Brent,

The size of a food plot largely depends on your goals.  Do you want just an attraction food plot or a feeding plot?  Attraction food plots are meant only to attract deer during the hunting season.  They require limited acreage because the forage only needs to be available for a short time.

Feeding food plots usually are larger because deer are eating on them all year round.  With a single deer eating over 2,000 lbs of dry forage a year, several acres are required to keep the table set for the herd.

In areas where cover is prevalent and high quality forage is in short supply more acres will be required.  Another huge factor is the number of deer whose home range overlaps the food plot location.  Remember that deer usually don’t leave their home range to find food.  In fact, they are very fearful of leaving their home range as they don’t know the thermals, wind currents, etc.  A very general rule of thumb is to prepare an acre of food plot for every five to seven deer that will be feeding in that area.  If you wish the herd to express its full potential then err on the side of providing more forage.

Growing Deer together,

Grant