Food Plots Whats the best first time planting

[Spot05]

Hello everyone,
I've cleared out a few small .25+/- acre spots in my woods and am awaiting my soil test results but was trying to figure out what would be best to plant for the critters to provide nutrients as well as attracting them in? There's no ag within 5/6 miles so i don't think ill have too much trouble with the attraction side but I would don't know whats the biggest bang for the buck on the nutritional side. I only have ridge tops that would hold the seed when planting. Also, are there crops that will help to prep the soil for future plantings of more nutritious crops? I've read articles and watched too many YouTube videos and not gotten a straight answer with 1 or 2 specific crops.

 

[Popcorn]

Small plots can be tough, they get hammered and often require replanting.
I have a few such plots and my successes with them are clover (seed a rotation of varieties) get the first seed down asap! Then come May you could put down some buck wheat plus a clover, then in August turnips, radishes, wheat or cereal rye plus a clover, maybe next spring a little Milo.
Weed control can be challenging but proper seeding, mowing and fertilizing can be very productive for deer and turkey!

 

[Popcorn]

I must add on small plots in the woods I would not waste my money on beans or high matter volume blends due to pressure and lack of sunlight.
Plan to do some limbing up and possibly even thinning of a few light blocking trees to improve the amount of your plot that has direct sunlight and lengthen amount of time it gets it.
Pay special attention to east, west and south sides.

 

[DoubleRidge]

Agree with Popcorn. Be looking for opportunities to increase sunlight and with multiple smaller plots try to get a variety of clovers established....one year we had a new plot between 2 to 3 acre in center of a large timber area and we planted soybeans, peas and sunflower. It was going well until they found it. Then they mowed it down. Even stripped the leaves off the sunflowers. Destroyed it....another option is to open up small pockets in timber areas and let them grow up in natural vegetation...great way to add diversity...forage, cover and low cost...but no matter what....get sunlight in.

 

[348Winchester]

Cereal grains and clovers are all that can withstand the heavy grazing on small plots. Lime is very important. It's cheap and really helps plants grow. Do not overlook it!

 

[BSK]

Cereal grains and clovers are all that can withstand the heavy grazing on small plots. Lime is very important. It's cheap and really helps plants grow. Do not overlook it!

This!

In summer, all that will survive in such a small plot are clovers, with possibly some Buckwheat thrown in. In fall, clovers and cereal grains (wheat, rye).