location is important in that if deer feel secure using a food plot, they will use that plot more than a neighboring field where they don’t feel as secure. Security comes from being close to escape cover, so a plot that is surrounded partially or completely by cover will greatly encourage deer usage. Human pressure also affects the amount of usage your food plots receive, again due to a matter of security felt by the deer herd. Minimizing human pressure by strategically planning food plot locations and stand locations along with using sanctuary zones on your property will greatly increase deer usage on your food plots. Choosing the right food plot varieties is also a major key to drawing and holding deer on your property. Merely borrowing varieties from the agricultural sector, whether or not they have been renamed as “deer food plot seed,” will probably not give you the desired results. One may argue that planting corn or soybeans in food plots, even though they are agricultural
crops, will draw deer to those plots. I don’t disagree that corn and beans will attract deer, but deeper thought into that plan will reveal a few problems. First, remember the goal is not just to draw deer onto your property during the fall, but rather to encourage deer to use your property all year long. Something different and more preferred by deer can help accomplish this goal. Year-round, attractive food sources will increase the odds your property will become a core area or home range. Furthermore, just attracting deer is not the total goal.
This deer was taken on the author’s farm which is surrounded by agricultural fields. With good management practices, deer utilized the author’s farm more than the neighboring farms.
The corn fields are bare of ears in the winter, but these deer still find brassicas under the snow.
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WHITETAIL NEWS / Vol. 22, No. 1
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