After creating the perennial food plots in the fall of 2016 I wanted them to rejuvenate in the spring at the earliest and last for as long as possible with the investment of time, $ and effort. One thing I've learned over the last number of years is the incredible return they give you in the spring. Most of my plots are not very wide and are surrounded by standing timber. The leaf matter that comes down is deep and dense -it will choke out a large percentage of the plot if not remediated. I overseed my plots heavy in Sep with winter rye to try and keep a green and growing base in the plots.
To maximize the plots I suck it up and blow the leaves off every late winter. I've done this for the past three years, in conjunction with frost seeding and the results are phenomenal. The last two turkey seasons I've harvested a Tom opening day and the following day with a bow. I believe it's due to the hens feeding there and the Tom's establishing the plot a primary strutting lane. Now this is my observation - I'm interested in other opinions / observations. I use a standard Husky backpack blower, try to get a ~ 80% clearing of the original leaves and of course this helps with locating the areas in the plots that ought to be frost seeded.
Working alone, I can clear the 4.5 acres of plots in a day. I haven't tried the tow behind 250mph blower but I'd be interested to know if folks have?
The plot in this thread is detailed in TOO thread here -> Creating a food plot on a pipeline.
Blowing the leaves off the vegetation is obliviously helpful for both seed to soil contact and to allow the plants to get teh most sunlight early on, speeding the green up. So here's some Pics to show the task and benies....
Once that is done the birds start to hammer the fresh greens
Once you've established the feeding pattern the hens will it and the boys will line up
Once you have the movement on the lush green -Struttin'- plot down setup the blind a day or two in advance and set out your Decoys
It is repeatable!
To maximize the plots I suck it up and blow the leaves off every late winter. I've done this for the past three years, in conjunction with frost seeding and the results are phenomenal. The last two turkey seasons I've harvested a Tom opening day and the following day with a bow. I believe it's due to the hens feeding there and the Tom's establishing the plot a primary strutting lane. Now this is my observation - I'm interested in other opinions / observations. I use a standard Husky backpack blower, try to get a ~ 80% clearing of the original leaves and of course this helps with locating the areas in the plots that ought to be frost seeded.
Working alone, I can clear the 4.5 acres of plots in a day. I haven't tried the tow behind 250mph blower but I'd be interested to know if folks have?
The plot in this thread is detailed in TOO thread here -> Creating a food plot on a pipeline.
Blowing the leaves off the vegetation is obliviously helpful for both seed to soil contact and to allow the plants to get teh most sunlight early on, speeding the green up. So here's some Pics to show the task and benies....
If possible I blow on a windy day/ align myself to allow the wind to help move the leaves off.
Leaves moved off, frost seed the same day if possible to get the best seed/soil contact - very few seeds will lie on the leaves after you've blown them off the plot
Once that is done the birds start to hammer the fresh greens
Once you've established the feeding pattern the hens will it and the boys will line up
Once you have the movement on the lush green -Struttin'- plot down setup the blind a day or two in advance and set out your Decoys
It is repeatable!
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