Jul 26, 2023
On this episode, Joe and Butch welcome Dr. James Kroll, known as Dr. Deer and is
Professor Emeritus of Forest Wildlife Management at Stephen F.
Austin State University and Director of the Institute of Whitetail
Deer Management and Research, to discuss food plot preparation and
seed selection. When starting from scratch, Dr. Kroll emphasized
topography, soil type, and location when selecting a food plot site
- ideally somewhere with low terrain and 3% dedicated to food
plots. He also recommended placing the plot near travel corridors
(like creeks or roads) and cover. It's not just about
location, though. Dr. Kroll also outlined food plot preparation
considerations, explaining that the planting method should
match the site and that hunters should expect to make multiple
visits to do seed bed preparation if managing from a distance.
Regarding seed selection, Dr. Kroll recommends plants like
grasses, legumes, broad leaves, and brassicas. He highlighted the
benefits of buck forage oats, like selective breeding and Frost
tolerance. He also discussed chicory, noting that deer like it, but
it can be invasive, and suggested avoiding varieties with red
veins. Dr. Kroll finished by discussing the ideal food plot in
terms of size, soil, and things to consider when planting a No-Till
plot. Lastly, to avoid big mistakes, Dr. Kroll encouraged being
aware of planting timing, planting depth, and selecting pure
varieties of chicory to ensure the desired food plot.
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