Deer Factory: Cool Season Food Plots

Cool season food plots are some of the most effective to plant for hunting. Why? Simple: Attraction.

While the landscape may seem to be full of food during the late summer and early fall months, it won't last long. When crops start to come off and foliage begins to drop, the food situation can be dicey for whitetails in a hurry.

A cool season plot fills in that gap and cool season crops are designed to produce tremendous tonnage and to be attractive during the fall and winter months -- an ideal scenario for deer hunters.

For best success, you should plant your cool season plots on higher ground to take advantage of increased moisture during the fall. Clover, chicory and oats are excellent cool-season forage options and those plants provide excellent nutrition while being highly attractive.

Planting a variety of forages in a cool season plot is a great idea because you can offer a mix of forages, each designed to provide deer with different nutrients. In this video, Dr. James Kroll offers excellent advice on how, where and why to plant your cool season plots.

The timing of planting cool season plots is important and varies by region. Fortunately, cereal grains germinate quickly and allow you a wider margin for planting error.