Best deer and turkey food plots, by species and zone

Last updated 2026-07-25

What is a food plot, exactly?

A food plot is a planted patch, usually a half-acre to a few acres, meant to give deer, turkey, and other wildlife a concentrated food source on ground you own or lease. It's not the same as a wildlife feeder or a bait pile. Most state wildlife agencies draw a legal line between a planted, rooted crop (a food plot) and placed feed like corn piles or mineral blocks, and the rules on the latter vary a lot by state. A good plot does two jobs. It feeds animals through a nutritional gap (usually late summer stress or the post-rut winter crunch), and it concentrates activity somewhere you can hunt or observe. The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service treats food plots as a wildlife habitat practice under its Farm Bill conservation programs, which tells you something: agencies view this as habitat management, not supplemental feeding, when it's done right with seed in the ground ^[1]. Check your state's baiting and feeding regulations before you plant anything near a stand or blind. Some states, including Michigan and parts of Wisconsin, have had CWD-related bans on baiting and feeding that don't apply to food plots, but the lines get technical (mineral licks and broadcast grain are treated differently than a drilled crop in several states). Your state wildlife agency's regulation page is the only source worth trusting here, not a forum post.

When to plant food plots for deer (by season and zone)

Deep South (S. Georgia, Florida, S. Alabama)	March to April	Late August to October
Mid-South (Tennessee, Arkansas, N. Georgia)	April to May	Late August to mid-September
Midwest / Mid-Atlantic (Ohio, Kentucky, Virginia)	Late April to May	Mid-August to early September
Upper Midwest / Northeast (Wisconsin, Minnesota, upstate NY)	Mid-May to early June	Late July to mid-August	These windows are generalized. Your county extension office knows your local frost dates cold, and that's a better source than any national chart, including this one. Land-grant extension services like Penn State and Mississippi State both publish planting calendars built around their state's frost data specifically because a one-size date doesn't work [2].

Timing depends on whether you're planting a spring/summer plot or a fall plot, and both depend on your frost dates. There's no single national planting day. USDA Plant Hardiness Zones run from about 3 in the northern Midwest and interior Northeast to 9 and above in the Deep South and Gulf Coast, and that range alone can shift planting dates by six to eight weeks. Spring/summer plots (clover, soybeans, cowpeas, chicory) go in after your last frost date, generally April in the South, May in the Midwest, and late May to early June in the northern tier. Fall plots (brassicas, cereal grains, winter peas) get planted late summer to early fall so they mature going into the hunting season and first frost, which sweetens brassicas and cereal grains. A rough framework: | Region (example states) | Spring plot window | Fall plot window |

Do deer like clover, and is it worth planting?

Yes. Clover is one of the most consistently used food plot species for whitetails, and it's usually the first thing extension agronomists recommend for a perennial base plot. White clover (ladino types especially) and red clover both test out at 20 to 30 percent crude protein when actively growing, which is well above what deer get from most native browse ^[3]. The advantage of clover isn't just palatability, it's duration. A well-limed, well-fertilized clover stand can produce from spring green-up through fall, and a good stand can last three to five years before it needs to be reseeded, according to Mississippi State University Extension guidance on perennial clover plots ^[2]. That's a lot of grazing days for one planting and one seed cost. The catch: clover is picky about soil pH. Extension guidance consistently calls for a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5 for clover to fix nitrogen well and hold up to grazing pressure ^{[2] [3]}. If your soil test comes back at 5.2, don't expect a clover plot to perform, no matter how good the seed is. Lime first, plant second. This is exactly the kind of site-specific call your own soil test lab should make, since lime rates depend on your soil's buffer pH, more than the water pH number.

Do deer eat sorghum, and does it belong in a mixed plot?

Deer will eat sorghum, especially grain sorghum heads and the leaves of young plants, but it's not a top-tier deer forage on its own. It's more commonly planted as a screening or structural crop, tall stalks that block wind and sightlines around a plot, or as a component in a wildlife blend alongside soybeans, cowpeas, and sunflowers. Where sorghum earns its keep is with turkeys and other birds. Grain sorghum heads left standing into fall and winter draw turkeys, quail, and doves reliably, and several state wildlife agency habitat guides list sorghum specifically as a game bird food source rather than a primary deer plot ^[4]. If your main goal is deer, put your seed budget into clover, soybeans, or brassicas first and treat sorghum as a secondary or screening crop, not a headline species.

When to plant oats for deer

Oats go in as a fall annual, typically 6 to 8 weeks before your average first frost, so they've got time to establish before cold shuts down growth. That generally lands in late August through mid-September across most of the whitetail range, earlier (August) in the North and later (into October) in the Deep South. Oats are a favorite fall/early winter forage because they're highly palatable and fast to establish, often showing green growth within a week of a good rain. They don't have the winter hardiness of winter wheat or winter rye, though. In zones with hard winters, oats will typically winterkill after repeated hard freezes, so a lot of food plotters mix oats with winter wheat, winter rye, or brassicas so something is still standing after the first few freezes. Soil test guidance still applies here. Oats respond well to nitrogen, and university variety trial data (Kansas State, University of Kentucky) both show yield jumps with split nitrogen applications compared to a single up-front dose, though exact rates depend on your soil test's baseline nitrogen and organic matter numbers.

When to plant turnips for deer

Turnips are a fall brassica, planted roughly 60 to 90 days before your first hard frost so the plant has time to bulb up and the tops mature. In most of the whitetail range that means a planting window from late July in northern zones to early September in the South. Turnips are a two-stage food source. Deer often ignore the leaves early and hit them lightly through late summer and fall, then hammer both the tops and the bulbs hard after the first hard frosts convert starches to sugars, which is why so many hunters see turnip plots explode in use in November and December. This frost-triggered sugar conversion is well documented in university brassica trial reports, including work from Mississippi State and Penn State Extension on brassica forage quality ^[2]. Seeding rate matters more than people think. Turnips are a small seed and get planted shallow (around a quarter inch) at a light rate, generally 4 to 6 pounds per acre for a pure stand. Too heavy a rate gives you a jungle of leaves and stunted, undersized bulbs, because the plants are competing with each other instead of bulbing up. If you want a step by step plan matched to your zone and your soil test numbers, that's exactly the gap a food plot whitetail guide or a custom plan is built to fill.

What are deer's favorite foods, really?

There's no single favorite, it shifts by season, region, and what's available. But research and extension data point to a consistent short list: agricultural crops like soybeans and corn, high-protein legumes like clover and cowpeas, and, where available, acorns, which several state deer studies rank as one of the highest-preference native foods in fall because of their fat content. A widely cited whitetail food preference study out of the Mississippi Delta region and similar work compiled by state wildlife agencies consistently rank soybeans and clover near the top of preferred plantings, while brassicas and cereal grains rank as strong late-season options once frost improves palatability ^[5]. Native forbs and browse (greenbrier, honeysuckle, forbs) still make up the bulk of a deer's actual diet across the year in most regions, food plots are a supplement to that, not a replacement for it. So if you're planning one plot to do everything, a mix that covers spring/summer protein (clover, soybeans) and fall/winter energy (brassicas, cereal grains) covers more of the calendar than any single species can.

Do deer like honey, or is that a myth?

Deer don't seek out honey in the wild in any documented, meaningful way, and there's no wildlife agency or extension source that lists honey as a deer attractant. What people usually mean by this question is sweet feed, molasses-based mineral or feed products, or scent-based attractant sprays marketed with "honey" or sugar-based scents. Those products work, when they work, mostly through smell and sugar content, not because deer have some instinct for honey specifically. Deer are drawn to high-sugar, high-carb foods generally (that's part of why frosted brassicas and standing corn pull deer so hard in late season). If you're looking at a commercial mineral or attractant product with honey or molasses in the name, check your state's baiting and feeding regulations first. Several states, including Pennsylvania and Michigan, restrict or ban the placement of these products near hunting areas even though a planted food plot is legal ^[6] .

What food plots do turkeys actually use?

Turkeys use food plots differently than deer do. They're not there mainly for the plant itself, they're there for the bugs the plant attracts, plus tender greens and grain heads. Clover plots are a strong turkey draw for exactly this reason: a thick clover stand hosts a lot of insects, and poults need high-protein bug diets in their first weeks of life far more than adult birds need plant material ^[5]. Beyond clover, turkeys work chufa (a sedge that produces underground tubers turkeys will dig for), grain sorghum, and any plot with exposed soil and short vegetation where they can see predators coming while they feed. Tall, thick plots (mature soybeans, standing corn) get used more by deer than turkeys, since turkeys generally prefer more open ground with visibility. If you're planning a plot that serves both species, a clover base with a strip of grain sorghum or chufa on the edge covers a lot of ground. That's a common recommendation in state agency turkey habitat guides, including several NWTF-affiliated state agency publications on turkey brood habitat ^[5].

How do you build a plot that works for both deer and turkey?

Layer species instead of picking one. A clover perennial base handles spring green-up, summer bug production for turkey poults, and fall grazing for deer, all from one planting that lasts several years. Add a fall annual strip, oats or a brassica blend, for late-season deer draw and to extend the plot's use into winter. Soil work comes first regardless of species mix. Both deer and turkey plot species (clover, brassicas, cereal grains, chufa) want a soil pH in the 6.0 to 6.5 range and adequate phosphorus and potassium, and the only way to know your actual numbers is a soil test, not a guess based on what grows in the ditch nearby ^{[2] [3]}. Your test results and your local extension office are the real authority on lime and fertilizer rates for your specific dirt; a planting calendar can tell you when, but not how much lime your particular field needs. If you want the whole thing mapped out (species mix, seeding rates, and a calendar built around your zip code and your soil test), that's the exact problem PlotSeason's $99 one-time Custom Food Plot Plan is built to solve. It's a planning tool, not a replacement for your soil lab's fertility recommendation. For species-specific seed selection once your plan is set, see deer food plot seed and food plot seed for variety comparisons.

What's the biggest mistake people make with deer and turkey plots?

Skipping the soil test and planting on faith. Extension data across multiple states shows that unlimed, low-pH soil is the single most common reason a food plot underperforms, not seed quality or planting date ^{[2] [3]}. You can buy the best clover blend on the market and still get a thin, weedy stand if your soil pH sits at 5.0 and you never limed. The second most common mistake is planting one species and expecting it to cover the whole season. A single clover plot won't give you the late-season energy boost that brassicas or standing grain provide after a hard frost. A single fall brassica plot won't do anything for you in July. Mixing perennial and annual species, and spreading plantings across a few small plots instead of one big one, spreads your risk against drought, deer pressure, and a bad frost timing year. For a broader look at plot layout and species mix by acreage, deer food plots and domain food plot seed cover configuration in more depth than this article can.

Frequently asked questions

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes, deer will browse young sorghum leaves and eat grain sorghum heads, but it's a secondary deer food at best. It's more valuable as a screening crop or as a turkey and game bird food source. Extension and state wildlife guides generally list sorghum as a supporting species in a mixed plot, not a primary deer forage like clover or soybeans.

Do deer like clover?

Yes, clover is one of the most reliably used food plot species for whitetails. White and red clover run 20 to 30 percent crude protein when actively growing, according to university forage data, and a well-maintained stand can produce for three to five years, making it a strong perennial base for any deer plot.

When should you plant deer food plots?

It depends on species and your frost dates. Spring/summer plots (clover, soybeans) go in after your last spring frost, generally April in the South through late May or early June in the North. Fall plots (brassicas, oats, cereal grains) get planted 6 to 12 weeks before your area's first fall frost.

When should you plant oats for deer?

Plant oats 6 to 8 weeks before your average first fall frost, which lands roughly late August through mid-September across most whitetail range. Oats establish fast but generally winterkill after repeated hard freezes, so many hunters mix them with winter wheat, rye, or brassicas to keep forage available into winter.

When should you plant turnips for deer?

Plant turnips 60 to 90 days before your area's first hard frost, generally late July in the North to early September in the South. Deer often ignore turnip tops early but hit both leaves and bulbs hard after the first frosts convert plant starches to sugar, usually in November and December.

What is a food plot?

A food plot is a planted, rooted crop, usually clover, brassicas, grains, or legumes, established on a half-acre to several acres to provide concentrated wildlife forage. It's legally and practically different from a bait pile or feeder; the USDA treats food plots as a wildlife habitat conservation practice, not supplemental feeding.

What are deer's favorite foods?

There's no single favorite; it shifts by season and region. Preference studies and extension data consistently rank soybeans, clover, and acorns near the top, with brassicas and cereal grains gaining preference after frost. Native browse and forbs still make up most of a deer's actual year-round diet.

Do deer like honey?

No documented evidence shows deer seek out honey specifically. What's usually meant is sweet or molasses-based mineral and scent products. These can work through sugar and scent appeal generally, not a honey-specific instinct. Check your state's baiting and feeding rules before using any placed attractant product near a stand.

Do turkeys use the same food plots as deer?

Partly. Turkeys are drawn to clover plots mainly for the insects they attract, which poults need for protein, plus tender greens. They also use chufa, grain sorghum, and open plots with good visibility. Thick, tall plots like mature soybeans or corn tend to get used more by deer than turkey.

What soil pH do food plots need?

Most clover, brassica, and cereal grain plot species do best with a soil pH between 6.0 and 6.5, according to Mississippi State and Penn State Extension guidance. Below that range, nutrient availability and legume nitrogen fixation drop off. A soil test from your local lab is the only reliable way to know your actual number.

How big should a deer and turkey food plot be?

There's no fixed rule; a half-acre to two or three acres works for most landowners, and several smaller plots often outperform one large plot because they spread out browse pressure and cover more of the property. Plot size should match your equipment, sunlight access, and how much seed and fertilizer budget you have.

Can you plant one plot that works for both deer and turkey all year?

A clover perennial base plus a fall annual strip (oats or brassicas) covers the most ground for both species across seasons. Clover feeds turkey poults through insects and provides deer grazing spring through fall; the annual strip adds late-season energy for deer after frost.

Sources

1. USDA NRCS, Wildlife Habitat Conservation Practices: Food plots are treated as a wildlife habitat management practice under USDA conservation programs
2. University of Tennessee Extension, Food Plots for Wildlife: White and red clover run 20-30% crude protein and require pH 6.0-6.5 for good nitrogen fixation
3. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Game Bird Habitat Management: Grain sorghum is used as a game bird (quail, dove, turkey) food source in habitat plantings
4. National Wild Turkey Federation / State Agency Turkey Habitat Guidance: Clover plots draw turkeys primarily for insect production needed by poults, and chufa and sorghum are used turkey food sources
5. Pennsylvania Game Commission, Baiting and Feeding Regulations: Pennsylvania restricts feeding and baiting of deer in certain disease management areas
6. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Baiting and Feeding Order: Michigan restricts or bans baiting and feeding of deer statewide or by zone due to CWD management