- Do not over hunt the plots!!!
- Actually, you need to have some plots designated just for nutritional plots and others for hunting.
- Placement and shape of your plots are vital for success.
First, let's talk about how you hunt your plots. Hunting food plots in early season can be a great way to bag a trophy buck. Early in the season you can catch those monsters while they are still in their late summer feeding pattern. It is important to get the plots established in the spring or early summer for some late summer feeding. Once established stay out of the food plots, it is important to keep your scent out of the area. In addition, every time you check on that plot you are disturbing the feeding pattern of the deer that use the plot. If you feel the need to check on the plot make sure you do it during the middle of the day and be quick to get in and get out. When it is time to hunt make sure to make the kill and get the prize out quickly. Then give the food plot a rest for a week or so until you hunt it again. If you over hunt the plot you will notice a decrease in the number of deer you see as the season progresses. So establish the food plot, stay out, then hunt early and allow time to rest the plot. Make multiple hunting plots that you can rotate on.
If you have the space you need to develop some food plots on the property that are strictly nutritional food plots. The plots are off limits to hunting! They should be safe havens for deer to feed. Food plots are an economical way to increase the level of nutrition into your deer herd. Increased nutritional levels will promote antler growth in bucks and higher and earlier conception rates in the does. Hunting plots should be placed near bedding areas or travel corridors that deer use. It makes no sense to put a plot in an area that deer do not normally travel in. You will not pull deer into areas, in daylight hours, if they do not feel safe. If it is not a natural travel corridor or near a bedding area you are wasting your time and money. Setting up hunting food plots leads us to our last pitfall.
As mentioned in the last paragraph you should place hunting plots in or near areas that are heavily used and travelled by deer. These areas could be near bedding areas, funnels, pinch points, or travel corridors. Make sure you plan ahead and scout your farm before you spend your money and time building food plots. Learn where your deer are bedding down and the routes they travelling. The shape of your huting food plots is also important. Square or rectangular food plots are poor design shapes. You might be able to see them better but this is not about you it is about the deer! Highly successful hunting plots should be odd shaped with some curves in them. You might not be able to see them as well but deer feel safer and you will get more utilization. Plots need to have a curved, snaky, look to them. Additionally, they should have some transitional zones in them from the timber to the open plot. This can be achieved by letting the vegetation grow or planting corn or some native grasses.
Don't make the same mistakes most hunter's make when it comes to food plots. Use these tips to avoid the pitfalls of food plots to make your hunting more enjoyable and successful. Food plots are a vital part of quality deer management and can be a great harvesting tool. However, they are not the silver bullet when it comes to bagging that trophy buck. Learn to use them right and you will increase your success rate and create a trophy herd of deer.
Good Luck on the Hunt!
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