It was a long, hot, bee filled day at the farm but we got the plots in. I managed to find two different yellow jacket nests in the process and got stung twice. Other than that, it was a great day with my old man. Snapped some pics so you guys can see what we got done. We were out there 3 weeks ago and mowed these plots off, then I sprayed them last weekend, so they were good and ready for a tilling. We started with the plot I call the Corner Pocket. It's situated in an inside corner with some oaks lining the edge, steep hillside dropping off just inside the wood line and a 3 acre corn field above it. I'll be paying the farmer to leave the outside 8 rows on this side and will hide a ground blind in there for gun/muzzy season. I'll have this plot on one side and 2.5 acres of cut corn on the other. I have also have a 2 acre sanctuary just south of here. I planted Whitetail Institute Pure Attraction here, which is oats, brassicas and winter peas.
Here is a view of how it sits in the corner of the woods.
This is looking south. The sanctuary starts on the edge of the plot to the right of the picture.
Straight ahead view from the stand.
The second plot we planted is a plot I call the Runway. This plot sits in our creek bottom and adjoins an old farm road that connects the ridge top bean field to our creek bottom. Makes a great funnel and it's one of my favorite spots on the farm. This is the view as you pop out of the woods...
I also planted Pure Attraction in this plot since I had some left over. This is look back towards the woods after I seeded and packed it in.
This is looking down on it from the stand...
The last plot we planted is the one I simply call the Big Plot. It's the largest plot at 1/4 an acre. I planted Merit Seed 12-Point Buck Blend in this plot and it is my first attempt with an perennial. It's a blend of Merit Platinum Ladino Clover, Jumbo Ladino Clover, Alsike Clover, Ruby Red Clover, Alfalfa and Chicory. I've had great luck with Merit products in the past and look forward to seeing how this does. This plot sits in the biggest opening in our creek bottom. My biggest sanctuary is directly adjacent to it and it's not far from anything a deer could want. This is the view from the stand looking SE...
Looking due S and where I expect to have the best shot opportunities. (Chad/Ryan, this is the spot I want you guys to sit this fall.)
One thing about doing this plots for a few years and having the right equipment is how great a seed bed we are getting. Dad hits it once with the tailgate up and in 2nd gear, then he drops the gate and hits it once in 1st gear at 2K rpms. First pass on the left, second on the right. Think that'll grow something?!?
I hung cams over all 3 plots and plan to leave them for the year. Hopefully they'll see some use and today's hard work will be rewarded.
