Walt, I can always count on you to pop off, anytime foodplots are brought up. It is sure not the slam dunk you seem to think it is.And yes that is one of the points of planting foodplots, to alter their normal feeding patterns across the big ag feilds to more secluded huntable places away from neighboring fences. Most mature bucks only use these feilds at night anyway.You cant tell me that bowhunting a spot trying to fool the senses of 10-40 does and young bucks hopeing a buck you are after shows is not hunting, or require hunting skills. Honestly here in Iowa the only type of foodplot, if you want to call it that, that tips the scale, is leaveing standing corn for late season hunting after the snow starts stacking up, since damn near everything around here is great deer feed untill then.After the record snowfall we had last winter over a 3 1/2 month period, I can tell you I am sure glad I left, 30 acres standing scattered around the farm, or the deer that would normally feed in the picked feilds would have been in big trouble. Plus I got to pick up 112 sheds.

Walt, I respect anyone that hunts the big woods of Michigan, and I can see why you would feel that someone up there with good enough soil to grow a good food plot would suck deer away from you, but here you can only make your feilds look a little more attractive than all the alfalfa, corn and soybeans, thats everywhere. How many days in a year do you spend patterning and prepareing for the next season? Shooting your gun does not count.I just dont see why you can pass such a harsh judgement on other hunters that just try to make their property more attractive to deer. You know what they say about doing the same thing over and over expecting differant results. Insanity.

Walt, that is one of the differances between your country and mine.You walk four miles here dureing season would be stupid. Every deer on the farm would be in the next county. I spent 6 hours today cutting shooting lanes and entry, exit trails in mosquito infested 100 degree timber today, what did you do? Do your homework before season and you wont have to screw everything up trying to figure the deer out when you should be hunting. Again I know where you hunt is completely differant from where I do.

Sorry, Walt, I miss-quoted you...you only hike 4 miles a day.

Fyi - When I get back to Colorado, my dad and I are hiking 24 miles in two days, up two 14,000 foot peaks in Colorado. Whens the last time you did anything at 14,000 feet elevation? That doesn't make you less of an outdoorsman, or me more of one, I'm just trying to point out the faults of your argument.

I was sure wishing I had heat last December in my shantee. When its that cold Walt I would rather be walking 4+ miles. I would like to see you sit still for 5 hours or more in a 20 below windchill day after day, untill it comes together. Then try to pull a bow and make the shot. But there is no better time here to shoot an older mature buck than late season,the colder and more snow the better, watching a standing corn field.

Countitandone,

As Mr. Barsody pointed out spring planting usually means soybeans or corn for most folks. Prime planting time also depends on the area of the country in which you live. For instance, here in the deep south fall plantings are usually the order of the day. Clovers, cereal grains, chicory and other greens are best planted in the fall down here. We typically look at a window between September 15 and October 15. Cereal grains, brassicas, chicory and certain clovers develop and become attractive quickly. Their production also peaks when deer need that extra nutrition to recover from the rut or to aid in gestation.

Don't attempt to throw a blanket over the whole country. There many approaches out there as well as regional seasonal requirements.

It is true that a late summer fall planting has less weed competition. Some years it can be tricky though. A long dry summer with little sub soil moisture, that runs into an early freeze in october can be hard to get the clover going.Brassicas and cereal grains have to be planted late summer/early fall or they will mature out and get tough.

Walt,

One side note for you. If you walk that much in my neck of the woods you'll get seveal tickets for tresspassing!

Whether you walk or sit, or in my case do a bit of both, it's all hunting. Obviously you need to follow the laws of your state, but I also think food plots definitely have a role in ethical hunting. Done right, a good food plot can benefit the health of the whole deer herd, as well as other wildlife species. Baiting on the other hand -- dumping a bag of "attractant" or hunting over a feeder -- does neither, contributes to the spread of CWD (something we have now in Virginia), and should not be considered ethical.

I'm glad we have walkers like Walt. Keep on pushing the deer to us is our heated shanty.

Born in Mi. a hunt'in Natl.forest stumpjumper, swamper, state reserve wildlife area, land around low security prisons, or intercepting crop destroyers from all these, I never heard of baiting, feeders, or foodplots 'till I moved to Texas they just don't have much public dirt. I had to learn quick they have some outrageous poaching here, nocturnal is the norm. Two yrs, without seeing a deer and then I saw one while fishing ah ha !, they were no bigger than a German shepherd. As many deer as they have on private land, they kill'em every which way and the last thing they want to hear is "that ain't right". I don't think they liked it when they banned coursing with dogs but they liked trespassing less and did away with it. I finally did the lease thing with a family I met and saw my first feeder they had been fill'in & feeding for 10yrs before I showed. 340 ac. and a 100 or so resisident deer and near the same amount of transient deer, this place was over run with stunted 6, 7, 8, 9, ect. point bucks(2"spread). I looked at my people and the first thing I said " all ya'all ever kill any does ?" we kill a couple. I kept my mouth shut and killed three doe that year(had 4 tags) and told them that their does were eat'in all their rack browse and they couldn't feed enough corn to grow good racks(it wouldn't have helped anyhoo)your overpopulated. So I continued to kill doe that came from another property that headed toward one of our feeders to break this cycle where they said there were no deer(I guess they meant bucks?). Killed(not hunt)13yr of does & axis deer with my handloads & factory ammo & as many calibers as I could, watched deer all the time(that was the best time)'cause I was just slaying. My people still wouldn't shoot does but I started taking students out and we wacked more does and the bucks started getting improved racks. The land owner tripled the price and the students that became Dr.'s filled my spot. I went back to lottery hunting for mngt. land deer in my old way walking into the wind and sit'in on stumps. I won't say it was right or wrong but they won't hunt down here until the population is put in check. Trophy hunting is O.K. if your kill'in some does but other than that, it seems the ego is mighty needy and herds will suffer. I remembered I was a hunter and got back to enjoying the woods and everything it has to offer(I know how to kill)thru the experience. So Mr. Smith to each his own, I know there are plenty of trails and brush to break so have a good season and hunt the way Mr. Smith enjoys and others get it done in their style, the herd needs us.

Ahem!

Alfalfa is one of the most desirable food plots I've ever seen! It's absolutely awesome!
Alfalfa can be planted either spring or fall. Fall plantings result in better stands. In my zone, mid to late Sept or early Oct is best planting date.
BUT!
Alfalfa won't grow just anywhere!
Your local County Extension Service should be able to help you select planting date, soil conditions, variety, etc. etc.
Alfalfa is also a perennial! It comes back year after year!

Good luck!

Bubba

BBD, My thoughts exactly.Thats all I have been trying to tell him, if its legal in your state, dont judge, to each his own.

Food plots are an excellent way around the baiting ban here in Michigan. Not to mention a great supplement to a healthier deer herd. www.michiganhooksandbullets.com is a discussion forum for Michigan's outdoor enthusiast. Have you captured any nice buck's on your trail cam's? Share them on our forum's.