South Carolina 4-H Youth Development September 2015 Issue 1 Wildlife Food Plot Project Sponsored by Clemson Cooperative Extension, Quality Deer Management Association, the Rack Pack, and Wannamaker Wildlife Welcome to the 2015 Project!!! Here is some history behind the 4-H Wildlife Food Plot Project, as we prepare to kick-off another great year with 108 participants for 2015 In 2013, what was known as the long running SC 4-H FACE (Food and Cover Establishment) for Wildlife Project was re-vamped into what is now the SC 4-H Wildlife Food Plot Project. Many of the same project requirements remained in place, including planting a food plot and keeping a record book, but the seed mix and planting dates were changed to accommodate a fall food Continued on 2 Dates to Remember How to plant your plot We want to hear See the list on Page 2 with the important deadlines and information for each. Page 2 Here are some guidelines to help you get started. Page 3 from YOU!!! Page 4
; South Carolina 4-H Youth Development September 2015, Issue 1 plot that would attract more white-tailed deer. In its first year, there were 102 participants from 23 counties in the project. QDMA s (Quality Deer Management Association) Rack Pack youth program was the sole project sponsor, donating 10 pounds of Biologic seed per participant, plus awards for the eight regional winners and two state winners. In its second year, Wannamaker Wildlife out of St. Matthews, SC was added as the seed sponsor, donating 12 pounds of seed for each of the 110 participants from 18 counties. The Rack Pack again contributed regional and state awards. In late Spring 2015, South Carolina 4-H was contacted by Luther Wannamaker with his idea of contributing free seed and more knowledge so that youth might be able to feed wildlife year round. He originally offered 2 ½ pounds of seed to each youth that had completed the project in the winter of 2014. By the time the seed was picked up, Mr. Wannamaker had decided that each of the 53 youth that completed this project last year needed at least 10 pounds of his Ultimate summer food plot seed mix to make a true impact for wildlife; a donation of nearly $800 worth of seed! All Mr. Wannamaker asked in return is that we add an additional project newsletter, to be delivered this summer, to educate youth on the importance of providing food for wildlife year round. The July 2015 newsletter can be found here: http://www.clemson.ed u/extension/county/ne wberry/programs/4h/fo odplotpage.html 2015 Dates: October 1 31 st Recommended planting window October 31 st Deadline for planting your food plot November 27 th Deadline to email story and picture to be included in the project newsletter December - January Site visit from county judge, date determined by local Extension Agents January 22, 2016 Record books due to County Extension Office February 2016 County winners announced March 2016 Regional and State winners announced Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, gender, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer. 2
1 2 ; South Carolina 4-H Youth Development September 2015, Issue 1 Planting Your Food Plot Location is EVERYTHING! Seed for this year s project is generously provided by Wannamaker Wildlife out of St. Matthews, SC. This bag of seed, in the 12 pound quantity given, is the only seed that will be allowed in your 1/8th-acre (5,445 sqft) project food plot. No additional seed may be added. This 4-H Special Mix consists of oats, wheat, peas, radish, and rape. It is recommended that your food plot get at least 6 hours of sunlight per day and the soil ph ranges between 5.8 7.0. To determine your soil s ph on the proposed plot site, we recommend taking a soil sample and send it off through your local Clemson Extension Office ($6 fee). The results will also provide fertilizer recommendations. For information on taking a soil sample and reading the results, visit Clemson University s Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) at: www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/ot her/soils/hgic1652.html. Where should you plant? Consider using unused corners and edges of crop fields, forest openings, adjacent to fence rows, utility right-of-ways and access roads, logging roads, edges of wide woods roads, logging decks, fire lanes, and abandoned fields. Think of areas that: Are away from roadways and property boundaries. Allow you to approach without disturbing wildlife. Are away from human, pet, and livestock traffic. Are close to cover for wildlife security Are long and narrow to maximize the edge of the food plot for wildlife exposure. The 4-H Special Mix is best planted by spreading the seed on a well-prepared seedbed (following soil test results). After discing, spread the pea, wheat, and oat mixture and re-disc. Next, spread the radish and rape mixture on top and drag to cover the seed. Planting deadline is O ctober 31 st. 3
; South Carolina 4-H Youth Development September 2015, Issue 1 We want to hear from YOU! Send us your pictures and stories Let us know what is going on with your project as the season progresses. We would love to share your photographs and stories in the newsletter! How is your exclosure cage working, have you seen any animal tracks, where did you plant your plot, have you hunted over it this year? These are all questions we d like to know the answers to. Write us a brief story about your food plot project (about 300 words or less), include a picture, and email it to Ashley Burns at taberp@clemson.edu. Be sure to include your name and county in the email. Your story can be good, bad, funny, or sad. Sometimes, we learn more from our failures or mistakes than we do from our successes! Email it no later than Thanksgiving, Nov. 27 th, to be included in the following newsletter!!! In sending us a picture to use in the newsletter, you are hereby granting permission to Clemson University, its employees or representatives, to use the photographs or digital images, indefinitely and without compensation, in promotional or educational materials as follows: printed publications or materials, electronic publications or presentations, websites. Project Record Books The SC 4-H Wildlife Food Plot Project requires that participants complete a record book. The goal is for youth to gain knowledge, in addition to getting hands-on experiences. If you need help with your record book, do not hesitate to contact your Extension Agent. Please note that it is much easier to record information as you go in a draft copy of your record book, than it is to remember your information accurately and in good detail later on. Especially take notes on what you learned and how you would use that information to improve your Wildlife Food Plot Project for next year! 4
South Carolina 4-H Youth Development September 2015, Issue 1 How do you know how much you grow?! Build your own exclosure cage to prevent grazing of your food plot in a small area There s no way to tell how much your food plot is being eaten if you don t have a small, sample area that prevents grazing. Therefore, we highly recommend using an exclosure cage to measure the growth of your food plot! Based on the amount of forage being consumed outside the cage, you can get an idea of the abundance of deer and relative food sources available in your area. A simple exclosure cage can be made from a 10 long section of 4 tall welded wire fence (with 2x4 panels). The section of fence can be formed into a cylinder and staked in the ground. For more information visit: https://www.qdma.com/articles/how-tobuild-a-browse-exclosure A big THANK YOU to our 2015 Sponsors!