What to plant
A fall plot has two jobs: draw deer early in the season and still have food in December. No single crop does both, which is why most fall plots are a mix.
- Cereal grains (oats, winter wheat, cereal rye): cheap, forgiving and grazed as soon as they emerge. Oats are a deer favorite but can winter-kill in the North; wheat and rye stay green through winter, and rye tolerates the most acidic soil and can be planted the latest.
- Brassicas (turnips, radishes, rape, kale): deer often leave the leaves alone until hard frosts sweeten them, then feed on the tops and bulbs into winter. Tops run 15–25% crude protein, roots 8–15% (Penn State).
- Crimson clover or Austrian winter peas: legumes that add protein in fall and early spring. Crimson clover runs 20–30% crude protein (University of Georgia).
Crop guides: Oats, Winter wheat, Cereal rye, Brassicas (turnips/radishes), Clover (crimson), Austrian winter peas
When to plant a fall food plot
Plant at least 45 days before your average first frost, when rain is in the near forecast (Alabama Extension). Brassicas need the most growing time, so they go in first, about 45–80 days before the frost. Oats and clover follow, and wheat and cereal rye can go in up to the frost and, for rye, a few weeks after it.
In the Southeast, Mississippi State's planting guide gives August 15 to October 15 for small grains and September 1 to October 15 for clovers and brassicas. Farther north, the window opens in mid-July for brassicas. The planting calendar works out the dates for your state from its frost dates.
Seed rates for a fall mix
Planted alone and broadcast, Mississippi State lists 120–150 lb per acre for wheat, oats or cereal rye, 10 lb for brassicas and 25 lb for crimson clover (pure live seed). In a mix, cut each crop's rate: a 50/50 wheat and oat mix is about 60 lb of each, not 120 of each. Too much grain seed crowds out the brassicas and clover.
Common fall plot mistakes
- Planting too late. Brassicas planted a few weeks before frost never size up.
- Skipping the soil test. Most fall crops want a pH near 6.0–6.5, and lime takes three to six months to work.
- Planting all brassicas in a small plot. Deer may ignore it until frost, then wipe it out in a week. Mixing in a grain gives them something to eat early and protects the rest.
- Planting before a dry spell. Wait for rain in the forecast; moisture decides germination.
Find the planting dates for your state in the food plot planting calendar, and work out seed and fertilizer for your plot size with the food plot calculator.
Questions
What is the best fall food plot for deer?
A mix of a cereal grain (oats, winter wheat or cereal rye) and brassicas, often with crimson clover or winter peas. The grain feeds deer from emergence, the brassicas carry the plot into the late season after hard frosts, and the legumes add protein.
When should I plant a fall food plot for deer?
At least 45 days before your average first frost, ideally just before rain. Brassicas go in first, about 45–80 days before frost; wheat and cereal rye can go in up to the frost.
Is it too late to plant a fall food plot?
Not always. Cereal rye can be planted up to and a few weeks after the first frost, and winter wheat up to about the frost date. Brassicas and clover need more time and are a poor bet once you're within about a month of frost.
Oats or wheat for a deer food plot?
Deer favor oats early in the fall, but oats can winter-kill in the North. Winter wheat stays green through winter and into spring. Many hunters plant both, at about half the single-crop rate of each.
Why aren't deer eating my turnips?
Deer often ignore brassica leaves until a few hard frosts make them sweeter. Expect use to pick up in late fall; a cereal grain in the mix gives deer something to eat before then.
Keep reading
Sources
- Cool-Season Food Plots for Deer: Planning, Planting & Maintenance (ANR-0592), Alabama Cooperative Extension System
- Deer Food Plot Planting Guide for the Southeast (M1591), Mississippi State University Extension
- Use of Brassica Crops to Extend the Grazing Season, Penn State Extension
- Food Plots for Deer on CRP Pine and Other Sites (WMS No. 7), University of Georgia Warnell School
- A Cost-Production Comparison of Common Food Plot Plantings for Deer (P3604), Mississippi State University Extension
- Enhancing White-tailed Deer Habitats on Your Property: Food Plots (G9493), University of Missouri Extension
Know when to plant.
In planting season, the Friday Hunting Briefing ends with food plot reminders by state: which planting windows open and close in the next two weeks. Plus seed deals and hunting news. Free, unsubscribe anytime.