This nice buck has been feeding on one of my clover plots.  Actually, it was supposed to be a warm season grass field designed to provide bedding and security cover.  But the native grass I planted could not compete with the foxtail and hairy brome that was already present in the seed bank and got choked out.  We started over and re-planted and mowed the field this summer to keep the competition down.  A secondary benefit was that a great stand of clover developed from seed I planted two years ago that never developed due to excessive dry and hot weather.  With the heavy fall rains we had this fall, the clover really took off and deer are feeding heavily in the field.

For highly attractive, long lasting and nutritious clover food plots, annual food plots and warm season grass plantings, give us a call.  Even if you just need some pointers or advice.  Steve -814-360-4510;  schilcote1223@gmail.com

A lesson we can take away from this accidental clover plot is that we must always mow and spray for grass competition if we want to have a good patch of clover.  If mowing was not done on this field, we would have a heavy cover of useless grass and the deer would not find it so appealing.

The other lesson is that we have a thicket of brush very close to the field on one end and a thick stand of planted spruce on the other.  Three bucks were bedded in the brush and several does were bedded in a separate part of the brushy area and the spruce.  These deer have become nocturnal from excessive ATV use through the property.  But, since the bedding area is so close to the food source, there is a short window of time that we have enough light to shoot.  I was lucky that night because the wind was not right for my tree stand so I hunkered down behind a bushy pine at the end of the field.  Of course  I was careful to park away from the spot and sneak into my hide quietly.  A smaller buck came in early and winded me.  But this guy came out at last light and passed my pine tree at 12 yards.  I was able to draw when I heard him wading through some dry grass and let him have it when he came into the clear.  The wind stayed favorable during his approach after swirling around all evening.  I guesse even a blind squirrel can find an acorn once in a while.

For food plot establishment and maintenance, timber managment and wildlife habitat advice, give me a call.