Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Aldeer General Forum Food Plot Advice

So here is the story. My leg went numb awhile ago and the Dr says I have a ruptured disc. He says I can't hike or hunt in the mountains. My hunting property is on the mountain next to Cathedral Caverns so using it is not an option this year. But a Buddy has 40 acres west of Athens and says I can hunt his property if I just give him some venison. Most of the property is cleared. He has two ponds and stream down one side of the property. There is a strip of trees down the West side of the property by the ponds and stream and a wider strip of trees across the South side. The East side and SouthEast side border a large forested area. My friend has a tractor with lots of implements and says he will help me put a green field in if I bring the seed and fertilizer, etc. I've never done this before. I have the Food Plot book from the AL Dept. of Conservation and plan to put in Wheat, Oats, Clover and some of the Brassicas. I plan to get the supplies from the Co-op on 31 in Athens. I'm looking at planting at least an acre. Should I plant more? My friend has a tiller that he says leaves the ground just smooth as velvet. Can I broadcast the seed and fertilizer and just drag the ground or should I mix the fertilizer into the ground? I don't think I have time to get a soil sample so should I put out any Lime? I'm real excited about doing this. I've never had a food plot before. Thanks for any comments and advice.

Sorry to hear about your medical problem, FHK. I can readily identify/sympathize with you---literally.

You need the fertilizer in the soil below your seed, optimally, to prevent burning of the sprouted seedlings. Apply your fertilizer to your tilled plot, till the fertilizer into the soil, broadcast your seed over the plot, and lightly cover/drag in the seed. Be very careful not to drag in (plant) small seed such as brassicas, clover, etc., too deeply.

When your plants are about 2 months old, you can lightly fertilize them again.

Best of luck on your deer plot.