Whitetail hunters and land managers are always searching for a warm-season crop that delivers both nutrition and cover.
Enter the sunn hemp food plot — a fast-growing, nitrogen-fixing legume that provides exceptional forage, soil improvement, and security cover for whitetail deer. Whether you manage hundreds of acres or a single small property, sunn hemp can become the backbone of your warm-season food plot rotation when planted and managed correctly.
What Is Sunn Hemp and Why It Matters for Deer
Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea) is a tropical legume originally grown for fiber and green manure. Unlike industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa), it contains no THC. It thrives in hot, humid climates, maturing rapidly — often reaching heights of 5 to 10 feet within 60 to 90 days. For deer habitat management, this growth rate is a major advantage.
In a well-designed sunn hemp food plot, the dense canopy provides shade and cover while enriching the soil with organic matter and natural nitrogen. The plant’s crude protein levels typically range from 25 % to 30 %, rivaling popular warm-season forages like soybeans and lablab. That makes sunn hemp an excellent summer protein source that supports antler growth and lactation.
Benefits of Planting a Sunn Hemp Food Plot
1. Exceptional Nutritional Value
Deer need protein to rebuild after the rut and grow antlers during summer. Sunn hemp delivers. With crude protein content in the 25–30 % range and highly digestible leaves during early growth, it fuels herd health during a time when natural forage quality is declining.
2. Fast Growth and High Biomass
A key trait of sunn hemp is its rapid biomass production. In the right conditions, it can gain over an inch per day and reach maturity in as little as two months. That means you get instant ground cover, soil protection, and a visually impressive stand that attracts deer.
3. Soil Improvement and Nitrogen Fixation
Being a legume, sunn hemp works with soil bacteria to fix atmospheric nitrogen. This natural process can return up to 120 lb of nitrogen per acre to the soil, reducing fertilizer costs and improving subsequent crops. Its deep roots break compaction, boost water infiltration, and increase soil organic matter.
4. Excellent Deer Cover and Bedding Habitat
Unlike most short summer forages, sunn hemp grows tall and thick. This structure creates an inviting environment where deer feel safe feeding during daylight. Hunters often note increased daytime activity and improved deer comfort in and around tall sunn hemp stands.
5. Weed Suppression
The dense canopy shades out unwanted weeds, reducing herbicide needs. This natural weed control makes sunn hemp a low-maintenance component of a diverse deer food plot system.
Best Regions and Growing Conditions for Sunn Hemp
A sunn hemp food plot thrives in warm climates, particularly across the southeastern United States — from Texas to the Carolinas and up into parts of Kentucky and southern Missouri. It performs best in USDA zones 8 to 11.
Soil Preferences:
- Well-drained sandy or loamy soils
- pH between 5.5 and 7.5
- Moderate fertility (low nitrogen needed)
Avoid heavy, poorly drained clay soils, as they can stunt growth. In sandy soils, sunn hemp’s drought tolerance is particularly valuable.
When and How to Plant Sunn Hemp
The success of your sunn hemp food plot depends heavily on proper timing and seedbed preparation. Plant once soil temperatures consistently exceed 60°F — typically from late April through early June in the South.
Seed Rate and Planting Tips:
- Broadcast 20–25 lb per acre or drill 15–20 lb per acre
- Plant seed ½–1 inch deep into a firm seedbed
- Lightly pack or roll soil after planting for best contact
- Avoid heavy nitrogen fertilizer — the plant produces its own
If you’re mixing sunn hemp with other species, reduce seeding rates proportionally. Common partners include soybeans, browntop millet, cowpeas, and sunflowers, all of which complement sunn hemp’s vertical growth.
Deer Behavior and Forage Timing
Hunters often wonder when deer will actually start eating sunn hemp. Field observations show a clear pattern: early in the growing season, deer may browse lightly or ignore the plants entirely while they’re still small and fibrous. But as the plants mature and the lower leaves expand, deer shift behavior dramatically.
Once the canopy develops and the lower leaves become accessible, deer begin stripping leaves up to chest height, creating a visible browse line. This pattern continues through mid to late summer, especially as alternative food sources decline. Over time, deer learn to recognize sunn hemp as a reliable summer food source, often increasing usage each subsequent year.
Maintenance Tips for a Thriving Sunn Hemp Food Plot
Even though sunn hemp grows fast, it benefits from thoughtful management:
- Mow selectively: Once plants exceed 5 feet, mowing strips or laying down sections makes leaves more accessible and keeps plants tender.
- Control early browse: In areas with heavy deer pressure, protect young plants with temporary fencing until they reach 2–3 feet tall.
- Monitor soil fertility: Conduct annual soil tests to maintain balanced phosphorus and potassium levels.
- Rotate crops: After sunn hemp, plant small grains or brassicas to take advantage of the nitrogen credit it leaves behind.
Challenges and Limitations
While sunn hemp offers many advantages, a few challenges require attention:
- Frost Sensitivity: As a tropical annual, it dies at the first frost, so it’s best used as a summer forage.
- Fibrous Stems: If left uncut, mature stalks become woody and less palatable. Regular mowing or rotating helps maintain digestibility.
- Seed Availability: Depending on region, seed may be harder to source or more expensive than traditional forages.
- Deer Pressure: In small plots with high deer density, young sunn hemp can be overbrowsed before establishing. Use exclusion cages or fencing early.
By anticipating these issues, you can manage them effectively and maintain high-quality food plots season after season.
Integrating Sunn Hemp into a Whitetail Management Plan
The best deer habitat programs rely on diversity. A sunn hemp food plot should be one component of a broader seasonal strategy that includes cool-season perennials and fall annuals. Pairing sunn hemp with legumes or grains ensures year-round attraction and nutrient balance.
For example:
- Spring to early summer: Sunn hemp + cowpeas + millet mix
- Late summer to fall: Transition to brassicas, oats, or clover
- Winter and spring: Maintain perennials or cereal blends
This rotation maximizes soil health, extends deer attraction through all seasons, and reduces the need for synthetic fertilizer.
Real-World Results: What Hunters Are Seeing
Across the Southeast, managers report consistent success with sunn hemp plots. In sandy soils of Georgia and South Carolina, for example, sunn hemp routinely reaches six to eight feet tall within two months, providing both cover and forage. Trail cameras capture mature bucks browsing calmly within hemp stands during daylight — something rarely seen in open soybean plots.
Moreover, repeat plantings lead to better results. Deer learn to recognize the forage and use it earlier each summer, leading to improved utilization rates and more predictable hunting patterns.
Why Every Land Manager Should Try Sunn Hemp
If you’re serious about deer nutrition and habitat quality, the sunn hemp food plot deserves a place in your management plan. It’s nutrient-rich, soil-enhancing, and provides the kind of vertical structure deer crave for security. With minimal inputs and fast growth, sunn hemp pays dividends in both herd health and hunting success.
Whether planted alone or in a blend, it offers a sustainable, low-maintenance solution for landowners who want to improve their property’s carrying capacity and ecological balance.
So this season, test a few acres of sunn hemp. Once you see the growth rate, soil benefits, and deer usage firsthand, it may become your favorite warm-season food plot crop.