JANUARY to MARCH

1. SITE SELECTION & INITIAL PREP WORK: Select your food plot sites and generate a plan. Begin site prep (if snow cover permits) by removing small trees and over-hanging branches. Use a Brush Hog mower if necessary. Try to get as much sunlight to your site as possible. OR…Talk to the farmer renting your tillable acreage – offer to deduct some money from his rent if he works with you “rounding out” field corners bordering your woodland. Try to get him to leave a few 1/2-acre to 1-acre sites to be planted by you in August. He can spray the fallow sites in mid-June with glyphosate (when he sprays his corn or soybeans) and then you will have one less site-prep step to complete in August.
2. ESTABLISH/REPLENISH BIONIC BUCK MINERAL SITES.
3. RESERVE/ACQUIRE IMPLEMENTATION EQUIPMENT: A strong ATV, a broadcast spreader/seeder and a drag section will accomplish the majority of work. Is your site small in size? Are you in good health? Consider a hand-held sprayer to manually apply herbicides yourself.

1. TAKE SOIL SAMPLES!!! Upon receipt of soil sample test results, consult with a professional (Please contact us for consultation and recommendations)
2. ORDER: Estimate your site’s acreage and then order appropriate quantities of fertilizer, lime, and seed as required. We typically maintain a complete inventory of seed and mineral products – please place orders directly with us.
3. APPLY LIME/FERTILIZER: to established plot sites as needed.
4. BE PATIENT – it is not yet time to plant!

1. PLANT IT:
   • May 1 to June 15 = Buck Spring OR Turkey Town
   • June 1 to June 30 = Ringneck Ranch
2. MOW IT: June 15 to June 30 is time to mow established perennial plots AND newly-seeded plots when the forage is 12” to 14” – mow it back to no shorter than 6” to help with weed control and stimulate new growth. Mow BEFORE weeds “set seed”.
3. SPRAY IT: Apply herbicides to August planting sites BEFORE weeds “set seed”. Consult with local herbicide retailer on chemical selection and application rates (We use Round-Up (glyphosate) and 2-4D on 99% of our plots).
4. ESTABLISH/REPLENISH BIONIC BUCK MINERAL SITES.

1. MOW IT: July 15 to August 15 may be time to mow established perennial plots AND newly-seeded plots when the forage is 12” to 14” – mow it back to no shorter than 6” to help with weed control and stimulate new growth. Mow BEFORE weeds “set seed”.
2. SPRAY IT: Apply herbicides to August planting sites BEFORE weeds “set seed” on an as-needed basis (typically July 15 to July 31). Consider mowing in early June and then applying herbicides in mid-July. Consult with local herbicide retailer on chemical selection and application rates (We use Round-Up (glyphosate) and 2-4D on 99% of our plots).

1. WAIT: Do NOT plant until herbicide residuals have disappeared (typically 10 days when using glyphosate and 2-4D).
2. APPLY LIME/FERTILIZER: to plot sites as per soil sample results.
3. PLANT IT: August 1 to August 15 = Buck Fall & Buck Spring & Turkey Town August 15 to August 30 = Buck Forage Oats & Bounty Ryegrass
4. INSTALL WATERING HOLES: Within the confines of your wooded areas, select a well-traveled ridge or a “funnel” area to dig a wildlife watering hole. Use 10 mil plastic (or stronger) to line the watering hole.

1. APPLY LIME: to future perennial plot sites (allows lime the chance to break down) AND to established perennial plot sites as needed (to maintain optimal pH)

1. ORGANIZE & COMPLETE HUNTING JOURNALS & WILDLIFE PHOTO ALBUMS: Preserve your memories for future generations!

DISCLAIMER: The Food Plot Time-Line is based on growing conditions in southeastern Minnesota. Your site conditions may require different planting dates, mowing dates, etc. Please contact us to discuss the best dates for your sites.