We have a place near Bowie, TX and we have never done a food plot before. We've always had success with running corn feeders most of the year. I've met somebody that wants to let me use a pull-behind disc(er) to work on doing a food plot. I'm new to this stuff so can somebody give me the basics?

The owner of the disc told me he would till the area up, wait 7 days then come back and till again then spread seed, fertilize with 15/15/15 then drag a piece of chain link fence to lightly cover the seed. Does this sound about right?

If so, can somebody recommend seed? I was told Biologic is good stuff but I have no idea what else is out there. Is there anything that attracts deer as well as hogs? I know most people wouldn't want pigs in their food plots but I enjoy hunting them, too. Thanks!

Are you speaking spring or fall plot? Are you hunting it or just for supplemental feed? I would say clover and peas now. Wheat, clover and oats in the fall. Go to the feed store they can help you out. Also check with mbs seed in Denton.

I like oats in the fall/winter.

Soil sample to tell you what the soil needs. It will also help you with what you can plant in that type soil. How large an area do you have to plant? Livestock be able to get to it? Hogs will root up or tear up a food plot not leaving much for deer. I would spray roundup to kill the grass and weeds if they are present. Then after 2 weeks I would disc the area a couple of times to turn the trash/slash under into the soil. Then plant when the night time and soil temps are warm enough. Need to make sure it is after the areas last frost date to plant. This is if you are doing a spring food plot.

It's going to be probably 2 or 3 plots, less than 1/2 acre each. Spring time.

Where do you get the soil checked? No livestock

I would recommend you do this first

http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/files/soilwebform.pdf

Yes test your soil first.

Thanks! Pure idiot here...which tests do I have them do? Do I just take that info to a feed store and they'll know how to interpret the results?

You're welcome Bombay,

Just get several samples of your soil by digging around the plot.

You can call the ag agent in your area to see if he has the ss tool. Ask him what grows in your area.

You could do it with a sharp shooter shovel.

Mix the samples in a clean bucket. Fill out the application. Put deer food plot in the description. Fill up a ziploc bag with soil then ship it to them. I would get the routine and micro test, it's 17$. If you put your email address near your personnel info they'll email asap then you will get a paper report 2-4 days later.

I would plant black eyed peas, that way you can eat what the deer dont.

Soil test basic will check soil ph(will tell you how much lime you will need) and how much nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium will be needed per acre. I used SFA this year took about 10 days to get results mailed to me for each plot. The cost for basic is 10 bucks per sample spent 12 bucks at post office (if it fits it ships) for all five samples in one box. I got the SFA soil sample bags and directions at A&M Feed in Longview. Thier site is ag.sfasu.edu. They sent me detailed amounts of lime, above listed fertilizer per acre for each individual plot based on me planting peas. If you provide what you are planting they will tailor for that crop. Am planting Whitetail Institute PowerPlant this spring at my house and at the Harrison county lease this year, clover, buck forage oats, and brassicas this fall. Good luck and shoot/trap each site for hogs to TRY to keep em off your plots. Have found if we harass and kill em around the plots they may find less stressful places to go ruin...like the neighbors food plots. Almost forgot, check with your feed store, A&M took my test paperwork, plugged it into thier computer program and printed out fertilizer mix needed for each plot, so I can buy in bulk exactly what is needed for each plot. Also check out QDMA for good info.