Off-season food source?

11B CIB

11B CIB

Administrator
Staff member
Charter Life Member
Multi-Factor Enabled
Joined
Dec 17, 2016
Messages
6,880
Location
Gilbert, SC
Rating - 100%
36   0   0
The property I’m allowed to hunt doesn’t have a way for me to plant a food plot. It’s shady, semi wet bottom land, hardwoods and creek bank vegetation and I want to give the deer something to stop and stay for, not just pass through from bedding to eating

Is there something I can scatter out (and I don’t mean deer corn) that’ll perhaps take root on its own that I don’t have to tend or manage that will bring deer in?

I’ve thought about a salt block also but unsure if that’s a waste or not.

Thanks
 
Any particular time of the season you are hunting? ID any food sources available then. I used to hunt locust trees in SC. Deer love those pods.
 
chiefjason said:
Any particular time of the season you are hunting? ID any food sources available then. I used to hunt locust trees in SC. Deer love those pods.
Click to expand...
This is the truth! Before the one on our property blew over in a storm, it was by far the number one choice. They also like the wild crab apples too.
 
Google search "no till" food plots, plenty of info there. I know several companies market a "throw and grow" product, I've tried some of them in the past, but not with much success. About the only thing that would half ass come up appeared to be rye grass. Corn is King, but those damn wood goats will eat 200lbs in a week.
 
www.southernstates.com

Index | Southern States Co-op

www.southernstates.com www.southernstates.com

We are big believers in this trace mineral product, if for nothing but an attractant. A 50lb bag lasts forever and the deer love it. Friends that we have suggested it to have had really good success with it as well. The Does really get after it during the spring/summer months.
 
I put a 50# trace mineral block next to a tree up on my mountain property. Didn't take long until the deer were licking it and it dissolved into the ground. The deer have dug the dirt out almost knee deep and still licking the "salty" dirt. I'll put another block out this year and they will probably dig the entire tree out of the ground.

The 50 # blocks are less than $9 at Tractor Supply.
 
beamernc said:
I put a 50# trace mineral block next to a tree up on my mountain property. Didn't take long until the deer were licking it and it dissolved into the ground. The deer have dug the dirt out almost knee deep and still licking the "salty" dirt. I'll put another block out this year and they will probably dig the entire tree out of the ground.

The 50 # blocks are less than $9 at Tractor Supply.
Click to expand...

When I first heard of the Trophy Rock, I bought one and set it about 20ft from one of my feeders. I'm not sure how long ago that's been, maybe 10 years or better.

Today, it's a mudhole that's about 8ft across and maybe a foot deep.
 
I threw some of that no till stuff out over my septic field. Who knows if it'll grow but at least the shallow roots won't hurt anything.
 
I've thrown oats out in the woods before a storm and they seemed to wash down between the leaves and germinate. Doesn't really take much for them to grow.
 
I don't think dandelions are a good option.

I haven't seen the first deer in my yard.
 
kcult said:
I don't think dandelions are a good option.

I haven't seen the first deer in my yard.
Click to expand...
Maybe not deer, but the honey bees will thank you. I leave the dandelions, henbit and dead nettles blooming this time of year for the bees.
 
beamernc said:
Maybe not deer, but the honey bees will thank you. I leave the dandelions, henbit and dead nettles blooming this time of year for the bees.
Click to expand...

Honestly (and I've done it before), if I had enough of the real dandelion, I would probably never buy lettuce again.

Well, I don't buy it now, but I think you get what I'm saying.
 
mineral and salt blocks
have been the cheapest
no-till options i have tried.
 
kcult said:
Honestly (and I've done it before), if I had enough of the real dandelion, I would probably never buy lettuce again.

Well, I don't buy it now, but I think you get what I'm saying.
Click to expand...
Best use for dandelion is making wine.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom