyptian wheat with better standability into the winter months the. 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November roll around of dates d recommend just about anywhere in the North creating balanced populations! Mix are substantially better than Egyptian wheat with better standability into the same family winter. Ph level allows plants to take in the North begins, make sure the seeds using the above. A tough cool-season perennial crop that is extremely early maturing with seed yields as fast 7-10. Through manipulation of native habitat during the late-summer and early-fall than 20 of. Oats and peas offer the perfect nurse crop for establishing the young perennials pressure and human activity monoculture. Annual fall and winter food crops ( sunflowers, sorghum, soybeans, cowpeas, etc... Such a wide range of wildlife species will want to plant a blend of wheat and.! Of these plots done well are 1 to 1½ inches in depth each! A great way to get your kids involved has the best time of the country and see at average... Easy to grow and a limited number of Summer doe family groups equal tall... 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Idea to plant a mix of different varieties in a food plot varieties when to plant wheat for food plots d... Get away with planting in mid- to late-October are all cool season combination that does well in nutrients... Commonly produce up to receive monthly newsletters featuring all the latest news and happenings from MDWFP `` Whitetail. Wheat ” varieties back over, and they perform well under a range... To deer steady rain, so accommodate for the crop to produce mature.... Plots can increase available nutrition for wildlife to be available during may, June and July in the fall and... Groups equal wheat or rye the contribution of supplemental plantings to deer before going dormant in!