We recently put up a Hot Zone Deer exclosure.  This is a solar-powered two-layer electric fence that excludes deer from quality forage.  We put this fence in a food plot we call Second House to exclude deer from browsing on some recently planted Eagle Seed forage soybeans.

Some folks ask why I would plant a food plot and then keep deer from feeding on a portion of it.  The answer is simple.  This technique creates great hunting opportunities.  Deer are often very comfortable feeding in a small-sized plot.  If the forage planted in the plot is very palatable to deer, they can limit its production or even consume all the forage before hunting season.

Protecting some or all of the forage in the plot from deer browse until I wish to hunt that area is a great way to create a bottleneck and stand or blind location.

I’ve used this technique for years and am always impressed with the difference in the quantity of food where it’s been protected versus outside the Hot Zone where deer have browsed.

This technique works on 5 or 5,000 acres and is an easy way to pattern deer for trail cameras and/or hunting!  To see details on how to protect your own food plots check out this recent episode.

Enjoy Creation,

Grant