Whitetail Institute seeds: what they are and how to use them

Last updated 2026-07-24

what is a food plot, and why does seed choice matter

A food plot is a planted area on hunting land, usually somewhere between a quarter acre and a few acres, meant to give deer a reliable food source and give hunters a predictable place to watch or hunt. Plots range from small hidden "kill plots" tucked in timber to larger "destination" fields planted in clover, brassicas, or grain mixes near bedding cover. Seed choice matters because different species fill different jobs. Clover is a perennial that feeds deer for years off one planting. Brassicas like turnips and radishes are annuals that peak in fall and winter. Cereal grains like oats and wheat germinate fast and green up a plot in weeks. None of that changes because of the label on the bag. What changes is blend ratio, seed coating, and price per acre. Whitetail Institute is one of the older brands in this space, founded in the early 1990s and known for Imperial Whitetail Clover, a perennial clover blend that has been on the market since 1988 according to the company's own product history. Other national brands (Biologic, Antler King, Mossy Oak Biologic, and various coop-branded blends sold through farm stores) compete in the same category with similar species, just different ratios and marketing. If you want a broader look at how plot types compare, see food plot whitetail.

when to plant food plots for deer

Planting windows depend entirely on your zone and whether you're planting a spring/summer annual, a fall annual, or a perennial. There is no single national planting date, and any seed brand's bag that lists only one calendar date without a zone map is oversimplifying. As a rough framework used by most state extension services: spring plots (soybeans, clover establishment, chicory) go in after your last frost date, typically April through late May in the Midwest and Northeast, and as early as March in the Deep South. Fall plots (brassicas, cereal grains, winter peas) go in 60 to 90 days before your average first fall frost, so the seed has time to establish before growth slows. USDA's plant hardiness zone map and your local frost date data are the actual tools to use here, not a brand's national calendar. A practical example: in USDA zone 5 (much of the upper Midwest and interior Northeast), first frost lands roughly late September to early October. Working backward 60-90 days puts fall brassica and cereal planting in the first half of August through early September. In zone 7 (mid-Atlantic, parts of the South), first frost runs late October to November, pushing the planting window into September and even early October. Check your local state cooperative extension frost date tables for your specific county rather than guessing from a bag label. For a full breakdown by region, see the site's [seasonal-calendars] coverage, or just build your dates around your county's frost data first and pick species second.

when to plant clover for deer, and do deer like clover

Do deer like clover? Yes, and it's not close. White clover and red clover are consistently ranked among the most preferred whitetail forages in university deer diet studies, both for palatability and for crude protein content, which typically runs 20-30% in well-fertilized clover stands according to forage testing summarized by university extension programs ^[1]. Clover is a perennial, meaning one planting can produce forage for 3-5 years with proper mowing and fertility maintenance, versus replanting an annual every single season. That's the real economic argument for clover-based blends like Imperial Whitetail Clover: higher upfront seed cost, spread over several years of production, versus cheaper annual seed you buy every year. Plant clover in early spring (as soon as soil can be worked, often April) or late summer (August into early September) so it establishes before summer heat or winter cold stresses young seedlings. Clover seed is tiny and needs to be planted shallow, no more than a quarter inch deep, and firmly pressed into contact with soil, either with a cultipacker or by rolling a lawn roller over broadcast seed. Soil pH matters enormously here: clover performs best between pH 6.0 and 7.0, and most land-grant extension soil labs will flag anything under 6.0 as needing lime before clover has a real shot at establishing ^[2]. See deer food plot seed for more on matching species to your soil test.

when to plant turnips for deer

Turnips are a fall brassica, planted so the bulb and leaf mature right as cooler weather boosts sugar content and deer start hammering them, often after the first hard frost converts starches to sugars and makes the forage sweeter and more attractive. Plant turnips 60-90 days before your first expected fall frost. In most of the whitetail's range that puts seeding in late July through early September, with northern states planting earlier in that window and southern states later. Turnip seed is small, planted a quarter to half inch deep, and needs decent seed-to-soil contact, similar to clover. A common mistake is planting turnips too early in hot, dry August soil, or too late so they never bulb before frost. Brassicas also want fairly fertile ground; a soil test showing adequate phosphorus and potassium, with pH above 5.8, gives turnips a real chance at bulking up rather than staying spindly. If deer pressure is heavy early, turnip tops get browsed all fall and the bulbs don't get touched until after frost sweetens them, which is completely normal and not a sign of failure.

when to plant oats for deer

Oats are a cool-season cereal grain, usually planted in late summer to early fall (August through September in most of the whitetail range) so they germinate fast, sometimes in under a week, and provide green forage within a month. Oats are popular in fall blends because they're cheap, fast, and deer genuinely like young oat forage, especially when it's one of the few green things left in a field after a dry August. Oats aren't cold-hardy like winter wheat or rye; a hard freeze will usually kill oat forage back for the season, so in northern zones oats function as an early-fall attraction plot rather than a food source that lasts through winter. Spring oat plantings are also common as a nurse crop, planted alongside clover to give quick cover and forage while the clover establishes underneath, then mowed off once clover takes hold.

do deer eat sorghum

Yes, deer will eat grain sorghum (milo), both the seed heads and, to a lesser extent, the foliage, but it's not a top-tier whitetail forage choice and most food plot mixes use it more as a structural or screening crop than a primary attractant. Sorghum is drought-tolerant and grows tall, which makes it useful as a screen or as a source of standing grain into winter in warmer climates. Deer will hit sorghum heads especially once other food sources thin out in late fall, and turkey and other wildlife use it too. But compared to soybeans, corn, or clover, sorghum ranks lower in deer preference studies and isn't typically the seed you'd choose if attraction is the sole goal. It's more common in wildlife mixes aimed at a broader set of species (quail, turkey, deer) than in dedicated whitetail blends.

what are deer's favorite foods

There's no single universal answer because preference shifts by season, region, and what's available, but repeated feeding studies and browse surveys point to a consistent shortlist: acorns (especially white oak family acorns, which are lower in tannins and more palatable than red oak acorns), soybeans, clover, and agricultural crops like corn and alfalfa when available ^[3]. Acorns are frequently cited as the preferred fall food where available, because of high fat content that helps deer build fat reserves before winter. Regional research on deer and mast crops has found that deer shift heavily toward acorns during mast years, sometimes to the point of largely ignoring planted food plots nearby. Among planted forages, soybeans and clover consistently test as highly preferred in regional forage preference trials, with soybeans especially valuable in summer when protein demands are highest for lactating does and antler-growing bucks. Brassicas and cereal grains become more attractive in fall as sugars in bulbs and leaves increase after frost. Bottom line: match plot species to the season you want to hit, and don't expect any one species to be the answer every month of the year.

do deer like honey

There's no research support for deer seeking out honey in the wild, and it's not part of any standard food plot seed blend. This question sometimes comes up because of "honey hole" terminology hunters use for a great spot, not because deer are drawn to actual honey. Deer are herbivores; their diet is browse, forbs, mast, and agricultural crops, not sugars from honey or other bait-style attractants. If you're looking at using scent or feed attractants rather than plot forage, check your state wildlife agency's rules first, because many states restrict or fully ban baiting and supplemental feeding, especially in areas managing chronic wasting disease ^[4].

how do Whitetail Institute seed blends compare to other options

Perennial clover blends	$40-90/acre	3-5 years	Spring/summer/fall
Brassica blends (turnips, radish)	$20-45/acre	1 season	Fall/winter
Cereal grains (oats, wheat, rye)	$15-35/acre	1 season	Fall (some overwinter)
Soybeans/corn (ag-style plots)	$50-120/acre	1 season	Summer/fall	The honest takeaway: brand name doesn't change agronomy. A $70 bag of premium clover seed planted at the wrong pH or planting date will underperform a generic clover blend planted correctly. Soil prep, pH correction, and timing account for far more of your plot's success than which company's name is on the bag. See food plot seed and domain food plot seed for more on comparing blends across brands.

Whitetail Institute sells several core products: Imperial Whitetail Clover (a perennial clover blend), No-Plow (a no-till annual blend for hard-to-reach spots), Winter-Greens (a brassica blend), Alfa-Rack Plus (clover/chicory/alfalfa mix), and several others aimed at specific niches like shade tolerance or extreme soil pH. The genetics inside these blends (specific clover varieties, brassica cultivars) are proprietary to some degree, meaning you can't buy the exact same seed lot generically. But the species themselves (white clover, red clover, chicory, forage turnips, radishes) are the same plants used across the industry by Biologic, Antler King, Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries, and plenty of regional coop blends sold at farm supply stores. Here's a rough comparison of plot seed categories by cost and lifespan, using typical per-acre seed costs reported by industry retailers and extension budget guides (actual prices vary by year and region): | Category | Typical cost per acre (seed only) | Lifespan | Best season |

how do I get my soil ready before planting any seed blend

Every seed brand's own instructions say the same thing first: test your soil. A basic soil test through your state land-grant university extension office typically costs $10-20 per sample and tells you pH, phosphorus, potassium, and often organic matter, which are the numbers that actually predict whether a plot succeeds ^[5]. Most food plot species (clover, brassicas, cereal grains) want soil pH in the 6.0-7.0 range. If your test comes back at 5.0 or 5.5, which is common on wooded, previously unfarmed ground, no seed blend on the market will perform well until you apply lime and give it time to raise pH, often a full season or more for lime to fully react through the soil profile. Your soil test report is the actual authority here, not a seed bag's general fertilizer recommendation. Follow the lime and fertilizer rates your specific lab report gives you; a printed one-size-fits-all rate on packaging can't account for your field's actual deficiencies. If you want a starting point for putting a plan together around your own soil test results, Whitetail Institute isn't the only source; a general planning service like a $99 one-time Custom Food Plot Plan can turn your soil test numbers and zone into a species and planting date plan without committing you to one seed brand.

what equipment do I actually need to plant these blends

For small clover or brassica plots (under an acre), a hand-crank broadcast seeder, a rake or drag harrow, and a way to firm the seed bed (cultipacker, ATV tire drag, or hand tamping on tiny plots) will get you through planting. For larger plots, a tractor-mounted broadcast spreader or no-till drill and a cultipacker save enormous time and generally give better seed-to-soil contact, which is the single biggest driver of germination rate for tiny-seeded species like clover. No-till drills matter more for cereal grains and larger-seeded species that need a consistent planting depth; broadcast-and-cultipack works fine for clover, brassica, and chicory since those seeds are meant to sit near the surface. Whatever blend you choose, check the bag's seeding depth recommendation and don't bury clover or brassica seed under an inch of soil; that alone kills a lot of otherwise well-planned plots.

do I need to check state rules before planting or feeding deer

Yes. Food plots themselves are legal everywhere and not considered baiting under any state's definition, since they're a standing crop rather than piled feed. But if you're layering in mineral sites, feeders, or supplemental feed alongside your plots, baiting and feeding rules vary sharply by state and sometimes by county, especially where chronic wasting disease has been detected. Some states ban baiting outright, some allow it with restrictions on distance from stands or timing, and CWD-affected counties frequently add feeding bans specifically to reduce nose-to-nose deer contact at feed piles. Check your state wildlife agency's current regulations before combining plots with any feed or mineral station, since these rules change year to year as CWD zones expand ^[4].

Frequently asked questions

Do deer eat sorghum?

Yes, deer eat grain sorghum (milo) seed heads and some foliage, especially in late fall when other food is scarce. It's not a top attraction crop compared to soybeans or clover, and it's more commonly used as a screening or structural crop in mixed wildlife plantings than as a dedicated whitetail attractant.

Do deer like clover?

Yes, clover ranks among the most preferred whitetail forages in university studies, valued for high palatability and crude protein often in the 20-30% range in well-fertilized stands. White and red clover are staples in most perennial food plot blends because deer return to them repeatedly through the growing season.

When should I plant food plots for deer?

It depends on the species and your zone. Spring annuals go in after last frost (April-May in most northern/mid-latitude areas); fall annuals like brassicas and cereal grains go in 60-90 days before first fall frost, often August into September. Use your county's frost date data, not a generic bag date, to set your window.

When should I plant turnips for deer?

Plant turnips 60-90 days before your area's average first fall frost, typically late July through early September depending on zone. This timing lets bulbs mature and leaves grow before frost sweetens the sugars that make turnips highly attractive to deer in late fall and winter.

When should I plant oats for deer?

Oats are usually planted in late summer to early fall, August through September in most whitetail range, since they germinate quickly and provide green forage within about a month. Oats aren't very cold-hardy, so in northern zones they act as an early-fall attraction crop rather than a winter-long food source.

What is a food plot?

A food plot is a planted area on hunting land, ranging from a quarter acre to several acres, established to provide deer a dependable food source and give hunters a predictable place to hunt or observe. Plots use annual or perennial forages like clover, brassicas, cereal grains, or soybeans depending on the season and goal.

What are deer's favorite foods?

Preference shifts by season and region, but acorns (especially white oak family), soybeans, clover, and alfalfa consistently rank high in feeding studies. Acorns are often the top preference in fall mast years, sometimes pulling deer away from planted plots entirely. Among planted forages, clover and soybeans are the most consistently preferred.

Do deer like honey?

No credible research shows deer seeking out honey; it's not part of any standard food plot seed blend or natural whitetail diet. Deer are herbivores that rely on browse, forbs, mast, and crops. Using sugar-based attractants instead of plots may also run into state baiting restrictions, so check local rules first.

Is Whitetail Institute seed better than cheaper store brands?

The core species (clover, brassica, chicory) are similar across brands; the real differentiator is proprietary variety selection and blend ratios, not some unmatchable genetic advantage. Soil pH, fertility, and planting timing affect plot success far more than brand choice. A correctly limed and timed cheaper blend often outperforms a premium blend planted wrong.

How much does a soil test cost before planting a food plot?

Most state land-grant extension soil labs charge $10-20 per sample for a standard test covering pH, phosphorus, potassium, and organic matter. This is the single most useful pre-planting purchase you can make, since it tells you exactly how much lime and fertilizer your specific field needs before you buy seed.

What planting depth is right for clover and brassica seed?

Both clover and brassica seeds are small and should be planted no deeper than a quarter to half inch. Firm seed-to-soil contact, using a cultipacker, roller, or light dragging, matters more than exact depth. Burying these seeds too deep is one of the most common reasons plots fail to establish.

Do I need a tractor to plant a food plot?

No. Small plots under an acre can be planted with a hand-crank broadcast seeder, a rake or drag, and a hand tamper or ATV tire drag for firming seed. Tractors with drills or cultipackers save time on larger plots and generally improve seed-to-soil contact, but they're not required for small hidden kill plots.

Sources

1. NOAA Climate.gov, Frost/Freeze Probability Tables (1991-2020): county-level frost date tables used to set fall planting windows
2. Oklahoma State University Extension, Soil pH and Liming (PSS-2225): clover establishment requires soil pH generally between 6.0 and 7.0, and liming is needed below that range
3. USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, General Technical Report SRS-101, Deer and Oak Mast: acorns, particularly white oak family, are a preferred high-fat fall food source for whitetail and deer shift diet during mast years
4. USDA APHIS, National Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (9 CFR Part 55): federal program rules addressing chronic wasting disease management, referenced for why states restrict feeding/baiting in CWD areas
5. University of Missouri Extension, Soil Testing for Lawns and Gardens/Food Plots: basic soil test cost and the pH/nutrient data it provides before planting
6. Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 10.13, Baiting and Feeding of Deer: state wildlife agencies set specific baiting and feeding rules that vary by state and county