5 Common Food Plot Mistakes to Avoid this Year

We all make mistakes. Learning from them makes us better hunters. But you need to know what you’re doing wrong. With so much information available at our fingertips, it’s easy to think planting a food plot is as simple as throwing out some seed, watching it grow, and letting the deer come to you. However, food plots can be complicated and there is no blanket approach to building the perfect land parcel. No two food plots are the same due to the complexities of situations. From wetlands to rolling hills and timber cuts, even neighboring parcels may appear extremely different. parcels bordering each other may require different approaches

In the spring as turkeys are strutting, bucks are growing antlers, and does are dropping fawns, whitetail hunters turn to spring preparation. Planting a food plot is a great way to attract more deer to your hunting area when fall rolls around. Also, food plots provide deer with a supplemental food source and more balanced nutrition.

It’s disappointing to put in time, money, and effort and then see your food plot founder. Here’s the rundown on food plots and how to avoid 5 common food plot mistakes.

#1 Choosing a Poor Location

Plant your food plots with fall hunts in mind. Before planting a food plot, get the lay of the land and determine where to hang a treestand or put a ground blind. Often, hunters build plots around a particular tree that is perfect for a tree stand. Be sure that both the food plot and stand location are accessible once the season rolls around. Consider sunlight and the prevailing deer season wind directions. If a food plot is not in a location you can actually hunt, land management efforts may be futile. 

Accordingly, sunlight and soil type are key in selecting a land parcel. Plants require sunlight to grow; simple as that. When planting plots, particularly small, secluded plots sunlight can make or break success. Some seed blends work better than others in areas of limited sun. Consider sun exposure when mapping out land. The easiest way to increase the sunlight exposure on any plot is with a chainsaw. Cut down large limbs, or even a few trees altogether, so that the sun reaches all parts of the plot for some portion of the day.

#2 Weeds Are Invading

Food plots take some effort to plant them – there’s no doubt about that. But if you just plant them and walk away, you may be throwing the towel in. Annual food plots may start to be invaded with weeds and can be outgrown. Nothing can ruin a food plot quicker than being overrun by unwanted weeds and grasses. Before even thinking about planting, spot-spray the site with a herbicide such as Roundup or generic glyphosate. Mowing clover plots is one of the best things you can do, as it removes weeds and rejuvenates the clover.

 Wait at least 10 to 14 days and if there’s still some green growth, spray again. If the weeds aren’t gone before you plant, the plot faces an uphill battle from the start.

#3 You Are Not Soil Testing

Preparing a quality food plot takes time, labor, and money. One way to increase the chances of having food plot success is by doing a soil test before you plant a food plot. Though most hunters know how important soil tests for food plots are, many still omit them. Neglecting a soil test leaves your food plot to chance. You may have chosen the perfect spot, determined the correct food plot seeds, and have incredible growing conditions, but without knowing what nutrients the soil is missing, opportunity may be wasted.

Testing your plot is as easy as digging a few places up in a plot, mixing the soil in the bucket, putting some in a bag, and sending it off to be tested. You can find a simple soil test kit at most fleet or sporting goods stores for a few bucks. A soil test will tell you exactly what your nutrient levels are and recommend how much fertilizer to add for the perfect growing conditions. That way, you won’t waste money applying fertilizer you don’t need or not spreading enough of it, which will limit your food plot growth.

#4 You Are Not Liming or Fertilizing Correctly

Soil pH is the first thing you need to get right. For the last 10 to 15 years, people who really didn’t have a background in farming have come to realize the benefits of adding lime to their food plots and other plantings. In general, lime is commonly needed to reduce the acidity of a soil, allowing whatever crop, tree, or vegetation growing there to more readily uptake nutrients. 

Many hunters do not apply the correct amount of lime in their food plots. An inadequate amount of lime may drastically damage the soil. A simple application of the appropriate amount of lime drastically improves their food plot performance by reducing soil compaction which provides more space for root growth and improves water movement in the soil profile. Most food plot crops perform best with a pH of 6.2-7.0. 

Decreased water penetration, poor plant health, increased bug and disease issues, and lack of nutrient uptake are just some of the problems created in soils with low pH levels. When the pH of your soil is too low, plants are unable to effectively absorb fertilizer. Regardless of the size of the field you are working with, correcting the pH level with lime can do wonders for the growth of plants in less than ideal areas. Since almost all soils are acidic, applying lime will raise the pH and increase the plant’s ability to absorb the fertilizer nutrients

#5 Planting the Wrong Mixes

There is no “one size fits all” approach to planting a food plot. Besides planting at the wrong time, one of the other food plot mistakes many people make is to plant the wrong thing. You need to make sure that the seed you choose will work for the spot you have. For example, if you were to plant corn, soybeans, or lablab in a tenth-acre kill plot, they would be over browsed with only a few deer present in a short time. On the other hand, perennial clovers or brassica seeds can easily withstand browsing pressure even on small plots. Regardless, you should always plant the best food plot seed for the site. When choosing seeds and plant mixes, read the labels. The NRCS overviews A Simplified Guide to Understanding Seed Labels.

If you enjoy success with a particular forage, it may be tempting to plant more and more of it all over the property. That might be a poor decision. Different types of soil affect growth. Learn the soil characteristics of the different areas where you plant plots. A good source for research is the NRCS website. Also, HuntWise PRO Staff and whitetail land management guru, Jeff Sturgis has a variety of educational videos available through Whitetail Habitat Solutions.

Plan Your Food Plot With HuntWise

When it comes to planting food plots, HuntWise simplifies the process and eliminates the guesswork. Once you have your food plot locations picked out, use the app’s Shape/Food Plot Tool to measure the size of your planned plots in order to purchase the correct amount of seed and fertilizer. You can drop Markers where you plan on placing treestands or plans. Also, mark surrounding bedding areas, scrapes, water sources, and more.

Food plots are a great way to add diversity to your property and provide food all season long for wildlife. Once you know the basics and how to avoid simple mistakes, they are excellent management tools. Although you cannot fully control all variables when planting food plots, such as those thrown your way by mother nature, there is a multitude of make-or-break factors that fully hinge upon actions. This year, do not fall victim to the traditional pitfalls in whitetail land management.