When should you plant a food plot for deer

Last updated 2026-07-26

when should you plant a food plot for deer, exactly

The honest answer is: it depends on what you're planting and where you live, and anyone giving you one fixed date for the whole country is guessing. Food plot timing runs off two things, your average first and last frost dates, and soil temperature, not the month printed on a seed bag. Broadly, you're working with three windows. Spring plantings (clover, chicory, some brassicas grown as summer forage) go in after your last frost, usually April through May in the Midwest and Northeast, March in the South. Summer annuals for warm-season tonnage (soybeans, cowpeas, sorghum, sunn hemp) need soil at 60 to 65 degrees F, which usually lands late April to early June depending on latitude. Fall plots, the ones most hunters care about most because they pull deer during archery and gun season, go in 60 to 90 days before your first fall frost, so anywhere from late July in the far north to mid-September in the South. Your state's cooperative extension office publishes frost date tables and planting windows specific to your county, and that's a better source than any national chart. Penn State Extension, for example, lays out fall brassica seeding from late July through mid-August for most of Pennsylvania. Mississippi State's extension recommends fall plots go in from late August through October depending on region ^[1]. If you want a plan tuned to your zip code and soil test, that's exactly what the Custom Food Plot Plan is built to do for $99, but even without it, your extension office frost map gets you 90% of the way there for free.

when to plant food plots for deer, by season

Upper Midwest / Northeast	Mid-April to late May	Late July to mid-August
Mid-South / Transition	Late March to April	Mid-August to mid-September
Deep South	March	Mid-September to October	These are general starting points, not guarantees, adjust a week or two either direction based on your actual soil temp and moisture that year.

Spring plots exist to feed deer through the stress of antler growth and lactation, not to hold deer for a hunt. Clover, chicory, and alfalfa go in as soon as soil is workable after last frost, which in a place like Iowa runs early-to-mid May, and in Georgia can be as early as March ^[2]. Summer plantings are really about tonnage. Soybeans and cowpeas planted in late May through June in northern states, or April through May in the South, put on huge amounts of forage through the hot months and can still be standing (if deer pressure is light) into early bow season. Fall plots are the hunting plots. Brassicas, winter wheat, oats, and rye go in from late July (far north) to October (Deep South), timed so plants reach peak palatability right as temperatures drop and deer start keying in on carbs and sugars for winter. A lot of guys make the mistake of planting fall brassicas too early. Turnips and radishes planted in July heat before soil moisture is dependable often bolt or burn out before September, wasting the seed. Here's a rough regional breakdown: | Region | Spring plot window | Fall plot window |

when to plant turnips for deer

Plant turnips 80 to 90 days before your first killing frost, which for most of the whitetail range means late July through mid-August. Turnips need that runway to build the root mass and leaf tonnage deer actually want, and they get sweeter (more attractive) after a couple of frosts convert starches to sugar. If you plant turnips too early, in June heat, you risk bolting and pest pressure (flea beetles hit brassicas hard in warm, dry conditions). Too late, and you get leaf growth but small, woody bulbs that never bulk up. NDSU Extension notes brassica forage crops like turnips are best seeded 60 to 90 days ahead of a killing frost for best yield ^[3]. Seeding rate for turnips alone runs about 4 to 6 pounds per acre broadcast, shallow, into a firm seedbed, an eighth to a quarter inch deep. Turnips do best in blends with cereal grains (oats, wheat) so you get quick green cover while the turnips size up underground.

when to plant oats for deer

Plant oats 6 to 8 weeks before your first fall frost, which lands most oat plantings from mid-August through mid-September across the whitetail's range. Oats germinate fast, often within 5 to 7 days in warm soil, and green up quickly, which is part of why they're a staple in fall blends. Oats are a cool-season annual and will winterkill in most northern climates once temperatures drop into the teens or lower, so don't expect them to hold through a hard winter in Minnesota or Wisconsin the way winter wheat or rye will. In the Mid-South and southern Midwest, oats can survive milder winters and provide green forage into December or later. A lot of plotters run oats with a legume (clover or crimson clover) or with brassicas, since oats give quick cover and early attraction while the slower-maturing plants catch up. Seeding rate for oats alone is typically 60 to 100 pounds per acre drilled, or a bit higher broadcast.

what is a food plot, actually

A food plot is a planted area, usually somewhere between a quarter acre and several acres, established specifically to provide supplemental forage for deer or other wildlife. It's not the same as agricultural farming for yield and profit, the goal is attraction, nutrition, and (for hunters) a place to set up a stand with a predictable feeding pattern. Food plots range from simple, a single species like clover or a brassica blend broadcast into a disked field, to more involved multi-plot systems with early-season plots, destination plots near bedding, and kill plots tucked tight to a stand site. State wildlife agencies generally treat food plots as a form of habitat management distinct from baiting, though the line between the two gets regulated differently state to state, and you need to check your own state's definitions before assuming a standing plot is legal to hunt over the same way a pile of corn is not ^[4]. The USDA's NRCS also recognizes food plots and wildlife plantings as an eligible practice under some conservation programs, which tells you this isn't a fringe hobby, it's recognized land management ^[5].

do deer eat sorghum

Yes, deer eat grain sorghum readily, both the standing grain heads and the young foliage, and it's a common component in warm-season food plot blends, especially in the South and Midwest where it tolerates heat and drought better than corn. Sorghum is often planted as a cover and grain crop combined, deer will browse the leaves through summer and then hit the grain heads hard in fall once they mature and dry down. Sorghum's real strength in a plot is drought tolerance. University of Georgia Extension lists grain sorghum among warm-season options for wildlife plots specifically because it holds up in poor rainfall years better than corn ^[2]. It's cheaper per acre than corn seed too, which matters if you're planting several acres. One caution: like a lot of standing grain crops, mature sorghum can look and function a lot like a grain pile once it's knocked down or the heads are on the ground, so know your state's baiting definition before you hunt near it.

do deer eat clover, and do deer like clover

Yes, deer eat clover heavily, and it's one of the most consistently preferred food plot species across the whitetail's range. Clover is high in crude protein, often 20 to 30 percent in well-managed stands, and stays palatable through most of the growing season, which is why it shows up in nearly every extension publication on deer forage ^[6]. White clover (including Ladino types) and red clover are the two most common plot species. White clover is lower-growing and more grazing-tolerant, meaning it handles repeated browsing pressure better, while red clover grows more upright and can get browsed out faster under heavy deer numbers. Clover is a perennial in most cases, meaning a well-established stand can produce for three to five years with proper mowing and fertilization, which makes the seed cost per year lower than annual replanting even though clover seed itself isn't cheap up front. If you're weighing clover against other options for a specific field, the food plot whitetail guide breaks down species selection in more depth.

what are deer's favorite foods

There's no single universal favorite, deer preference shifts by season, region, and what's available naturally, but the food plot species that consistently rank highest in preference studies and hunter experience are soybeans, clover, and brassicas after a frost. Acorns, when available, often beat all planted forages outright during fall drop, deer will frequently abandon a food plot for a good white oak acorn crop. In spring and summer, deer favor high-protein forage, clover, soybeans, cowpeas, alfalfa, for antler growth and lactation demands. In fall, preference shifts toward carbohydrates and sugars, brassicas (especially after frost sweetens them), corn, and soybeans left standing. A University of Tennessee study on deer diet composition found forbs, browse, and mast (acorns and other nuts) make up the majority of a whitetail's natural diet across most of the year, with agricultural crops and food plots supplementing rather than replacing that base diet . That's a useful reminder that plots work best alongside good natural habitat, not as a total replacement for it.

do deer like honey, or is that a myth

There's no real evidence deer specifically seek out honey, and it's not a recognized food plot or attractant ingredient in any extension or wildlife agency literature. Deer are occasionally drawn to sugary or fermented smells in general (this is part of why some mineral and attractant products use sweet-smelling additives), but honey itself isn't a documented deer food or proven attractant, it's mostly internet folklore and product marketing. If you're looking for something deer genuinely respond to, sugar beets, brassicas post-frost, and standing corn all deliver real, documented sugar and carbohydrate draws backed by actual observation and forage testing. Save the honey for your coffee.

how do you know when your soil is ready to plant

Soil temperature matters more than the calendar date for most plot species. Warm-season plants like soybeans, sorghum, and cowpeas want soil at 60 degrees F or warmer at planting depth, while cool-season fall plants (brassicas, oats, wheat, clover) germinate fine down into the 45 to 55 degree F range. A basic soil thermometer, the kind used for candy or meat, works fine stuck a couple inches into the ground mid-morning. If you don't want to buy one, your local extension office often publishes soil temperature maps updated through the growing season. Moisture matters just as much as temperature. Planting into dry, powdery soil ahead of a dry forecast wastes seed no matter how good the calendar timing looks. A lot of experienced plotters will hold off two weeks on a fall brassica planting if there's no rain in the forecast, better to plant into moisture a little later than to plant on schedule into dust. A soil test is the other half of this equation, and it's worth running one two to three months before planting so lime has time to adjust pH before seed goes in the ground. Your soil test lab's specific lime and fertilizer recommendations are the authority here, general planting guides (including this one) can't replace a result run on your actual dirt.

what equipment do you actually need for the timing to matter

Good timing on bad seedbed prep still gets you a bad plot. At minimum you need a way to break ground (disk, tiller, or no-till drill), a way to broadcast or drill seed, and a way to firm the seedbed afterward (cultipacker, drag, or even a driven-over section of chain-link fence in a pinch). No-till drills have gotten a lot more affordable for small landowners in the last decade, and they let you hit a tighter planting window because you're not waiting on multiple passes to disk and smooth ground ahead of a rain. If you're broadcasting into a prepared seedbed instead, timing your planting right before a rain event matters more, since broadcast seed sitting on top of dry soil for a week loses viability and gets picked off by birds and rodents. If you're deciding what to actually put in the ground once your window opens, the deer food plot seed and food plot seed guides cover species blends by region and budget.

does this timing change if you're planting for a specific hunting season

Yes, and this is where a lot of plotters overthink it in the wrong direction. If your goal is a plot that's peaking during archery season in October, you want brassicas or a brassica-cereal blend planted 60 to 90 days ahead, which usually means late July to mid-August depending on your latitude, timed so the plants have taken a frost or two and sweetened up right as you're in the stand. If your goal is late-season, post-gun-season attraction (a lot of southern hunters plant specifically for this), standing soybeans or a late-maturing brassica blend that holds through December works better than something that peaks and gets hammered out by November. Early season (September bow openers in states like Wisconsin or Ohio) is actually the hardest window to plan for, because you want something still green and attractive in early September, which often means a summer annual (soybeans, cowpeas) planted in late spring that's still holding leaf mass, rather than a fall planting that hasn't matured yet.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best month to plant a deer food plot?

There's no single best month nationwide. Fall hunting plots (brassicas, oats) generally go in late July through September depending on your region, spring plots (clover, chicory) go in April or May after last frost, and summer tonnage plots (soybeans, sorghum) go in May or June once soil hits 60 degrees F.

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes. Deer browse young sorghum foliage through summer and eat the mature grain heads in fall. It's a common warm-season plot component, especially in drought-prone areas, because it tolerates dry conditions better than corn.

Do deer like clover, and is it worth planting?

Deer readily eat clover and it's one of the most reliable food plot species available, often testing at 20 to 30 percent crude protein. It's a perennial, so a good stand can produce for three to five years, making it a strong value pick despite higher upfront seed cost.

When should you plant turnips for deer?

Plant turnips 80 to 90 days before your area's first killing frost, usually late July through mid-August across most of the whitetail range. Planting too early risks bolting in summer heat; too late gives you leaves but small, underdeveloped bulbs.

When should you plant oats for a deer plot?

Plant oats 6 to 8 weeks before first fall frost, generally mid-August through mid-September. Oats germinate fast (5 to 7 days) and green up quickly but winterkill in hard northern winters, so they work best as fall or early-winter forage, not a season-long stand.

What is a food plot for deer?

A food plot is a planted patch of forage, from a quarter acre to several acres, established to supplement deer nutrition and create predictable feeding activity for hunting or habitat management. It's distinct from agricultural farming and, in most states, treated differently from baiting under wildlife regulations.

What is a deer's favorite food?

There's no single universal favorite. Deer prefer high-protein forage like clover and soybeans in spring and summer, and shift to carbohydrate-rich foods like brassicas, corn, and acorns in fall. Natural mast, especially acorns, often outcompetes any planted food plot when it's available.

Do deer like honey?

No solid evidence supports honey as a deer attractant. It's not documented in extension or wildlife agency literature as a food source or draw. Deer respond to real, tested sugar and carbohydrate sources like frosted brassicas, sugar beets, and standing corn instead.

How early is too early to plant a fall food plot?

Planting brassicas or oats more than 90 to 100 days before frost, often meaning early-to-mid summer in most regions, risks bolting, pest pressure, and burnout before the fall hunting season even starts. Stick to the 60 to 90 day window ahead of your first expected frost.

Can you plant a food plot in the spring instead of fall?

Yes. Spring plots using clover, chicory, or alfalfa support deer through antler growth and lactation and can be planted after your last frost date, typically March in the South through May in the northern Midwest. These aren't primarily hunting plots, they're nutrition plots.

How do I know the right planting window for my specific property?

Check your county's average first and last frost dates through your state's cooperative extension office, and confirm soil temperature at planting depth before seeding. A soil test run two to three months ahead also tells you if lime or fertilizer adjustments need time to work before seed goes in.

Is it legal to hunt over a food plot in every state?

Rules vary significantly by state on how food plots are treated versus baiting, especially around definitions like standing crop versus harvested grain placed on the ground. Always check your state wildlife agency's current baiting and feeding regulations before hunting over any planted or supplemental food source.

Sources

1. University of Georgia Extension, Wildlife Food Plots: Southern spring plot windows can begin as early as March
2. North Dakota State University Extension, Brassica Forage Crops: Brassica forage crops are best seeded 60 to 90 days ahead of a killing frost for best yield
3. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Baiting and Feeding Regulations: State wildlife agencies regulate the distinction between food plots and baiting differently by state
4. USDA NRCS, Conservation Practice Standards: USDA NRCS recognizes wildlife food plantings as an eligible conservation practice
5. University of Tennessee Extension, Establishing and Managing Wildlife Food Plots: Clover stands commonly test at 20 to 30 percent crude protein, among the highest of food plot forages
6. University of Tennessee Extension / Institute of Agriculture, White-tailed Deer Nutrition and Food Habits: Natural forbs, browse, and mast make up the majority of a whitetail's diet across most of the year