How to Feed Deer

"Feed them, and they will come" holds true for people and deer. Hunters often use a food plot to attract deer to their hunting area in the fall. This is a way of assuring the hunter that he will have game to put in the freezer and maintain the natural feel of the hunt for wildlife. It also improves the nutrition and health of the deer population on your land.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Determine where the deer naturally roam in your selected hunting area. Deer graze in their natural habitat but will venture into a new area if the food is tempting. Place your food plot in a clearing, close to the edge of an area where deer go for cover. Avoid placing the plot near a garden or fruit crop if you don't want deer foraging through your food supply.
2. Test your soil to see what grows best. Planting foods that thrive in the soil in your area saves you the time and expense of making amendments to the soil. When deciding what to plant, consider whether the deer will eat it, whether it's nutritious, how available it is and how much it will produce. Also consider whether the crop can hold up against the native weeds in your area.
3. Prepare the plot for planting by clearing, plowing and amending the soil. If necessary, fence the area to exclude other livestock. Even fawns can jump over a 4-foot fence, but cows and horses can't.
4. Choose a mixture of plantings, such as wheat, oats clover, vetch and legumes, to extend the foraging season and ensure against any one crop failure. Your local cooperative or garden center can assist you with seed selection.
5. Check your local and state regulations regarding supplemental feeding of game. Baiting with corn, minerals, salts and other items during hunting season is illegal in some states. Although planting a food plot isn't baiting, there may be some restrictions on what you can do to attract deer in your specific area. Your local Game and Fish Department can assist you with this information.