Food Plots And Deer Habitats
Deer habitats can cover several hundreds of acres. Food plots sizes can range from 1000 square feet to several acres. Deer feed singly or in small herds
and the variety that can be planted can be large scale. Some of the feeds that can be planted include: grasses, legumes, vetches, soybeans, peas, and herbs.
Deer will eat almost anything green with nice tender
young growth. I have yet to find anything that I plant for myself that deer
will refuse and deer put forth the best efforts to reach; short of tall or electric
fences and if you plant it they will come. The encroachment of homes and more
and more land being taken away from wildlife makes many a garden an "all you can
eat" buffet just waiting to happen. In these closer contact areas deer food plots
have to be designed for attraction of the most
favorite foods possible.
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Deer are like humans and
if they can get dessert the weeds just don't taste as
good. Regions that are still inhabited by larger
wilderness areas can offer food plots as the enticement
needed just to get a look at the more elusive of the
deer populations.
Nature's banquet might have been short changed by the
weather or other natural occurrences and food plots
offer supplemental approaches to the nutrition and
health of all wildlife species. Many more parks and
areas that are heavily visited by wildlife enthusiasts
are using food plots to get the wildlife "nearer" and
still maintain the freedom of the wild. Food plots let
humans enjoy the experience without disrupting the lives
of the animals.
Deer travel in
small groups several miles searching for the different types
of plants that the season offers. They also consume types of minerals, salts
and water found along the way. Food plots and minerals add to the
diversity of natural vegetation that may not be in abundance
or of poor quality that year. A source for water nearby is also a big plus.
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For Whitetail Deer
Buy Deer Blends
Seed For Deer
Food Plots Here
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For Deer & Other Wildlife
View Our Selection
of Individual Wildlife
Seed Varieties
For Food Plots Here |
Deer food plots can be planted from vetches, deer tongue and
herbs that contain oils in the leaves as the scent can draw
them from a distance. Beans, peas, clovers, sorghums,
millets, ryes, grasses, almost any kind of vegetation
similar to these can be planted to attract deer. Trees that
fruit, produce acorns, berry producers, berry bushes, weed
seeds that grow regionally, all this and more can be planted
to attract deer to food plots. Brassicas are another food that deer love to
eat. Brassicas do well in colder weather and thus help deer through the
winter season. We sell brassicas by Bio Logic and Imperial Whitetail, please feel free to check for more information on this
relatively new food plot development by going through our menu at the right.
Deer will actively graze food plots planted in their habitat areas.
Many times in areas with high deer populations, they may damage food plot
plants by heavily grazing the available plants. Be sure you plant enough
food plots according to the deer population. Food plots can be
established from early spring to early fall. The best planting time is
early spring with mixes that provide crops that mature all through
spring, summer and fall for a more year-round food resource for the deer.
Many of the mixtures we sell are especially designed with this in mind with the
additions of perennials and annual seeds. For detailed instructions on planting
and maintaining successful food plots see our
planting food plots page.
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