This past fall, I had my first real opportunity to plant a food plot. The property is in Freestone County and I ended up going with an Elbon rye. I only have about 2.5 acres to plant, but the results were pretty solid. Especially considering I didn't have the chance to get a soil test, lime, or fertilizer on the ground.

Our 200 acre property has about 20 head of cattle and countless pigs. It's surrounded by big woods and a large creek system. The deer seem to have plenty of native browse, water, and cover.

That's why my eventual goal is to find the best attractant plot that I can hunt over during the rifle season. I'm assuming that means I'm looking for something green, possibly sweet, and winter hardy … ?

This year I'm considering planting winter wheat, but I wasn't really sure how well it'll hold up to grazing pressure compared to the winter rye. Do any of y'all have experience with comparing the two?

I'd also like yalls thoughts on possibly incorporating a spring food plot (such as iron clay & cowpeas, clover, etc.) to keep the deer closer throughout the warmer months. Or is it a waste of time and money knowing the cattle will most likely knock it back?

Which brings me to my last thought … is there any food plot that cattle and pigs won't really mess with? I'm doubtful, but figured I'd at least ask.

Sorry for all the questions! Just trying to find the right combination of money, effort, time, and realistic expectations.

Ps … attaching pictures so you can see the growth of the elbon rye 30 days after planting.

I prefer planting blends of several species. If you're buying from BWI they have a fall blend under their top notch brand name. Has wheat, cereal rye, barley, winter peas, turnips and maybe radish. Planted it last several years and it's done well.

This spring I'm going to try several different companies blends. BWI, East Texas Seed Company, Turner Seed Company and maybe Green Cover Seed company.

I put solar fence charger and two strand electric fence up-have a lot of pigs at this place and electric fence has kept them out for past 5 years now.

two1993ags said:

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I put solar fence charger and two strand electric fence up-have a lot of pigs at this place and electric fence has kept them out for past 5 years now.

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This is the way to go!

Look at East Texas Seed Co.

You'll need a way to keep the cows off anything you plant.

First off, great move planting the elbon rye. That stuff is great.

Step one going forward, put up a solar charged fence. I would let the rye stand all summer, will keep weeds down, provide nice thatch for your fall food plot next year as well as good cover for birds and fawns. Spring food plots are tricky and in your county, don't know that it will do more than native browse. If you get a good soil test back maybe try cowpeas but I wouldn't make it top priority. If you have thin spots in your rye, broadcast some buckwheat and sunn hemp (20lbs an acre each) in front of a rain

Then around labor day next year broadcast the below mix and some daikon radish into your dead rye in front of a rain. Add in some crimson clover. I would seed at half the per acre rates.

https://meritseed.com/ultra-max-annual/

Then mid-october, come back and broadcast 50 lbs an acre of elbon rye. Plant everything in front of rain, and you shouldn't have to till anything. I use a drag harrow to lay the thatch down over the seeds after broadcasting.

I have pigs and they graze on the rye and turnips with the deer, but haven't had any rooting issues so far. The hot line keeps the big ones out for the most part.

ETA: you can also mow the mature rye after you broadcast the brassica / radish / clover mix. Will make sure everything is covered up well. You might get volunteer rye, but I doubt you will that early unless its unusually cool

Appreciate the recommendation.

I noticed they had rye grass in two of the three mixes. Everything I've seen basically says that rye grass doesn't do anything for deer.

Anyone know the percentage compared to the other seeds?

I have done this as well in my food plots for many years now. I have had very few problems with pigs in them.

Lots of good info here! Thanks for the game plan.

I'll definitely need to research some of this so I have a better understanding what's going on at each step.

I do not use East Texas Seed Company Fall planting mix - only spring. Agree, on the rye grass - I try to stay away from any blend with rye grass. For fall planting I use BWI's Top Notch fall blend or Turner Seed Company's fall deer mix.

We have done them for a few years now at my in laws.
A few things I have learned…wheat or oats works fine. Oats are usually cheaper.

If you buy any blend mix, avoid any with rye. Supposedly deer don't care for it much, but it is a cheap "filler" for the blend. That's why it's usually the higher % in the mix.

Watchful Ag said:

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Lots of good info here! Thanks for the game plan.

I'll definitely need to research some of this so I have a better understanding what's going on at each step.

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Brassica / radish mix will be your early fall attractant (deer hit the radish tops first and then demolish the rest of it after a freeze) and then die after frost, bulbs will be good food in jan and feb. Cereal rye will be there the whole time and be key in January and February (the only green thing left). My deer are hammering the rye right now. Then later in March and April the clovers will come on, providing much needed nitrogen for your next fall. Keeping the brassica mix spaced out (half rate per acre) allows you to keep planting them year after year without the disease issue (maybe skip them every third year when your clover is doing well). You will see huge improvement in your soil health over time too.

AGGIE WH08P said:

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We have done them for a few years now at my in laws.
A few things I have learned…wheat or oats works fine. Oats are usually cheaper.

If you buy any blend mix, avoid any with rye. Supposedly deer don't care for it much, but it is a cheap "filler" for the blend. That's why it's usually the higher % in the mix.

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Not to nitpick, but avoid ryegrass which is the filler seed. Cereal rye is one of the best fall food plot seeds there is. Will grow in just about any soil, and the deer definitely love it. Not as much as oats, but it's a close second and pretty bullet proof.

What solar electric fence brand do you use and what are the specs for it. What's Range and joules?

I avoid pre-mixes for the reasons shown on that bag. I tailor my recommendations to soil type and equipment available. While ryegrass certainly is utilized by deer, it can dominate a mix, and no more than 10% should be used. The tetraploid varieties are the ones to get. It also lasts longer into the spring. The arrow leaf and crimson clovers shown are no bueno at pHs over 7. Radishes and turnips are great, and in the thousands of acres I've consulted on, hogs have never been a real issue with them. When it comes to legumes, I tend to stick with vetch (there are better ones than the old "hairy" variety), burr medic (resists tight grazing and a great reseeder), and occasionally winter peas (susceptible to tight grazing). Oats are almost a must, and beardless wheat is great for turkeys.

I've been planting kings Maximo plus for 3 years on 4-5 acres. Works damn good for my caliche hill and I'm sure in good soil it would do very good. https://www.dkseeds.com/product/kings-maximo-plus-forage-blend/

My father in law used Parmak brand fence chargers for as long as I can remember at the farm-figured after 60 years of farming he'd tried em all and knew what worked so I've stiuck with that brand. I have the mag12-sp. rated for 30 miles at 3.1+ joules. They were about $300 last time I bought one…have two each of them running on 4-5 acre plots.

I run one wire about 8" high and the second about 24" high and spray with glyphosate and a pre-emerge once a year. If you need to keep cows out you may need to run a third wire at 40-48" high. Pigs hate electricity-at least the ones we have here in Fayette county do.