Food plots on State land?????

[michhutr]

I've been reading about a movement to allow hunters to put food plots on state land. What do you think the pro's and Con's are.

The primary concern I have of such a proposal is that once the plot is made the person that did all the work may feel that is their own little private hunting land. While in fact public land belongs to everyone. I can see the possibility of major issues and conflict around these plots.

I'm sure most of us swing clear of known treestands and blinds but as we know some don't. I don't use other hunters stands on public lands even though the rules state you can. How are we going to react if we put many hours into a plot and on opening day we have 3-4 hunters within 100 years of it? Not well I think.

Any thoughts?

[Jet08]

Sure seems like they are welcoming conflict on this one. I am happy that we are taking steps to improve nutrition and hunting even on our state land, but I think they need to completely think this one through before they allow something like this to happen. If the state came in and paid for it and did the work for everyone to enjoy that is one thing, but if one guys is busting his back and his wallet to make this food plot only to find someone else hunting it is not going to turn out well IMO

[Johnnydeerhunt]

I am a public land hunter. I don't see the purpose of destroying native vegetation for someone to put any plants of their choosing on everyone's land. Aside from the issue of territoriality, public land is available for everyone's use. An article in the Woods-n-Waters that supported this idea really bothered me. Using herbicides to clear areas, fertilizer, and other chemicals would be necessary to production, as farm implements would not be allowed. Certain areas of public land are tilled and planted for forage. With organization, these areas feed and attract both deer and hunters to the area without a patchwork of damaging foodplots in areas that may have native vegetation useful for nongame species.

[bigsablemike]

dont sweat it,it'll never happen.

[swampbuck]

There is a loooong thread in the deer habitat forum on the subject. The proposal is being pushed by a resident qdm guru............I agree it is a very bad idea, to put it lightly. I dont think that even our screwed up NRC will buy into that one.:lol:

[onenationhere]

I also agree that it would not be a good idea,I like the concept though because public lands could use some better habitat for deer.Maybe if our leaders used our money in habitat improvment people would be less upset with there policies.

[huntingforhabitat]

Won't happen! but I did hear on good acounts the NRC gets quite a kick out of the guy that brings a 2 gallon sprayer to the meetings.

[Mightymouse]

I would be all for it if there were "professional" people out there putting in the plots and making all the right decsisons as to what to do with pesticides, fertilizers etc. The DNR puts in and "maintains" some food plots on public land and I am ok with that

I am leary about some joe blow going out and doing whatever he pleases in his effort to create a food plot. Also, as others have mentioned, people are already overly protective of "their" spots on state land even if they just walk in on Nov. 14th and set it up. Imagine how angry people would be if they worked from June through Nov to get a good plot in place only to find out that some other guy is on "their" spot.

[Gilbey]

Guy #1: What the *&%# are you doing in my food plot?

Guy #2: Whadda ya mean, I was just out for a walk on public land????

Guy #1: You need to leave now, this is my food plot!!!!!

Guy #2: Well....it says on this plat book it is public land?!?

Guy #1: Yeah but I planted this here food plot so I get to hunt here.

Well............I guess I could go on for a few pages on this one where it goes.:help:

[Gilbey]

And then the flip side of the coin.

The state is far too dysfunctional when it comes to habitat management, yet the flip side to this with the yooper winters/ yarding situations is that we don't have the nutrition and the yarding situation with lack of browse is only worsening. So, the habitat portion of this in terms of the benefits is good. It would only get outweighed by the negative quickly though.

And no - this would never work.

[Ed Spin04]

The above illustrates the following fact. Only 10% of humans have a positive makeup and look for answers to improve conditions, when a major change is in question, while the rest tend to look for reasons why the status quo is fine. That social finding is not a knock on the status quoer's, it's just the way we are made. Change is not easy and a major change is difficult.

[William H Bonney]

....I agree it is a very bad idea, to put it lightly. I dont think that even our screwed up NRC will buy into that one.:lol:

Hmmmm,, I dunno about that. If there ever was a group that was stupid enough to try and pull this off,,, our NRC might be the top contender.:16suspect

[Munsterlndr]

Hmmmm,, I dunno about that. If there ever was a group that was stupid enough to try and pull this off,,, our NRC might be the top contender.:16suspect

No worries, the idea was pretty much shot down in flames by the Chairman at the last NRC meeting.

[bucksnbows]

No worries, the idea was pretty much shot down in flames by the Chairman at the last NRC meeting.

Do I think it will happen? No. Do I want it to happen? I am not sure. Could it actually work? I believe it could, but like stated above I think the state would have to be in some kind of control of where they went and who put them in. I don't think its a bad idea, I just think there are too many obstacles to over come and work out to have it done properly. I don't know why I quoted Munstelndr.

[bucksnbows]

There is a loooong thread in the deer habitat forum on the subject. The proposal is being pushed by a resident qdm guru............I agree it is a very bad idea, to put it lightly. I dont think that even our screwed up NRC will buy into that one.:lol:
See there you go again using the letters QDM . He is a foodplot master/guru that practices QDM. His knowledge of food plots has been very helpful to those who are bettering their hunting grounds.

[swampbuck]

See there you go again using the letters QDM . He is a foodplot master/guru that practices QDM. His knowledge of food plots has been very helpful to those who are bettering their hunting grounds.

I think he is the founder and president of the mid michigan branch of qdma, The first qdma branch in michigan. Not that I have a problem with that !

[Swamper]

"The above illustrates the following fact. Only 10% of humans have a positive makeup and look for answers to improve conditions, when a major change is in question, while the rest tend to look for reasons why the status quo is fine. That social finding is not a knock on the status quoer's, it's just the way we are made. Change is not easy and a major change is difficult."

Same logic used by the campaign team of Obama...focus on the word "change" and how we need to "change" without any in depth look or substance as to what we are "changing to".

I believe that someone will yell "surprise, I was only kidding about this idea; you don't that I was serious" on April 1st (appropriately enough that day).

Swamper