Clover Plot

[ZAG]

So I’m planning on planting WI clover in the new plot. I have never planted or hunted over a clover only plot.

Obviously attraction is a great spring, summer fall but what about Nov or Dec?

Am I better splitting the plot, half clover now and half fall blend in Aug?

[Stubborn1vt]

I would split it.  Unless the weather is very mild and without snow, the clover won't be a huge draw in Nov/Dec.  Even cereal grains would be better than clover by then IMO.  

[corydd7]

My clover gets hit very hard in September and October. Tonnage is great compared to brassicas, so if your plots get hit hard clover is great. 

[Robhuntandfish]

We have clover in all our trails and then small plots mixed in by our stands so they have the clover option all the time and then the plot with more options.  But even our plots have clover in the mix too.  I would say if you don't want to have to plot and plant every summer then do all clover.  But if you planning to plot every year make that area a mix.  

Personally I like to plant the mixes that offer different things to cover the whole season.   But if you can really get the clover to take and there is enough growth they will always eat it and then can just overseer it a bit every spring to keep it going.  

 

[Robhuntandfish]

Maybe try some Chicory in with it as well.  If your going with Whitetail institute they make a Clover/Chicory blend called Fusion.  

[ZAG]

Appreciate the info. Being a new plot it really needs a disking and fine tuning so I thought, just get the whole thing done and plant now vs having to do the other half late this summer + I gotta do the other plot thats a fall blend. Also really need to boost the soil and clover will help.
Leaning towards just doing it all and see how it goes. Worst case I can always replant half of it. It will complement the other plot by giving an all season buffet!

[Robhuntandfish]

23 minutes ago, ZAG said:

Appreciate the info. Being a new plot it really needs a disking and fine tuning so I thought, just get the whole thing done and plant now vs having to do the other half late this summer + I gotta do the other plot thats a fall blend. Also really need to boost the soil and clover will help.
Leaning towards just doing it all and see how it goes. Worst case I can always replant half of it. It will complement the other plot by giving an all season buffet!

Good thinking.  Might as well get something established as weeds will just grow in anyway.   I've heard good things about Domain Overhaul too.  Supposed to be good for first time food plots.  

[Robhuntandfish]

And just passing along as dunno if you've already bought the WI clover or not but we've had great luck with Comeback kid from Domain and esp Outside Pride Clover.  We've had and used WI clover as well and it's done ok but the outside pride on our place took off the best I've seen.  

[corydd7]

33 minutes ago, ZAG said:

Appreciate the info. Being a new plot it really needs a disking and fine tuning so I thought, just get the whole thing done and plant now vs having to do the other half late this summer + I gotta do the other plot thats a fall blend. Also really need to boost the soil and clover will help.
Leaning towards just doing it all and see how it goes. Worst case I can always replant half of it. It will complement the other plot by giving an all season buffet!

Just a thought but i wouldn't disk if i was doing clover or a clover/chicory mix. Glysophate will kill everything, then just top seed the clover. It could even be done the same day.

If you disk you might bring yourself a weed issue. Either way enjoy the process, it's fun to watch you change your property for the better.

[ZAG]

20 hours ago, corydd7 said:

Just a thought but i wouldn't disk if i was doing clover or a clover/chicory mix. Glysophate will kill everything, then just top seed the clover. It could even be done the same day.

If you disk you might bring yourself a weed issue. Either way enjoy the process, it's fun to watch you change your property for the better.

Mainly have to disc as it was a brand new plot last fall. It’s got ruts and the dozer tends to pack down the soil. So though was to disc, loosen up the top layer and smooth it out with the york rake attachment.

[Robhuntandfish]

On 4/28/2024 at 5:53 PM, ZAG said:

Mainly have to disc as it was a brand new plot last fall. It’s got ruts and the dozer tends to pack down the soil. So though was to disc, loosen up the top layer and smooth it out with the york rake attachment.

I would throw in a nurse crop with that clover so weeds don't overtake it.   Throw in some No BS to go with it.   The first year the clover might take a bit to establish and root.  And if your going to grow something there might as well be some deer food.  Then if it's annuals and dies off you can frost seed it again in the spring and some of the clover will already have taken too. Maybe add in that No BS or something like it one to 3 ratio to clover.  

Can't wait to see how you do.  A big part of hunting for me is doing all this.  Love it.  

As a matter of fact for the last two weeks I haven't listened to music at all in the truck.  It's been all podcasts of Mossy oak gamekeepers...

Edited April 29, 2024 by Robhuntandfish

[Land1]

clover is great till late october but not so much  nov. dec ....

[Wolc123]

18 minutes ago, Land1 said:

clover is great till late october but not so much  nov. dec ....

Here is a deer I killed at 20 yards on a clover plot with my ML on January 1, 2022.  It worked very well then:

Global warming is great for late season effectiveness of white clover.

 

[The Back 40]

I believe that snow cover has a lot to do with its effectiveness in the latter months. With the light winter we had this year I could see it still being a good draw late into the season. The Triticale they planted in our field was getting hit all winter and when spring started we were getting 15-20 deer a night in the field.

[Wolc123]

Here’s one on the other extreme last year, killed in mid September on a white clover plot with the same ML):

The only time of year that white clover does not work super well for me as a “kill plot” is during the southern zone gun season.  I think that’s mostly because the deer are very reluctant to leave heavy cover during the daylight hours then.