planting clover!!!

[nissanman514]

well everybody along with predator hunting i have been busy getting my deer stands ready i just built a nice new stand and was actually thinking about cultivating an area about 100 yds from it and planting some clover!! my question is i have been looking for seed anybody know where i can get it

[angeluscorpion]

There is a little feed mill in richlands that might carry it. Or you can order it from bass pro and cabelas.

[nissanman514]

thx i dont know why i didnt think about them places

[SongDoghunter]

Nissan,

Stan at the mill in Richlands does have the ladino clover. Also, Southern States in Wallace or about any of the garden/farm stores carry it. It runs about 4.00 a pound which will plant about a half acre. Don't get hoodwinked into buying the Imperial Whitetail or Pennington foodplot varieties as you are wasting your money. The standard 5 year white ladino clover will do just as good as the big buck brand names. The biggest difference in the regular ladino and the Imperial is the size of the leaves on the plant itself. The Imperial has a little larger leaf. The ladino from the mill will self seed and come back as a perennial for 5 years or more if properly fertilized and limed. Remember that clover is a legume and does not need any added nitrogen when preparing your food plot. It does however prefer a sweet soil (high Ph), so be sure to lime if needed. Also, for future reference, if you plant your clover in late September, it will be much bigger and thicker in March and April than if you plant it now. While it doesn't grow much in the fall, it establishes a root system that allows it to really take off as soon as the spring warmer weather arrives in March. also, if you have the ability to put up a hot wire around the plot until the plants establish some good roots, the deer won't pull as much of it up when they find it.

[nissanman514]

great if there doghunter thx!!!someone else i was chatting with told me the same thing about the clover you suggested so i am definatley going to try that!! take care!!

[RenegadeRN]

Doghunter and others...

Don't forget that Stan has Rackmaster products by Pennington. He has both a Summer/Spring mix AND a Fall/Winter mix. I've planted the summer mix so far and it has cowpeas, soybeans in it. Besides that, if you haven't taken a trip to Big Blue in Clinton or Kinston they carry products lines for deer food plots. Plus, Clinton has rather large sweet potato industry for those inclined to feed deer anything besides just corn. And until the Tractor Supply gets built in Jacksonville there is one in Clinton and they carry stuff. I also want to mention Jerome over at Dixie Fertilizer near the car parts place in Richlands as well. In the past he has carried deer foodplot type seeds by the pound (vice buying by the bag) over the last few years. And believe me...when you see the sticker shock for some of the no till, small bagged clover that some of the local type sporting goods stores carry? You will be thankful there is buying by the pound or some of the Rackmaster products.

Some people might not be aware, but the area doesn't really seem to have a large native crop that deer browse such as like oaks/acorns, apples, etc. (Note funny looking large, tall trees with pine needles on them) So, many people feed shelled corn throught the year. And while it works, my research (might be flawed) says that, while adequate, corn is not the very best for deer. So getting those legumes, brassicas, clover, etc. going will not only help add to the diet, but will add to size to your deer herd. You are helping the management of your local deer population. Over the years I have seen more solid racks. Might be just due to the feed plots or might be growing larger racks, or both!

[SongDoghunter]

I have never had any luck with the brassicas. It is really nothing more than rape or wild turnips. I have planted it and seen a few deer eat it but it is normally in late February after it sweetens up and starts to get large. Most of the deer in my area get plenty of protein from soybeans thru the summer. I do plant some ladino clover but it also is a cool season crop.

[DKA]

Have had problems with Clover of any kind to germinate and grow. Planted some Early Spring and has not even germinated, will plant Oats in Mid Sept.