Micro food plot questions

[hully1029]

I'm on a new lease in SE Oklahoma and am looking at doing some "hidey hole" or "kill plots." Going through the threads, it seems like elbon rye, wheat, oats will be my best chance at getting it to grow (but that's a fall seeding/winter blend, right? )

Question1. Am I too late to seed one now, in hopes for early season? If not, what summer blend would be best?

Question 2. What's the smallest food plot yall have planted with success? My options are going to be very limited and will only be like 60'x60' areas.. very small.

I'm very, very new to this type of topography and it's definitely going to serve as a challenge.

Thanks in advance

[Texas Made]

In for updates or advice. I was planning on planting Big Tine Main Event the first week of September in the larger feeder pens (probably around that same size) as an experiment and to see how well the deer would take to it before going to a larger plot.

[S-3 Ranch]

I hear multiple micro plots with peas , radishes, alfalfa is the most effective
It’s only a couple months till I start wheat, oats, rye for fall

[hully1029]

Bumping to top for more answers

[adam_p]

I have a little 1/4 acre plot that most years has been in oats. Last year I threw out a bagged mix I picked up at Atwoods and it seemed to get more attention last year than in previous years. I don't recall what all it had in it but it was your typical deer blend of oats, clover, peas and turnips.

FWIW, I've tried everything but drilling the seed directly into the ground and my best results have always been to let the grass grow in the summer, round up and wait a week or so then throw the seed out and mow the grass down on top of it.

[glen]

Hope you can find something that will tolerate the critters. I have tried a lot of different things and seems the small plots never get a chance to become effective. As soon as the tops get up the deer will have the entire plot wiped out. I was in high deer population area that needed about 1/2 the deer killed off though

[RMW]

Oats but don’t plant till October up there, down here I plant them first of November. Think to hot and dry to plant anything right now

[darralld]

Do you have a good supply of Oak trees? If you are going to have acorns I would concentrate on a late season plot. Maybe a wheat / Turnip mix. Plant in mid-August & hope for rain. If it's mostly Pine, you might try some clover. The clover & turnips just need to have dirt contact. Broadcast on the ground & do not cover. Try and do it right before they call for rain. Where are you hunting? I hunt between Clayton & Antlers.

[EliteDriver]

I've put in a bunch of micro plots. i don't do them in the summer because they don't last long with the heat....For fall food plots, i usually spray the 3rd week of September and disk/plant the second week of October. Gotta remember, you want this to be green when all the other browse is dying out. I plant peas, oats and cereal rye. The peas will go quick...make sure you use forage oats or they will be gone as well. Deer will find them quick once they sprout and depending on how big the micro is, you may want to get on them quick....Good luck!

[hully1029]

Do you have a good supply of Oak trees? If you are going to have acorns I would concentrate on a late season plot. Maybe a wheat / Turnip mix. Plant in mid-August & hope for rain. If it's mostly Pine, you might try some clover. The clover & turnips just need to have dirt contact. Broadcast on the ground & do not cover. Try and do it right before they call for rain. Where are you hunting? I hunt between Clayton & Antlers.

From what I’ve observed so far, its majority pine rows, but there are some think oak patches and the what not pine seems to be oaks. I’m in Cloudy.

[hully1029]

I've put in a bunch of micro plots. i don't do them in the summer because they don't last long with the heat....For fall food plots, i usually spray the 3rd week of September and disk/plant the second week of October. Gotta remember, you want this to be green when all the other browse is dying out. I plant peas, oats and cereal rye. The peas will go quick...make sure you use forage oats or they will be gone as well. Deer will find them quick once they sprout and depending on how big the micro is, you may want to get on them quick....Good luck!

I appreciate the knowledge and timeline. I’ll definitely keep it noted!