How to Clear Food Plots in the Woods

There are several ways to clear food plots in the woods, from free and hard work to expensive and no physical exertion on the part of the Landowner.  Here are Five Ways to Clear a Food Plot in the Woods.

Creating a thriving food plot in the midst of a dense wooded area can significantly enhance your wildlife management efforts. However, clearing the land can be a challenging endeavor. Fear not, as this blog post aims to guide you through five effective methods for clearing a food plot in the woods. From traditional techniques to modern alternatives, we’ve got you covered.

Hand Clearing

Hand clearing involves utilizing basic tools like axes, machetes, and pruning saws to remove unwanted vegetation manually. This method requires physical exertion, but it is an excellent way to selectively clear smaller areas with precision. Hand clearing is also environmentally friendly and allows for the preservation of desired plants.

Chainsaw Clearing

For more substantial vegetation, employing a chainsaw may be a preferable option. This power-tool offers more efficiency and speed than manual methods. However, ensure you have proper knowledge of chainsaw operation and safety precautions. Cut trees selectively, removing those that obstruct sunlight while preserving cover and important wildlife trees.

You may have a partner who will help you.  One guy can be cutting trees and one can be dragging the trees off the site, or piling them up for burning later.  You can make brush piles and burn them in the winter.

Stay organized and don’t bury yourself with tree tops and brush – you just make more work for yourself.

Once cut and removed, you can apply some herbicide to the stump to prevent it from re-sprouting.

Heavy Equipment

Bulldozers are a powerful resource for clearing extensive areas quickly. While this method may be more aggressive and have some environmental implications, it can be ideal for large-scale food plot establishment. It is recommended for vast stretches of land where precision and preservation of existing flora are not of utmost concern.

The best heavy equipment is a track loader.  This is a dozer with a loading bucket on the front.  It can be used to push small trees over and off the site.  You can then use it to back-drag the site to level it up and clear stumps, rocks and debris.

Here is a video on a clearing operation using heavy equipment after a logging job.  Food Plot Clearing Operation

A skid steer with a heavy duty mower or forestry mulcher is a great way to clear a food plot.  Here is a demonstration of this operation.

forestry mulcher on spruce trees

Controlled Burning

Controlled burns are a natural and cost-effective method of regenerating the land, encouraging the growth of desirable plants while reducing invasive species. This technique improves soil fertility, kills parasites, and stimulates seed germination. Be sure to follow local regulations, obtain permits, and seek assistance from professionals experienced in controlled burn procedures.  Prior to burning, you may want to use herbicides to kill the vegetation and the hand clearing methods to pile up brush.

Herbicides

When selectively applied, herbicides can effectively target unwanted vegetation while preserving beneficial plants. Consulting with local agricultural or forestry extension offices to identify suitable herbicides is crucial. Ensure you adhere to safety guidelines and apply herbicides judiciously, considering the potential environmental impact.

This method is particularly effective for old field environments where you may have some beneficial plants that just need to be released from old pasture grass.  Killing thick grass with a grass specific herbicide, then burning the old field is a very inexpensive way to provide extra browse for deer and other wildlife.  You never know what’s in the seedbank.

Conclusion: Clearing a food plot in the woods requires thoughtful planning and a consistent approach. Whether you choose a traditional method like hand clearing or embrace modern alternatives such as bulldozing or herbicide usage, each technique has its own benefits and considerations. Ultimately, the method you select will depend on your specific situation, scale of the project, available resources, and environmental implications. Embrace the challenge, take necessary precautions, and always prioritize the preservation of the ecosystem. With the right approach, you’ll soon enjoy a thriving food plot teeming with wildlife in the heart of the woods.

For More Information on Becoming a Food Plot Expert

Here is a link to my social media, my courses and a FREE video on creating your own custom seed blends

https://linktr.ee/stevechilcote