Food Plot Location and Design Tips

[@Lentuttle]

What a treasure chest of information! And anyone can tell this is right off the cuff. I have 45 acres in NE Arkansas already planned in my mind now. Thanks!!!

[@whitetailevolution]

Thank you!! Glad it helped!

[@OurNewLand]

Great info! You've convinced us to rethink the food plots we were planning for our new property. Thanks!

[@whitetailevolution]

Thanks and hopefully it helped! You still want to offer enough food but try to lay out the plots in a way to direct traffic / separate the deer.

[@scottpavek236]

Love the video. Some great information. I never thought about food plot shape all that much…but these ideas make sense.

[@whitetailevolution]

Thanks Scott! If you come up with a fun design let me know!

[@avirain1]

Great video and tutorial. Alway to the point.thanks you.

[@whitetailevolution]

Thank you Avi!

[@courtofficermcilvaine7928]

As good as it gets video. Thanks for posting.

[@whitetailevolution]

Thanks again! Always appreciate the comments.

[@JackFrostTheDeerHunter]

Some great ideas....and a nice video!

[@whitetailevolution]

Thanks Jack!

[@JayN4GO]

Can you get into what implements you use when you don’t have a tractor?

[@whitetailevolution]

Absolutely. That's a great video idea. Watch the video on our channel on 'making a poor man food plot' we show you how you can make a plot without BIG equipment.

[@markhyman9497]

@@whitetailevolution

[@MoldingLegends]

Sweet video!

[@tacticalsnoopy]

Love the video!

[@whitetailevolution]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@timpotts3611]

Two questions for you. Have you ever broadcast rye into a existing clover plot and have you had success with that? Second with a clover plot/trail how late into the year does that seem to be attractive once it’s established? We are on the south end the northern MI APR zone so we tend to see first frost early October and first measurable snow in early November

[@whitetailevolution]

Absolutely! We broadcast both our fall blends and our cereal rye into our clover plots. Seed the fall plots in early August, then mow the clover to the ground right before a rain. Some years it does better than others, all depends on moisture. The rye goes down labor day weekend. We just seed it right into the clover / fall plot stand. Nothing special after, just seed before a rain. In the spring the rye will come back in full force and we terminate it around memorial day.

[@PatrickLHolley]

Good stuff, thanks so much!

[@whitetailevolution]

Anytime Patrick!

[@whitetailhabitatplans9526]

Jake, great video! What are you planting on your narrow somewhat shaded out connecting trails? Clover, Rye?

[@whitetailevolution]

You nailed it! A few different clovers (ladino, alsike, dutch) and then cereal rye in the fall. Might add some chicory this season for more diversity.

[@scottclark1168]

This was a great video,love the trail plots connecting the plots together is great idea,do you walk in on those trails or have different access trails

[@whitetailevolution]

Great question Scott. But no, I never walk those trail plots during the season. I treat them like any other food plot or bedding area, I access around them and hunt the outside edges. During the offseason I walk them almost everyday but never during the hunting season. The deer use them all the time and if you access down the trail plots you will leave too much scent behind, educating the deer. My access for the most part is along my property border, then I cut in to hunt stands about 20 yards in, facing the interior.

[@kurtpearson2793]

Thanks for the video-! What size of plot do doe family groups prefer for comfortable social security? Are they happy with an 1/8 acres per family? Or is a long narrow winding plot a better idea?(letting them self-space)

[@whitetailevolution]

That's a great question Kurt and I honestly do not have a solid answer for that. I will say that a 1/2 acre plot (not broken up) seems too large for a staging plot. I like the 1/10, 1/8, 1/4 acre plots. These seem to be large enough to fit a doe family group comfortably and small enough for those older bucks to make appearances during daylight. Now if you had a long winding plot, that could be a half acre in total, but the curves and bends act to hide deer. I often times have a combination of food plot trails and small plots. The trails help to direct deer traffic and the small plots give them a slightly larger spot to browse around.

[@TheJuarez81]

what is the ideal food plot size for bow hunting? the smallest?

[@whitetailevolution]

Great question and I would say that depends on the property / area / layout, but for bow hunting you likely want to make sure the deer are close enough for a shot. Two of my favorite plots for this would be a small 1/8 of an acre plot. These are great spots to catch deer before they make their way to the destination fields. That or a narrow winding plot / food plot trail. Could be 8ft wide or 15 yards wide, but long and winding to keep deer moving by your stand.

[@Wee_Crazy]

Love watching your videos, I recently got a smaller parcel and have been struggling with how to put in my plots. This has been very helpful down a better road then I was going. How big do you think those smaller pots need to be for property with zero ag and all woods?

[@BigWoods40]

I have a 40 acre property that is all woods with zero ag for 5 miles. I use to plant big 1/2 - 1 acre food plots but the bigger bucks never seemed to like using them in daylight. Most of my plots now are between 1/8 - 1/4 acre screened with switchgrass. All of my plots were made by clearing trees and what not.

[@whitetailevolution]

I like what Tyler suggested, several smaller plots to not only separate the deer but also small enough that those older deer still feel comfortable using them in daylight. Since you have all woods and little to no ag around, you might need to create the destination plot as well. Kinda depends on property size, but the deer will eat you out of house and home if you're the only game in town. This is where having the destination on your property comes in, you can hunt over those small staging plots that lead to the destination which will not be hunted. If you dont think you can offer the destination, you'll need several small plots to keep up with the demand for food in an area without any.

[@Wee_Crazy]

@@whitetailevolution Thanks this is very helpful, I only have 20 acres so I am not sure I can make a destination plot without giving up too much of the woods. I do know from trail cams this past season and scouting, I have a tremendous amount of does that pass though. So I am expecting to have a difficult time managing food at least for awhile. There was already an old plot on the property and I was going to put in another one on the opposite side of the property until I saw this video. Saved me from making a potentially big mistake.

[@Wee_Crazy]

@@BigWoods40 Thank you, very helpful. Trying to get my plan in place so once snow melts I can get in and start clearing and prepping.

[@jamieshelton3570]

I need help with mine place

[@jeremykane686]

What are your thoughts of putting a waterhole between two small food plots?

[@whitetailevolution]

I don't mind placing a water hole in between food. Make sure you place it on the trail you are trying to condition the deer to use. Water is an attraction and will increase the likelihood that deer will use one path over another. So if you have a solid trail connecting two food sources that you would like to make better, place your water hole there! Now I will say that deer don't drink all the time so you should not be placing these everywhere or the deer won't feel as inclined to visit any one in particular.

[@jeremykane686]

@@whitetailevolution Thanks i wasnt sure thats all