Why Food Plots Matter in Canada: Deer Nutrition & Habitat Benefits

  • Boost forage availability: Essential leafy greens and energy-rich forage before green-up and after harvest are part of a well-planned deer food plot seed mix.
  • Extend seasonal nutritional access: Food plots provide key sustenance in spring, summer, fall—and even into winter.
  • Reliable attraction & retention: Multiple blends supporting perennials, brassicas, radish, and millet deliver within-herd draw and prolonged nightly visitations.

Rack Stacker’s Food Plot Blends—Overview

Rack Stacker, a Canadian-based family-owned provider collaborating with conservation organizations like ODHF and CDWF, offers a suite deer food plot seed mix tailored to Canadian climates. Their top offerings include:

  • Walk N Toss – overseeding small, remote openings with clover, brassica, and ryegrass using just a rake.
  • Superb‑uck – a perennial-dominant 67% blend for long-term deer attraction across years.
  • Sweet Success – annual-perennial mix ideal for turkey and deer attraction from late spring into late fall.
  • Field Edge – 100% brassicas, fast-growing in late summer into fall, high deer holding power.
  • Last Light – annual blend (kale, turnips, radish) delivering massive tonnage in as little as 70 days, built for beginner plotters.
  • Big‑Uns Radish – giant root radish to mix into other plots for fall/winter forage, enhancing soil nitrogen and aeration.

Seasonal Planting Timeline for Canadian Zones

SeasonRecommended BlendsObjectives
Early SpringWalk N Toss, Amplified (overseeding)Quick greens in remote areas post-thaw
Late Spring–SummerSweet SuccessEstablish lush, mixed growth early
Mid–Late SummerField Edge, Last Light, Big‑Uns RadishFast biomass production, winter hold
Overseed in Year 2AmplifiedTransition annual plots to perennials

Blend Profiles: Performance, Persistence & Yield

Walk N Toss

  • Target: isolated trail sections, beaver dams, logging roads.
  • Planter tool: shovel or rake only—ideal mobility and minimal prep.
  • Composition: perennial clover, brassica, and annual ryegrass.
  • Quick benefit: green forage within weeks, with minimal labor.

Superb‑uck

  • Composition: ~67% perennials like alfalfa, clover, birds‑foot trefoil; ~33% brassica and turnip.
  • Longevity: lasts 3–6 years with proper mowing and overseeding.
  • Attraction: strong deer & turkey magnet, holds big bucks late-season.

Sweet Success

  • Mix: annual turnips, millet, milo with perennial clovers (67/33).
  • Utility: early summer growth, food above snowline for turkeys, strong for deer during late hunts.
  • Best when: paired with Amplified for multi-year plots.

Field Edge

  • Blend: 100% brassicas.
  • Performance: rapid late‑season establishment, great deer-holding after first frost.
  • Season: ideal for late July–early September planting in moist soil.

Last Light

  • Components: hybrid radish, kale, turnips.
  • Yield: up to 40,000 lbs/acre in 2 months.
  • User level: beginner‑friendly, high return on minimal effort plots in <4 hours prep time.

Big‑Uns Radish

  • Role: accelerates fall/winter attraction, improves soil health, adds radish “megatonnage.”
  • Mixing: best added to other plot blends for elevated effect.

Rack Stacker’s “6 P’s of Plotting”: Best Practices

Steve Elmy’s formula ensures success with any rack-stacker blend:
Proper Preparation & Patience Prevent Poor Plotting.

  • Spray herbicide early to eliminate weeds
  • Use ATV plows or discs to roughen topsoil
  • Lightly drag to level, avoid planting seeds too deep
  • Broadcast seeds and pack using a roller or cultipacker
  • Fertilize: 300 lb/acre of balanced NPK split at 3–4 and 6–8 weeks post planting.
  • Second-year mowing to 4–6″ encourages thick, perennial stand.

Optimizing a Food Plot Program: Expert Recommendations

  1. Select blends strategically: Use Sweet Success or Last Light for early-year yield; follow up with Superb‑uck & Amplified to maintain long-term stands.
  2. Rotation plan: Alternate Field Edge or Last Light annually with perennial overseed to maximize nutrient and attractant output.
  3. Supplemental mineral: Utilize Rack Stacker minerals adjacent to food plots to increase deer residency time & condition.
  4. Placement & access: Position plots within 100–150 yds of natural travel corridors or treestands.
  5. Long-term monitoring: Assess browse pressure, wildlife visitation, and soil fertility for replant or rotation timing.

FAQs & Expert Answers

Q: What soil types and sunlight levels are suitable?
All blends need at least 4 hours of direct sun daily and a firm but well-draining planting surface. Field tests show best results on nutrient-tested sites with proper pH and minimal shade.

Q: Can I plant food plots in deep forest or marsh areas?
Yes—Walk N Toss is specifically developed for difficult-to-access areas and takes just a rake and seed to establish a productive patch in under an hour.

Q: How long before deer begin using the plot?

  • Walk N Toss: 4–6 weeks after germination
  • Sweet Success/Last Light: visible use by early fall
  • Superb‑uck stand: significant attraction by second year once perennials mature