Although we are at the beginning of the summer season, it is not too early to focus on fall food plots; in fact, the time could not be better to begin the process. To do it well, there is planning, research, and fieldwork to do, and with the drier weather we seem to be having, it would be a good idea to get started now.
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. It is a generally accepted practice, therefore, to plant clover as a preferred feed for deer and turkeys will use it as well, but it is generally accepted that late winter frost seeding or early spring planting is the time for the greatest success when planting clover or a mix of clover and chickory. So let’s focus on other plants that will provide more hunting opportunities this coming fall.
First, determine the size and location of the food plot (s), depending on your property’s layout and the terrain you are working with. Usually, it is preferable to have several smaller plots rather than one large one. Deer tend to work the edges or outside 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 the area, and with several smaller plots, there will be more places to set up blinds or tree stands around these food sources, particularly near trails leading into the plots.
As always, once you locate your proposed plot, the next (and extremely 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 results of the analysis, 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.
Offering a diversity of plants across a property is important since the biological needs of a deer dictates a need for a wide variety of foods. The greater the selection you provide, the greater the attractiveness for the deer that will frequent your food plots. With the availability of acorns and beechnuts in the upcoming fall months, your fall food plots need to both attract and hold deer.
For food plots in the size range of 1/2 acre to an acre or larger, consider planting a cereal grain such as cereal rye or winter wheat. Cereal grains should generally be planted in mid to late August, but winter wheat can be planted as late as October or early November. If you want to provide the quickest attraction for late plantings during the middle of hunting season, consider a high rate of cereal rye. Some consider no-till top-sowing of late-planted food plots, such as cereal rye, since it can be successfully established without tillage by spreading the seed just before a rain occurs.
When planning out what to establish in smaller food plots, such as a half-acre or less, along a field edge or tucked away in a forested area, a mixture of brassicas, turnips, rapeseed, and beets is a popular choice. It is recommended that brussels sprouts and other leafy greens be planted 70 to 80 days before the first frost for maximum production, which means late July or early August here in the North. These plants tend to be bitter until the first frost, and then become palatable and highly desirable to deer.
Hopefully, you can do your planting just before a rain event, and 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 using trail cameras strategically placed around the food plot, you can zero in on just 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, mineral-rich feed for deer, helping them put on the fat they need to make it through the coming winter months and aiding 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 come.
