Many folks think food plots are too expensive, or that they don’t have enough land for food plots to be a viable hunting strategy for their property—this just isn’t true. Food plots can be scaled to suit any property however, defining the goal of the plot and how it fits within your overall property make-up is key.
In the video below, and the next one or two to come in the series, I’ll walk you through how I plan and implement an effective hunting plot on a budget. The scenario is this; the property is new, I have limited intel of the property and surrounding area, and I live 3 plus hours from the property. Since I lack historical information about how deer use this property, I’m not willing to make a big investment in money or time creating a large perennial destination food source/food plot. My plan is to make a smaller kill/micro plot with annual forage that will work with my perceived understanding of current deer movement, increasing my odds of a shot opportunity in this location this fall. I’ll be using nothing more than a weedeater, herbicide spray canister, hand spreader, walk behind rototiller, a garden rake, Whitetail Institute of North America Bow stand or Pure Attraction seed, and a little lime and fertilizer. I chose these two seed options as they are most attractive and provide food specifically during the hunting months.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4x0gykWrSso
In total I’m planting somewhere between a quarter to a half acre plot and it’ll cost me about $150 to create this plot since we have a tiller, spreader, sprayer etc. I suggest borrowing some of the items below if possible. However the estimate cost to purchase or rent the tools needed are as follows:
—Weedeater: Borrow this if you don’t already have one
—Garden rake: Borrow this is you don’t already have one
—Seed: $30-50 (depending on the product)
—Lime and Fertilizer: $50
—Herbicide: $40 (I used RoundUp but you could get a non branded cheaper glyphosate in bulk at a co-op)
—Hand spreader: $15-$30
—Herbicide sprayer: $15
—Rototiller Rental and Gas: $60 (full day rental)
Total plot cost: $245
With a few dollars and a little sweat, you can plan and create a food plot that can work for you. So, grab the tools you have and get started on creating opportunities for the fall!