Food Plots for Beginners

A food plot is a small area of planted crops designed specifically to attract and nourish deer (and other wildlife) on your hunting property. They range from a quarter-acre clearing in the woods to multi-acre fields along field edges.

Food plots serve two purposes: nutrition and attraction. A well-placed food plot gives deer a reliable food source that keeps them on your property, improves herd health, and puts you in a better position during hunting season.

You don't need a tractor, a farming background, or a big budget. A quarter-acre plot with a bag of clover seed and a rake can make a real difference.

Location matters more than what you plant. A perfect seed mix in the wrong spot will underperform a mediocre mix in a great spot.

Soil prep is the single biggest factor in food plot success. Bad soil = bad results, no matter what seed you buy.

Step 1: Get a soil test. Your county extension office will test soil for $10-15. This tells you your pH and nutrient levels. Most food plot crops need a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. If your soil is acidic (below 6.0), you'll need lime, and lime takes 2-3 months to work, so plan ahead.

Step 2: Clear the ground. Mow or burn existing vegetation. For a no-till approach, spray with glyphosate 2-3 weeks before planting, then plant directly into the dead vegetation. For tilled plots, disc or rototill to a depth of 4-6 inches.

Step 3: Amend the soil. Apply lime (if needed) and fertilizer based on your soil test results. Broadcast it and work it into the top few inches of soil if possible.

For your first food plot, keep it simple. Clover and brassicas are the two most forgiving, most attractive crops you can plant. Clover is a perennial (comes back year after year), and brassicas are a late-season magnet after the first frost.

Here are the 11 crops we track, organized by planting season:

Timing depends on where you live and what you're planting. The two windows are spring and fall.

Every crop has a recommended seeding rate (pounds of seed per acre) and a fertilizer recommendation. Getting these right means the difference between a thick, attractive plot and bare dirt.

Don't want to do the math yourself? Use our free food plot calculator to get exact seed amounts, bag counts, and cost estimates for your plot size.

You don't need a planter. Most food plot seeds are small enough to broadcast by hand or with a simple hand spreader ($20 at any farm store).

• 1.Broadcast the seed evenly across the plot. Walk in overlapping passes. Mix small seeds (clover, chicory) with sand or dry fertilizer to get even coverage.
• 2.Cover lightly. Most food plot seeds need to be 1/4" to 1/2" deep. Drag a section of chain-link fence behind your ATV, or just drive over the plot a few times to press seeds into the soil.
• 3.Plant before rain. Check the forecast. The best time to plant is 24-48 hours before rain. Moisture is everything for germination.
• 4.Don't over-seed. More seed is not better. Overcrowded plants compete for nutrients and grow thin and weak. Stick to the recommended rates.

Once planted, food plots are lower maintenance than most people think. But there are a few things that trip up beginners: