Where has the time gone? Summer seems to have slipped away as August is ending, and on September 23, fall officially begins! Several weeks ago, I did plant a fall blend of seeds to create several food plots for deer. The mix included wheat, rye, oats, winter peas, crimson clover, radish, collard, turnip, beets, and rape seeds. The deer have already been showing an interest in the production but will not really visit the sites in earnest until we get a hard frost. The blend of plants will tend to remain unpalatable until a good frost hits them; then, they turn from somewhat bitter to a sweet and attractive offering.

While it is a little late to plant that same blend for this coming fall production, a mix of grains can still be planted up to about the second or third week of September. Such a blend is the Ani-Logics CHRUSH Amazin’ Grains, which contains Forage Winter Wheat, Forage Oats, Triticale, Rye Grain, and Winter Peas. The great news is that once it starts to grow, this mix can be hunted over about 3-4 weeks after planting. While the general intent of most food plots is to provide a food source for deer, using the same plot for fall and spring turkeys should be a consideration. The Amazin’ Grains mix will provide a food source that is attractive to both deer and turkeys; thus, both should visit it.

First, determine the size and location of the food plot or several food plots, depending on the layout of your property and the terrain you are working with. Usually, it is preferable to have several smaller size plots rather than one large one. Deer will tend to work the outside or edges of a plot, and if it is too large, they may never really use much of the center area. With smaller planting areas, the deer will tend to use all of the area, and with a smaller plot, there may be more places to set up blinds or tree stands around the food source, particularly near trails leading into the plot.

As always, once you locate your proposed plot, the next — and most critical — step is to do a soil sample analysis. Check with your County Ag Agent or the folks where you normally purchase lime, fertilizer, and seed for their guidance in doing this sampling properly. Based on the analysis results, it is important to adhere to the recommendations of lime and fertilizer applications for the maximum health and production of the crop or crops you plan to plant.

You may have to dodge some thunderstorms or rain showers, which seems to be the normal weather pattern of late, but by starting the food plots now, you will have plenty of time to locate just where it will be most advantageous to place your ground blinds or tree stands. By strategically placing trail cameras around the food plot, you can zero in on which trails are being used for entry and exit of the feed sources and note the time of activity as well. You should be able to get the stands in place well before the hunting season begins.

Fall food plots are a great source of high protein and mineral feed for deer that will help them put on needed fat to make it through the coming winter months and will aid in maintaining a healthier herd, from fawns and yearlings to mature does and bucks. The work you do now will pay off in the upcoming archery and rifle seasons and for many months and even years to follow.

Want to put in food plots but just don’t have the time or equipment? Well, you are in luck because I know of a young, energetic man named Tyler Martin who would love to help! He recently purchased his own Massey-Ferguson N2850 tractor and a 5-foot Genesis no-till drill to plant food plots and has all the other needed implements to complete the work of creating new food plots. He can be reached on his mobile phone at (570) 220-2994. Give him a call. You will be happy with his work — I certainly am!