<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nFor most hunters east of the Mississippi, corn is another excellent winter deer food. I’m really no different as I also consider corn a fantastic winter food source for deer. I like corn as a cold-weather plot crop because it holds up well to lower temperatures, can provide a food source for most of the winter, and it’s a great source of carbohydrates for deer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nWhile some hunters prefer to leave the corn standing, I’ve had better success cutting the corn stalks just before the season starts. The downside to leaving standing stalks is, depending on the height of your corn stalks, it may interfere with a clear shot if you are hunting over that plot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What I don’t like about corn is it requires more equipment to prep and plant versus some other popular winter crops and tends to cost more per acre to maintain. Plus, my experience with corn has shown that it requires good quality soil or, at least, well-supplemented soil to reach optimum corn production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Winter Wheat, Oats, and Rye (Cereal Grains Food Plots)<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nWhile soybeans are one of my go-to winter plots, the cereal grains such as Wheat, Oats, and Rye are my ace in the hole crops. Oats are my favorite crop out of these three options, but oats are really more of a fall food as they don’t seem to do well in colder weather. That being said, I have far more success with oats compared to Brassica plants, but oats have stopped producing by the second good frost of the season.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I find winter wheat to be one of the most versatile winter food plots I’ve ever used. They produce quickly, can be used in conjunction with other plot crops, and hold up well in the winter. Plus, winter wheat is easy to plant (just broadcast it) and grows well, even in low-quality soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rye is another seed I use for plots, although I use it more as a second or third feed source in a plot versus as a primary source of feed. While I don’t feel that deer like Rye as much as oats or winter wheat, they will consume it when food becomes scarce. In addition, Rye is exceptionally hardy and withstands even the coldest winters with heavy snow. Plus, Rye is easy to plant and can grow in almost any soil condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Brassica Food Plots<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nBrassica is a term used to describe plants in the cabbage and mustard family, and certain Brassica plants have become very popular as a cold-weather deer plot crop. Within the Brassica family of plants, rape, kale, turnips, and radishes are the most popular ones for food plots. Some of the Brassica species produce a leafy forage source for deer, while some varieties produce a leaf and bulb for forage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rape is the most common seed used in Brassica-based food plots, although I find that a multi-seed Brassica mix combined with winter wheat or Rye produces the best results and offers a wide range of food throughout the colder months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve had mixed results with Brassica-based plots where some were wildly successful, and others were a complete bust with very little deer foraging. I suspect that they perform better in areas with colder winters coupled with snowfall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few things to know about Brassica food plots:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of all the winter food plot crops I’ve planted, I find Brassica to be the pickiest about soil conditions. The pH and nutrient levels have to be just right for good production and forget about planting Brassica in clay soil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When successful, a Brassica crop can offer a significant amount of crop for foraging but offering forage opportunities with both leaf and stalk options works best.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most Brassica-based plots won’t attract deer until after a few good frosts. When a frost occurs, it causes a chemical change where the starch in the plants converts to sugar, so they become significantly tastier for deer. So if you live in a warmer climate area where you receive little to no frost or snow, I’d ignore Brassica’s as a food plot option as you’re probably wasting your time and money.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Brassica plots are hard on the soil, so they should not be planted in the same plot or field for more than two consecutive years. Brassica requires a periodic rotation from one plot to another (if possible).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rather than plant an entire plot dedicated to Brassica, I prefer to use a broad Brassica seed mix for part of a plot and then plant some other options in the same field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/span>Winter Plot Mixes<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\nA winter plot mix is a mix of specific winter crops known to work or grow in conjunction with each other. Some of these mixes are commercially available seed products (are there are tons of them), while others may be a manual mix that you put together yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/figure>\n\n\n\nSome examples of winter plot mixes that have performed well for me include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n