But probably not for long ...from the deer tracks running through them alreadybut.... I plan on turnips...or winter wheat in the fall so not a loss...now I know I can grow them...the pic with green is the Succra Seed I planted in the shady area of plot...I have 2 more plots of beans I planted a few days ago....

they look like they are doing well.hope they keep growing.the beans around here are taking a beating.way to much rain.can't even spray for weeds right now much less get my hay cut.your doing a fine job!don't worry about the deer,they will start to slow down on them and use alot of other browse in the area.with the soil worked up they are pprobably looking for minerals that may have been turned up.put a salt/mineral lick in the general area and they may not walk through it as mush till better established.

Thanks FarmerRed...actually we've been socked in with fog and periodic rain since Saturday...more of same today...hope things clear up soon for you and you get enough dry time to both cut and dry down for bailing ...We here in NY aren't allowed any type of minerals for deer...hell they have been fining ppl for deer coming into front yard bird feeders

ButI see as of yesterday that my plan is working out better than expected..by broadcast planting and dragging ..all the seed closest to the surface germinated and are at the first leaf stage....the seed that stayed in the furrows is just starting to pop out of the ground...so when the deer hit that new flush of green...the second will just be starting...I'm pleased...hope that happens in the other bean plots as well....May the sun shine for you

Fining people for the deer coming into bird feeders? None of the bird seed that I have ever seen contained any minerals, so what in the hell is the reason for fining folks? From some of the rules and regs that I hear about in NY, y'all must have some of the same fruit and nuts running things up there as they have in California.

Incidentally, your food plots look fantastic, congrats.

Seriously I agree...There are regulations against feeding deer and bear in NY...a guy put pics of deer that came in and were feeding on the seed that spilled from his front yard bird feeder..on the web...the DEC found out who he was and fined him for feeding deer....If a bear comes in and feeds out of your feeders and then becomes a nuisance bear that has to be put down...if they see and have proof the bear had been visiting your bird feeder...big fine...I went to a meeting on this...they say you should only have your feeders out past Oct.or Nov. after bears go into hibernation...that wild birds don't need summer time feeding...This is what I pay taxes for...That is why I warn ppl about pics they put on these sights...the DEC and law enforcement have ppl that monitor these sights....NY needs $$$ and they'll fine their way to get it

Thanks...I gotta plant them when I can...those will be the next to go...over my dead body!!!

Those are definitely some lucious looking plots! Michigan basically has the same general feeding ban that Badger1 is talking about in NY. You can only bait in the UP now and if you see deer coming into your bird feeders in the LP you are supposed to take the feeders down or risk being fined just like in NY. The theory behind it is that the deer are more likely to get diseases when they are in close contact with each other. Blame it on the CWD problem that started out west and is moving into the midwest states and further east! More and more of the northern state F&Gs are going to that type of restriction. In the northern part of Michigan you even have to have a certain type of barrel feeder with restrictive wiring if you want to feed turkies in the winter so that deer and elk can't get at the feed, but the birds can get their heads through the wire openings to eat the grain.

Update...I had planted 2nd plot area a week or so later...the deer found that one to be bit more tasty I suppose...this is one plot planted around natural browse....

here's the rest.......

looks good.seems the deer don't object to your hard work.the soil looks to be alittle on the rocky/stoney side.it may reqiure a boost of fert. later to help out but,being weed free as it looks,you have done a fine job.i,m kinda jealous.

Thank you ...Ohh rocky is so understated and this area I've been "de-stoning" for 5 yrs...actually this is good looking ..I have yet to disc in the feed corn area due to..."stonage"...I go down and remove 4 wheel barrels a couple of times a week...I said no to a new york rake when I saw the prices...what am I nuts!!!...lol

I had fertilized 2 days before these pics...rain is a plenty here and that's not a complaint...it's been in the mid to high 70's for about a week and we had mid to high 80's for a while..

I've thought on this a bit and even though there really are hundreds of deer tracts through both bean plot areas...the biggest share of damage may not be them...I'm thinking the turkeys and rabbits....I also know I have chucks in the lower plot area....not on top...most damage is there...top is browsed a bit but at a point where they are re-growing ...actually doubling the growth ....don't think I'll get re-growth from those stems pictured...but hey here's hoping...lol...Hard work but fun!

groundhogs here are a problem this year.i've taken 5 so far just from the field in front of the house.1 chuck cam eat up to 2 acres of beans a yr.may want to try to eliminate somwe of those critters.a good .22 or slightly bigger will do the joband it's early enogh it won't affect your deer hunting.some of your beans will recover some if they weren;eaten done to the ground.

Beans update....They are recovering nicely from the munchies...took pics yesterday....self explanatory

The corn field.... Hah...finally got the corn disced in day before yesterday and had a great rain last night

also will post those pics and pics of just a little bit of rocks I've been hauling out

Here's the corn plot and a few of rocks I've "picked"

I planted mine a long time ago. My corn is over 6 feet and got ears growing. Man you got some rocks to bad they don't grow.....lol

In sept I'll put out what they call fall draw, it's oats. They don't hit the oats much but they do come to it so it's worth it if just that right one comes.

I got whitetail clover out and they just don't hit it much either, but they tear the corn up and even some times I have to replant it again. They took a acre of it down last year and none of the corn in the plot made it past 12 inch's tall and field right naxt to it was fine.

Your plot are looking real good.

Thanks but alas ..the turkeys came in ...EVERY day and plucked out nearly all the corn plants and left them lying there...They will not beat me...some corn not much has made it ...so far..... so I went down and walked turnips over it and the soybeans ...we'll see in a week what happens....Good Hunting

I'm thinking it was th coons and squirrels that got your corn, not saying the turkeys don't because thet do. When large amounts of mine get that is the coons.

I got a hot wire around my garden and I planted sweet corn there a dozen holes in the row and the seed gone. It had raind that night and I looked hard for tracks and found a turkey that I had to strain to see.

Crows will do the same thing, get the seed from the bottom and let he small plant lay.

Nice looking food plots. Your work has paid dividends for you. And I would guess even more this fall during hunting season.

I have some milo doing well in 4 plots and will put in some wheat and turnips this fall. My clover and alfalfa did not do so good.
Still have some soil problems down in that plot.

Actually guys I had errands to run and every time I drove by I had to stop and yell at the turkey to get out of the plot...then I walked through the woods with the dog and spotted a huge flock of adults and poults just digging and pulling as fast as they could....didn't even hear us snapping and crunch through the woods until we were nearly on the edge...There are 8 or so dusting bowls scattered all over the plot...hey if some grows fine....just wanted the corn as cover from the road and yahoos next door...I was only $7.50 a 50#bag...what did I really lose? ...I have to get the fencing up next year...just one long stretch along the property line...then they can't do their shot and snatch routine

7.50 a bag I got to ask what kind of corn, that might be your problem. I give from 200.00 to 350.00 a bag for corn (roundup ready) That sounds more like feed corn.

One more thing they will just fly over it.