Title: Adoption of Native Food Plots by Hunters and Landowners: Will It Work?
Year: 2015
Abstract: Commercial food plots provide supplemental food and/or cover to wildlife when adequate habitat is lacking. An example is industrial pine timberlands in south Arkansas where land is leased for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hunting, but hunting clubs are restricted from implementing habitat practices which compete with timber production. Many landowners rely on commercial food plots exclusively when other habitat practices could provide additional year-round benefits for deer and other wildlife. Since 2003, University of Arkansas county Extension agents and faculty have conducted over 30 field demonstration trials in 18 counties. These trials compare vegetation in plots planted with commercial seeds and control plots (natural vegetation) that have been disked, fertilized, and limed. Dry-weight analyses indicate wildlife consumed plants in all plots, with consumption in natural-vegetation plots competing favorably with commercial plots. Logically, hunters and landowners are asked "why plant seeds when you can grow weeds?" Possible obstacles for adopting "native food plots" include (1) a lack of side-by-side comparisons of crude protein and other plant characteristics in commercial vs. native plants consumed by deer (i.e., plants occurring in the same soil type, soil amendments, and environmental conditions), and (2) hunter/landowner perceptions and expectations of commercial vs. native food plots. Because of considerable mass marketing, it is doubtful the message of native food plots will be well received without additional work. Currently, food plot demonstration trials serve as a bridge for discussing habitat concepts and practices with hunters and landowners.
