The principle objective of food and cover plots is to establish safe foraging patterns that restrict unnecessary movements and provide a dependable source of food to help carry female birds through the winter in good condition. It also helps to underscore the importance of establishing food plots closely adjacent to existing winter cover. Otherwise, the plots must provide significant cover in addition to being a source for food.

Corn and sorghum are generally accepted as the most appropriate and reliable food sources. Soybeans, millets, wheat, rye and buckwheat, although are a good source of food, tend to lodge and get buried by snow, making them less reliable food sources and forcing the birds into the open in order to utilize them.

	The food plots must be left over the winter until the spring of the following year.
	Land that has leased hunting rights is not eligible.
	The seed provided is to be used for wildlife habitat only.

Food Plots

Corn - plant at 15 lbs of seed per acre

Grain Sorghum - Plant at a rate of 10 lbs of seed per acre. This sorghum grows to the height of 2-3 feet and provides food and some cover.

Forage Sorghum - Plant at a rate of 10 lbs of seed per acre a heavier rate will result in a poor stand and will lie down. This seed is also called cane sorghum and grows 7-12 feet high and some varieties have a seed that provides some food to pheasants and other wildlife. This variety may also reseed itself the following year.

For further information contact Jodi Worm at (952)492-5416 or e-mail at jworm@co.scott.mn.us.

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