Weekend Outdoorsman Hot Food Plot Tips

The weather is starting to break loose here in Michigan (it was 60+ degrees on Friday and Saturday) and very soon it will be time to schedule that work day and get those food plots in the ground. I posted a good article at the blog some time ago that talks about getting the soil right and controlling weeds. But here are two hot tips that will help you get more out of each of your plots.

Get Your Seed at the Local Co-Op 

The local Co-Op is where it's at.  They will usually have food plot seeds and mixtures that are developed for and grow well in your planting area.  The bagged store bought stuff can get you through, especially if your soil isn't quite right yet, but we found that we get the best results with local seed.

This isn't our local Alpena Co-Op but the barn's the same color.  Photo by Francis Gunn.

Don't Forget to Add Water 

I don't mean to plan your planting around the weather.  I mean don't forget to give the animals some water to drink.  It's as simple as finding some used, plastic 55 gallon drums from a bakery and using a saws-all to cut them in half.  Then all you have to do is build a couple of "X" supports with some old lumber and add water.  Sure it takes work to haul the water back into the bush but it's been our experience that each animal that comes in to eat in the plots goes to the water trough first.

If you don't have a water hole like this ... make your own.  Photo by Sergei Akulich