Shady Area Suggestions 4 Food Plot??
05-09-2007, 05:02 PM
#1
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 945
Shady Area Suggestions 4 Food Plot??
I have an area that has marginal sunlight that we planted last year and has had patchy results for the money we spent. I wish to replant this year in something else that is more tolerant to shade. I hear a brassica blend like a rape or turnip does well in the shade. Is this true??? Any suggestions that might save me on this area, great spot for a plot, just not much sunlight. HELP!!!
05-11-2007, 12:51 PM
#5
Typical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Illinois
Posts: 945
RE: Shady Area Suggestions 4 Food Plot??
Well, unfortunately i can't because the limbs hang over the fence from someone else's property, they are large oak limbs that span over my plot.
it gets very minimal sunlight when the forage is on.
it gets very minimal sunlight when the forage is on.
05-11-2007, 01:12 PM
#6
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 676
RE: Shady Area Suggestions 4 Food Plot??
In Minnesota, or at least where I'm at locally, you can cut down foilage extending over your land. Even if its coming from the neighboring property, the tree or roots that is. Would be a good idea to talk to owner first as a courtesy though.
05-12-2007, 09:18 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fulton county IL USA
Posts: 4,271
RE: Shady Area Suggestions 4 Food Plot??
ORIGINAL: bhunter50
I hear a brassica blend like a rape or turnip does well in the shade.
I hear a brassica blend like a rape or turnip does well in the shade.
05-12-2007, 09:47 PM
#8
Typical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: central illinois
Posts: 773
RE: Shady Area Suggestions 4 Food Plot??
I haven't had much luck with brassica. I read that it takes deer about 5 years to aquire a taste for it. I'd suggest planting wheat/oats, they will grow anywhere. I plant them on my tractor trails in the woods with heavy shade and it grows fine
05-13-2007, 11:37 AM
#9
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fulton county IL USA
Posts: 4,271
RE: Shady Area Suggestions 4 Food Plot??
Here's a shady spot plot that I planted in Brassica a couple years ago. This was my very first Brassica planting and I seen MANY deer utilizing this plot from early November on. In fact, I even got the chance to pass on some low end P&Y class animals throughout the season and nearly tagged a 160" buck from this same small 3/4 acre plot!This variety is the Tecomote Ultra Forage and I found that with it's differentspecies maturing at different rates, there always seemed to be something attractive for the deer. They really hammered the Rape from late October on!
Here's a close-up of the selective Rape utilization early on in the plot. Notice how they ate these individual plants nearly to the ground as the others were left alone.
Here's a close-up of the selective Rape utilization early on in the plot. Notice how they ate these individual plants nearly to the ground as the others were left alone.
05-13-2007, 11:43 AM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Fulton county IL USA
Posts: 4,271
RE: Shady Area Suggestions 4 Food Plot??
As mentioned, wheat and/or Oats would be anotheroption. However,for whatever reason, our local deer just don't seem to be that attracted to them??? I had a Forgae Oats plot last season and the deer just didn't seem that interested until about the time the snow started falling. Perhaps they just need to get used to it more?
