Establishment of Wildlife Food Plots

1. Establishment of Wildlife Food Plots Mark Landefeld OSU Extension Educator Monroe County

2. Establishing Wildlife Food Plots • What are your goals? • Do you like working with the land? • Do you want to attract/see more wildlife? • Do you want to provide more food for wildlife? • Is your purpose to grow bigger antlers? • Other goals?

3. Questions You Should Answer • What specie of wildlife do you hope to attract? • What is the deer population per square mile in the area? • How much naturally occurring food is already available? • What kind and how many agricultural crops are currently grown?

4. Questions (cont’d) • Do you expect to harvest wildlife from your plot? • Do you just want to view/photograph wildlife? • What equipment will it take to prepare, install and maintain the plot? • How long do you expect to maintain the plots?

5. Questions (cont’d) • How much work do you plan to do in future years to maintain the plot? • How much money are you willing to spend now? In the future? • When do you want the feed available? • Are your neighbors trying to eradicate the wildlife you are trying to attract?

6. Food Plot Size • Factors to consider • Deer density • More deer requires larger plots/more plots • 2-5 acres to minimize plant injury • Less populated areas • Less than 2 acres may be sufficient • Hunting situations • ¼ to ½ acre plots may be ideal • Sunlight is critical

7. Food Plot Size (cont’d) • Supplying food in late winter requires larger plots, 1 acre minimum usually • Management level • Intensely managed 1-1.5 % • Or 7-10 acres/sq. mile • Average maintenance 5% • Or 25-30 acres/sq. mile

8. Food Plot Shape • Which is better? • Nice and square or long wavy and narrow • Hunting with a Bow, Gun or Camera • Create an “Edge” • Edges influence wildlife movement • Soft edge • Created by planting shrubs, vines or low story vegetation

9. Food Plot Shape • Logging roads • Maximizes “edge effect” • Remember, plants need sunlight • Cut tall trees back 50 feet • Manipulate tree tops near game trails

10. Habitat Stages • 1= Bare ground, very little vegetation • 2= Weedy fields with tall grasses • 3= Brushy stage with low shrubs • 4= Young woodland that is dense • 5= Mature woods open undrestory

11. Correct Habitat • Can’t hold wildlife without it! • Wildlife all need: • Food • Water • Cover (habitat) • Provide all 3 together • Wildlife magnet

12. Habitat (cont’d) • Human presence can reduce the effect of great habitat • Sanctuary may be needed (Whitetail) • Research indicates 25% • 3-5 acre blocks minimum • Dense and thick is best

13. Sanctuaries • Strategic placement if hunting • Account for prevailing wind • Entry ways to and from hunting spots • Multiple sanctuaries • Large sanctuaries if space is available

14. Encourage Natural Foods • Most often overlooked by most landowners • Raspberries, blackberries, multiflora rose, apples, crabapples, sumac, elderberries, honeysuckle, grape vines etc… • Releasing crop trees • Mast producing • Apple

15. Important Investment • What is the most important investment for holding deer on your property? • Chain saw and safety equipment!

16. Feed Consumption • What will deer eat? • Primary foods-Those chosen when adequate supply exists • Secondary-Those chosen when most primary supplies are gone – regularly consumed • Lastly-Starvation/Filler foods – things eaten to keep from starving

17. Feed Consumption (cont’) • How much does a deer eat? • 3-4% of their body weight per day on a dry matter (DM) basis • 150 lb. x 0.04 = 6 lbs. of dry forage • 6 lb. ÷ 30% DM = 20 lbs. standing forage • ±2000 lbs. DM per year • 6000 – 8000 lbs. standing forage/year

18. Feed Consumption (cont’d) • What protein level is needed for maximum production? • Cook and Gray, 2003 said 16% minimum for Bucks • Heavy lactating Does up to 24% • Does Palatability & Digestibility matter? • Quality deteriorates as plants mature • Clipping or bush-hogging may be necessary to maintain high quality

19. Questions?