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Sunday, October 24, 2010

Deer Food Plots

Deer food plots are becoming very popular for property owners who are trying to not only help the local deer herd survive the winter months but to also provide high nutrient food all year long. In some areas deer populations are increasingly competing with Moose populations that are on the rise, which decreases the amount of browse available for the deer population. It's important to provide crops that will provide food at different times of the year. The photos below are just a few examples of the crops that deer utilize through the fall and winter months, as well as spring summer and fall.
This project also involved the planting of Hemlock three year old seedlings along trails and travel corridors to not only provide feed, but to also provide shelter and to lead deer from their bedding areas into the feed plots. They also planted red oak seedlings and some white pine seedlings.
The property owner also logged portions of the property to remove some of the older trees and to provide tops for winter forage. In subsequent years the food plots will be increased in size and location to provide food throughout the property, additional lime will be added to decrease the acidic conditions of the soils, and additional seedlings will be planted.
This project involved the planting of numerous different strips, including Frigid Forage, corn, soybeans, clover, sugar beets, carrots, and other mixtures specifically designed to provide food at different times of the year.



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