Just got on a lease in Angelina County...about 600 acres. I've got my stand and feeder set up in about 10 acres of Oaks. I'm considering making a food plot for fall hunting, and searches are looking like Oats might be a good option for that area.

I'm no farmer and don't have access to farm equipment on a regular basis. What I do have is time. Is it realistic to make a plot using hand tools? I'm not thinking anything massive...just enough to make my spot different and get the deer eating there.

Heck of alot of work. better to mow or weed eat the area. Then scarp the ground good and throw some no plow trow and grow with rye grass and oats. What I would do.

After some more research, I'm thinking about using Throw & Gro. It looks like a good timeline is to spray round up this summer to kill out competing plants. Then in September rake off the dead stuff and put out my Throw & Gro. Any thoughts? Also at what point should I do a soil test to see if I need to fertilize/lime?

Throw and gro works good cuz its mainly rye grass.... you can buy a 50lb bag of the same thing for about tha price of that 10lb. I always planted race horse oats, weat, and vetch in that area works well. good to go back over with triple 17 fertalizer after they grab roots also if you get rain.

you can do a soil test at any time... your local feed store should send it off for you.

Is it typical to do a second soil test after fertilizing?

I did one right after i got my place and just used the same fertalizer from there... if you want to plant different seed or a spring plot at anytime you can send it in with what you plan on planting and they will tell you what you need to put in