Spring deer food plot mix: what to plant and when

Last updated 2026-07-25

What is a food plot, exactly?

A food plot is a planted area, usually somewhere from a quarter acre to a few acres, meant to give deer and other wildlife concentrated food during a specific season. It's not a natural clearing that grew up in weeds. It's a managed patch of forage, planted the way a farmer plants a field, just smaller and aimed at one species. Hunters plant food plots for two overlapping reasons: nutrition and hunting access. A spring plot heavy on soybeans or clover feeds does and growing bucks through summer antler growth and lactation. A fall plot of brassicas or cereal grains gives you a place to hunt during the season. Spring plots and fall plots aren't the same mix, and that's the mistake a lot of first-year plotters make: they buy one bag of "deer plot mix" and plant it in April expecting it to still be relevant in November. The USDA National Agroforestry Center and land-grant extension programs both treat food plots as a wildlife habitat tool, not a hunting gimmick, and the same agronomic rules that apply to a soybean field apply here: soil pH, fertility, drainage, and planting date all matter ^[1]. Skip the soil test and you're guessing. See our broader rundown on food plot whitetail basics if you're starting from zero.

When to plant food plots for deer?

3-4	Northern MN, ND, ME	Late May - mid June
5-6	Iowa, PA, KY	Early-mid May
7	TN, VA, NC piedmont	Mid April - early May
8-9	GA, AL, FL, TX	March - early April	Don't plant early just because it's warm out for a week. A late frost after emergence can wipe out soybeans or sorghum seedlings. Wait for soil temp, not air temp.

Timing splits into two windows: spring plots (roughly April through June depending on latitude) for summer forage, and late summer/fall plots (July through September) for hunting season attraction. This article is about the spring window. The simplest rule: plant warm-season annuals after your last expected frost date, once soil temperature is consistently above 60 to 65°F at planting depth. In the Deep South (zones 8-9) that can mean March. In the Upper Midwest and Northeast (zones 3-5) it's often late May into June. Cooperative extension frost date tables, like those maintained by NOAA and state extension offices, are the fastest way to check your specific county ^[2]. Here's a rough spring planting window by USDA Hardiness Zone: | Zone | Region example | Spring plot window |

What should go in a spring deer food plot mix?

The best spring mixes combine a fast-establishing annual for tonnage with a perennial legume for season-long protein. A common, field-tested combination is soybeans or forage sorghum planted with a red or white clover as a nurse crop or companion. For pure spring/summer tonnage, soybeans (Roundup Ready or conventional forage varieties) are hard to beat where deer density is moderate. They can put out 20 to 30% crude protein forage during vegetative growth, which lines up with lactation and antler-growth demands documented by whitetail nutrition research summarized by Mississippi State University Extension ^[3]. The catch: in high deer density areas, soybeans get hammered before they ever get tall enough to produce pods. So a lot of plotters plant a bigger acreage or fence a portion until plants establish. Clover is the backbone perennial. It's cheaper per acre-year than replanting annuals every season, since a good stand of ladino or medium red clover can produce for 3 to 5 years with proper mowing and fertility upkeep, per land-grant forage management guidance ^[4]. Clover alone in a plot planted in spring is a fine, low-cost, low-labor choice if you're not trying to maximize tonnage. Forage sorghum and grain sorghum both work as heat- and drought-tolerant options for the Southeast and southern Midwest, and both hold up better than soybeans under heavy grazing pressure because they regrow from the crown after being browsed. Cowpeas (iron-clay type) are another underused option. They're more browse-tolerant than soybeans and fix nitrogen in the soil, cutting your fertilizer bill a little. Check deer food plot seed options and food plot seed blends before buying, since a lot of bagged "spring mixes" are really just soybean-clover or sorghum-clover combos repackaged at a markup.

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes, deer eat sorghum, both the leaves and the grain heads, though it's not usually their first choice compared to soybeans, clover, or acorns. Whitetails will browse young sorghum shoots readily and eat the grain once heads mature, and turkey and other wildlife use the grain too. Sorghum's real value in a spring/summer plot isn't that deer prefer it. It's that it survives heavy browsing pressure better than soft-leaved legumes. Because sorghum regrows from a growing point near the crown, a plot can take repeated grazing through summer and still produce a stand into fall, where soybeans planted in the same field might get grazed to nothing. Grain sorghum also tolerates drought and poor soil better than corn, which is one reason it shows up in food plot blends aimed at the Southern Plains and Southeast. If you're on sandy or drought-prone ground, sorghum is a more forgiving bet than corn for a spring planting.

Do deer eat clover, and do deer actually like it?

Yes and yes. Clover is one of the most consistently preferred forages in whitetail diet studies, and it's a reasonable answer to "what's a deer's favorite food" if you're talking about planted forage rather than wild browse. Research summarized by university extension wildlife programs, including Mississippi State's deer nutrition work, ranks clover among the top preferred food plot species for crude protein content and digestibility, often in the 25-30% crude protein range during active growth ^[3]. Deer return to established clover stands repeatedly through spring and summer because it's high in protein and stays palatable across multiple grazing events, unlike a lot of annuals that get woody or bitter after a few weeks. That said, "favorite food" is a moving target. In fall, deer key in on acorns and other mast over almost anything planted, because the fat and carbohydrate content fits their pre-winter fattening needs better than protein-heavy clover. In spring and summer, though, clover, soybeans, and alfalfa top most preference studies. Deer are opportunistic browsers first; a plot is a supplement to whatever natural forage is available, not a replacement for it. White clover (ladino types) tends to outperform red clover in shade tolerance and grazing recovery, while red clover handles heat and poor drainage a bit better. Either is a solid perennial base for a spring mix.

When to plant oats for deer?

Oats are a cool-season cereal grain, and they're mainly a fall/early-winter plot component, not a spring one. If you're asking specifically about oats, the better planting window is late summer to early fall, generally 6 to 8 weeks before your first hard frost, so the plants establish before cold weather but stay tender and attractive into hunting season. Some hunters in the Upper Midwest and Northeast do plant spring oats (a specific oat type bred for spring seeding) as a quick-growing nurse crop alongside spring clover, planted in April or May depending on zone. Spring oats germinate fast and give clover seedlings some cover from weed competition and browse pressure while the clover establishes. But oats planted in spring won't survive summer heat in most of the whitetail's range; they're a short-lived nurse crop here, not the main event. If your goal is a fall food plot with oats as a headline species, that's a different planting calendar than this article covers. Check your state extension's fall planting guide for that.

When to plant turnips for deer?

Turnips are a fall brassica, planted in mid-to-late summer, generally late July through August in most of the whitetail's range, so they mature into cold weather when their sugar content rises and deer start keying in on them. They are not a spring planting. Brassicas like turnips actually get more palatable after a hard frost, because the cold triggers starch-to-sugar conversion in the leaves and bulbs, a plant response documented in university forage research on brassica cold tolerance and quality ^[5]. Deer often ignore a summer-planted turnip patch almost entirely until temperatures drop into the 20s and 30s a few times. So if you're planning a spring mix, turnips don't belong in it. Save them for your late-summer planting alongside cereal grains and clover for a fall attraction plot. This is a separate calendar from spring soybean/clover/sorghum plantings.

What's actually in a deer's diet, and does that change what I should plant?

Whitetail deer are browsers, and the bulk of their annual diet, often 80% or more depending on region and season, comes from native browse, forbs, and mast, not planted food plots, according to state wildlife agency deer biology summaries ^[6]. A food plot supplements natural forage; it doesn't replace it, and it's rarely the majority of a deer's calories over a full year even on well-managed ground. Within planted forages, the general preference ranking most extension and wildlife agency sources agree on, at least for spring/summer, goes something like this: clover and alfalfa at the top, followed by soybeans, cowpeas, and other legumes, then brassicas and cereal grains lower on summer preference (brassicas jump up in fall). Corn and grain sorghum rank lower for browse preference but higher for fall/winter energy content once mature. One offbeat question that comes up: do deer like honey? There's no real research or established practice around deer and honey as a food plot or attractant component, and it's not legal or practical as a plot input anyway; it's not a forage crop. If you've seen "honey hole" branded attractant products, that's marketing language about a good hunting spot, not an ingredient claim backed by any wildlife nutrition research. Skip it and stick with real forage crops. Check your state wildlife agency's rules on baiting and feeding before adding any mineral, molasses, or attractant product to a plot. Many states regulate or restrict supplemental feeding and baiting, and the rules differ by whether you're talking about a planted crop (usually legal) versus a pile of feed or mineral (often restricted or seasonal) .

How do soil tests and fertility fit into a spring mix decision?

Your soil test result should drive species choice and fertilizer rate before you ever pick a seed bag. Clover and other legumes want a soil pH in the 6.0 to 7.0 range for good nodulation and nitrogen fixation; below 5.5, yields drop hard even with fertilizer, per land-grant extension forage fertility guidance ^[4]. Soybeans and sorghum are a little more forgiving on pH but still perform best in that same general range. Lime takes months to fully react in the soil, so if your test says you need lime, ideally you're applying it in fall for a spring planting, not the week before you plant. If you're testing late and planting soon, get lime down anyway; partial correction beats none. Your soil test lab report is the real authority here, not a blog post, including this one. Labs like those run by state land-grant universities give you specific pH, P, and K recommendations calibrated to your regional soil types, and that's worth more than any generic "apply X lbs per acre" rule of thumb. If you want a starting point that turns your specific soil test numbers and zone into an actual seed and fertilizer plan, that's exactly what our $99 one-time Custom Food Plot Plan is built to do. It's general planning guidance based on your inputs, not a substitute for your soil lab's specific lime and fertilizer recommendation, but it saves you from guessing at species mix and seeding rates.

What equipment do I actually need for a spring plot?

For a small plot (under 2 acres), you can get by with a hand-push spreader, a hand-held sprayer or backpack sprayer for herbicide, and a rented or borrowed disc or tiller for seedbed prep. A soil test kit or mail-in sample bag from your local extension office is cheap, usually $10 to $20, and it's the best money you'll spend before planting season. For anything from 2 to 10 acres, an ATV or UTV with a pull-behind disc, cultipacker, and broadcast spreader speeds things up considerably and is the setup most serious plotters land on. A drill isn't required for most food plot species; broadcasting followed by a light drag or cultipacker to firm the seed-to-soil contact works fine for clover, brassicas, and small grains. Larger seeds like soybeans and sorghum benefit from actual drilling or at least 1 to 1.5 inches of coverage, which is deeper than most broadcast setups manage well without a drag. Whatever you're planting, follow the seed tag's stated planting depth. Clover seed is tiny and wants to sit almost on the surface, barely covered; soybeans want an inch or more of soil over them. Planting clover too deep is one of the most common reasons a spring plot fails to establish.

Spring vs fall food plot mix: what's actually different?

Factor	Spring/summer mix	Fall mix
Main goal	Nutrition (antler growth, lactation)	Hunting attraction
Core species	Soybeans, clover, cowpeas, sorghum	Brassicas (turnips), cereal grains (oats, wheat, rye)
Planting window	After last frost, soil 60-65°F+	Late July - September, 6-8 wks before frost
Growth style	Warm-season annuals + perennial legume	Cool-season annuals, frost-sweetened
Typical deer draw	Moderate, competes with green-up	High, especially post-frost	The short version: spring mixes are about building a deer herd's body condition through summer, fall mixes are about pulling deer to a specific spot during daylight hunting hours. Plenty of plots do both jobs across a year with two separate plantings on the same ground. For more on picking species by goal, see deer for food and our broader deer food plots overview.

Frequently asked questions

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes. Deer browse young sorghum leaves and eat mature grain heads, though it's usually not their top preference compared to soybeans or clover. Its real advantage is that it regrows from the crown after grazing, so it survives heavy browse pressure better than soft-leaved legumes through a hot summer.

Do deer eat clover, and do deer like it?

Deer eat clover readily and it consistently ranks among the most preferred planted forages in wildlife nutrition research, often 25-30% crude protein during active growth. It's a strong choice for spring and summer plots, though deer shift toward mast like acorns once fall arrives.

When should I plant food plots for deer?

Spring plots go in after your last frost date once soil temperature hits roughly 60-65°F, which ranges from March in the Deep South to late May or June in the Upper Midwest and Northeast. Fall attraction plots (brassicas, cereal grains) go in 6-8 weeks before your area's first hard frost.

When should I plant oats for deer?

Standard oats are a fall crop, planted 6-8 weeks before your first hard frost so they establish before cold sets in. Spring oat varieties can be planted in April-May as a nurse crop for young clover, but they won't survive summer heat as a standalone plot in most whitetail range.

When should I plant turnips for deer?

Plant turnips in late July through August in most of the whitetail's range. They're a fall brassica; cold weather converts starches to sugars in the leaves and bulbs, which is why deer often ignore turnips in summer but hit them hard after a few frosts.

What is a food plot?

A food plot is a planted patch of forage, usually a quarter acre to a few acres, managed specifically to feed deer or other wildlife and often to create a huntable opening. It follows normal crop agronomy (soil test, fertility, planting date) scaled down for a wildlife species instead of a commodity crop.

What are deer's favorite foods?

Deer are browsers whose diet is dominated by native browse, forbs, and mast like acorns, often 80% or more of annual intake per state wildlife agency data. Among planted forages, clover and alfalfa typically top preference in spring and summer, with soybeans and cowpeas close behind.

Do deer like honey?

There's no real wildlife nutrition research supporting honey as a deer attractant or food plot input, and it isn't a forage crop you can plant. "Honey hole" is hunting slang for a productive spot, not a claim about deer diet. Stick with tested forage species instead.

What's the best spring food plot mix for a first-time planter?

A soybean and clover combination is a forgiving starting point: soybeans give fast summer tonnage and protein, clover establishes as a perennial base that carries into future years. Get a soil test first, since pH below 5.5 will hurt legume performance even with good seed and fertilizer.

How big should a spring food plot be?

There's no fixed rule, but half an acre to two acres is a common range for a single-species or two-species spring plot on a private lease or small property. Larger plots (2+ acres) hold up better under heavy deer density since browse pressure is spread over more plants.

Can I plant clover and soybeans together in spring?

Yes, this is a common combination. Clover establishes slower and benefits from soybean canopy for some weed suppression early on, and once soybeans are grazed down or harvested by deer, the clover stand carries the plot into following seasons without replanting.

Is it legal to bait deer with a food plot?

A planted, standing food plot is legal in nearly every state, but rules on baiting (piled feed, mineral, or attractants separate from a growing crop) vary widely and some states restrict or ban it seasonally. Check your state wildlife agency's current baiting and feeding regulations before adding any supplemental feed or mineral station.

Do I need to test soil before planting a spring food plot?

Yes, it's the single highest-value step before planting. A soil test tells you pH and nutrient levels so you know whether lime is needed and how much fertilizer to apply; guessing wastes money on seed that won't establish in poor pH soil, especially for clover and other legumes.

Sources

1. USDA National Agroforestry Center, Working Trees for Wildlife: Food plots are treated as a wildlife habitat management tool requiring standard agronomic practices
2. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Frost/Freeze data: Last frost dates vary by region and inform spring planting windows
3. Mississippi State University Extension Service Publication 2111, Establishing and Managing Wildlife Food Plots: Clover and soybeans rank high in crude protein content and deer preference during spring/summer growth
4. Penn State Extension, Agronomy Guide: Forage Legume Species and Soil pH: Established clover stands can produce for multiple years and require soil pH in the 6.0-7.0 range
5. University of Georgia Extension Circular 1153, Brassicas for Forage: Brassica palatability and sugar content increase after frost exposure
6. Pennsylvania Game Commission, White-tailed Deer Biology: Native browse and mast make up the large majority of a whitetail's annual diet