By Sarah Honadel
Some seed brands want you to think establishing a good deer food plot is as easy as throwing out a bag full of seed mix and watching the deer come running. However, truly establishing a good food plot takes time and planning. The following are some tips to help you get started!
The right location
Depending on your property, you might have limited options on where to plant a food plot, but you still need to select the right location. First of all, selecting a spot near bedding areas will give your plot an advantage, and if you can combine that with a water source nearby – even better! But either way, make sure the area gets enough morning sunlight so the plants will grow, but not too much hot afternoon and evening sun, if possible.
Deer will want to have a way to get to and from your food plot without breaking their cover. If you’re planting near a wooded area, corn or tall grass is a great addition around the perimeter to give deer an easy transition from the woods to the field. This cover can also help you when it comes to hunting in the fall seasons.
Last, pay attention to the normal wind patterns on your property. Although the wind will change, pick a spot where you can normally get into your stand with the wind in your face. Additionally, make sure you have a spot where you can place your tree stand or blind upwind of the food plot. Also, don’t forget hunting opportunities where deer are moving to and from your food source to bedding or water.
Size and shape matter
When selecting your food plot location, consider the size of the food plot. Too small and your crops might not grow well or survive to maturity—especially if you have a decent deer population. Too big and you end up with more maintenance than you want, deer that are too cautious to enter or when they do enter, they will likely be out of range for a shot. Most hunters would agree that a ½-acre to 2-acre food plot is plenty.
As for shape, is there really one shape that’s superior to the rest? After some research, I’ve found there are three primary shapes that tend to be favorites:
• Long and thin – The basic idea of this design is to keep the distance across the width within bow range. This design also allows you to do small sections of different crops.
• Hourglass – The basic idea of this shape is to place your tree stand near the pinch point forcing deer to pass you within range. It’s a good idea to put a stand on each side of the pinch point so you can hunt different wind directions.
• ‘L’, ‘V’ or Boomerang – This shape also takes advantage of the pinch point. Deer will typically feed along the “legs,” eventually feeding toward the bend.
Test the soil
Before you start planting, test your soil to ensure it has the right nutrients for your crops to grow. Planting a food plot without a soil test is likely going to result in slow growth, weeds and a lot of undesirable food options for deer.
Testing your soil is simple:
• You need a small clean plastic bag or bucket—anything that will hold dirt.
• Using a small garden spade or shovel, dig a few inches below in the sod line in your food plot and get about ¼ cup of dirt.
• Get six to eight samples from around the food plot and mix it all together.
• Take a scoop of that mix and put it in a new clean bag.
• Drop the soil off at your local extension office for testing. Let them know what you are planning to plant and they can make fertilizer recommendations specifically for your planned crops.
Keep in mind the following year you’ll want to rotate crops to replenish nutrients. For example, soybeans take nitrogen from the soil, so you should rotate it with grass crops, such as corn or wheat, the next year.
Diversify crop selection
Different crops produce at different times of the year and draw deer at different times of the year, so it is crucial to plan this for when you will be hunting, whether it is early seasons, late seasons or both. If you want to make the most of your food plots, you’ll need to diversify the selection of food. Think of it as offering the deer a salad bar to choose from. Mix and match some of the following:
• Summer annuals, such as sunflowers, soybeans, sorghum and cowpeas.
• Fall and winter crops, such as kale, turnips and wheat.
• Perennials, such as clover and alfalfa.
And a few bonus tips:
• A field of sunflowers can double for dove hunting and a field of clover can double for turkey hunting.
• Place a few fruit trees along the edge of your food plot to not only provide food, but also additional coverage. (Make sure to use tree protectors.)
• Pay attention to what grows naturally—if you have an abundance of clover on your property, you probably don’t need to plant more.
• Consider the amount of deer on your property and plant crops that will replenish themselves once eaten down.
Watch your food plots
Throughout the growing season, be sure to keep an eye on your food plots for a couple of reasons. Identify what is growing good, what is not and what the deer are eating before it matures. Take these into consideration for future years of planning and planting. Also look for tracks to determine high traffic areas so you can make decisions on blind and/or tree stand placement.
After the time and money you’ve spent to establish a food plot, I recommend spending a little more to set out trail cameras so you truly get the full effect of how wildlife are using and moving through your food plot. Trail cameras often have settings for food plots so you not only gather what is happening up close, but also catch deer movement in the distance. This will help you get the full benefit out of your food plot so you can make the most of your hunting strategies – helping it all come together and pay off in the end.
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Sarah Honadel is an avid outdoorswoman from Kentucky, now living in Idaho, who enjoys hunting turkey, deer and elk. Follow her on Instagram: @waddysarah and @arrowridgecreations. Thanks to Huntress View for permission to share this article.
