2020 “modified buffalo” fall plot

[Drycreek3189]

Somebody mention hogs ?

[Low Fence]

.... mine ain’t much into grazing

[Low Fence]

Seen a sounder of 14 getting cows up, that just left plot and were in hay field. Ain’t done a body count yet. I know I have 2 confirmed dead and at least a 3rd that was hit

[Low Fence]

Week 4 progress. No rain since day after planting. Most peas are in pod stage and they are really working the leaves over! Best brassicas I’ve ever had at this time of year (still looking for proof a deer will eat them. Lol). Every other plant is doing excellent too. Another rain wouldn’t hurt

[Mountaineer]

That’s awesome growth. Use any fertilizer on this plot? Last rain I can think of in Hunt Co was 9/21, the day after I planted.

The disced plot I put in is struggling but the thatchy plot is growing well. The buffalo benefits are obvious.


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[Tshelly]

Tagged


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[Low Fence]

Originally Posted by Mountaineer

That’s awesome growth. Use any fertilizer on this plot? Last rain I can think of in Hunt Co was 9/21, the day after I planted.

The disced plot I put in is struggling but the thatchy plot is growing well. The buffalo benefits are obvious.


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No commercial fertilizer. Just pea thatch

[gingib]

Man! Jealous

I got mine grain drilled on Saturday. And the ground was dry with no rain in sight. Sucks!

I still got fertilizer to put on it also, but need some moisture.

[Hornfan]

Great rains today! We got lucky. Broadcast and mowed fall plots yesterday in Wise county. First time not using the disk for a fall plot other than throwing out some Elbon rye and clover in some small plots.

[gingib]

I got a decent shower on all mine yesterday! Pretty pumped

Ground soaked it up quick but it should be enough to kickstart germination.

Slight chances next week, I may fertilize if the chances hold up

[Low Fence]

Week 5

Had my handy dandy quarantined helper all week... final preps for youth season done today and did some fill in patch seeding on plot hogs destroyed. Broadcast a cereal grain mix over bald spots and called it good. Brassicas look amazing... zero proof a deer has touched them

[Low Fence]

Patch job

[elgato]

The plots look great but that quarantined helper is as cute as they come!

[Drycreek3189]

I never had any luck with greens except for daikon radish. They will eat the tops off of them. I think I might have planted too many radishes in these plots though

[gingib]

Mine are just starting to come up decent after a little rain. Love checking my wireless cameras each day for more green

[LouisianaExpat]

Wow, LowFence, your plots look great. I never can get peas to grow more than a month without deer eating them to the ground. I have too many deer for the acerage we plant.
Can’t wait to go see my plots. We sprayed and planted 3 weeks ago. My dad is skeptical of plots without plowing, but it saved us a lot of time. All these hurricanes at least are bringing some rain to the plots.

[Low Fence]

Week 6

Something actually tried to eat one!!!!

The plot I reseeded got wrecked again by pigs. Probably write it off as a loss. I’m over these vermin. Lots of pics at a fence crossing headed to the plots about 4:30 in the evenings. 1 shooter. So that gives Lola another possible option

[Button]

I dig it

[Low Fence]

Week 7. No fertilizer and less than 2” of rain. Mature buck moved in yesterday. Had him a lot late last season. Hope Lola can get a shot. I don’t think I would pass either. Lol

[farlow]

The deer at our place would have never let those peas get over a foot high. Nice job.

[Low Fence]

Week 8

There has been no measurable rain on this plot other than the 1.5 or so the day after planting. This is a true testimony to this methods abilities in soil moisture preservation. The plants are now starting to show signs of stress so a good rain would not hurt. Turnips have bulbs about size of rachet ball.
Got about a 1/10th this morning

I’m the only real player in town on plots this year and the number of NICE bucks shows! Of course I’m too busy to hunt and the neighbors will get a few as well as cars.... but they are using daily (I don’t post bigger deer until dead, lol) all oats and wheat are showing browse. Turnips and winter peas show low to no as always. I wish I would have marketed a winter pea for deer. Easy to grow and basically unused... so it looks like you did a good job! Good for soil and spring plots...

[lovemylegacy]

Man love your plots. Mine never get that high. Deer, rabbits, hogs keep mine about 3 inches high. Im liking the no plow method. Think I might start doing this also.

[IkemanTX]

I am in a similar position as you with our planting, but on year one without the soil improvements.

Planted first week of September, got a good 1.5-2 inches right after, and then nothing since.
We got really good germination and every species came up, but nothing is more than ankle tall since we haven’t had a drop of rain since.



Your success gives me hope that I can improve the soils in this plot over time. Especially if I can find a way to no-till drill it!

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[Low Fence]

Week 10

Starting to show usage of turnips and brassicas. Oats are all showing usage

[Low Fence]

Bad pic. Was about 150 yards away. We watched 2 doe most of the evening eating in plots

[Low Fence]

Took a tour this afternoon through the plot Lola and I hunted the other evening to see what they were keyed in on (pretty much knew). The oats and wheat throughout the plot was all showing browse. As always the turnips and brassicas look beautiful but show extremely low usage. The organic matter they produce will be their only real purpose. And I still have no proof after all my years of food plotting that a deer will eat a winter pea

[gingib]

I am the same way! I can grow some Badarse winter pea,but deer never touch them. I have been having ALOT of action on my 2 acre plot. I will check it this Sunday after I hunt.

Mine have never touched a turnip or winter pea

Do you ever mow yours to start new growth? Mine is getting 8-12 inches tall now

[Low Fence]

Never have, but if they are getting past palatable I wouldn’t rule it out. Won’t hurt the small grain, probably end the brassicas. Typically by time my grains play out, the clover is taking over, and by time it’s gotten too mature it’s spring green up

[TreeDaddy]

I have grown some beautiful plots of PTT,radish,DER and have yet to see evidence of deer usage

Has anyone in east texas had success with brassicas as a whitetail forage?

bill

[Low Fence]

I got lots of brassicas left. Of all varieties

Small grains look like a putting green. They could probably use a shot of N to green back up, but I’ve got plenty of tonnage and enough browse + protein going so I’ll put that money back in my pocket.

I’ll let these run it’s course and drill spring mix into it

[Low Fence]

The nice 8 that had moved in was shot twice in the last week of muzzleloader by same hunter and not recovered... he was pretty regular on me at protein and plot before and late last year too. Maybe he survived the second shot too

[Drycreek3189]

Originally Posted by TreeDaddy

I have grown some beautiful plots of PTT,radish,DER and have yet to see evidence of deer usage

Has anyone in east texas had success with brassicas as a whitetail forage?

bill

Bill, the only brassica that I’ve ever had eaten by deer is daikon radish. They will continue to be a staple along with wheat in my fall plots.

[IkemanTX]

Originally Posted by Drycreek3189

Bill, the only brassica that I’ve ever had eaten by deer is daikon radish. They will continue to be a staple along with wheat in my fall plots.

Originally Posted by TreeDaddy

I have grown some beautiful plots of PTT,radish,DER and have yet to see evidence of deer usage

Has anyone in east texas had success with brassicas as a whitetail forage?

bill

I’m with Drycreek, the primary reason I have radishes and turnips in the plot is OM accumulation and compaction breaking. They will stay in every winter mix until I think those two problems are completely fixed.... regardless of if they are eaten a single time or not.


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[EastTexun]

Great planting follow along. What variety of peas were you using, and do you plant the same plots in peas multiple years in a row? Reason I ask is the first year I planted peas I actually had pod production, but thereafter the deer don't let them get past the 2 leaf stage.

[Low Fence]

In spring I plant IC Cow peas. I plant them every year. This is first year ever to get pod production and still have peas available for forage. When I went to this method, I was able to sneak the planting past the deer vs drawing them with plowed dirt. I also got about a 3 week head start. Once the deer found them they were boot top high and the deer couldn’t kill them then.

... that’s my theory anyway. Lol

Most tonnage I’ve grown by a long ways.

[EastTexun]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

In spring I plant IC Cow peas. I plant them every year. This is first year ever to get pod production and still have peas available for forage. When I went to this method, I was able to sneak the planting past the deer vs drawing them with plowed dirt. I also got about a 3 week head start. Once the deer found them they were boot top high and the deer couldn’t kill them then.

... that’s my theory anyway. Lol

Most tonnage I’ve grown by a long ways.

That is great to hear. How much acreage of the IC are you planting?

[armadillophil]

Lowfence, do you plant any clovers? Great plots

[Low Fence]

These plots are a hair over an acre... but there’s 2 and are close enough to make it seem 2+

There are clovers in the mixes, but I don’t cater to them. I have every species there is on the place that grow volunteer. If the want it, it literally everywhere. I see little use of it anywhere until March- April. Nothing will compete in preference, tonnage and simplicity against IC peas IF you got 2 acres or more.

[gingib]

My plot is very tall and not tender anymore. If I plan on platnting Spring Lablab/Peas, do you recommend planting into my standing winter plot?

Should I shred it down once now to promote fresh tender growth for the 30-45 days and then grain drill it and shred it again to help cover seed? Curious on your thoughts

[EastTexun]

I have shred oats when they got too high with good results, and I do plant legumes directly into my standing oats/wheat/cereal rye every year. can't speak for OP, but I don't do a follow up shred once I plant...but sometimes I will do a gly burndown. Depends on time of year, etc.

[Low Fence]

Originally Posted by gingib

My plot is very tall and not tender anymore. If I plan on platnting Spring Lablab/Peas, do you recommend planting into my standing winter plot?

Should I shred it down once now to promote fresh tender growth for the 30-45 days and then grain drill it and shred it again to help cover seed? Curious on your thoughts

I’d let it go till April. Spray, wait 2 weeks. Shred and plant or plant and break down whatever you have access too

[gingib]

Originally Posted by EastTexun

I have shred oats when they got too high with good results, and I do plant legumes directly into my standing oats/wheat/cereal rye every year. can't speak for OP, but I don't do a follow up shred once I plant...but sometimes I will do a gly burndown. Depends on time of year, etc.

Originally Posted by Low Fence

I’d let it go till April. Spray, wait 2 weeks. Shred and plant or plant and break down whatever you have access too

I am here to learn and just picking brains.

My thoughts: Why not leave the current plot standing and let it die off naturally or shred it very low for a thatch layer once the other seen been in the ground 7-10 days? Seems like keeping it growing and standing, gives the summer plot to grow and hide under the winter plot.

[Low Fence]

Every region is different to a degree. But if I let mine die naturally... it would be mid to late June. Way too late to plant. If I shred without spraying I leave too much competition and spring weeds in the plot. If I could only do 1, I’d chose spraying over shredding. I really prefer spraying and rolling. Crimping isn’t that great in my area because the stems are not ready to snap at planting time like up north. I find it works best for me to just kill it and be done. (But I have the equipment for it, so it’s easy for me to choose that route)

[EastTexun]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

Every region is different to a degree. But if I let mine die naturally... it would be mid to late June. Way too late to plant. If I shred without spraying I leave too much competition and spring weeds in the plot. If I could only do 1, I’d chose spraying over shredding. I really prefer spraying and rolling. Crimping isn’t that great in my area because the stems are not ready to snap at planting time like up north. I find it works best for me to just kill it and be done. (But I have the equipment for it, so it’s easy for me to choose that route)

My feelings exactly. By the time I have pulled a drill with cultipacker or a planter through there, most of the standing forage is now knocked down, and it does a pretty good job of creating a barrier over the bare ground, but it doesn't hinder new seed germination. After doing essentially no till for several years I am building up a pretty solid layer of thatch that I am either going to have to burn off or lightly disc in, or switch to a true no-till drill.

[gingib]

Originally Posted by Low Fence

I’d let it go till April. Spray, wait 2 weeks. Shred and plant or plant and break down whatever you have access too

SO my question is: how are you getting a 2-3 week head start and hiding the summer plot growth from the deer if your spraying it dead?

Because if you shred the dead plot, that maybe a few inches of cover huh?

[Low Fence]

I’m able to plant earlier due to soil temperatures. They increase with organisms increasing and plant matter decomposition. I hide the planting, NOT by keeping it out of sight, but by not drawing them to begin with. Once plots are mature there is no reason for a deer to be there. Once it’s all dead, there for sure ain’t a reason for a deer to be there. Plowed ground will draw deer faster than a corn pile. I don’t break ground.... so they don’t know it’s planted. They find it once it gets better established and can compete.

[gingib]

Since its bigger seed my best bet is to grain drill it huh?

If I recall it needs to be 3/4-1 inch in the ground.

[Low Fence]

Drilling would certainly be best. But if you have enough thatch to cover it will certainly work great. Bigger seeds have more stored energy and will sprout with water very quick (3-5 days). So if going that route don’t spread too soon and burn up all your thatch before the seeds get started

[eyedoc]

Will this method work with dove plots such as sesame, milo, millet and sunflower? If so will the thatch decompose enough for dove to walk and find seed?

[Low Fence]

Originally Posted by eyedoc

Will this method work with dove plots such as sesame, milo, millet and sunflower? If so will the thatch decompose enough for dove to walk and find seed?

Still up for debate there... but not looking real good. I broadcast this method with black oil and pearl headmillet is was basically a total fail. .... but I drilled my main plots and they were 100% fail... years past, same seed, same methods it would rival a commercial crop. Not sure the issue

As for the thatch. Yes it would decompose enough. Seed rate and plant crowding were my problems in past broadcast into plowed dirt