What to plant in september for deer food plots

Last updated 2026-07-26

What is a food plot, exactly?

A food plot is a planted patch of forage on hunting land, usually somewhere between a quarter acre and several acres, put in specifically to feed and hold deer or other wildlife. It's not a garden and it's not a crop field meant for harvest and sale. The goal is tonnage of digestible forage at the right time of year, plus a spot that pulls deer into bow range or gives you a place to glass from. Food plots generally fall into two categories: annual plots you till and replant every year (brassicas, cereal grains, sorghum), and perennial plots that persist for 3-5 years with mowing and maintenance (clover, chicory, alfalfa). September planting almost always means cool-season annuals or perennial establishment, since warm-season plots like corn and soybeans went in back in May or June. The USDA NRCS treats food plots as a wildlife habitat practice (Code 645, Upland Wildlife Habitat Management) that state and federal cost-share programs sometimes fund ^[1]. That's a formal way of saying: this isn't just a hobby, it's a recognized habitat tool with real agronomic rules behind it. If you want a plan built around your specific soil test, acreage, and region instead of general guidance, that's exactly what a food plot whitetail planning service is for.

When to plant food plots for deer in September?

September is the single busiest planting month for fall food plots across most of the whitetail range, but the right week depends heavily on your zone and first frost date. As a rule of thumb, work backward from your average first frost: brassicas want 80-90 days before a killing frost, cereal grains want 6-8 weeks, and clover wants at least 45-60 days of warm soil to root before dormancy. In the Upper Midwest and Northern states (zones with first frost around late September to early October), most brassica and clover plantings need to go in by the last week of August through the first week of September. Wait too long and you sacrifice tonnage. In the transition zone (Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia, Missouri) with first frost typically mid-to-late October, September 1-20 is the sweet spot for brassicas and clover, with cereal grains stretching into early October. In the Deep South (Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Florida), where frost may not hit until November or not at all, you have more flexibility. Cereal grains and clover can go in mid-September through October, and some hunters wait until early October to dodge lingering heat and let fall rains establish the plot. Check your local NOAA climate data or extension frost date tables before locking in dates. A soil thermometer helps too. Clover and brassica seed germinate poorly once soil temps drop below the mid-50s Fahrenheit.

When to plant turnips for deer?

Turnips need to go in the ground 80-90 days before your area's average first killing frost to bulb out and reach peak tonnage. For most of the whitetail range, that lands somewhere between mid-August and mid-September. Turnips are a brassica, and brassicas are famous for the frost-sweetening effect: a hard frost converts starches to sugars in the leaves and bulbs, which is why deer often ignore a turnip plot in September and hammer it in December. That's not a myth, it's basic plant physiology, and it's the main reason patience matters with this crop. Seeding rate for turnips alone runs about 4-5 lbs per acre broadcast into a firm, prepared seedbed at 1/4 to 1/2 inch depth. Most commercial blends mix turnips with rape, kale, or radish, and rates on those bags run lower because you're not planting pure turnip. Penn State Extension's forage guidance for brassica crops notes yields in the range of several tons of dry matter per acre are achievable under good management, a big tonnage advantage over clover or cereal grains per acre planted ^[2]. That's why a lot of hunters run turnips as the late-season anchor plot and clover as the early-season, high-traffic plot. One caution: don't plant turnips or any brassica in the same spot every year without rotation. Clubroot and other brassica-specific diseases build up in soil over time, same as they do in vegetable gardens.

When to plant oats for deer?

Oats go in the ground 6-8 weeks before your first fall frost, which usually lands in the September window for most whitetail country, sometimes stretching into early October in the Deep South. Oats are a cereal grain, and they're probably the single most palatable food plot crop from the day they emerge through about the first hard freeze in the low 20s Fahrenheit, at which point oats die back. That's unlike wheat or cereal rye, which are more cold-hardy and can survive into spring in many zones. This makes oats a fantastic early-to-mid season attractant but a poor choice if you want a plot standing in February. Seeding rate for oats alone is roughly 2-3 bushels (64-96 lbs) per acre drilled, or a bit heavier if broadcast, since broadcast seed has lower emergence than drilled seed. A lot of hunters mix oats with a brassica or with clover: the oats germinate fast and give deer something to eat within 2-3 weeks while the slower clover or turnip establishes underneath. If you're farther north, push planting earlier, closer to the first two or three weeks of September, so oats have time to put on real growth before serious cold hits.

Do deer eat clover, and do deer like clover?

Yes, deer eat clover readily and it's one of the most consistently preferred food plot forages across the whitetail's range, both white clover and red clover varieties. Clover is a legume, meaning it fixes nitrogen and typically runs 25-30% crude protein in the leaf, which matters most in spring and summer for antler growth and lactation, though deer will eat it in fall too when other browse is scarce. September is actually one of the two best windows to plant clover (the other being early spring), because soil is still warm enough for germination but the heat stress and weed pressure of midsummer is behind you. Perennial white clover, once established, can produce for 3-5 years with proper mowing and occasional overseeding. Seeding rate for white clover alone runs 6-8 lbs per acre broadcast, 1/4 inch deep or less. Clover seed is tiny and easy to bury too deep, which is the most common mistake first-time planters make. Inoculating clover seed with the correct rhizobium bacteria strain before planting measurably improves nitrogen fixation and stand vigor, and most bagged clover seed already comes pre-inoculated. If you only plant one perennial on your property, clover is the one most agronomists and wildlife biologists point to first.

What are deer's favorite foods, really?

There's no single universal answer, because deer preference shifts by season, region, and what's available, but research and field data consistently rank a handful of foods at the top: acorns (especially white oak family), soybeans, clover, and standing corn. Acorns are arguably the most important natural food in fall across the eastern whitetail range. White oak acorns are lower in tannins and more palatable than red oak acorns, and deer will travel to find a good mast year. That's a natural food, not a food plot crop, but it matters for plot placement (a plot near a mature white oak stand competes with a free, preferred food source). Among planted crops, soybeans and corn are the highest-tonnage, highest-energy options, which is why they dominate large-acreage food plot programs, but they're summer/warm-season plantings, not September plantings. For cool-season fall plots, clover, brassicas, and cereal grains are the practical top choices, and deer will often hit a fresh brassica or oat plot hard within days of emergence. Deer are also opportunistic browsers, meaning "favorite" changes with what's scarce. A clover plot that gets ignored in September when acorns are dropping can become the most hammered spot on the property by January once mast is gone and snow covers other browse. For a broader look at species options beyond the September window, see deer food plot seed and deer food plots.

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes, deer eat grain sorghum (milo), both the standing seed heads and the foliage, though it's generally considered a secondary or mid-tier food plot crop compared to corn, soybeans, or brassicas. Sorghum is a warm-season crop, planted in late spring to early summer, not September, so it's not part of a fall planting plan on its own. Where sorghum matters for a September conversation is as standing cover: a sorghum plot planted back in June is often still standing into fall and winter, and deer will feed on the grain heads as they mature and dry down, especially once other food sources thin out. Sorghum has a real advantage in drought-prone or sandy soils where corn struggles, since it's more drought-tolerant and needs less nitrogen. It's also commonly used as a nurse crop or screening cover around a fall brassica or clover plot, planted in strips to break sight lines and give deer a sense of security while feeding. If you're planning next year's rotation, sorghum is worth considering for June planting alongside or instead of corn, but it doesn't belong on a September planting checklist.

Do deer like honey (or anything sweet)?

Deer don't naturally encounter honey in the wild and it's not a food plot crop or a legitimate attractant strategy, but the underlying instinct behind the question is real: deer are drawn to high-sugar, high-carbohydrate foods, which is exactly why frost-sweetened brassicas and ripe soft mast (apples, persimmons) pull deer hard in fall. The sugar-seeking behavior explains a lot of food plot science. Once a hard frost hits a turnip or radish plot, starches convert to simple sugars, the plant tastes sweeter, and deer that ignored the plot in October will often switch to it heavily by December. Same mechanism, no honey required. Some hunters use commercial mineral or attractant products with molasses or sugar-based additives, and those can concentrate deer activity short-term, but they're not a food plot and don't provide meaningful nutrition or season-long draw. It's also worth knowing that baiting and feeding rules vary drastically by state: some states ban baiting for hunting purposes outright, some allow it outside a certain distance from a stand, and some allow feeding but not hunting over bait. Check your state wildlife agency's regulations before using any attractant, mineral station, or supplemental feed, since violations can carry real penalties and vary year to year with chronic wasting disease (CWD) response rules.

How do I pick what to plant this September for my property?

Start with your soil test results, your frost date, and how much time you can put in before your season opens. Those three things narrow the list fast. If your soil test came back with low pH (below 6.0) or low phosphorus/potassium, get lime and fertilizer down according to your lab's recommendations before you worry about species selection. A perfect seed choice on bad soil still underperforms. Your soil test lab is the real authority on lime and fertilizer rates for your specific field, not a general article like this one. If you want maximum early-season attraction (September through November hunting), lean toward oats and a clover base, since both are palatable from emergence. If you're building a late-season plot to hunt in December and January, brassicas (turnips, radish, rape) planted by early-to-mid September are the better call, since they need that frost-sweetening window. Many hunters split the difference and plant a mix: oats or wheat for quick cover and early attraction, clover for perennial return, and a brassica blend in a separate plot or strip for late season. That's a reasonable, well-tested combination that shows up in extension planting guides across multiple states. If you'd rather not guess at rates, blends, and timing for your specific ZIP code and soil test, a $99 one-time Custom Food Plot Plan gives you a written plan matched to your acreage, region, and equipment instead of piecing it together from general articles.

September food plot planting quick reference

Species	Ideal planting window	Days to frost needed	Seeding rate (pure stand)
Turnips/brassica blend	Mid-Aug to mid-Sept	80-90 days	4-5 lbs/acre
Oats	Early to late Sept	45-60 days	64-96 lbs/acre (2-3 bu)
Winter wheat	Mid-Sept to mid-Oct	45-60 days	90-120 lbs/acre
Cereal rye	Late Sept to Nov	30-45 days	90-120 lbs/acre
White clover (perennial)	Early to mid-Sept	45-60 days pre-dormancy	6-8 lbs/acre
Grain sorghum	Late spring (not fall)	N/A, warm-season	6-10 lbs/acre	These rates assume a broadcast or drilled pure stand into a prepared seedbed with adequate soil moisture. Blended bags (brassica + clover, oats + wheat) run different rates per the bag label, and drilled seed generally needs a lighter rate than broadcast because emergence is higher. Always adjust dates for your specific frost date rather than a national calendar. A hunter in northern Minnesota and a hunter in central Alabama are working with completely different clocks even though both are "planting in September."

What equipment do I actually need for a September planting?

At minimum you need a way to kill existing vegetation, a way to work the seedbed, a way to spread seed, and a way to pack it in. That can be as simple as a rented tractor and disc, or as basic as a hand spreader and a lawn roller for a small food-plot-in-the-woods approach. For small plots (under an acre), a UTV or ATV with a tow-behind disc, a broadcast spreader, and a drag harrow (even a chain-link fence section dragged behind) covers most of what you need. Glyphosate or another labeled herbicide 2-3 weeks ahead of planting knocks back existing weeds and grass competition, which matters more for clover establishment than for brassicas or grains. For larger plots (1-5+ acres), a compact tractor with a disc or tiller, a cultipacker or roller, and a broadcast or drill seeder speeds things up considerably and improves seed-to-soil contact, which is the single biggest driver of germination success regardless of species. Don't skip the packing step. Loose, fluffy seedbeds with seed sitting on top of dry dirt are the number one reason a September planting fails to come up, especially with small-seeded clover and brassica. A cultipacker, a roller, or even driving over the plot with a four-wheeler and low tire pressure helps press seed into contact with moist soil.

Frequently asked questions

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes, deer eat grain sorghum (milo) heads and foliage, and it's a solid warm-season option, especially on sandy or drought-prone soil. It's planted in late spring, not September, so it doesn't fit a fall planting calendar directly but can still be standing food into early fall and winter.

Do deer eat clover?

Yes, clover is one of the most consistently preferred food plot forages for whitetail deer across their range, running 25-30% crude protein in the leaf. Both white and red clover work well, and September is one of the two best planting windows alongside early spring.

When should I plant food plots for deer?

Timing depends on species and your region's frost date. Cool-season plots (clover, brassicas, cereal grains) generally go in from late August through October depending on zone; warm-season plots (soybeans, corn, sorghum) go in May through June. Work backward from your average first frost date for exact windows.

Do deer like clover?

Yes, clover ranks among the top preferred food plot forages in most university extension studies and field observation, particularly white clover. Deer use it heavily spring through fall, though preference can drop temporarily during heavy natural mast (acorn) drops.

When should I plant oats for deer?

Plant oats 6-8 weeks before your area's average first hard frost, which typically lands in the September window across most of the whitetail range, sometimes into early October in the Deep South. Oats die back at temperatures in the low 20s Fahrenheit, so they're best for early-to-mid season attraction, not a late-winter standing plot.

When should I plant food plots for deer season overall?

Most hunters plant twice a year: warm-season plots (soybeans, corn, sorghum) in May-June, and cool-season fall plots (clover, brassicas, cereal grains) from late August through October. September is the busiest single month for fall plot planting in most of the country.

When should I plant turnips for deer?

Plant turnips 80-90 days before your first killing frost, which lands roughly mid-August to mid-September for most whitetail regions. They need that lead time to bulb out, and a hard frost afterward sweetens the leaves and bulbs, which is when deer use often spikes.

What is a food plot?

A food plot is a planted patch of forage, usually a fraction of an acre to several acres, established on hunting land specifically to feed and attract deer or other wildlife. It's recognized by USDA NRCS as a wildlife habitat management practice, distinct from a commercial crop field.

What are deer's favorite foods?

Preference shifts by season and region, but acorns (especially white oak), soybeans, clover, and standing corn consistently rank at the top. Among fall food plot crops specifically, clover, brassicas, and cereal grains like oats top most preference studies and field reports.

Do deer like honey?

Deer don't encounter honey naturally and it's not a food plot ingredient or legitimate attractant. The instinct behind the question is real though: deer strongly prefer high-sugar foods, which is exactly why frost-sweetened brassicas and ripe soft mast pull deer hard in late fall and winter.

Can I plant clover and brassicas together in September?

Yes, many hunters mix a fast-germinating cereal grain (oats) with clover and plant brassicas in a separate strip or plot, since brassicas often outcompete clover seedlings for light and space. Planting them in the same mix works better as clover-plus-cereal-grain than clover-plus-brassica.

How late is too late to plant a food plot in September?

It depends on your species and frost date. Brassicas planted after mid-September in northern zones often won't bulb before hard frost. Cereal grains and clover have more flexibility and can often still be planted into early October in the transition zone and Deep South.

Do I need to disc or till before a September planting?

For brassicas and clover, a firm, weed-free seedbed with good seed-to-soil contact matters more than deep tillage; light discing or herbicide burndown followed by cultipacking often works better than heavy tillage that leaves a loose, fluffy bed.

Should I soil test before planting a fall food plot?

Yes. A soil test tells you your pH and nutrient levels, and your soil test lab's lime and fertilizer recommendations are specific to your field in a way no general article can replicate. Correcting pH below 6.0 before planting often matters more than which species you choose.

Sources

1. USDA NRCS, Field Office Technical Guide, Conservation Practice Standard 645, Upland Wildlife Habitat Management: Food plots are recognized as a formal wildlife habitat management practice
2. Penn State Extension, "Brassicas for Deer": Brassica forages can produce a large amount of dry matter per acre under good conditions
3. Mississippi State University Extension Publication 2111, "A Guide to Successful Wildlife Food Plots": Cool-season cereal grains like oats and wheat are recommended for fall planting in the mid-South
4. University of Georgia Extension Bulletin 1347, "Establishing and Managing Wildlife Food Plots": White clover is one of the most palatable and nutritious food plot forages for white-tailed deer
5. USDA NRCS, Plant Fact Sheet, Winter Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.): Winter wheat is a cold-hardy cereal grain used in fall wildlife plantings
6. USDA NRCS Plant Guide, Grain Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench): Grain sorghum is more drought-tolerant than corn and requires less nitrogen, making it suited to sandy or drought-prone soils