A food plot is a dedicated area of planted forage or grain designed to provide a supplemental food source for wildlife, most commonly white-tailed deer and wild turkey. These plantings improve habitat by offering a concentrated source of nutrition, attracting animals for viewing or hunting. Successful plots deliver high-quality forage when natural food sources are scarce, such as late summer and winter. Achieving this requires a methodical approach, transitioning from careful site planning to precise execution and consistent maintenance.
Site Selection and Initial Preparation
Careful site selection is the first step toward a successful food plot. All forage crops require a minimum of four to six hours of direct sunlight daily, making open fields or areas cleared of canopy cover the best choice. Locating the plot adjacent to dense cover or bedding areas is also beneficial, as this proximity encourages regular use by minimizing wildlife exposure.
Before clearing or tilling, a soil test is the foundational step. This inexpensive analysis, often obtained through local agricultural extension offices, determines the soil’s current pH level and the concentration of macro-nutrients like nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). The report provides the data needed to calculate the exact amount of amendments required for plant growth. Preparation involves clearing brush, rocks, and debris, then preparing the seedbed by removing existing vegetation, often using herbicide application and light tilling.
Choosing the Right Forage
Forage selection depends on the target species and the intended time of use, dividing plantings into warm-season and cool-season varieties. Warm-season plots, planted in the spring, provide high-protein nutrition during the summer when does are lactating and bucks are growing antlers. Examples of these annuals include protein-rich legumes like soybeans and cowpeas, or grains like corn and sorghum, which are consumed later.
Cool-season plots, planted in late summer or early fall, provide energy and attraction during the hunting season and winter. These typically consist of cereal grains such as winter wheat, oats, and rye, which offer palatable green browse, along with brassicas like turnips and radishes. Forage choice also involves distinguishing between annuals, which complete their life cycle in one season, and perennials, such as clover and chicory, which return for multiple years.
Soil Amendment and Planting Methods
Soil test results dictate the necessary amendments needed to optimize plant health. Most common food plot forages, especially legumes, perform best in soil with a pH between 6.0 and 6.5. This pH is achieved by applying agricultural lime to neutralize soil acidity. Because lime reacts slowly, it should ideally be applied several months before planting to allow the pH level time to adjust fully.
Fertilization is guided by the soil test’s recommendation for phosphorus and potassium, represented by the last two numbers of the N-P-K ratio on fertilizer bags. Nitrogen (the first number) is typically applied at planting for non-legumes, but legumes fix their own nitrogen from the atmosphere. The chosen planting method affects seed-to-soil contact and germination rates. Drilling is the most efficient method, as specialized equipment places seed at a precise depth and spacing.
Broadcasting, which involves spreading seed over a prepared seedbed, is simpler but less precise. This method requires a 25 to 50 percent increase in the seeding rate to compensate for inconsistent germination. Proper seed depth is paramount for establishment; small seeds like clover and brassicas should be planted no deeper than a quarter-inch, while larger grains require a depth of one-half to one inch. After broadcasting, light tilling or cultipacking is necessary to ensure adequate seed-to-soil contact.
Ongoing Management and Maintenance
Consistent management is required to maintain a food plot’s productivity and longevity once established. Weed control is continuous, as competing vegetation reduces the forage’s yield and nutritional quality. Control is often achieved using selective herbicides, such as grass-selective products like clethodim, which remove unwanted grasses from broadleaf forage like clover.
Mowing is common, particularly in perennial clover plots, but frequent mowing does not effectively control weeds and can reduce forage production significantly. A single mowing in late summer can help manage weeds and stimulate fresh growth in perennial forages. To maintain soil health and manage weed pressure, a seasonal crop rotation strategy is beneficial, cycling between crops with different needs and herbicide tolerances.