Published: May 16, 2007 12:12 pm         

SPORTS COLUMN:Summer food plots

As I write this article, it is Mother’s Day. I can’t help but say - guys let’s don’t forget the ladies in our lives, especially our mothers and wives. Words can’t express what they do for us. It has been said, “the hand that rocks the cradle rules the world”. How true, enough said.

Many hunters only concentrate on fall food plots and a place to shoot a deer on a green field. I like to take care of wildlife year round. I enjoy watching things grow and I put in a lot more than I take out. I just got through planting my summer food plot. Yes it was hot, dusty and a lot of work but I think it is worth it. During this day of high fuel prices and little free time, I try to get as much bang for the buck as I can. I planted brown top millet, cow peas and sunflowers. If the timing is right, I might be able to squeeze a dove shoot out of it and at the same time feed the deer, turkey, rabbits, etc. during the hot summer months.

If you don’t have the time or inclination to plant a summer food plot there are other things you can do rather easy. For example you can fertilize natural plants like honey suckle vines on a fence row, or clover patches along side of logging roads. Also spring and early summer is a good time to establish salt licks, mineral licks or add to old licks. This is the time of year that bucks are growing their antlers back and they need those minerals.

Deer love new growth. Turkey poults survive mainly on bugs their first few weeks of life. A new field with young plants attracts bugs and it is a good place for baby turkeys and quail to get a jump start on life. Also rabbits and their new babies, plus doves will steal a few of your seeds that didn’t get covered good. Even predators will catch a few of the weak ones which is alright too. As mother nature can be cruel but it is a natural part of the cycle of life. We are just a small part, not near as important as we might think.

But with that in mind, we can be good caretakers of what we have. Summer food plots are much closer to being natural to wild game than simply throwing out feed. Also many non game species get a boost from these fields. I’ve watched an increase in blue birds and martins relish the grasshoppers and other bugs in my field.

Being an outdoorsman includes being a good caretaker of what God has blessed you with. Plus, I really enjoy it.

Dirk Thayer writes a weekly outdoors column for The Star-Herald.