phade

Wait, so before you actually know whether private or public...you walked it? Wow.

I really enjoy seeing the new ambition of first time hunters at any age. It is inspiring. I hope you really enjoy the sport and who knows, maybe some of the people here on this forum are local to you and can meet up. Good Luck!

One thing that may cause you some pain is the fact you tilled and seeded. In your situation, i would have waited and let the seeds you brought to the surface germinate and then hit it with RU...and then seed with a good rain right after. Tilling is good no doubt but it can really bring weed seed to the surface, and since clover needs some care to make it like westerns plots. Sprays arent cheap. For your bare section, maybe look at buckwheat, and then turn it into a small radish and brassica section. Or red clover as grow noted and then go into radish and brassica. Deer dont really hammer buckwheat, but theyll nibble on it. It is a good soil builder and turkey like it. Grows nearly anywhere too. Then you can get those radish and turnips etc.

LOL, that's what I am trying to say...you aren't going to save cost, time or money going this route. You are setting yourself up for more challenges. A $7 or $9 soil test will tell you what you need to know to be successful. Why spend $40 ona guess, when you could have spent less and known more? It's also your first plot...you should pick something that grows in a variety of conditions with the ability to survive and propser through your mistakes. That poll thread is worth reading..some people are chipping in with good feedback for you. It's also 28-2 now in favor of fall planting clover, but that's really not the point. I was hoping people would chime in with their opinions based on their background knowledge.

Nice...posting on the same topic at the same time! Biologic is good and reliable. Belo can also drop it off in Newark at Cornell's extension, too, if he is close by.

Talk him into a soil sample, too, while you are at it, since he listens to you. Ha.

I think mixing radish and brassica shortens the deer learning curve. No doubt, I've seen more instances where brassica took two-three seasons before it really got hammered by deer. Seems to be gnawed on earlier and with the exposed goodness above the soil, they'll quickly learn the brassicas are also good once that starch turns into sugar.

Wow, surprised this coming from you based on your posts. Pretty shoddy thinking, but again, best of luck. BTW, that poll is only two hours old...it's up to 19-1 now. Not like that forum isn't the pre-eminant food plotting forum on the internet or anything, lol. Those posters that did choose to post aren't amatuers either by comparison. The location of the plot is revealed in the thread...they know its in NY.

I don't think you are getting what I am saying, and that is A-OK. Hopefully it works out for you. I don't want to pass along any additional opinion because what's done is done at this point. I just want you to understand context - the advice I gave you was for beginning, gaining knowledge, not throwing money away, and getting a "good enough" plot and not a perfect one (such as with Western's equipment, money, time, and experience). As an FYI - you can keep your eye on this thread on the QDMA forum's Food Plot section - pretty much the more knowledgeable "collective group" given plotting in today's world. http://www.qdma.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56154 As it stands, the poll shows this: View Poll Results: Spring or Fall planting of Clover in NY on new plot This poll will close on 04-11-2013 at 10:29 AM Spring 1 7.69% Fall 12 92.31% That's 12 to 1 in favor of fall planting.

Not doing a soil test is just plain crazy imo. Western is also experienced in plotting and has the equipment and knowledge and it's not his first rodeo. Compare his equipment $$$ investment and prep list vs. what you have available and that changes things I suspect. Sure, you aren't a pro, there's nothing wrong with it. I just don't get how you can do the "research" and then not do a soil sample. Did you do ANYTHING to get seed to soil contact? You limed with no sample? How did you know what amount to lime? To me, it just sounds like you want someone who agrees with you to offer advice from here on out, so best of luck. In parting, fall planting of clover is better imo as it offers you better odds long-term in your situation. I've given you beginner advice. You need all the help you can get and fall planting provides more of it.

Spring planting of clover has quite a few pitfalls. The benefit to fall planting is that is give clover time to grow roots better with less weed competition inconjunction with a cover/nurse crop...making it more able to compete in the following spring. Most people who have plotted often turn to fall planting of clover...check out the QDMA's plotting forum. You'll find info about Lick Creek's mix...which is literally a road map if you have the time, willing to part with the seed cost, and the equipment. Spring planting is just a headache compared to fall planting. But, the people in the videos know it all, soooooooo.............. Brassica and radish are pretty easy to grow...as are those documented in the link below. You also didn't mention your soil test results? Read this thread...worth nearly every second to shorten the learning curve... http://www.qdma.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25851&highlight=lick+creek

It's all about risk and compliance. Risk is what the company is willing to gamble. Compliance is what we call the "sales prevention team" where I work. They make requirements to fall in line with regulatory and law changes. While it is a very intelligent job and pays well as a career, you can walk into any Compliance department of any major company and the people will all look eerily the same...as if they were cast in the Walking Dead. DKS is not very risk tolerant historically from all fronts. They have very calculated policies, including geographical expansion and acquisition practices. Slow and steady is the name of the game for DKS. Very strongly controlled from the corporate level, which as a publicly traded company, acts more like a privately owned one because of the owning family still controlling the majority stake (Stack family). One Ed Stack dies, there will be problems there as there is no real succession plan in place. So much so, they list it as a business risk in their annual filings to the SEC. Ed Stack is the hammer in that company...not the stockholders. The company has huge upside, but this one area is a major concern. Ed Stack is so controlling he doesn't even allow succession planning to take place - at least publicly shared.

For small time purchases...gas and shipping costs make the economics for you. You can get Landino and various clovers at Country Max in Palmyra or Macedon (I think that is where it is there). It's legit seed. Just ask for it...I have bought there before. Let me add too, that if this is your first real plot, you may want to look at a good quality, easy to grow annual of sorts. Clover isn't the hardest to grow, but it's also a bit slower to become that "lush green plot of hunters' dreams" if you can understand. I prefer fall planting clover and also some light frost seeding of it. Not saying you cannot do it, but spring planting of clover isn't going to always look pretty the first year, but it really shines in that following year. Some new plotters can be discouraged by that and till it under, etc. I support first time plotters doing something that will grow and look great as a confidence builder. Clover is not a bad choice, but also not the easiest to grow/succeed with right off the bat with immediate results.

If you are small volume (ie a few pounds), Country Max often times has decent clover seed. Looks up a nearby agway store...they have a search engine. One thing you can do is check walmart.com - sure they sell buck on a bag, but sometimes they have cheaper prices than competitors and you can have it shipped to your store. I picked up the brassica/turnip and radish mix for $10 when all said and done and it'll do a 1/4 acre plot just fine. Local places for radish were a bit high and when you add in drive time/gas...it was cheaper to go the WM route. Online is good for some things, but shipping often kills small purchases. Welter is usually a go-to.

That's about as good as it gets. Nothing beats the first deer!

I think the 1/4 strut jakes are the ticket imo for a decoy. Pair that up with a hen and it's the best overall setup. Run and gun obviously you drop the dekes altogether or just go with a lone hen for sake of carrying. Have a strutter and it does booger younger birds...jakes and a 2.5 every so often. Still, if the big bird on the block is there, I've never seen it back down to a strutter. Sort of like putting out a 125" buck decoy. It'll scare away the dinks on many times...

opticsplanet and then the one from NYC...cameraland or something I think. I have the newer model Crossfire and I like it. I certainly wouldn't say I love it, but I like it.

I used him from time to time...almost a last resort thing. His service/quality had slipped big time in the past few years. Was a nice place about 10 years ago when he really put effort into it. Still a shame to see.

I personally wouldn't plant brassica a third year in a row. I also wouldn't mix it with clover...better off strip planting that instead of blending. Bit late for pruning imo.

And distances...good stuff.

Performance will depend on your choke and gun. You'll have to test it to see. I've taken a bird or two with each.

I wouldn't choose chestnuts for screen. I'd be looking at some pines, etc. for that purpose. I'd plant chestnuts in a more isolated and smaller space to concentrate the deer and encourage daytime visits.

All in good fun.

Upon seeing an elderly lady for the drafting of her will, the attorney charged her $100. She gave him a $100 bill, not noticing that it was stuck to another $100 bill. On seeing the two bills stuck together, the ethical question came to the attorney's mind: "Do I tell my partner?"

Yeah, that is it. I've seen an honest to goodness 10+ P&Y class bucks there in daylight over the years driving. I once drove into the ditch because of one.