| The time of year for you to start thinking about | | | | possible, then plow and disc, or just disc to a |
| planting your food plot is now, and proper whitetail | | | | depth of 4 to 6 inches. This will mix your lime in |
| food plot preparation is a must. If you are serious | | | | thoroughly and get it working for you. |
| and willing to put in the time and effort, then my | | | | Now, using a harrow drag or a chain link fence |
| 15 years of experience will be of help to you. | | | | with cement blocks for weight, go over your |
| The first thing you must do is select your food | | | | food plot until your clods are broken up and it has |
| plot site. Personally, I prefer my food plots not be | | | | become reasonably level. Next, use a cultipacker |
| smaller than 1/2 acre, nor larger than five acres. | | | | or a roller to firm the soil, as a solid base is |
| It is best to place your plot in or near woods or | | | | essential in proper food plot preparation. |
| thick cover, and if possible away from property | | | | Okay, let's go over what we have so far. You |
| lines. A good whitetail food plot is generally | | | | have selected your site, cleared the land, and |
| rectangular and irregular in shape. Understand that | | | | added lime if necessary. Then you disc to a 4 to |
| what you plant will require as much as four hours | | | | 6 inch depth, used a drag and then rolled. Looks |
| of sunlight each day, so be aware of what trees | | | | like it's time to plant. right? Wrong! Big mistake if |
| may hinder this. | | | | you do. |
| Whitetail food plot preparation begins with a soil | | | | Remember, you cleared away grass and weeds |
| test. Be sure and get one, as they are | | | | to prepare your whitetail food plot. Well, for years |
| inexpensive and could very well mean your | | | | and years those grasses and weeds have been |
| success or failure. It is absolutely imperative that | | | | depositing seeds into the soil you have just |
| you bring your soil as close to a pH of 7 as | | | | cultivated, and those seeds are now going to |
| possible. If the test requires that you add lime to | | | | germinate. So if you plant your high quality seed |
| reduce the acidity of the soil, then attempt to | | | | at this time, you will lose. The grasses and weeds |
| buy it in bulk. It is much less expensive that way. | | | | will choke the majority of it out before hunting |
| Also, depending on your site location and | | | | season and you are not going to be happy. |
| accessibility, you might check with your local | | | | If you want, you can wait two or three weeks to |
| co-op as they may be able to transport and | | | | let some of the undesirable seeds germinate and |
| spread the lime for you, or know someone who | | | | hit it with a herbicide. Another waste of time, |
| will. This is a huge savings in both time and | | | | effort and money. Many of your weeds and |
| money. | | | | grasses germinate at different times of the year. |
| Clearing the land of grass and weeds can present | | | | This is a problem that can be solved. |
| a problem. There are several ways this can be | | | | I will tell you what I do and works really well. I will |
| accomplished. I prefer not to use a herbicide to | | | | tell you what I plant, how I plant, why I plant it, |
| do this, but if your area has already greened up | | | | and tie all of this together in my next article. |
| this may be necessary. If so, then spray and wait | | | | Preparing your whitetail food plot is key. What |
| ten days to two weeks before proceeding. It is | | | | you do afterwards is just as important. |
| much better if you can bush hog as low as | | | | |