Micro Food Plots

The idea of making big, elaborate food plots that require heavy equipment and hours of labor tends to intimidate landowners. Don't have unlimited time, large equipment or hundreds of acres? A micro food plot is your solution. Micro food plots are small food plots, usually less than an acre, that are strategically located near bedding areas or travel corridors. These small areas are known to attract large bucks throughout the season, particularity during the rut when these areas become social hubs for cruising bucks. Also, most large food sources are poor morning hunt locations because deer have already moved back into cover. Micro plots are designed to be small and established in tactical locations so deer are more at ease using these areas throughout the day.

Planting It
First thing first, find a small (approximately 1/4 to 1/2 acre) area near a natural travel corridor or known bedding area. An existing gap in the tree canopy is ideal and will require less work to prepare the plot for seeding. Site preparation includes removing existing vegetation using herbicides or mechanical methods and removing the leaf litter using a leaf blower or rake. Most woodlands have acidic soils so applying a pelletized lime and fertilizer mixture is critical for plant growth and even taste. Pelletized lime and fertilizer is recommended over powdered varieties because it is absorbed more quickly by the soil and easier to apply with a small handheld spreader. Having a soil test is beneficial, but in the case without one lime only is preferred as it is the more critical component for success. Finally, broadcast the seed over the lime and fertilizer.

Selecting the Seed
In most areas, planting will occur about four weeks prior to opening day. Attractiveness and durability should both be considered when selecting forage options. Peas are attractive to whitetails but a micro plot planted in peas can be wiped out in a few days by even a modest deer herd. A clover and brassica mix will draw deer and also provide some durability. Several seed varieties on the market offer this combination and are well suited for micro plots.

Putting It All Together
If your property doesn't have such areas and you have the ability to create them, it’s definitely worth it. Find areas where the wind, terrain and proximity to bedding and feeding areas all work together to your benefit. Micro food plots are easy to establish and offer increased opportunities for harvesting mature bucks. In fact, planting micro plots may be the single most important thing you can do to improve your hunting area.

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