Habitat & Food Plots — Listener Q&A

Questions 1–150 of 556 in this category (page 1 of 5). All listener questions · next →

Food Plots

Question: Land and Martin from Claypool, Indiana ask what to plant on a wet 10-acre weedy patch instead of grass to create better winter bedding cover. 53:52 — asked by Land and Martin — Making Good Tree Stands GREAT | Don Higgins’ Best Habitat Tricks + Doubting Thomas Premiere

• Answer: Don recommends planting the wet area in about 75% pin oaks and 25% swamp white oaks, both of which thrive in wet ground and give conifer-level winter cover. 54:03

Question: Andy Hendrix from Anderson, South Carolina asks whether, lacking a local dealer, he should replant his half-acre plot in clover or trees instead of Dixie Dozen. 56:39 — asked by Andy Hendrix — Making Good Tree Stands GREAT | Don Higgins’ Best Habitat Tricks + Doubting Thomas Premiere

• Answer: Don tells Andy to stick with Dixie Dozen since it’s proven effective, and suggests asking a local business to become a Real World dealer to avoid shipping costs. 56:58

Question: Terry raised concerns about food plotters whose soybean plots aren’t growing, prompting discussion of soil testing, fertilizer, and lime for browse pressure issues. 5:15 — #330 - Can Supplemental Feeding Add 15”+ to a Buck? Don Higgins Answers

• Answer: Don explained there are no shortcuts with food plots—skipping soil testing and fertilizing, like a farmer never would with his crop, will cost you in the long run. 5:27

Question: Drew Harmon asked how long soybean plots need before dropping the fence to let deer in, especially timing before hunting season. 56:10 — asked by Drew Harmon — #330 - Can Supplemental Feeding Add 15”+ to a Buck? Don Higgins Answers

• Answer: Don advised that if Drew drops his deer fence before hunting season, deer will pour into the small plot and wipe it out well before the rut. 56:55
• Answer: Terry added that if acorns are dropping, deer are less likely to reach the soybean plot before dark once the fence comes down, since they’re drawn to the mast crop first. 58:32

Question: Terry asked how legumes like alfalfa and soybeans handle heat, and whether they thrive as long as they have moisture. 4:18 — The Biggest Mistake Food Plotters Make in June | Chasing Giants #328

• Answer: Don said most plants, including legumes in deer country, thrive in warm, humid, moist conditions rather than heat alone. 4:34

Question: Terry asked whether Don has double-cropped fields where winter wheat is harvested and soybeans planted afterward. 7:15 — The Biggest Mistake Food Plotters Make in June | Chasing Giants #328

• Answer: Don said by August, double-crop soybeans growing about a month out of wheat stubble become a strong draw for deer. 8:02

Question: Terry asked Don to explain browse pressure on soybean bottom leaves, plus weed pressure and when and what to spray. 9:04 — The Biggest Mistake Food Plotters Make in June | Chasing Giants #328

• Answer: Don advised spraying weeds while small, ideally under four inches and definitely under six, for maximum herbicide effectiveness. 9:30

Question: Lance Fisher from Kirbyville, Missouri asked whether deer unfamiliar with soybeans eat them the first year planted or take time. 32:54 — asked by Lance Fisher — The Biggest Mistake Food Plotters Make in June | Chasing Giants #328

• Answer: Don said deer quickly start eating soybeans even if they’ve never seen them before, often after just the first bite. 33:26

Question: Terry asks Don to walk through the story of a non-home-farm property where he had good luck spraying Liberty the same day he planted. 4:25 — Why BIG BUCK Areas Often FAIL Deer Hunters | Chasing Giants 327

• Answer: Don explains he drilled soybeans into tall weeds then sprayed Liberty and a pre-emergent the same day; the herbicide worked and beans came up cleanly. 6:13
• Answer: Don says the approach worked great and he wouldn’t hesitate to do it again. 7:30

Question: Terry asks how tall soybeans should get before spraying a post-emergent herbicide like glyphosate. 14:41 — Why BIG BUCK Areas Often FAIL Deer Hunters | Chasing Giants 327

• Answer: Don answers that weeds should be sprayed when about four inches tall or less for a good kill. 15:08

Question: Matt Bornflutch asks what he can plant this late in the season for food and whether it’s too late for beans or sorghum. 52:53 — asked by Matt Bornflutch — Why BIG BUCK Areas Often FAIL Deer Hunters | Chasing Giants 327

• Answer: Don says in Southeast Ohio he could plant beans or sorghum up to July 1, or even July 4th weekend if needed. 53:14

Question: Doug asked for Don’s opinion on fertilizing clover plots with granular versus foliar fertilizer, whether it’s worth doing, and how often to apply each. 46:13 — asked by Doug Brennan — Why Mature Bucks Go Nocturnal | Chasing Giants Podcast 326

• Answer: Don explained that foliar fertilizer gives a quick but short-lived boost, while granular fertilizer lasts longer. 46:33

Question: How should Mike’s Mighty Micros be used to help clover as it comes up and blooms? 9:44 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike recommended spraying clover about a week before cutting so the nutrients enter the plant before it’s cut, helping it reenergize and recover for regrowth. 9:51

Question: Terry asked whether to apply the product as clover starts regrowing after mowing, or right before the next mowing. 10:30 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike advised waiting for clover to resume growing after a cut, then spraying about fifteen days before the next cutting. 10:36

Question: Terry asked whether there’s a point in spring when it’s too early to spray clover with Mike’s Mighty Micros. 10:53 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike said clover can’t really be sprayed too early, though he’d avoid spraying right before cutting, aiming for at least a week before the cut. 11:10

Question: Terry asked how to treat his alfalfa field with Mike’s Mighty Micros. 11:36 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike recommended treating alfalfa like clover: spray about two weeks before cutting, then again two to three weeks after. 11:39

Question: A listener asks whether it’s true that pouring deer mineral directly on the ground or stumps exposes deer to disease. 38:15 — asked by Rob Effingham — Don Shares Personal News + The #1 Mistake Hunters Make | Chasing Giants Podcast 322

• Answer: Don said the claim that ground mineral placement spreads disease to deer is total nonsense. 38:56

Question: A listener asks how big is too big for a clover food plot. 42:26 — asked by Josh Combs — Don Shares Personal News + The #1 Mistake Hunters Make | Chasing Giants Podcast 322

• Answer: Don said he doesn’t think there’s such a thing as too big of a food plot for deer. 43:09

Question: A listener asks whether Don has tried mushroom food plots and how well they worked. 46:54 — asked by Marvin Beachy — Don Shares Personal News + The #1 Mistake Hunters Make | Chasing Giants Podcast 322

• Answer: Don said this ties into his earlier answer and admitted he has never actually tried a mushroom food plot himself. 47:11

Question: John asked whether he should section a 460-yard food plot into one-acre segments with Miscanthus strips so deer can’t see the whole plot. 30:55 — asked by John from Bolivar, Missouri — Why Some Hunting Properties Work Instantly… And Others Fail - Chasing Giants Podcast #319

• Answer: Don said he isn’t a big fan of sectioning food plots because it’s hard to farm around, though he noted splitting into three one-acre plots made sense here since John wants to trial different seed types. 31:49

Question: Garrett asked what else he should plant, given he already has three acres of soybeans planned and wheat isn’t an option. 43:57 — asked by Garrett Stoops from Ashland, Ohio — Why Some Hunting Properties Work Instantly… And Others Fail - Chasing Giants Podcast #319

• Answer: Don recommended planting soybeans as Garrett already planned, but at a much larger acreage. 44:30

Question: Mark Zoke asks whether there’s something to spread or spray, like a pre-emergent, to help clover establish before planting. 32:40 — asked by Mark Zoke — Cut More Trees! How Aggressive TSI Creates Better Deer Habitat

• Answer: Don says there’s no known pre-emergent that can be used before planting clover, so that option is out. 32:49
• Answer: Don stresses getting a soil test done and correcting pH before planting, since low pH will often require significant lime and hurt clover growth. 32:56

Question: Brian Murray asks what food plot to plant on his 25 acres when surrounding fields are all corn and soybeans. 34:32 — asked by Brian Murray — Cut More Trees! How Aggressive TSI Creates Better Deer Habitat

• Answer: Don counters that farmers harvest their corn and soybeans, so few standing fields remain by winter when deer need food most, making corn and soybeans still a strong plot choice. 35:13

Question: Matthew Montag asked whether planting soybeans later keeps green leaves available for deer later into summer and early fall. 49:11 — asked by Matthew Montag — Permission Properties, Scrape Magnet Explained, and Our Health Journeys | Chasing Giants Ep. 315

• Answer: Don recommends planting soybeans when local farmers do, since maturity is driven by daylight hours and bean maturity group rather than planting date. 50:02

Question: Ed Solomon asked what pre- and post-planting steps and herbicide to use for planting Nutri-Crave Corn in a field currently in clover. 53:05 — asked by Ed Solomon — Permission Properties, Scrape Magnet Explained, and Our Health Journeys | Chasing Giants Ep. 315

• Answer: Don tells Ed to spray and kill the existing clover before planting corn, since the clover has to be removed first. 53:32
• Answer: Don recommends spraying Resicore, a pre-emergent herbicide, over the bare dirt right after planting to prevent weeds for the season. 53:53

Question: Will you offer an alfalfa either by itself or in a mix like the clover chicory mix? 31:13 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don says Green Prairie already offers several alfalfas, but Real World Wildlife Products has no plans to offer one itself. 31:18

Question: Steven asks whether rotating Deadly Dozen and Clover half-and-half every three years is a good food plot plan. 8:45 — asked by Steven — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says Steven’s rotation plan sounds perfect, alternating Deadly Dozen or harvest salad with clover. 9:34

Question: An audience member asks how many consecutive years Deadly Dozen can be planted, guessing three years max. 10:10 — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says that’s pushing it and recommends rotating Deadly Dozen’s bulb plants like turnips and radish out every year. 10:16

Question: Matt Dawson asks whether planting two to three acres of Gen-two soybeans on his travel-corridor property is worth doing. 10:58 — asked by Matt Dawson — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says it’s worth trying if deer pressure is low enough to establish soybeans. 11:18

Question: An audience member describes grafting female buds onto male persimmon trees and asks if Don has done or seen that before. 15:16 — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says he’d have recommended grafting a female bud onto the established male root system so it grows quickly. 15:33

Question: Drew Peterson asks what the best winter deer food is when snow covers the ground. 26:07 — asked by Drew Peterson — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says corn, soybeans, and grain sorghum are hands-down the top three winter food sources. 26:29

Question: An audience member asks what food source works best in a shallow grassy wash that holds more water than a normal field. 33:37 — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don recalls supplying clover seed to mix with grass seed in a farm waterway, and the deer fed there once clover came up. 34:21

Question: Wayne Gays asks how to prep fields for beans after corn stubble and whether volunteer corn will be a problem. 39:39 — asked by Wayne Gays — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says to let things green up in spring and spray, which is a good way to kill volunteer corn before planting beans. 40:28

Question: Terry asks Don whether his food plots are still holding up on corn and soybeans or if deer have depleted them enough to notice. 4:33 — CULLING BUCKS: Why Shooting 3½-Year-Old 8-Points Actually Works | Chasing Giants #310

• Answer: Don reports deer have heavily pounded his food plots, with corn nearly gone in his backyard plot, though he still has plenty of soybeans left. 4:40

Question: Is there a link between herbicides, GMO versus non-GMO crops, and their attractiveness to whitetails? 39:38 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Deer can detect and clearly prefer non-GMO crops over GMO ones. 39:49

Question: Jeff Gibson reports his clover plots treated with Mike’s Mighty Micros and pH balancer are seeing much heavier deer browse pressure this year. 49:09 — asked by Jeff Gibson — Most Hunters Get This Wrong | The Hard Truth About Killing Mature Bucks | Chasing Giants #307

• Answer: Don confirms he’s seen the same heavy clover browsing on his own farm and has also treated his clover with Mike’s Mighty Micros and the pH balancer. 52:12

Question: John Stewart from Milton, Iowa asks what to plant on just three acres of food plots, plus which supplemental feed to use in the off-season. 49:35 — asked by John Stewart — Kill More Deer. Feed Hungry Kids. | Boone Brothers | Chasing Giants 306

• Answer: Don recommends Real World Generation 2 soybeans as the single best food plot choice, plantable in the same plot for many years in a row. 50:35
• Answer: Don recommends complete feed over cheaper deer corn or blocks since complete feed supplies every vitamin, mineral, and nutrient the herd needs. 52:00

Question: Terry asks whether Don has noticed any difference from overseeding his soybeans this year with a new product. 4:02 — Episode 303 – Late-Season Deer Movement, Winter Food Strategy & The Future of Big Bucks

• Answer: Don reports his overseeded hairy vetch performed excellently in his soybeans, noting deer love it and it delivers high protein and nutrient density. 5:03

Question: Why is a shatter-resistant soybean so important for deer right now with snow on the ground? 11:00 — Late Season EXPLOSION! Why Giants Are Falling Everywhere | Chasing Giants #302

• Answer: Don explains that shattered soybean pods drop grain into the snow where deer can’t get it, so Real World soybeans were designed specifically for these conditions. 11:46

Question: Listener Brandon asked whether big-timber hunters are always at a disadvantage compared to ag-country hunters, and whether to change his food plot strategy. 46:38 — asked by Brandon — Late Season Starts NOW — Cold Fronts, Bucks on Food, and Thanksgiving Reflections | Episode #301

• Answer: Don agreed big-timber hunters are at a disadvantage compared to hunters in farm country. 46:56
• Answer: Don recommended creating thick bedding cover so deer bed directly on the property, since killing big deer consistently means hunting where they bed. 47:54

Question: What is the right size for a water hole, and where should it be placed relative to food sources or trails? 34:37 — asked by Carl Compton — #292 - Public Land Busts, Big Timber Dreams, & Target Bucks

• Answer: Don recommends a roughly 300-gallon plastic livestock tank as a sizable, low-maintenance water hole. 35:49
• Answer: He prefers an easy-to-access location, ideally near a food source, to give deer more reasons to visit the spot. 36:09

Question: Austin Raisor asked whether drilling alfalfa seed into 10-foot bare spots in his neglected alfalfa field would actually fill them back in. 68:55 — asked by Austin Raisor — Faith, Hunting & Courage After Tragedy | Chasing Giants Podcast Ep. 290

• Answer: Duane Hopkins explained that since Austin’s stand is under a year old, the toxin blocking reseeding hasn’t built up yet, giving him a window through next spring to fix it. 69:47

Question: Austin asked whether, with access to city water, Don would irrigate at least part of his food plots during dry falls, or just let them go. 70:48 — asked by Austin Raisor — Faith, Hunting & Courage After Tragedy | Chasing Giants Podcast Ep. 290

• Answer: Don said he’s never used irrigation, but if it’s within budget, putting city water on food plots is worthwhile, though a complete spring-and-fall plot program matters more. 71:05

Question: An audience member with a small, wooded property asked how to judge whether a spot gets enough sunlight to be worth planting in clover. 82:38 — Faith, Hunting & Courage After Tragedy | Chasing Giants Podcast Ep. 290

• Answer: Don advised that a plot needs at least half a day of direct sunlight for anything, including clover, to grow well. 83:46

Question: Emmanuel Gingerich from Macon, Missouri asked how long Deadly Dozen seed can be planted before the seeds decay in dry conditions. 52:10 — asked by Emmanuel Gingerich — #288 2025 Buck Forecast: EHD Devastation, Trail Cam Insights & Hard Truths About Trophy Bucks

• Answer: Don said seed stays viable far longer than people think, noting some native grass seeds can lay dormant in soil for fifty years and still germinate. 53:32

Question: As it relates to fall food plots, are we right in the window to get plots in around rain? 2:00 — #287 “Predators, Food Plots & Cracker Barrel Woke?

• Answer: Don says if rain were forecast he’d plant fall plots now, but the area badly needs rain. 2:09

Question: Michael Gruber asks how Don times drone overseeding of greens into his standing corn and beans. 43:54 — asked by Michael Gruber — #287 “Predators, Food Plots & Cracker Barrel Woke?

• Answer: Don plans to watch the weather after September 1 and time the drone seeding right ahead of a forecast rain. 44:16

Question: Michael Gulich asked what advantage crimping offers over mowing a cover crop before planting fall food plots. 38:07 — asked by Michael Gulich — Thermal Drones, Trail Cameras & Big Buck Strategies | Chasing Giants Podcast #282

• Answer: Don said he’s been skeptical of crimping because timing must be nearly perfect for it to work well. 38:59
• Answer: For fall plots, Don recommends mowing to three or four inches rather than relying on crimping. 41:24

Question: How should a hunter approach fall food plotting on a leased CWD-county farm that wasn’t planted in row crops this year? 46:31 — asked by Drew Ramage — Episode #281 - How Don Tracks Giant Bucks Years in Advance

• Answer: Don sees it as a golden opportunity to offer the farmer a soil-building cover crop planting on as many fallow acres as possible, benefiting both the deer and the landowner. 46:52

Question: Brock from Minooka asked for crop rotation recommendations using clover, Harvest Salad, and Deadly Dozen for smaller food plots. 54:13 — asked by Brock — Episode 280 - Trail Cams, Big Cats, and Camo Drops | Special Guest Joe Miles

• Answer: Don recommended rotating a clover and chicory blend with either Deadly Dozen or Harvest Salad. 54:40
• Answer: Don added that the key thing to avoid is planting brassica-based products two years in a row. 55:27

Question: Terry asked Joe what his biggest property prep is, besides scouting, ahead of the August swamp season in South Carolina. 55:42 — asked by Terry — Episode 280 - Trail Cams, Big Cats, and Camo Drops | Special Guest Joe Miles

• Answer: Joe said planting Dixie Dozen has been very successful for him and his hunting buddies in South Carolina. 56:11

Question: Terry asks whether corn truly prefers hot weather. 5:26 — #274 - Soil Health: The Foundation of Successful Food Plotting

• Answer: Don says the corn’s sickly yellow look is caused by the cold temperatures, not fertility or genetics. 5:57

Question: Terry asks whether planting corn is the last remaining spring food plot task or if more work is needed. 7:31 — Episode #273 - Clover Maintenance and Spring Planting

• Answer: Don says once the corn is planted, he’s done with spring plots. 7:37

Question: Vincent Trophy Whitetail from Sioux City, Iowa asks how and when to terminate a grass-overrun clover plot and replant it to clover by March 1. 31:12 — asked by Vincent Trophy Whitetail — Episode #273 - Clover Maintenance and Spring Planting

• Answer: Don recommends not terminating the clover; instead spray clethodim, a selective herbicide that kills grass without harming clover. 32:16
• Answer: If starting over, Don recommends fall-planted oats since they typically won’t survive winter, leaving a dead mat to frost-seed clover into. 33:47
• Answer: Terry adds that a consistent mowing program is often a better first option than reaching for herbicide on a grassy clover plot. 34:25

Question: Gerald Raymer asks whether there are good food and cover recommendations for a wet property, or if nothing works well in wet locations. 43:33 — asked by Gerald Raymer — Episode #271 - Cool Wet Spring Concerns for Antler Growth and Nutrition

• Answer: Don says wet properties are much more limited for food than cover, though many trees tolerate wet ground, even bald cypress in super wet locations. 43:50
• Answer: Don recommends persimmons as the fruit tree that tolerates wet, flood-prone ground best, unlike apples and chestnuts which need drier sites. 44:45
• Answer: Terry adds that for bedding grasses in wet ground, switchgrass performs better than Indian grass or big bluestem. 46:11
• Answer: Don confirms Real World Switchgrass thrives even in river bottoms, having seen a planting survive being submerged in six feet of floodwater. 46:16

Question: Trace Burkholder asks if feeding deer straight corn mixed with molasses is healthy or causes issues like hoof problems. 26:14 — asked by Trace Burkholder — Episode #267 - Spring Whitetail Habitat Projects - Is it Go Time?

• Answer: Don says he always discourages feeding straight corn since it isn’t a balanced diet. 27:19
• Answer: Don recommends NutriCrave corn as part of a complete, balanced feed mix. 27:41
• Answer: Terry suggests planting fruit trees like apples and pears near the feeder to boost drawing power. 29:45

Question: Brent Lender asked if adding a sorghum blend would be a good option alongside his corn, beans, and deadly dozen rotation. 49:47 — asked by Brent Lender — Episode #264 - Big Rope Scrapes and Big Bucks!

• Answer: Don says he’s planting sorghum blend himself this spring and thinks it’s a great complement to corn, beans, and deadly dozen. 50:05
• Answer: Don explains sorghum avoids early browse pressure since deer don’t eat it until grain heads form, unlike soybeans. 50:13

Question: Jason Merchant asked what he should spend $7,000 on for food plot equipment with his 42-horsepower tractor and rototiller. 52:01 — asked by Jason Merchant — Episode #264 - Big Rope Scrapes and Big Bucks!

• Answer: Don recommends buying a good sprayer first, suggesting a 50-gallon sprayer with 30-foot booms for around $2,000. 53:37
• Answer: Don also recommends investing in a used planter or grain drill with the remaining budget. 54:15

Question: An audience member asks whether standing NutriCrave corn should be mowed for late-season deer food. 30:52 — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says deer will hit mowed corn much harder than standing corn, though he’s not sure why. 31:08

Question: Is liquid lime a viable way to significantly raise soil pH, or is it a money grab from the hunting industry? 41:58 — asked by Jay Gorman — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don says liquid lime will not significantly raise soil pH, though it can give a short-term boost to a current crop. 42:30
• Answer: Don recommends granular or pelletized lime instead for a real, lasting rise in soil pH. 43:10

Question: An audience member asks how a roasted soybean in a feeder affects deer differently than raw field soybeans. 44:25 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don explains raw soybeans are less digestible than roasted ones, and roasting also changes nutrient content. 44:35

Question: A Central Michigan food plotter says deer wipe out his soybean plots before they can grow. 47:55 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don suggests fencing the beans, along with increasing the seeding rate, to keep deer from wiping them out. 48:32

Question: Adam Katz asks about enhancing a green-to-grain food plot transition with a pinch point or scrape. 43:22 — asked by Adam Katz — Episode #259 Apple Tree Spacing in Deer Plots

• Answer: Don says the green-to-grain transition tactic definitely works. 43:41
• Answer: Don describes placing a stand where a soybean plot meets a greens plot so deer cross back and forth in front of it. 44:03

Question: An anonymous listener asks whether cows could smell his rich food plot from nearly a mile away after neighboring cattle repeatedly broke in and destroyed his corn plot. 46:44 — Episode #255 - Deer Movement and Weather Fronts

• Answer: Don says he absolutely believes cattle can smell a quality food plot from a distance, comparing it to how new bucks mysteriously show up when a great winter food source is available. 47:23
• Answer: Terry adds that in Kentucky a ‘cattle at large’ law makes the livestock owner responsible for damages when animals get off his property, giving the landowner legal leverage. 48:57

Question: Ben Sweeney asks whether Don has seen turnip bulbs rot early and go untouched by deer during recent mild winters. 51:54 — Episode #254 - Don Improving Cell Cameral Locations, No-Till Food Plots, and Winter Habitat Projects

• Answer: Don says turnip and radish bulbs provide far more than food, since their long roots draw deep soil nutrients upward. 52:13
• Answer: Don advises not worrying when deer leave turnips uneaten, since the rotting bulbs still enrich the soil for next year’s crop. 54:35

Question: Andy Schwalbert asks whether a dedicated four-acre green plot beats soybeans on his mild-winter Southern Illinois farm. 55:58 — Episode #254 - Don Improving Cell Cameral Locations, No-Till Food Plots, and Winter Habitat Projects

• Answer: Don recommends double-cropping greens and grains together in the same plot so hunters always have a fallback food source if one crop fails. 56:41

Question: Marvin Beachy asks how important soft edges are on food plots, the best way to create them, and how mature bucks use them. 52:39 — asked by Marvin Beachy — Episode #253 - Do Not Overcomplicate Habitat Projects!

• Answer: Don defines a hard edge as mature woods butting straight up against a field with no transition. 53:31
• Answer: Don recommends cutting worthless trees along the field edge and dropping them outward to create a natural soft transition. 54:05

Question: Steve from Minnesota asks whether to plant corn around a plot’s perimeter and beans inside for screening, and whether cornrows should break up bean monocultures. 59:26 — asked by Steve — Episode #253 - Do Not Overcomplicate Habitat Projects!

• Answer: Don says most food plots he sees are simply too small, offering little pulling power or food, rather than lacking clever layout. 60:12
• Answer: Don advises growing enough food to keep deer on the property year-round instead of obsessing over interior plot layout. 60:24

Question: Tim Brown from Carrollton, Illinois asks why deer prefer browsing in an open harvested ag bean field over his food plot planted with the same soybean variety. 46:40 — asked by Tim Brown — Episode #248 - Big Buck Down! Wes Delks Joins Us to Discuss UHAUL

• Answer: Don explains deer naturally prefer feeding in big open areas, especially at night. 47:33
• Answer: Don suggests switching the food plot to Real World soybeans to see a difference in deer preference. 48:03
• Answer: Don says he would not mow the surrounding CRP, but would instead change what’s planted in the food plot. 48:40

Question: Zach from Oregon, Missouri asks whether leaving standing corn until bush-hogging after the ground freezes risks volunteer corn sprouting the next spring. 46:52 — asked by Zach from Oregon, Missouri — Episode #247 - Lockdown, Drone’s, and Deer Pimps

• Answer: Don explains he waits for frozen ground before bush-hogging so he doesn’t press corn ears into the mud, which limits volunteer sprouting. 47:30
• Answer: Terry says he had bad volunteer corn because he planted corn-on-corn; a beans-and-corn rotation avoids the issue. 48:37

Question: A West Tennessee listener managing a 1,000-acre tract with ag and cover crops asks what to plant in small food plots for diversity. 52:31 — Episode #246 - Don Says - Best November Hunting in 50 Years

• Answer: Don says he promotes diversity split between greens and grains, and since greens are covered, the listener should focus on grains. 52:46
• Answer: Don recommends planting Nutri Crave corn as his preferred grain option. 53:35

Question: Randall Barr from Blue Bell, Pennsylvania asks whether to drill clover and chicorythis fall, frost seed it, or drill in late winter/spring given he now owns a drill. 38:01 — asked by Randall Barr — Podcast #241 - Don’s Target Buck Revealed - Non-Typical Giant!

• Answer: Don says if you own a drill, you should absolutely use it since drilled seed gets much better soil contact than broadcasting. 38:42
• Answer: Don recommends drilling clover in the fall as early as possible rather than waiting until October or November. 38:50

Question: Terry asks whether it’s a good idea to crosshatch or angle multiple drill passes to fill in the gaps between rows. 40:38 — Podcast #241 - Don’s Target Buck Revealed - Non-Typical Giant!

• Answer: Don says he does both, overseeding in opposite directions and going back over with his extreme blower, since that gets seed between every row. 40:51

Question: If deer are attracted to pawpaw fruit, could pawpaw trees be another good food source option? 59:20 — asked by Tim Peachy — Episode #239 - EHD Is Closing in on Don’s Farm!

• Answer: Don confirmed deer do like pawpaw fruit, though the trees need rich soil and at least partial shade to thrive. 61:06

Question: Ben Meyer asked whether, as August turns to September, his food-plot focus should switch to strictly harvest salad instead of the Deadly Dozen blend. 41:59 — asked by Ben Meyer — Episode 238 - 2024 Buck Forecast - MORE GIANTS SHOT THIS YEAR

• Answer: Don advised that cereal grains and harvest salad can be planted later than brassicas since they need less time to mature, so timing matters more than switching species. 42:47

Question: Logan asks if fencing off part of a food plot could create a safe dead zone to blow his scent into. 27:14 — asked by Logan Waggler — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…

• Answer: Don confirms it works and says fencing or piled brush are good ways to dictate exactly how deer enter a plot for a shot within range. 27:51

Question: Jay Hart from Owensboro, Kentucky asks how to properly terminate and restart his declining three-year-old clover plot. 27:40 — asked by Jay Hart — Episode #235 - Is EHD Back in 2024? Bucks Dead in Indiana!

• Answer: Don explains a declining clover plot can be kept going for years by frost seeding in early spring rather than terminating and replanting. 28:09
• Answer: Don recommends frost-seeding clover at half the normal rate every other year to maintain the plot long-term. 28:35

Question: JC Whitet asks whether to kill his drought-stressed two-year-old clover and chicory plot or wait for it to recover with rain. 30:23 — asked by JC Whitet — Episode #235 - Is EHD Back in 2024? Bucks Dead in Indiana!

• Answer: Don compares it to the 2012 drought when his own clover looked dead and brown, but sprang back to life once fall rains came, predicting the same recovery. 31:17

Question: Adam Miller asks whether pelletized human waste worked to keep browse pressure off beans and fall plots, and how to fertilize first-year switchgrass. 50:01 — asked by Adam Miller — Episode 232 - We are starting a TV Show!

• Answer: Don says switchgrass loves nitrogen, so fertilizing helps establish first-year stands. 50:23
• Answer: Don confirms the pelletized human waste product works to keep deer off beans and will also work on fall plots if needed. 52:34

Question: Terry asked how many pounds per acre of leftover soybeans Don typically mixes into his fall plots. 34:01 — Episode #231 - Timing is Key: When to Plant Fall Plots

• Answer: Don said he mixes maybe 10 pounds per acre of soybeans at most. 34:06

Question: Tim Gwen asked whether he could mix clover and chicory into his Deadly Dozen fall plot planting. 53:20 — Episode #231 - Timing is Key: When to Plant Fall Plots

• Answer: Don confirmed Tim can mix clover and chicory directly into his Deadly Dozen planting. 53:36
• Answer: He advised continuing to mow the plot each spring, eventually leaving a stand of straight clover and chicory. 53:51

Question: Will Don have Dwayne run tissue analysis comparing his soybeans to the neighbor’s once they’re a bit further along? 10:39 — Episode #227 - Science Behind Summer Solstice and Whitetail

• Answer: Don confirms he’ll do tissue analysis, noting two soybean plots were split in half to test soil amendments like humic acid side by side. 10:47

Question: Trevor Hagen asked whether an unopened three-year-old bag of Deadly Dozen stored at 68 degrees would still have good germination, or if he should just buy new seed. 19:35 — asked by Trevor Hagen — Ep. #226 - Mineral Site Placement and Predator Activity Special Memories of Fathers on Father’s Day

• Answer: Don answers that proper storage, kept cool and dry, is the critical factor determining whether old seed will still germinate well. 21:17

Question: Billy Gays from Saint Louis asked whether putting screens through the middle of food plots would direct deer closer to a stand. 45:30 — asked by Billy Gays — Episode #218 -Spring Food Plots - Is it time to plant?

• Answer: Don says he generally doesn’t think plots need to be broken up with interior screening like Miscanthus or switchgrass. 47:35

Question: Alex Dunker from Hull, Illinois asked Don to speak on properly sizing perennial clover plots. 49:00 — asked by Alex Dunker — Episode #218 -Spring Food Plots - Is it time to plant?

• Answer: Don explains one main reason for mowing clover is to keep weed pressure under control. 50:18

Question: Terry asks Don to talk about the work Austin did on the other 90-acre property this week. 3:27 — asked by Terry — Episode #217 - Now Don wants to go fishing!

• Answer: Austin spent three days at Don’s place doing TSI work on the new 98-acre farm. 3:36

Question: Matthew from Roanoke, Virginia asked for both hosts’ thoughts on intercropping Nutri-Crave corn on 30-inch rows with Gen-two soybeans filling the gaps. 17:49 — asked by Matthew — Episode #213 - Turning old cow pasture in deer sanctuary

• Answer: Don said he prefers to keep corn and soybeans in separate plots because it’s easier to manage weeds with herbicides when they aren’t mixed. 18:47
• Answer: Terry said intercropping sacrifices soybean pod yield, since the plants compete during the first couple feet of growth when double-planted together. 20:34

Question: An audience member from Southern Ohio asks Terry if he has a different perspective than Don’s skepticism about doe calling given his area’s short food supply. 9:04 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Terry says his heavily agricultural hunting area is completely different from areas with less open ag. 9:40

Question: Mike Reams asks whether it’s worth planting small odd areas like an old gas line for late-season deer food. 25:55 — asked by Mike Reams — Episode #210 - What to do with Bush Honeysuckle

• Answer: Don recommends planting small odd areas with Deadly Dozen, which provides food from early cereal grains through late-season brassicas and doubles as a spring turkey plot. 26:38

Question: Would sugar beets help deer make it through hard Central Michigan winters? 49:57 — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don says deer would demolish sugar beets before they ever matured, unless planted at large ag-field scale. 50:15

Question: Scott Barkman asked about Don’s first food plot: who inspired it, whether it succeeded, what he planted, and if he killed a buck over it. 23:16 — asked by Scott Barkman — Episode #207 - Was Don a Hippie?

• Answer: Don got the idea for food plots from his friend Todd Hewing, one of the first people doing serious wildlife management. 23:38
• Answer: Don never killed a buck over that first food plot. 25:04

Question: Michael Gruber asked what plant population per acre results from planting 50, 60, 75, and 90 pounds of soybeans per acre with a planter. 27:40 — asked by Michael Gruber — Episode #207 - Was Don a Hippie?

• Answer: Don explained a 50-pound bag of Real World soybeans contains roughly 135,000 to 140,000 seeds, letting growers calculate population from that figure. 28:14
• Answer: Terry cautions that planting soybeans in 30- or 36-inch rows with a planter requires close attention to herbicide program and weed control. 28:39

Question: Dustin asked what food source works best for maximum draw on a 10-acre plot surrounded by hundreds of acres of timber during late season. 34:43 — asked by Dustin Ward — Episode#203 - Post Season Scouting and Project Advice

• Answer: Don says for a heavily wooded 10-acre plot, soybeans are the single best late-season food source since deer clean out corn before winter. 36:26
• Answer: Don recommends not tearing up an aging clover plot; instead frost-seed more clover on top of it each spring to keep it going indefinitely. 39:04
• Answer: Don explains alfalfa is highly nutrient-dense, but Real World avoids selling it because most food plotters can’t maintain the fertility and cutting it requires for success. 42:13

Question: Terry asks what hope this buck’s return gives hunters who haven’t tagged out and rely on food and nutrition programs heading into late season. 19:21 — asked by Terry — Episode 198 - Buck Traveling Long Distances After The Rut

• Answer: Don explains that providing abundant late-season food when supply is scarce keeps deer coming to a property year after year. 20:19
• Answer: Don adds that bucks absent all season show up on his farm once the weather turns bad, because it’s a known reliable food source. 22:38

Question: Francis Stark asked whether supplemental feeding after season could keep a specific mature buck from shifting to its separate summer range. 48:40 — asked by Francis Stark — Episode #197 - Don’s Grandson Kills His First Buck!

• Answer: Don said once a mature buck’s home range and pattern are established, there’s almost nothing a hunter can do to shift it elsewhere. 50:08

Question: Adam Katz asks what became of Don’s plan to plant a pumpkin patch for deer, noting deer love pumpkins. 40:21 — asked by Adam Katz — Episode #194 - 2nd Target Buck Harvested by Special Guest

• Answer: The pumpkins failed because of residual herbicide Don had applied to his corn, so the pumpkin patch plan didn’t work out. 40:43
• Answer: Don decided the Nutri-Crave Corn on his farm was too important for getting deer through winter, so he wasn’t willing to sacrifice corn acreage for pumpkins. 42:00

Question: Matt Fueling asks whether he wasted his money now that his standing soybeans are shattering and whether the fallen beans will rot. 43:43 — asked by Matt Fueling — Episode #194 - 2nd Target Buck Harvested by Special Guest

• Answer: Don explained that ‘shatter’ is when soybean pods burst open and the grain falls to the ground, which is why Matt’s beans were dropping. 44:21
• Answer: Real World soybean blends combine three or four different varieties to hedge against any single variety shattering in bad conditions. 45:15
• Answer: Don confirmed that fallen soybeans left on the ground will indeed rot and swell rather than grow. 46:28

Question: Brett Whitetail objected that calling broadcast corn planting ineffective seemed arrogant and demeaning, since it worked for him with careful management. 38:04 — asked by Brett Whitetail — Episode 192 - End of October - Tactics and Plans are Changing - PRE RUT!

• Answer: Don explains corn needs proper depth of about two inches, which is very hard to achieve by broadcasting. 39:20
• Answer: Don estimates about 95% of customers who broadcast corn instead of properly planting it would get unsatisfactory results. 39:50
• Answer: Terry responds that he doesn’t believe he has an arrogant bone in his body and stands by the advice. 40:42

Question: Dan Branham asks whether he should worry about ‘doe factories’ and whether to plant spring or fall food plots. 41:35 — asked by Dan Branham — Episode #189 - Season Opener and Tough Questions

• Answer: Don dismisses the ‘doe factory’ concept as marketing nonsense and recommends having food available on the property year-round. 43:48

Question: Jordan Brandenburg asked whether hauling water to drought-stressed food plots by ATV or truck would help, or create too much human-intrusion pressure. 36:54 — asked by Jordan Brandenburg — Episode #188 - Apple Trees for Whitetails

• Answer: Don said food plots are open areas, not bedding cover, so vehicle noise there isn’t the same intrusion problem as it would be in bedding areas. 37:53
• Answer: Don said the water needed to meaningfully help a drought-stressed plot is enormous, thousands of gallons per acre, making it impractical. 39:11

Question: Chase Myers asked whether sunflowers make a good food plot for deer. 32:50 — asked by Chase Myers — Episode #187 - Do Trail Camera’s Spook Mature Bucks?

• Answer: Don said sunflowers absolutely have a place for deer. 33:10
• Answer: Don noted sunflowers mature too quickly and get eaten before winter, when he most wants food available. 33:54

Question: Zoe Jones asked when the last clover mowing of the season should be — thirty to forty-five days before frost, or a different schedule? 38:38 — asked by Zoe Jones — Episode #185 - Bucks are starting to shift - Fall Plots, GET THEM IN

• Answer: Don mows clover in early September, roughly three weeks before his October opener, then avoids the property entirely. 39:07
• Answer: He typically finishes mowing around Labor Day weekend or the following week, then stays off the plots for the fall. 39:54

Question: Heath Jones asked how late is too late to plant fall food plots when there’s no rain forecast for two weeks. 50:18 — asked by Heath Jones — Episode #185 - Bucks are starting to shift - Fall Plots, GET THEM IN

• Answer: Don advises planting cereal grains forty-five to sixty days before the first expected frost. 51:07
• Answer: He says if it’s time to plant, plant regardless of forecast — seed can sit dry for weeks before germinating. 51:48

Question: Grant asked whether putting out large piles of apples to attract deer, before his fruit trees start producing, is a good practice or has downsides. 55:24 — asked by Grant Nicodemus — Episode 184 - the new G Series no till drill from PH Outdoors.

• Answer: Don said apple piles are a great way to set a property apart from surrounding ones and recommended continuing the practice. 55:59

Question: Steve Sheber asks if it’s advantageous to allow volunteer corn within soybean plots for multiple feeding options. 57:47 — asked by Steve Sheber — Episode 178 - The Bucks and The Corn are Growing Fast

• Answer: Don says allowing volunteer corn in soybean plots isn’t a good idea since most of it won’t even produce an ear. 58:03

Question: Rob Effingham asked whether it’s worth planting soybeans in drought-affected early July for deer forage, or waiting to plant cereal grains later. 39:38 — asked by Rob Effingham — Episode #176 - Don’s Advice for Battery High Prices

• Answer: Don said it depends on moisture: without rain, skip planting soybeans now, but with adequate moisture it’s fine to plant and expect a decent fall crop. 40:09

Question: Kyle from Oakland City, Indiana asked what he could use as yard seed for his new home’s lawn that would also serve as a food source for does and fawns. 68:47 — asked by Kyle — Episode 173 - Can you find joy in killing GIANT Bucks?

• Answer: Don recommended mixing ladino or white clover, which stay shorter than red clover, into the lawn seed so deer will come into the yard to eat. 69:43
• Answer: Don added that although his wife vetoed clover in the lawn, he placed a food plot right at the edge of his yard so deer still come into the yard area. 70:39

Question: Kevin asks whether to plant clover now at the end of May, or wait until fall or next spring, for his two three-acre plots. 47:54 — asked by Kevin Tolbert — Episode #172 - Don is really worried about EHD in 2023

• Answer: Don says it’s too late this spring and recommends waiting until around September 1st, since he’s had far better luck establishing perennial legumes like clover in fall than spring. 50:07

Question: Kevin asks if a several-acre soybean plot is worthwhile in an area with almost no other crops or food plots nearby. 48:08 — asked by Kevin Tolbert — Episode #172 - Don is really worried about EHD in 2023

• Answer: Don says a bigger food plot has more pulling power to draw deer from miles around, especially where other food sources are scarce. 50:36
• Answer: Don says he would definitely plant a giant soybean plot in that situation. 50:59

Question: Why isn’t planting corn in alternating rows with vining legumes like lab lab more common in food plots? 52:32 — asked by r Haslett — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don prefers separate corn and soybean plots mainly because it’s hard to find one residual herbicide that works well on both crops. 53:09
• Answer: Terry says in a test on Patrick’s farm, corn planted alongside soybeans grew a foot and a half to two feet taller than corn alone. 56:48

Question: Does Don prefer clover or alfalfa around fruit trees, and why? 76:49 — asked by Daniel Dippel — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don says clover is better than alfalfa around fruit trees because alfalfa’s very deep taproot competes with the tree’s root system. 77:08
• Answer: Don adds mature alfalfa plants release a toxin that prevents new alfalfa seed from germinating, unlike clover which can be continually overseeded. 79:09
• Answer: Terry adds he wouldn’t want to mow, rake, and bale alfalfa around fruit trees since it requires far more upkeep than clover. 78:26

Question: Terry asked whether Don still plans to plant Miscanthus this year or wait until next year. 23:21 — Episode #167 - Turkey Season Is Here! Terry Still Hates Turkeys!

• Answer: Don said he has Miscanthus saved at Real World Wildlife Products and plans to plant it soon once outstanding paperwork wraps up. 23:26

Question: David Robbins asked when to spread 46-0-0 nitrogen fertilizer on a hired farmer’s corn plot without hurting the plants. 45:49 — asked by David Robbins — Episode #167 - Turkey Season Is Here! Terry Still Hates Turkeys!

• Answer: Don said granular urea should be spread right before working the ground, since it slowly evaporates if left sitting on the soil surface. 46:32
• Answer: Terry suggested that without tillage equipment, the best approach is applying nitrogen right before or during rain so it soaks into the soil. 48:11
• Answer: Don noted liquid 28-32% nitrogen can also be sprayed but is caustic and corrodes metal, so equipment should be washed after use. 49:01

Question: Luke Cooper asked whether Don has personal experience confirming how attractive chestnuts are to deer and other wildlife. 31:13 — asked by Luke Cooper — Episode #163 - The Hype of Chestnut Trees…

• Answer: Don said he researched chestnuts for a North American Whitetail article, interviewing chestnut experts from the University of Missouri and Ohio State University. 32:33
• Answer: Don recounted squirrels sniffing out and stealing every chestnut he had planted in a nursery greenhouse, proving how attractive chestnuts are. 35:04

Question: What cover crop should be used to help re-establish clover plots being redone this year? 40:37 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Duane recommended getting a current soil sample first, calling it the foundational, best money you can spend before replanting clover. 41:27

Question: At what grass-to-clover ratio should a plot be reseeded and mowed versus fully terminated and restarted? 42:13 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Duane said you can’t afford to skip frost seeding at least three pounds of clover annually to offset natural plant mortality. 42:47

Question: An audience member asked Don to compare good soil producing nutritious food plots to the Christian walk and leading others to Christ. 12:56 — Episode 159 - Captive Deer Breeding… Why Don Got Out

• Answer: Don said big bucks are a result of the environment they grew up in. 13:15
• Answer: Don said the Christian walk works the same way: a seed planted young eventually grows. 13:46
• Answer: Don said using his platform to introduce people to Christ matters more than being remembered as a great deer hunter. 15:54

Question: An audience member asked whether feeder pellets or food plots are better for antler growth. 73:57 — Episode 159 - Captive Deer Breeding… Why Don Got Out

• Answer: Don said if forced to choose, he’d rather deer feed from a food plot than a feeder. 74:24

Question: Steve Sheeber asks if every food plot needs food through winter, or if deer shift to plots still holding food as others run out. 28:36 — asked by Steve Sheeber — Episode #158 - Is Hunting Contests Hurting the Hunting Industry?

• Answer: Don says it’s fine if only one plot has food left in late season, since every buck on its feet before daylight will come to that plot. 30:10

Question: Steve Sheeber also asks if Don uses food plot architecture to draw mature bucks across a large plot within bow range, and how. 29:11 — asked by Steve Sheeber — Episode #158 - Is Hunting Contests Hurting the Hunting Industry?

• Answer: Don recommends splitting a large plot with a Miscanthus strip (optionally with a low fence) so deer must work around it, funneling them past the stand. 30:44

Question: Paul Whitworth asks how Don’s Pumpkin Hills experiment turned out last year. 36:20 — asked by Paul Whitworth — Episode #148 - Are Bucks Shedding Antlers Early This Year?

• Answer: Don says the pumpkins he planted in gaps of his corn plot didn’t grow well, likely because residual herbicide from the corn stunted their roots. 41:08

Question: Terry asks whether it is better to plant a diverse mix of tree species in a mini orchard or stick to one kind. 35:30 — asked by Terry — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Jay recommends planting the same species but different varieties, such as three or four apple varieties, since it aids cross-pollination. 35:53

Question: William Knolff from Tarrantum, PA asks why so many ‘experts’ talk down on planting clover when it grows great for him in Pennsylvania. 32:39 — asked by William Knolff — Episode #136 - EHD HITS AGAIN - DON’S FINAL BUCK FORECAST

• Answer: Don says clover is a great food plot and he has no idea why anyone would bash it. 34:21
• Answer: Terry advises using a clover blend of varieties rather than a single variety, since different varieties are palatable at different times. 35:21

Question: Drew Edwards from Irving, IL, owner of a narrow 40-acre tract accessible only from the west, asks about prioritizing bedding vs. food plots. 51:10 — asked by Drew Edwards — Episode #136 - EHD HITS AGAIN - DON’S FINAL BUCK FORECAST

• Answer: Don says he’d rather have deer bedding on the property than just feeding there. 52:31
• Answer: Don suggests Drew move his food plots to the accessible west end instead of the harder-to-reach east side. 53:37

Question: Terry asks Don how the pumpkins he mounded on potting soil in his corn patch ended up doing. 10:40 — Episode #133 - Special Guest Mark Luster - Buck Forecast Part 2

• Answer: Don admits he has not checked and has no idea how the pumpkins turned out since the corn grew too tall to see them. 11:11

Question: A listener asks why his large food plot shows no social pressure among deer while smaller kill plots do, and if splitting plots creates pressure. 74:10 — Episode #133 - Special Guest Mark Luster - Buck Forecast Part 2

• Answer: Don explains bigger plots let deer space themselves apart based on their known pecking order, avoiding conflict among mature bucks. 75:18

Question: Easton Gruber asks if Don screens only the edges of feeding areas or splits them with switchgrass lines between clover, Deadly Dozen, soybeans, and corn. 45:52 — asked by Easton Gruber — Episode #132 - 2022 Buck Forecast Part 1

• Answer: Don says if breaking up a plot like Tony’s approach, he’d use Miscanthus instead of switchgrass because it screens better in a narrower strip. 46:09
• Answer: Don adds that a buck exits a small plot quickly, so smaller broken-up plots may not hold deer feeding as long as one big open plot. 48:07

Question: Why is mixing cereal grains and brassicas in the same food plot blend not a bad idea? 40:07 — asked by Scott Jackovich — Episode #131 - Don forms his own Dream Team

• Answer: Don answers that plants always compete with their own kind too, so mixing cereal grains and brassicas is no different a problem than planting a single species. 41:23

Question: On over 500 acres, would you keep all your food plots in one spot? 56:02 — Episode #131 - Don forms his own Dream Team

• Answer: Don says no, he’d use about three large plots rather than many scattered ones, since limiting a deer’s food options increases hunting odds. 56:47

Question: Is it true deer don’t digest soybeans well unless they’re roasted? 56:08 — Episode #131 - Don forms his own Dream Team

• Answer: Don says roasted soybeans are more easily digested, but wild deer still eat and digest raw soybeans fine, so it’s no reason to avoid planting them. 59:10

Question: Don Padgett asks whether ag lime or pelletized lime lasts longer and which is the better choice for spreading on smaller plots. 29:41 — asked by Don Padgett — Episode #129 - Lessons Learned from a GIANT TYPICAL - Story you haven’t heard!

• Answer: Don confirms ag lime is correct to last longer in soil since its larger granules take longer to break down compared to pelletized lime. 31:38

Question: Listener Daniel King asked why Real World doesn’t sell an alfalfa food plot product. 22:43 — asked by Daniel King — Episode #128 - Watching Summer Velvet Giants!

• Answer: Don says alfalfa demands far more fertility and maintenance attention than most food plotters are willing or able to give. 26:31
• Answer: Terry says he and Don both grow alfalfa personally and could sell it and profit, but choose not to for the average customer’s sake. 28:56

Question: How do Real World Gen-two beans compare to regular ag beans during early growth, and are they more attractive? 42:35 — asked by Eric Perry — Episode #125 - Wheat Prices May Change Late Season Hunting

• Answer: Don says Gen-two beans are absolutely more attractive than typical ag beans during the green growth stage. 43:08

Question: What percentage of Don’s hunting time is spent near food plots versus natural funnels, and how do food plots factor into his strategy? 56:54 — Episode #125 - Wheat Prices May Change Late Season Hunting

• Answer: Don explains food plots mainly work by creating predictable travel patterns, dictating which direction deer move to feed morning and evening. 57:30

Question: Kelly Shanley asks why it’s important to get soybean plots to maturity for late-season pods, and what soybeans offer that a fall blend like Deadly Dozen doesn’t. 43:23 — asked by Kelly Shanley — Episode #123 - How much does Don spend on batteries for trail cameras?

• Answer: Don explains that nothing else competes with soybeans’ protein content in winter, but the biggest draw is soybeans’ oil content, which helps deer stay warm. 45:59
• Answer: Terry adds that soybeans stay above snow and frozen ground in areas like Michigan, unlike other forages that get buried, keeping food accessible. 47:27

Question: Steve Swearing from Pleasant Hill, Iowa asks the hosts to clarify throw-and-grow food plots after past answers turned into roller-crimper debates. 76:06 — asked by Steve Swearing — Episode #122 - Extreme Heat Really Hurts the Doe and Fawns!

• Answer: Don clarifies true throw-and-grow means zero prep before spreading seed, whereas Steve’s method with spraying and a weed whip counts as prep work. 80:35
• Answer: Terry notes the confusion stems from an actual product called Throw and Go, which is what they’d been referencing. 81:47

Question: Logan Schmidt asks Don’s thoughts on alfalfa as a food plot crop and whether he uses a green forage/legume in his rotations. 56:52 — asked by Logan Schmidt — Chasing Giants Episode 121 - Residual Herbicide Discussion & Don is Buying a Farm

• Answer: Don warns alfalfa is a high-maintenance crop most food plotters aren’t equipped to properly cut and bale every 28 days. 57:15
• Answer: Don adds that despite the maintenance burden, alfalfa is the single most nutrient-dense food plot option available. 60:10

Question: Tyler Walter asks Don and Terry’s opinions on no-till food plots, specifically broadcasting seed without a drill on sandy loam soil. 42:38 — asked by Tyler Walter — Episode #119 - Memorial Day Tribute and Aging Bucks on Trail Cam Pics

• Answer: Don recommends checking whether local farmers use a given no-till method; if not, it’s probably not a good idea locally. 45:41
• Answer: Terry adds that some marketers exploit food plotters’ limited time and equipment by pushing low-success methods just to sell products. 47:12

Question: Brian Koehler from De Forest, Wisconsin asks whether seven acres of Real World Gen-two soybeans will hold deer on his property through winter. 72:38 — asked by Brian Koehler — Episode #115 - Don’s Top Four Properties Visited This Year

• Answer: Don recommends planting three acres of Nutri-Crave corn, three acres of Gen-two soybeans, and one acre of Deadly Dozen to hold deer through winter. 74:11
• Answer: Don says the higher oil content and palatability of these varieties will pull and hold deer on the property until the food is consumed. 76:46

Question: Is there anything that can be planted in a fully shaded strip of timber to attract deer without cutting trees? 58:03 — asked by Ryan Hunsaker — Episode #114 - FOOD PLOT SEASON IS HERE!!!!!

• Answer: Don says nothing will grow in fully shaded woods, so planting seed there is a waste of money. 59:06
• Answer: Terry recommends instead talking to the neighboring farmer and paying for oats to be blown into the adjacent ag field as a cover crop. 62:10

Question: Do you plant mast trees mainly to hold deer on your property, or do you also hunt over them for mature bucks? 49:27 — asked by Sam Carrozza — Episode #112 - Chasing Giants in the Big North Woods

• Answer: Don says he does hunt near some fruit trees, but the biggest reason for planting them is to hold deer on his property. 50:39

Question: Derek Hagen asked what to plant along a shaded, twenty-to-thirty-yard-wide pipeline right-of-way running north-south through his property. 18:19 — asked by Derek Hagen — Episode #110 - Double Episode live from Master Class - Al Foster gives great advise

• Answer: Don recommended a fall-planted blend such as Harvest Salad, Deadly Dozen, or Clover for the shaded right-of-way, since those blends handle filtered sunlight once leaves drop. 19:02

Question: Joe Miles asked Don whether mapping soybean production over Pope and Young record book buck locations shows they’re nearly identical. 34:34 — Episode #110 - Double Episode live from Master Class - Al Foster gives great advise

• Answer: Don confirmed he’s seen that correlation between soybean production and record book buck locations. 34:48

Question: What food plot products would you recommend for hunters on a low budget? 82:49 — asked by Rich Hixson — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says oats are the easiest low-cost crop to grow. 83:10
• Answer: Duane recommends winter-green brassica blends as a low-budget, high-return cold-weather crop. 84:15

Question: Is it a good idea to mow the weedy field and plant clover among newly planted fruit and nut trees? 20:31 — asked by Mark Jackson — Episode #108 - Mind Blowing Deer Management with Dr. Bronson Strickland

• Answer: Don says planting clover is a great idea since it’s a legume that adds nitrogen, benefits the trees, suppresses weeds, and adds a food source for deer. 20:42

Question: Josh asks how to keep food plots narrow for good shooting range while still achieving up to 10 acres or more of plot. 43:09 — asked by Josh — Episode #106 - Don finds sheds of an 8-year-old buck!

• Answer: Don explains he creates a large plot but necks it down near stands or blinds to keep deer within shooting range. 44:04

Question: A listener asked Don why he advocates for large food plots rather than smaller ones. 26:10 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don compares food plots to restaurants for people. 27:23
• Answer: A small food plot is like a fast-food restaurant with little pulling power, unlike a large one. 27:31
• Answer: On 200 acres, Don likes to see a couple of 10-acre food plots. 28:08

Question: Brandon asked whether Don keeps soybeans standing all season, and if so, when he knocks them down and replants. 50:07 — asked by Brandon Workman — Episode #93 - Don decides to take a break…

• Answer: Don said he doesn’t understand why anyone would plant soybeans and not leave them standing through the season. 50:20
• Answer: Don said hunting a brutal-cold standing soybean plot packed with dozens of deer like cattle in a feedlot proves why standing beans are worth it. 51:18

Question: Casey asked whether a small-cover property like his grandmother’s might simply be acting as a nursery for one-to-three-year-old bucks before they move south. 53:45 — asked by Casey Virgin — Episode #93 - Don decides to take a break…

• Answer: Don said something is likely missing from the property, and he suspects it’s a lack of food drawing deer away. 54:46
• Answer: Don recommended addressing the property’s food situation first, since it already has enough cover to hold deer. 55:17

Question: Jake asks what to plant on rolling cattle-farm terrain with few row crops, since his corn and beans keep getting wiped out by deer. 63:01 — asked by Jake Justice — Episode #88 - Hunting MATURE Bucks on October Mornings?

• Answer: Don recommends fall food plot options like Harvest Salad or Deadly Dozen instead of corn and beans, which get wiped out without large plots. 66:06

Unofficial fan project. AI-synthesized from public episodes; may contain errors.