Would you go to a restaurant that has a single item on its' menu or do you prefer to have a choice when dining out? If you are like 99.9% of the population you want choices when you dine. It is the same for the deer that will be frequenting your food plot. They will be drawn to an area with variety and choices just like humans. Like humans deer prefer a place to go that has ambiance and atmosphere. It may not be air conditioned or have candles lit to create the perfect atmosphere but it will have certain fine points that make it appealing to them. It is these fine points that make a food plot the desired dining destination and keeps them coming back time and time again.
When creating your food plot don't give them one choice to eat. Instead create a food plot that has choices that will make it the destination of the biggest bucks in the area.
1. Size: When choosing a site for your food plot make sure that it is in the 1/2 - 2 acre size. Anything smaller than 1/2 acre and it won't take long for the deer to clean it off and possibly destroy it. When the open area is larger than 2 acres the larger more mature bucks may become weary and stay away during the daylight hours. The larger size will make for a killing shot that may be to far.
2. Shape: Long narrow plots are preferable to the square nature. Long skinny plots afford more edges for the deer to approach the plot. This type of plot will attract the bigger bucks as they can feed only a few steps from cover.
3. Wind Direction: Remember that you will need to approach your stands with the prevailing wind in your face or at the very least perpendicular to the plot. Choose wisely with this in mind.
4. Sun Angle: Choose a flat area when possible or a slope facing east or northeast. A site that gets morning sun and shade in the hottest parts of the day tend to survive all season long.
5. Bedding Areas: Place your plot within 100 yards of doe bedding areas and 200 yards or so from thicker more rugged and remote buck bedding areas. It your can have a funnel area leading from the bedding areas this is a huge plus.
6. Summer Annuals: To draw bucks in late summer and early fall plant lablab, cowpeas, sorghum, buckwheat, sunflowers, or a plant mixture in late spring. A few rows of corn to provide extra cover.
7. Fall and Winter Annuals: June-August, plant kale, rape and turnips. A separate planting of sugar beets and pure turnips is a plus. August-October plant wheat/oat mixes and crimson clover.
8. Tall Grasses: Planting grasses that grow 5-7 feet tall like switchgrasses, Indian and bluestern make great cover.
9. Fruit Trees: Bucks have a sweet tooth and planting a few apple, pear, or persimmon along the edge will draw them into the open.
10. Junk, Rough Edges, and Shrubs: Make the transition from woods to food plot as smooth as possible by cutting some low value trees and dragging them to the edges. Shrubs like Red osier dogwood, Tatarian honeysuckle, Chicksaw plum add security and extra food for deer when entering the plot.
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