Mark, wow what a difference the rain makes! Your plots look great. I’m amazed how much the plots recovered with rain, they looked pretty dried up last video. Seeing your work, and results, is great for me since you are a couple of years ahead of me. Living on your property makes a difference too. I’m an hour away and it’s not the same. Sharing your experiences means a lot to guys like me who are trying to accomplish some of the same things. Keep it coming!
Hey Curt, I just got back from a Wyoming antelope hunt and was gone for a week. Wife says we got 3" of rain last week, and I am amazed that all the plots are now well over my head! Amazing how they have recoverd. All the best to you.
Mark, thanks for the update. We planted our fall food plots last weekend and got 2/10" today with more on the way tomorrow. I over planted a 10 ft. strip of sorghum on one plot so the bucks would have to move more into the plot to view does. I do that in various plots to produce structure to make the bucks move around the plot instead of just viewing it from the woods edge. We will generally broadcast some radishes in our beans as soon as the leaves dry and fall off. We will also over plant some WR and fertilize our clover about the second week of Sept. Good luck this season, I'm not sure how much I will hunt as I have major spine surgery in a few weeks. Be safe, Bob
Hey Bob, good timing on the rain. Hope your surgery goes well, and you can get out for a few pain free hunts with the family this season. All the best to you.
Great video, I love watching your channel. I personally never put food in my cover. Cover is only that, but to each there own. Good luck this year, looking forward to an update video.👍🏼
Thank you. Maybe I should call it a "transition zone", it's not really cover, or pure food, but a zone that can do both? They will wander through the transition zone and still stop to eat in there, but really want to get out into the good stuff in the shooting lanes. My "real" cover on the property is mostly just thick brushy areas that are 5-15 years into succession. All the best to you, season is fast approaching!
I had to look up "biochar" to see what it was. Looks like a great way to add to your soil, but how costly is it? Your drought down there has to be so frustrating when trying to get some food plots going. And here I am complaining about a 6 week drought? All the best to you.
Have also been thinking about irrigation - cost would be about the same as a nice NO-Till drill. Had near total failure last two years in SC. Figured no point in using no-till for planting if it never germinates.
If you can irrigate, seems like that is the best answer because no matter what, you get water on your plots. But, everything has pros and cons, and you have to weigh them for yourself to make your decision. It's a "pick your poison" situation. All the best to you.
Could easily do this at my place, we have a high water table. AND, I have a few gas generators, so no problem there. It's just the work to do it, and I don't want to overreact because we had a six week drought this year, when we are usually just fine, not perfect, but good enough for food plots. But if I really wanted to do the work and have perfect foodplots, I would do it. All the best to you.
I'm not sure where you are in W. Michigan, I myself am in Whitehall (Muskegon area). I know you like Greencover, I've used their products in the past as well but, I've found that Northwoods Seed (based out of the U.P.) has worked a little bit better for me. There's several dealers in W. Michigan as well, so you can save on shipping costs.
Yup, I've used John's stuff in the past, too, and really like him and his products. His business is booming because he just does the right thing. I only use Green Cover now when I want a custom mix. All the best to you.
I apologize if you have said before, but where abouts are you in MI? I’m in Muskegon. I have about 60 acres with approximately 3 acres in food plots. I’m traveling down a similar path as you. Nothing but sand here and struggling through the drought to grow anything. I have been broadcasting for the past several years and finally got an old seed drill. This fall will be the first time I can actually get the seed in the ground. I’m excited about that!
I'm east of Muskegon about 10 miles. I'm jealous you found an old seed drill, it should work really well for you in the sand. Keep us updated on how it goes. All the best to you.
Mark, wow what a difference the rain makes! Your plots look great.
I’m amazed how much the plots recovered with rain, they looked pretty dried up last video.
Seeing your work, and results, is great for me since you are a couple of years ahead of me. Living on your property makes a difference too. I’m an hour away and it’s not the same. Sharing your experiences means a lot to guys like me who are trying to accomplish some of the same things. Keep it coming!
Hey Curt, I just got back from a Wyoming antelope hunt and was gone for a week. Wife says we got 3" of rain last week, and I am amazed that all the plots are now well over my head! Amazing how they have recoverd. All the best to you.
Mark, thanks for the update. We planted our fall food plots last weekend and got 2/10" today with more on the way tomorrow. I over planted a 10 ft. strip of sorghum on one plot so the bucks would have to move more into the plot to view does. I do that in various plots to produce structure to make the bucks move around the plot instead of just viewing it from the woods edge. We will generally broadcast some radishes in our beans as soon as the leaves dry and fall off. We will also over plant some WR and fertilize our clover about the second week of Sept. Good luck this season, I'm not sure how much I will hunt as I have major spine surgery in a few weeks. Be safe, Bob
Hey Bob, good timing on the rain. Hope your surgery goes well, and you can get out for a few pain free hunts with the family this season. All the best to you.
Great video, I love watching your channel. I personally never put food in my cover. Cover is only that, but to each there own. Good luck this year, looking forward to an update video.👍🏼
Thank you. Maybe I should call it a "transition zone", it's not really cover, or pure food, but a zone that can do both? They will wander through the transition zone and still stop to eat in there, but really want to get out into the good stuff in the shooting lanes. My "real" cover on the property is mostly just thick brushy areas that are 5-15 years into succession. All the best to you, season is fast approaching!
Been thinking about incorporating biochar and irrigation to my pastures. Drought has been brutal last 2 years here in central Texas
I had to look up "biochar" to see what it was. Looks like a great way to add to your soil, but how costly is it? Your drought down there has to be so frustrating when trying to get some food plots going. And here I am complaining about a 6 week drought? All the best to you.
Mark all looks good. I wish you and your family all the luck this year.
Thank you, and the same to the family and you.
That is looking pretty good keep up the good work
Thanks Douglas! All the best to you.
Great updates Mark! Plots looking good! -Albert
Thanks Albert! All the best to you.
Have also been thinking about irrigation - cost would be about the same as a nice NO-Till drill. Had near total failure last two years in SC. Figured no point in using no-till for planting if it never germinates.
If you can irrigate, seems like that is the best answer because no matter what, you get water on your plots. But, everything has pros and cons, and you have to weigh them for yourself to make your decision. It's a "pick your poison" situation. All the best to you.
What about a sand point well? Could always hook a gas pump to it when needed.
Could easily do this at my place, we have a high water table. AND, I have a few gas generators, so no problem there. It's just the work to do it, and I don't want to overreact because we had a six week drought this year, when we are usually just fine, not perfect, but good enough for food plots. But if I really wanted to do the work and have perfect foodplots, I would do it. All the best to you.
I'm not sure where you are in W. Michigan, I myself am in Whitehall (Muskegon area). I know you like Greencover, I've used their products in the past as well but, I've found that Northwoods Seed (based out of the U.P.) has worked a little bit better for me. There's several dealers in W. Michigan as well, so you can save on shipping costs.
Yup, I've used John's stuff in the past, too, and really like him and his products. His business is booming because he just does the right thing. I only use Green Cover now when I want a custom mix. All the best to you.
I apologize if you have said before, but where abouts are you in MI? I’m in Muskegon. I have about 60 acres with approximately 3 acres in food plots. I’m traveling down a similar path as you. Nothing but sand here and struggling through the drought to grow anything. I have been broadcasting for the past several years and finally got an old seed drill. This fall will be the first time I can actually get the seed in the ground. I’m excited about that!
I'm east of Muskegon about 10 miles. I'm jealous you found an old seed drill, it should work really well for you in the sand. Keep us updated on how it goes. All the best to you.