Shape of Food Plots
Filed under: Ask Grant, Food Plots
Grant, I’m looking to enclose a part of my property with a few shrub or tree lines. This chunk of the property is roughly three acres. After I enclose the field, I would like to plant a food plot. I am trying to persuade the deer to stay on my property instead of using it for a quick passageway. I have also noticed that the bucks don’t roam on my property either. I’m hoping to attract them. What should I plant and what pattern should I plant the tree lines and food plot to make it a deer haven? Sincerely, Lee (Michigan)
Lee,
If I were to plant shrubs or trees I would plant them along the border of the property to obscure the vision of neighboring hunters. However, I am a much bigger fan of planting stands of native warm season grass. Tall warm season grasses such as switchgrass and big bluestem provide tremendous thermal cover to limit cold stress and are great for fawning cover during the spring. In addition, unlike a tree or shrub that may take a decade to become established, native grass is often thick and vibrantly growing within a couple of years.
At the latitude where your property is located a cool season food plot mix of winter wheat and brassicas will capture the herd’s attention. Winter wheat is generally available at a local ag store while a brassica mix can be purchased from any reputable wildlife seed dealer. With a soil test and appropriate lime/fertilization, the deer’s table will be set.
Deer seek quality food, cover, and water. The best way to encourage deer to use your property more than the neighbors’ is to determine if food, cover, or water is scarce in your area and then provide it on your property. For example, if food is widely available, adding more food won’t necessarily encourage deer to increase the time they spend on your property. Provide the limiting habitat type in an environment that allows deer to feel secure and deer will readily adapt to using that resource.
A final thought. The shape of a food plot is not nearly as important as the quality of the food produced or the timing it is available (great food during June won’t attract deer to your property during the fall). In addition, it is critical to insure deer don’t associate your property with fear. Don’t overhunt the food plots, etc. on your property! Make sure you can approach and leave stands without alerting deer or they will become conditioned to using your property only during the dark. This is critical to managing small acreages which tend to get hunted so frequently that deer simply avoid them during daylight hours.
Growing Deer together,
Grant
