Food Plotting for Turkeys

[Doc7]

Hello,

I am a new hunter. I am interested in starting a small food plot in a spot I have on my hunting lease. Some photos below.






That is a port-a-potty stand elevated 3 feet of the ground in the background. As you can see this is a small area and line of sight extends another 30 yards behind the first photo. The second photo is taken from inside the blind. These were taken in June prior to me limbing the pines for added visibility.

Does it make any sense for me to start a small food plot here? The area is surrounded by pines, a creek, and hardwoods.

A Field & Stream article mentions growing wheat/buckwheat planted in the next few weeks for turkey hunting. They say to start a month before the season but their season must start later than Virginia, which is early April, as buckwheat is quite frost sensitive I have read.

http://www.fieldandstream.com/articles/hunting/2015/03/how-to-plant-a-last-minute-turkey-plot

I also have access to another spot I could do something like this with in a log deck in cutover. It is about 200 yards up a steep hill from a creek/stream/river about 75 yards wide.

Tomorrow I will post some aerial photos up of the two areas.

 

[Doc7]

Here is an overhead of where the port-a-potty stand is located:



And here is a path I can also use. I marked in a red a 40 ft x 40 ft log deck about 200 yards and 50 feet of elevation from the creek/watershed, and in orange two additional spots however these will see some additional vehicle traffic from other club members.

 

[gspn]

Do you have to hunt in that one spot only? Or are you able to wander the property and hunt where you want? How many acres is it?

If you can hunt anywhere you'd like, then I wouldn't mess with a food plot. I'd just figure out where they are roosting and set up below them in the morning.

When the season gets here, if you cruise around making owl calls in the late afternoon you should get those toms to sound off. Then just stalk closer until you see where they roost, and set up on them the next morning.

Having said that, fields and other open areas are great magnets. The hens will come out there to feed and the toms come with them. I've been lucky in that I get to hunt areas with both mature hardwoods, and huge open food plots. Both types of hunting are fun.

I'd probably skip the food plot this year and spend that energy on scouting. Set up some game cams and get your butt in the woods to learn what they're doing.

Good luck...HAMMER ONE!!!

 

[Doc7]

Thanks. We have about 3100 acres. During turkey season I can wander somewhat as there may be 3-4 (max) other hunters on a given day. It is almost entirely pine in various stages of growth with some wider open areas, with some strips of hardwoods.

 

[PapaG]

Small plots of chufa.

 

[jrdolall]

I have been hunting turkeys in the Southeast for 30 years now and we used to plant chufa in small plots located in the middle of pines. The hens tended to head that way around lunch and we would set up for an ambush. I no longer give a hoot (pun intended) about ambushing birds on a field. I enjoy roosting them, setting up the next morning, hearing them gobble, and then griping because they didn't cooperate.
Pretty much anything green will attract the bugs which will attract the birds. They eat bugs and flowers galore during the spring so plant what will attract bugs and you will have birds. They frequent our cattle pastures in the middle of the day.
I have not personally shot a bird in 15 years but I love taking people and listening to the gobblers and hens.

 

[Patocazador]

Turkeys like big open areas where they can see a long way. After about 10 am they head up to these areas (usually pastures) and a couple of decoys out in front of you about 20 yards will likely draw them in. If you use a tent-like blind, you don't have to camo it. They don't seem to mind it a bit.

jrdolall is right, they eat mostly bugs (high protein) so planting a small food plot may not be very productive.

 

[buck460XVR]

Hens will head towards new green growth in the spring because the higher protein levels stimulate egg laying. Same principle as laying mash for chickens. The birds prefer new tender growth. Have shot Toms in the spring with a few small clover in their crops.....and nuttin' else.

I would not bother to plant anything where there will be foot and/or vehicle traffic from other members. Birds in the spring tend to look for places that are reclusive and void of interruption. While a farmer occasionally checking his fenceline doesn't bother them much, 4-wheelers or ATVs regularly running down paths that are unused normally will make them leave.

Chufa has been planted for years for turkeys. But they tend to hit it for the tubers after the plant dies after it's 100 day growing season. Rye/winter wheat for the greens would probably be a better choice for you now, this close to season. Broadcasting this without drilling will take about 90 pounds to the acre. You will also have to clear the area as well as you can by mowing or cutting as close to the ground as you can. Spraying the areas right before planting with round-up will kill weeds already emerging and will not affect the germination of the cereal grains and will enhance their growth because of the diminished competition from weeds for light and nutrients. Light is one thing rare within and around pine forestation. Try to pick a spot with direct sunlight the majority of the day. East/West lanes will work better than North/South. Pine also tend to make the soil acidic which means it probably will help to lime your food plot heavily the first year.