Food Plots and Food Plot Monitoring How to Watch for and Attract Wild Game

Getting Prepared What you’ll need: Soil Test Kit and sampler Food Plot Seed Cultivator (many different kinds) Seed Spreader (many different kinds) Rechargeable Batteries Game Trail Camera Two SD Cards

Getting Prepared Soil Test Kit and Sampler

Getting Prepared Food Plot Seed You select the type of food plot based on your climate and what types of cultivators are required.

Getting Prepared Cultivator There are many different kinds Which kind you use depends on how large your food plot will be.

Getting Prepared Seed Spreader There are many different kinds Hand, Pull Behind, ATV Mounted, Push Behind and Seeders set up for tractors

Getting Prepared Rechargeable Batteries (Two sets) Why? You only have to buy them once. Batteries are expensive. While one set it in the camera, the other set is charging Only downfall is rechargeable batteries don’t have as much kick as normal batteries and do not do well in extreme cold temperatures.

Getting Prepared Game Trail Camera Things to consider Does it have a chance of being stolen? Does it have a chance of being harmed (bears love game trail cameras)? How much money do I want to put into it? Read the reviews!

Getting Prepared Two SD Cards Why two? Because when you go to check the camera, you can take one SD card and insert the blank new one. (Depending on the type of camera)

90 Days Out from Planting Select a Food Plot Site Instead of planting in a field already established, you might want to consider planting in a staging area. A staging area is a location where deer will feed just before going out into the open. A staging area is like a mini-plot

90 Days Out From Planting Take a Soil Sample Send it off to places like Virginia Tech to be analyzed or test it yourself with a soil test kit Once you know your NPK and pH, you can order your lime and fertilizer

90 Days Out Select the type of food plot you would like to plant and order the seed

30-45 Days Out of Planting Prepare Your Seedbed

30-45 Days out of Planting Add your lime or alum and fertilizer You should do this no later than 30 days out of planting to readily prepare your soil for planting

Planting Plant your food plot according to the directions on your food plot bag. Different seeds require different types of planting at different depths at different times of the year. Rule for Depth of Seed

Planting Different planters

Let the Fun Begin! Set up your camera and watch the action! Monitor your food plot both by walking through every two weeks or so and by collecting pictures!

You’ll See…. Wet Periods and Dry Periods

What Else You’ll See.. All Kinds of Game! Mama’s and Babies

What Else You’ll See… Little Bucks

What else you’ll see… Turkeys

What else you’ll see… Every now and then a big daddy comes through!

What Else You’ll See… Every now and then, you’ll see yourself!

SAE Opportunity You can use wildlife monitoring and wildlife herd management as your SAE! You need an SAE for your FFA Degrees! Check with your Ag teacher for more information !!