Now what

[SDJIM]

Now what to do? Got a call today from the local farm services folks that do all my custom spraying, they did not spray my to be planted food plots as they thought that it would not be possible to get a drill through it and that it needs to be disked with a HEAVY disk-its getting late in the planting season and I live 300 miles away, hard to get things like this done.

Maybe I will just let it grow to what it wants this year and see what happens

 

[1GB]

Maybe I will just let it grow to what it wants this year and see what happens

If you take that route I'd be curious to hear an update on how it works out.

I've been tempted a few times to do something similar.

 

[1pheas4]

It doesn't sound like you have much of a choice. Something will come up regardless and birds will utilize it either-way.

Good luck.

 

[SDJIM]

The choice is to work the ground hard with a HEAVY disk then plant some milo or other food plot crop--I'm really leaning toward just leting it go this year--the local eyes on report is that it has about 6 or 7 types of weed (some have gone to seed already) and quite a few sunflowers BUT what worries me is lots of thistle also.

I'm gonna go down there and look it over and maybe plant my food plots elsewhere and just let this spot grow naturally this year:thumbsup:

 

[1pheas4]

Ah got it. I was under the impression you couldn't get out there in time. I would leave it for the year. Pheasants won't let idled land go to waste.

Keep us informed

 

[jaytee]

I'd forego the food plots and just let it grow. There are not very many instances where upland game run short on food. Cover on the other hand sometimes can be at a premium.

 

[mnmthunting]

You likely have pheasants using the area now nesting, young broods. Disking at this time would seem to be defeating the purpose.

 

[UGUIDE]

Now what to do? Got a call today from the local farm services folks that do all my custom spraying, they did not spray my to be planted food plots as they thought that it would not be possible to get a drill through it and that it needs to be disked with a HEAVY disk-its getting late in the planting season and I live 300 miles away, hard to get things like this done.

Maybe I will just let it grow to what it wants this year and see what happens

Jim, who really does the work. To my knowledge FSA nor NRCS do custom food plot for hire services. Is it Nick and his crew at RCWD that office out of NRCS office in Lake?

The easy decision is to let it go but you will pay the price with weed issues in the future. Another option is what I do is flail chop the plots and no-till into them. Another term for flail chop is a stalk chopper.

Food plots can be an expensive pain. My partner just told me my plots on east far not looking to hot so I know what I'll be doing come father's day weekend after family leaves the lodge (replanting unless miracle happens between now and then.)

 

[SDJIM]

Jim, who really does the work. To my knowledge FSA nor NRCS do custom food plot for hire services. Is it Nick and his crew at RCWD that office out of NRCS office in Lake?

The easy decision is to let it go but you will pay the price with weed issues in the future. Another option is what I do is flail chop the plots and no-till into them. Another term for flail chop is a stalk chopper.

Food plots can be an expensive pain. My partner just told me my plots on east far not looking to hot so I know what I'll be doing come father's day weekend after family leaves the lodge (replanting unless miracle happens between now and then.)

Lots going on here --new house--sick wife--so I'm just going to skip that area this year and let nature do it's thing--well I will try to control the thistle somewhat and then hit it hard this fall.

I've had food plots (good ones) in this spot for 4 years now and have not had much luck with them in terms of attracting game of any kind so it will be intresting to see what this does.

 

[UGUIDE]

Lots going on here --new house--sick wife--so I'm just going to skip that area this year and let nature do it's thing--well I will try to control the thistle somewhat and then hit it hard this fall.

I've had food plots (good ones) in this spot for 4 years now and have not had much luck with them in terms of attracting game of any kind so it will be intresting to see what this does.

It's all a big research project anyways Jim. Good to try something different. Another option is to keep it nuked with roundup but that takes time and resources too.

 

[FCSpringer]

I would buzz out and just spray the heck out of it with curtail. Kill off all the broad leafs, then let the remaining grass grow. mow it late just before snow to chop it up and drag it. Then round up after a week or two of green sprouts, and replant in 2013. Or for deer go till it up, and spray then plant buck forage oats laternice young green weat sprouts late are the absolute fav for deer as well. Then you can replant something else next year too.