Food Plots

Get the most out of your food plot

As we have the first cooler weather of fall, many hunters around the county prepare for deer season. For many, this includes planting and caring for food plots. Planting food plots can be a great way to improve your hunting area and bring more deer consistently to your area, but growing them successfully is not always as easy as it seems. Most years I get calls from a least a few folks that spent quite a bit of time and money on their food plots, but did not get the results they expected. I will share some of the basics to help you get the most out of your food plots.

Food plot basics

 The basic needs for growing a healthy food plot is quality soil, sunshine, and water. The best thing you can do to know your soil quality is to do a soil test. This tells nutritional values and pH, if not adequate, both things can be limiting factors for plant growth. Getting the pH to the right level and incorporating basic nutrients is the foundation of a successful food plot. 

Sunlight can be an issue for food plots that are grown in more wooded areas, and can dictate what plant options would work best. Water is generally at the mercy of the weather, but maintaining good organic matter in the soil can help its ability to hold moisture. Good seed to soil contact is also essential to good germination and growth. This is most commonly achieved by either drilling seed, or tilling and cultipacking.

Forage variety

Forage variety is always a hot topic when talking about food plots, with a wide range of opinions. I will mention a few that I get asked about most and their benefits and drawbacks. 

Perennial options like chicory or alfalfa can make great options, but perennial plots require quite a bit more weed control and year-round maintenance, making them less desirable to many hunters. 

Soybeans are highly preferred by deer, but a large area or fencing is needed to keep from being overgrazed very quickly. 

The simplest and easiest mix I have found is a winter annual such as wheat, rye, or oats; combined with an annual crimson clover. This mix is an affordable option and does well in more limited sunlight. It handles grazing pressure better than most, helping it to last longer into the season. 

Need more information?

If you have any questions about your food plot or how to make it more successful, we are always here to help at the Banks County Extension office. Ways to contact us are to call us at (706) 677-6230, by email at zmccann@uga.edu, or to come by the office at 413 Evans street, Homer, GA.