Use this game plan to make your food plots the best they can be.
Food plots are major benefits to deer and deer hunters. But doing food plots for the sake of food plots isn’t a good idea. It’s important to optimize food plots for bowhunting. That involves making a deer feel safe, decreasing travel distance between bedding and food sources, and more. Here are the things you should know.
Think About What the Land Already Offers
It’s important to know what the land already offers to the local deer herd. Study what food sources are already available. Determine what neighboring properties potentially offer (without trespassing or sleuthing, of course). Then, figure out what you need to provide that your property doesn’t already deliver. Fill in the holes that are absent. Offer something to deer they can’t already get.
Factor in the proper sizing of food plots, too. Most bowhunting-centric food plots that are designed with a purpose to first create shot opportunities but also feed the herd should be ½ acres or less. If planting a species that’s more susceptible to over-browsing, consider planting up to 1 acre. Make this decision based on deer population densities, too.
Consider Entry Route and Exit Routes
Planting food plots in good spots isn’t good enough. It’s crucial to consider entry and exit routes when planting food plots. If you can’t get to a food plot stand location or depart from it without spooking deer, it’s a bad idea to place it there. You’re better off placing a food plot in an area that’s slightly “lesser” with good access than a “great” spot with poor access. Because a “good” spot with poor access won’t be good for long.
Plant Food Plots in the Best Spots
Determining the “best” spots for food plots is relative to each unique situation. The way a property’s terrain rolls might allow a buck to see you approach from it’s bedding area. Thus, choosing a food plot location, and the associated access routes, must keep multiple things in mind. Some of these include proximity to daytime bedding areas, visibility from bedding areas, general lines of movements, times of the year deer typically use certain areas, and more.
Additionally, there are other things to remember. Of course, unless you have great relationships with neighbors, don’t plant food plots near property lines. Likewise, don’t plant food plots with visibility from across boundaries.
Use the Best Food Plot Shapes
Certain food plots shapes are more suitable to bowhunters. These shapes help manipulate the flow of traffic throughout the food plot. Furthermore, the following shapes create pinch points that increase the chances of a bow-range encounter. Place blinds and stands at key points, such as the bends, vertexes, or pinch points in the plots. Expect deer to emerge from different areas, but to eventually pass through the funnels.
Obviously, it’s good to place secondary stand locations for other wind directions. The best spots for secondary spots will vary based on where deer bed, enter food plots, and more.
K: Place the primary blind or treestand where each of the stems of the K meet.
L: Place the primary blind or treestand in the bend of the L.
T: Place the primary blind or treestand at the top-midpoint of the T.
U: Place the primary blind or treestand in the bend of the U.
V: Place the primary blind or treestand in the bend of the V.
Figure 8: Place the primary blind or treestand at the center of the figure 8.
Funnel: Place the primary blind or treestand where the slender part of the funnel opens up to the bigger section.
Long and Slender: Place the primary blind or treestand at key deer trails along the plot.
Turkey Foot: Place the primary blind or treestand where each “toe” meets.
In the timber, or areas already ripe with early successional cover, merely carve out the desired food plot shape using a brush hog. In open areas without existing habitat to carve out food plot shapes, plant native grasses to shape the desired food plots.
Within these food plots, it’s sometimes a good idea to divide these into zones and plant different food plot species in each one. When doing this, consider when each particular plant species will reach peak attraction. With that in mind, plant each one in the zone of the food plot that makes the most sense. For example, considering timeframes, plant bowhunting-centric species closer to stand locations, and gun hunting-centric species further away (if you plan to hunt with a gun).
Factor in Whitetail Access Points when Designing Food Plots
Shapes aside, whitetail access points is an important consideration, too. One school of thought is creating food plots in a manner that provide access from all directions. This can increase the comfortability of deer using the plot. It’s easier to escape the plot if danger arrives.
The other school of thought is limiting access to a few whitetail access points. This forces deer to use one of a few trails. This makes it simpler for bowhunters to intercept deer as they enter or exit the food plot.
If choosing the latter option, hinge-cutting is a popular choice. Other forms of screening work, too. Regardless of the selection, orient food plots based on expected wind directions. This means turn it on its axis so that you can keep your primary stand location at the key pinch points.
Offer Some Extra Incentives in your Food Plots
There are numerous ways to offer additional incentives for deer to use food plots. These extras include the following, and more.
Bedding Cover: Creating additional bedding cover within 100 to 150 yards of the food plot can increase the odds of deer using it, especially during the early season and/or rut. Make sure these bedding areas are in spots that deer can’t see, smell, or hear you coming.
Bait Stations: Where legal, a bait station within a food plot can provide an extra food source and give deer an additional reason to use the plot.
Mineral Licks: Likewise, a good mineral lick can draw deer at certain times, especially in summer and winter.
Mock Scrapes: A mock scrape in strategic locations can encourage deer to use key areas. These can also help pose deer for shot opportunities.
Rubbing Posts: Bucks make a lot of rubs. Placing a rubbing post in the plot can give them an opportunity to make a rub right there in the open.
Screenings: Food plot screens work great for numerous reasons. First, it provides additional habitat, and if deep enough, can offer additional bedding. These shield the plot from outside eyes. But ultimately, it makes deer feel safer using the plot during daylight hours. Potential ways to add screening include big or little bluestem (perennial), Egyptian wheat (annual), giant miscanthus (perennial), prairie cordgrass (perennial), sorghum Sudan grass (annual), switchgrass (perennial), and more. Some even like planting trees just outside of native grass screenings, such as cedars, poplars, spruce, and more. Natural barriers, soil berms, hinge cuts, and even brush piles can offer screening cover, too.
Watering Holes: A good watering hole goes a long way, especially where water sources are more limited.
Position Treestands and Hunting Blinds Wisely near your Food Plots
When selecting treestand and hunting blind locations, remember to consider wind directions. Know where deer will bed, approach from, and more. You don’t want your wind carrying into deer-filled areas. Furthermore, position treestands and blinds in spots that are easy to reach and depart without alerting deer. That might mean creating additional screening cover around your stands and blinds, and along access routes.
All things considered, optimizing food plots for bowhunting is a big part of success. Do that, and this deer season should be a great one.
Reasons You Have Bad Luck with Food Plots
Some hunters seem to have continual bad luck with food plots. Fortunately, there are likely reasons why, of which are correctable. Here are reasons you have bad luck with food plots. Instead of doing these things, do the opposite:
- Failing to know when and when not to plant food plots.
- Failing to know where and where not to plant food plots.
- Failing to understand how deer maneuver the landscape.
- Failing to optimize food plot size.
- Failing to optimize food plot shape.
- Failing to maximize the efficiency of food plots.
- Failing to take adequate soil samples.
- Failing to consider soil type and composition.
- Failing to manage weeds.
- Failing to plant the right species for the region.
- Failing to plant the right species for the soil type.
- Failing to plant the right species for the time of year.
- Failing to plant at the right time.
- Failing to establish a good seed bed.
- Failing to properly cover planted seed.
- Failing to monitor the forecast.
- Failing to use the right planting practices.
- Failing to plant at the correct soil depth.
- Failing to monitor growing plots.
- Failing to maintain perennial plots.
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