Best clover for deer food plots (and how to pick yours)

Last updated 2026-07-25

what is a food plot, exactly

A food plot is a planted patch of forage, usually somewhere between a quarter acre and several acres, put in specifically to feed deer and other wildlife rather than to harvest as a cash crop. Landowners plant them on private or leased ground to concentrate deer activity, improve nutrition through stress periods (antler growth, lactation, winter), and hold animals on the property longer during hunting season. Food plots split into two broad categories: perennial plots (clover, chicory, alfalfa) that you plant once and maintain for 3 to 5 years, and annual plots (brassicas, cereal grains, soybeans) that you replant every year. Clover almost always anchors the perennial side of a plot rotation because it fixes its own nitrogen, tolerates repeated grazing, and keeps producing through most of the growing season ^[1]. Many state wildlife agencies and university extension programs, including Mississippi State's Deer Lab and Penn State Extension, publish specific plot-establishment guides because soil type, rainfall, and deer density all change what actually works on a given property ^[2]. A soil test from your local extension office or a private ag lab is the starting point for every one of these decisions, not a guess. If you're building your first plot, our overview on food plot whitetail strategy and the basics of deer food plots are good background before you buy seed.

do deer like clover, and is it really their favorite food

Yes. Clover ranks among the most consistently preferred forages in whitetail diet studies, and it's one of the most planted food plot species in North America for that reason. Deer favor it because it's high in crude protein (typically 25 to 30 percent in young, vegetative growth) and digestible energy, and because it stays palatable through spring, summer, and fall regrowth cycles. There's no single "favorite food" for deer across all regions and seasons. Diet studies consistently show deer are opportunistic browsers whose preferences shift with what's available and what stage of growth it's in. That said, across food plot species specifically, clover, soybeans, and forbs like chicory tend to top preference rankings in university trials, while mature corn and cereal grains rank lower until they're a scarce late-season food source ^[3]. A quotable way to put it: clover isn't a novelty deer graze once. It's a repeat destination they'll hit dozens of times across a season because the plant keeps regenerating tender growth after every browse event, which is exactly the trait whitetail evolved to exploit.

what's the best clover for deer food plots

Ladino white	3-5 years	Well-drained, fertile	Moderate	2-4 tons DM/acre/year
Red clover	2-3 years	Wetter, lower fertility OK	Low-moderate	High year 1-2, drops after
Alsike	2-3 years	Wet, poorly drained	Moderate	Lower than ladino
Crimson (annual)	1 season	Well-drained	Low	Fast fall growth only	Bottom line: if you can only plant one clover and want the least amount of annual work, plant ladino white clover. If you want fast tonnage in year one while a longer-term stand fills in, plant a red/white blend.

For most food plot situations, ladino white clover (Trifolium repens) is the best overall pick. It has the highest forage quality of the common white clover types, tolerates heavy, repeated grazing pressure well, and can produce 2 to 4 tons of dry matter per acre per year under good management ^{[1] [4]}. It also persists 3 to 5 years if you keep weeds and competition down, which makes it the lowest-maintenance long-term plot option available. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) is the second major option. It grows more upright, tolerates wetter and slightly more acidic soils better than white clover, and produces strong first-year and second-year tonnage, but it's shorter-lived, usually persisting only 2 to 3 years before stand quality drops ^{[4] [5]}. Many seed blends mix red and white clover specifically to get fast first-year tonnage from red clover while the slower-establishing ladino fills in as the long-term stand. Alsike clover and crimson clover show up in some blends too. Alsike tolerates wet, poorly drained soil better than either red or white clover, which makes it a niche pick for low spots. Crimson clover is an annual, not a perennial, so it's used more as a fast fall cover and nurse crop than a standalone multi-year plot. | Clover type | Lifespan | Best soil fit | Shade tolerance | Typical yield |

when to plant clover for deer food plots

Clover goes in during one of two windows: early spring, as soon as soil is workable and daytime temps are consistently in the 50s Fahrenheit, or late summer into early fall, roughly 60 to 90 days before your first hard frost, so seedlings establish before winter dormancy ^[2]. Spring plantings avoid winterkill risk on new seedlings but face more weed competition. Fall plantings deal with less weed pressure but need enough soil moisture to germinate. Regionally, spring clover planting generally runs March through May in the Midwest and Northeast, and February through April in the Southeast. Fall planting windows run roughly August through September in the North and September through October in the South, adjusted for your local first-frost date, which you can check against NOAA Climate Prediction Center data or your state extension's frost date tables ^[2]. Clover seed is small and needs to be planted shallow, about a quarter inch deep or less, and pressed into firm contact with soil. A cultipacker before and after broadcasting works well; drilling too deep is the single most common reason clover plots fail to establish.

when to plant food plots for deer in general

Timing depends entirely on what you're planting and what you want the plot doing during hunting season. As a rule, perennials like clover and chicory go in during spring or late summer, annual grains and brassicas go in during summer for a fall/winter plot, and warm-season annuals like soybeans and sorghum go in after your last spring frost date. A simple framework: if you want a plot peaking in October and November for hunting season, count backward from your first hard frost and plant brassicas 80 to 100 days ahead, and cereal grains like oats or wheat 60 to 90 days ahead. If you want a spring/summer perennial plot for antler growth and fawning season nutrition, plant clover or alfalfa in early spring. Most hunters run a mix: a perennial clover plot for spring through fall coverage, plus one or two annual plots timed to peak right before season opens. That's a strategy question as much as a planting-date question, and it's exactly what a Custom Food Plot Plan is built to work out for your specific zone, soil test, and acreage for a flat $99 one-time fee.

when to plant oats for deer food plots

Oats are a cool-season annual grain, best planted in late summer to early fall, roughly 60 to 90 days before your first frost, so they hit peak leafy growth right as hunting season opens ^[2]. In most of the Midwest and Northeast that's August into September. In the Deep South, growers often push it later, into September or October, because oats can bolt and lose palatability if planted too early into summer heat. Oats can also go in as a spring planting in northern climates for a quick early-season forage or nurse crop for clover, but fall planting is by far the more common use in deer plots because oats hold sweetness and stay attractive to deer after a frost, when starches convert to sugars. Oats don't survive hard winters south of about USDA zone 6-7 without going dormant or dying back, so in colder regions think of them as a fall annual, not a multi-year forage.

when to plant turnips for deer food plots

Turnips are a brassica, planted in mid-to-late summer, generally 80 to 100 days before your first expected hard frost ^[2]. That timing lets the plant build a bulb and leaf mass through warm weather, then get hit by frost, which converts starches to sugars and makes both the tops and the bulb far more palatable to deer. In the northern half of the whitetail range that's typically late July through early August. In the South, growers can wait until late August or September. Planting too late means small, unpalatable bulbs; planting too early in still-hot weather can cause poor germination or early bolting. Turnips work best as a late-season plot, since deer often ignore the bulbs until after a couple of frosts soften and sweeten them. Many hunters blend turnips with radishes or cereal grains for a mixed brassica plot that offers both tender leaf forage early and sweetened root forage in December and January.

do deer eat sorghum

Yes, deer will eat both the grain and the young leaf growth of grain sorghum, though it's a lower preference food than clover, soybeans, or standing corn in most university preference trials ^[3]. Sorghum is more commonly planted as a screening or bedding cover crop, or as a drought-tolerant grain option on marginal ground, than as a primary attractant. Where sorghum earns its keep is late season: standing grain heads left through winter give deer and turkey a carbohydrate source when other plots are picked clean. It also handles heat and drought far better than corn, which matters on sandy or low-rainfall ground where a corn plot would fail most years. If your goal is maximum attraction, sorghum is not the first thing to plant. If your goal is cover plus a late-season backup food source on tough soil, it's a reasonable pick.

do deer eat honey (and does it matter for food plots)

Deer don't eat honey in any meaningful, food-plot-relevant sense. Whitetail deer are herbivores; their digestive system (a four-chamber rumen) is built to process plant fiber, not the concentrated sugar of honey, and there's no wildlife or extension research treating honey as a deer attractant or forage additive. This question usually comes up because of "honey hole" hunting slang or confusion with commercial deer attractant sprays that use sweet scents. Neither has anything to do with what you'd actually plant. If you want a sugar-rich, deer-relevant food source, that's what frost-sweetened brassicas and turnips are for, not honey.

how do you actually establish a clover plot that lasts

Start with a soil test, and treat it as the final word on lime and fertilizer, not a formality. Clover is sensitive to soil pH; most extension guides recommend a target pH of 6.0 to 7.0 for good nodulation and nitrogen fixation, and yields drop sharply below pH 5.5 ^{[1] [4]}. Your soil test report from your local extension lab or private ag lab will give you an exact lime rate in tons per acre; follow that number over any generic rule of thumb, since lime needs vary hugely by existing pH and soil buffer capacity. Once lime and any base fertilizer are worked in and the seedbed is firm, broadcast or drill clover seed shallow (1/4 inch or less) and cultipack for good seed-to-soil contact. Inoculant matters here: clover seed needs the correct Rhizobium strain on the seed coat to fix nitrogen, and pre-inoculated seed from a reputable dealer is worth the small price bump over plain seed. After establishment, mow clover periodically through the growing season, roughly every 3 to 6 weeks or whenever it reaches 8 to 10 inches, to knock back weeds and keep the clover in a vegetative, high-protein growth stage rather than letting it go to flower and get stemmy ^[1]. A clover plot that's mowed and limed on schedule will comfortably outproduce and outlast one planted once and ignored. For seed sourcing and blend options, our guides on deer food plot seed and food plot seed break down what's actually in most bagged blends versus straight species.

clover vs other perennial and annual plot options

Clover isn't automatically the right choice everywhere. Alfalfa produces more total tonnage than clover on well-drained, high-fertility ground and tolerates drought better, but it's far less tolerant of wet soil, low pH, or heavy clay, and it needs a stricter mowing and weed-control schedule to persist ^[5]. Chicory pairs well with clover in a blend because its taproot pulls it through drought stretches when clover growth stalls. Against annuals, clover wins on labor: you plant it once and maintain it for 3 to 5 years instead of replanting every season. Annuals like soybeans and brassicas win on raw tonnage and on filling a very specific late-season window that a clover plot, which slows down markedly after the first hard frost, can't cover on its own. Most experienced plot managers run both: a perennial clover base for spring through early fall, and one or two annual plots timed for the late season. If you're deciding what your whole property's rotation should look like rather than just picking one clover bag, that's a bigger planning question than a single article can size for your acreage and zone, which is the exact gap our Custom Food Plot Plan is built to fill for a flat $99.

do state rules affect what you can plant or how you hunt over a plot

Food plots themselves are legal planting activity everywhere, but baiting and supplemental feeding rules vary a lot by state, and some states draw a line between a planted, growing food plot and a pile of bait like corn or minerals. A properly established food plot is generally treated differently from bait under most state statutes, but the exact definition of what counts as "baiting" versus a legitimate agricultural planting differs by state code. Check your specific state wildlife agency's regulations before hunting over any plot, especially if it's small, freshly planted, or supplemented with mineral or corn piles nearby. States like Michigan and Wisconsin have had active baiting bans tied to chronic wasting disease management in specific counties, and those rules change periodically ^{[6] [7]}. Your state fish and wildlife agency's current hunting digest is the only reliable source, not a forum post or a neighboring state's rule.

Frequently asked questions

Do deer eat clover more than other food plot plants?

Clover ranks at or near the top of most university forage preference studies, alongside soybeans and chicory. It's favored because of high crude protein (25 to 30 percent in vegetative growth) and because it regrows quickly after grazing, giving deer repeated access to tender, high-quality forage across most of the growing season.

What is the best clover for deer food plots?

Ladino white clover is the best all-around choice for most plots. It handles heavy grazing, persists 3 to 5 years, and produces 2 to 4 tons of dry matter per acre annually under good management. Red clover is a strong second choice on wetter or lower-fertility ground, though it typically only lasts 2 to 3 years.

When should I plant clover for a deer food plot?

Plant clover in early spring once soil is workable and daytime temps hit the 50s Fahrenheit, or in late summer to early fall, 60 to 90 days before your first hard frost. Fall planting usually faces less weed competition; spring planting avoids winterkill risk on tender new seedlings.

When is the best time to plant food plots for deer overall?

It depends on species. Perennials like clover go in spring or late summer. Brassicas need 80 to 100 days before first frost. Cereal grains like oats need 60 to 90 days before frost. Warm-season annuals like soybeans and sorghum go in after your last spring frost date.

When should I plant oats in a deer food plot?

Plant oats 60 to 90 days before your first expected fall frost, typically August into September in the Midwest and Northeast, later in the Deep South. Oats hold sweetness and stay attractive after frost converts starches to sugar, which is why fall planting is far more common than spring for deer plots.

When should I plant turnips for a deer food plot?

Plant turnips 80 to 100 days before your first hard frost, usually late July to early August in northern regions and late August to September farther south. Frost sweetens the bulbs and tops, which is why turnip plots are built as a late-season food source rather than an early-fall attractant.

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes, deer eat both the leaf growth and grain of sorghum, but it ranks below clover, soybeans, and corn in most preference studies. Sorghum is more valuable as a drought-tolerant late-season standing grain and screening cover than as a primary attractant plot.

What is a food plot in deer hunting terms?

A food plot is a planted area, usually a quarter acre to several acres, seeded specifically to feed deer and other wildlife rather than for harvest as a crop. Plots split into perennials like clover, replanted every 3 to 5 years, and annuals like brassicas and grains, replanted yearly.

What is a deer's favorite food?

There's no single favorite across all regions and seasons; deer are opportunistic browsers. Among food plot species specifically, clover, soybeans, and chicory consistently rank highest in university preference trials, while mature corn and cereal grains rank lower until winter scarcity makes them more valuable.

Do deer eat honey?

No, not in any way relevant to food plots. Deer are herbivores with a rumen digestive system built for plant fiber, not concentrated sugar. There's no wildlife research treating honey as deer forage or attractant; the question usually comes from hunting slang like "honey hole," unrelated to actual diet.

How long does a clover food plot last before I need to replant?

A well-maintained ladino white clover plot typically lasts 3 to 5 years before stand quality drops enough to justify replanting. Red clover persists a shorter 2 to 3 years. Mowing every 3 to 6 weeks and following your soil test's lime recommendations both extend stand life significantly.

Can I hunt over a clover food plot without violating baiting laws?

In most states a properly planted, growing food plot is treated differently from bait piles like corn or mineral blocks, but exact definitions vary by state code and some regions have added restrictions tied to chronic wasting disease management. Always check your state wildlife agency's current hunting regulations before hunting over any plot.

Sources

1. Mississippi State University Extension, "Clover for Deer" (Publication 2494): Ladino white clover forage quality, yield potential, and grazing tolerance for deer plots
2. University of Tennessee Extension, "Establishing Wildlife Food Plots": Regional planting windows for clover, oats, and brassicas relative to frost dates
3. USDA NRCS, "Grain Sorghum" Plant Fact Sheet: Sorghum use as wildlife forage and grain source, drought tolerance characteristics
4. University of Kentucky Extension, "Clovers" (AGR-52): White and red clover soil pH requirements, lifespan, and yield comparisons
5. University of Wisconsin Extension, "Alfalfa and Red Clover" forage comparison: Alfalfa versus red clover tonnage, drought tolerance, and soil drainage requirements
6. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Baiting and Feeding Regulations: State-specific baiting and feeding restrictions tied to chronic wasting disease management
7. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Baiting and Feeding Rules: State baiting ban rules by county tied to CWD management