Keith Cantelmo

Whitetail Deer Food Plots- 3 Warm Season Choices



Posted: Saturday, March 12, 2011

by Keith Cantelmo
http://www.outsidenthusiast.com

You are an avid deer hunter.  You enjoy not only the thrill of the hunt, but the yearlong scouting and preparation which is part of the excitement.  One of the things you can do as a land owner or lessee is to plant whitetail deer food plots.  You do this because as an experienced hunter you understand that whitetail deer face two very stressful times each and every year.

The most obvious is wintertime.  Deer are faced with limited food resources, extreme cold and snow.  The other, less obvious time of the year is the summertime.  This period sometimes goes unchecked by many deer hunters because food sources seem abundant.  However, during summer months the whitetail has different nutritional needs.  Summer is the time of year when deer grow, develop their antlers, lactate and fawns struggle to survive.  Research has shown that warm season forage is just as important if not more important that cold season forage in a deer's maturation.

As with planting any deer food plot, checking soil conditions is your first step.  It is important to realize that soil conditions can differ greatly within your planting area.  So prior to planting, be sure to check several soil samples, then fertilize and lime accordingly.  When selecting your planting location, keep in mind that some of the best soil conditions are found in low lying areas near drainages.

Exactly what will grow in your area of the country may vary; but there are several warm season forage options which is almost always palatable to the whitetail.  While the choices are somewhat limited by comparison to their cool season counterparts, here are 3 options for your warm season food plot.

1.    Soybeans- There are several varieties which yield great results as well as provide highly nutritious forage for deer during their growth phase.  Because of their nutritional components, these crops are often heavily sought after by whitetails during this period.  So, if you plan to use soybeans as your forage source, create larger food plots.

2.    Lablab- This is somewhat new as a deer forage item.  It is an annual which is generally planted during the spring.  It can grow effectively in dry surroundings and can endure drought conditions.

3.    Brassica- Radishes, turnips, cabbages, canola, rape and kale are some of the crops which make up this family of forage.  One of the most common varieties planted in deer food plots across the United States, the leaves of brassica are extremely digestible by whitetail and they can receive up to 20% of the protein they need from this one item alone.

Planting the right combination of forage provides nutrition to the whitetail when they need it most.  It can also bring a herd to your property, providing you with more hunting opportunities.  Planting the wrong combination can almost guarantee that no deer will visit your food plots during hunting season.

Avoiding the wrong combination is critical.  To discover the combinations which will work best in your area of the country, visit my website.

Keith Cantelmo is a whitetail deer hunting enthusiast dedicated to providing the best information and products for just about every outdoor activity for you and your family. Discover more about whitetail deer food plots on my website, http://www.FoodPlotsForWhitetailDeer.org.
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