Soybeans are a top choice for deer food plots, offering exceptional nutrition and attraction throughout the year. This warm-season annual legume provides high-protein forage, often exceeding 25% crude protein during the summer growing season, which supports antler growth and fawn development. Later, the mature, carbohydrate-rich bean pods serve as a high-energy food source, sustaining deer through winter. Successfully growing a soybean plot requires precise planning and management.
Site Selection and Pre-Planting Preparation
The location for your soybean plot should receive at least six to eight hours of direct sunlight daily. Choose a site with well-drained soil, avoiding areas prone to standing water. Selecting a plot location near thick cover or bedding areas can enhance the deer’s comfort level and increase daytime usage.
The most important step before planting is conducting a soil test to determine the pH and nutrient levels. Soybeans grow best in soil with a pH of 6.0 or higher, with an ideal range between 6.5 and 7.0 for maximum nutrient uptake. If the test indicates a low pH, agricultural lime must be applied several months before planting to neutralize the soil acidity. Soybeans require high levels of phosphorus and potassium, which should be applied according to the soil test recommendations, often using a fertilizer blend like 0-20-20.
Choosing the right seed variety is important for success; most food plotters select glyphosate-tolerant (“Roundup Ready”) soybeans for simplified weed management. Forage soybean varieties are typically preferred over grain varieties because they are bred to be taller, bushier, and more tolerant of heavy browsing pressure. Once the soil is amended, the area must be prepared into a smooth, firm seedbed free of large clumps or debris. Preparation can be achieved through tilling or disking the soil, or by using a chemical “burn-down” of existing vegetation if utilizing a no-till planting method.
Essential Planting Procedures
Soybeans should be planted in the late spring or early summer, about one month after the last expected frost. The soil temperature must consistently reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit for optimal germination. Planting too early risks poor germination, while planting too late may prevent the beans from reaching full maturity before the first fall frost.
A critical step is inoculating the seeds with Bradyrhizobium japonicum bacteria. This bacteria forms a symbiotic relationship with the soybean roots, creating nodules that convert atmospheric nitrogen into a usable form. The inoculant must be applied just before planting, ensuring it adheres to the seed coat, especially if soybeans have not been planted in the ground recently.
Seeding rates vary based on the planting method. No-till drilling requires 45 to 60 pounds per acre to establish a dense stand. Broadcasting the seed onto a prepared seedbed requires increasing the rate to 70 to 80 pounds per acre. The seed must be covered with soil at a depth of 1 to 1.5 inches to ensure good seed-to-soil contact and protect the seeds.
Managing Growth and Weed Competition
Weed control is the most significant factor in the success of a soybean food plot, as young soybeans cannot compete with vigorous weeds for resources. For glyphosate-tolerant varieties, an initial application of glyphosate should be performed as a “burndown” two weeks before planting to eliminate existing vegetation. This initial spray can be tank-mixed with a pre-emergent herbicide, which suppresses weed germination for several weeks after the beans emerge.
The most common strategy involves a post-emergent application of glyphosate once the soybeans are established and weeds are actively growing (typically two to six inches tall). This application kills competing weeds without harming the tolerant soybeans, allowing the crop to achieve canopy closure and shade out future weed growth. If planting a non-tolerant variety, selective grass-killing herbicides can be used, but broadleaf weed control is more complex and often requires cultivation.
Young soybean plants are highly palatable and vulnerable to heavy browsing pressure during the first 30 to 45 days of growth. If deer density is high, a small plot can be entirely destroyed before the plants can tolerate grazing. To mitigate this, temporary electric fencing can be used to exclude deer until the plants are about 15 to 18 inches tall. Once the plants are well-established, the protective barrier can be removed.
Strategies for Maximizing Deer Forage
Soybeans offer two distinct phases of forage attraction, and plot management should maximize both. The first phase is the summer green browse, where leaves and stems provide protein-rich forage for body growth and antler development. This nutritional value persists until the plants drop their leaves in the late summer or early fall.
The second phase is the late-season attraction of the mature, standing beans, which provide high-energy food during winter. To ensure mature beans for winter, the plot must be large enough to withstand heavy summer browsing; two to five acres is often recommended in areas with high deer numbers. In smaller plots, protective fencing is necessary to allow the plants to reach the pod-setting stage.
Managing plot size or timing the fence removal dictates whether the primary benefit is summer nutrition or a late-season hunting draw. Removing the fence just before hunting season ensures a standing food source that draws deer consistently into the late winter. The ability of soybeans to provide both summer protein and winter energy makes them a valuable, long-lasting single-crop food plot option.