Why Deer Food Plots Work
Deer food plots—plantings designed specifically to enhance wildlife nutrition—support wildlife in lean seasons and help attract game species like whitetails, turkey, and small mammals. When done right, they increase habitat carrying capacity, improve deer health, and elevate hunting or observing success.
Selecting the Optimal Location
✅ Key Criteria:
- Full sun exposure (ideally 6–8 hours/day)
- Well‑drained but with adequate moisture
- Proximity to cover for deer comfort and safety
- Soil texture suited to planned crops
- Plot shape avoids straight borders—irregular edges encourage more deer visits
Locating the right spot is more important upfront than testing soil—skip poor locations, no matter how convenient.
Soil Testing & Amendments
- Collect samples across zones (top 6″)
- Send to a reputable lab—expect pH, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter analysis
- Apply lime or sulfur to correct pH per lab advice
- Use custom fertilizer mixes targeting test recommendations—skip guesswork
- Re-test every 3 years or after major amendments
Getting pH right ensures fertilizer efficacy—don’t skip lime if soil needs it.
Choosing the Best Seed Mix
Considerations Before Buying:
- Your soil type, sun level, and moisture conditions
- Plot size and deer density—high browsing requires more resilient forage
- Weed pressure—select mixes based on whether broadleaf or grass weeds dominate
- Seasonal nutrition needs—summer, fall, early spring preferences
Regional Recommendations:
- Cool-season clovers (e.g. ladino, red clover) — excellent fall/winter forage
- Winter wheat or rye — high in protein, early-season growth; some grasses can crowd legumes
- Warm-season legumes (cowpeas, soybeans, buckwheat)
- Brassicas (turnips, rape, kale) for late-season nutrition
Useful Tip:
Avoid overcomplicated multi-species bags. Mixed plots may self-weed and limit herbicide options. Start simple, then diversify as you gain experience.
Planting Techniques & Timing
Planting Methods:
- Conventional tillage: Disk or rototill, create fine seedbed, broadcast seed
- No‑till drill: Spray glyphosate, then drill seed—preserves soil, reduces weed emergence
- Broadcast into standing vegetation: Spray weeds, broadcast seed manually—works for clovers or brassicas pre-rain, but needs higher seeding rates
Best Timing:
- Cool-season plots: Plant early fall (Aug–Sept) or early spring
- Warm-season plots: Late spring after frost
- Choose rain‑predicted windows for broadcasting
Weed & Pest Management
- Evaluate weed species—not all “weeds” are harmful. Some provide forage diversity
- Use spot spraying for noxious or invasive weeds; avoid blanket herbicide where food is mixed
- Match herbicide selection to your planted species (e.g., avoid grass herbicides if you planted cereal grains)
- Watch for insects or grazing damage; install light fencing or use repelants if pressure is heavy
Seasonal Maintenance & Monitoring
Year‑Round Care:
- Early spring: spot weed control, evaluate plant density
- Mid‑season vigor check: re-fertilize or patch repairs
- Late‑season browse monitoring: gauge deer pressure and plot sustainability
Winter strategy:
- Allow light grazing—browsed plots often support diverse forage
- Cover crops: doesn’t matter if ‘perfect’ appearance—deer forage or use for bedding
Case Studies & Regional Crop Choices
| Region/local condition | Recommended Crops | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Northern US cool climates | Rye, wheat, clover blends | Excellent late‑fall and early spring feed |
| Southern warm regions | Cowpeas, alyceclover, brassicas | Summer and fall nutrition high performers |
| Shaded or woodland edges | Red or white clover, brassicas | Better shade tolerance |
| Sandy, low fertility soil | Buckwheat in blend with legumes | Soil‑building plus forage value |
Common Pitfalls & How to Avoid Them
- Planting in shade or waterlogged areas
- Skipping soil testing—wasted fertilizer and poor yields
- Using overly complex seed blends
- Ignoring weed species that compete with plot passion
- Over-browsing small plots without rest or reseeding
6 Comments
Comments are closed.