Open grasslands scattered through woodlands provide brood range for turkeys and grouse. Hens will take their broods to these open habitats to feed on the high concentrations of insects found there. Wildlife Food Plots . Forest properties can be further managed to attract wildlife by planting specific food crops, although such farming can become a monumental task. If you are not experienced in growing agricultural commodities, seek assistance from your county Cooperative Extension Center.
Cost is the other deciding factor in planting food plots.
While these costs include labor and machine time, they are still extremely high and have forced many wildlife biologists and landowners to abandon food plots in forest stands. Another alternative is to coordinate wildlife habitat improvement with on-going farm and forestry operations. Annual plantings of field corn or grain sorghum are particularly beneficial, especially when mast production is low. If you decide to plant perennial plots, plan on disking, liming and fertilizing, and replanting about every three years. Make sure you plant in areas that receive adequate sunlight.