FOOD PLOT AREA and COMPOSITION

In wooded habitats, herbaceous openings (food plots) should comprise at least 2% of total acreage to show a noticeable effect. 5% to 10% would be better with some of that in fruit trees / shrubs and some in native vegetation -- limed and fertilized. In more open habitats, plant as much as you can afford -- but if cover is limited you may need to plant, cut or otherwise promote more cover.

On small acreage with small plots and/or a limited budget, plant only cool season perennials (clover, alfalfa, and chicory), a small fruit tree orchard and possibly some Brassicas as these are the most graze resistant and cost effective.

On larger properties with considerable tillable acreage and an adequate budget, plant at least 10% of the property with 50% in cool season perennials, 20 to 25% in warm season annuals (early brassicas, beans, peas, corn, sorghum, buckwheat) and 20 to 25% in winter annuals (wheat, oats, triticale, winter vetch, late brassicas) and 5 to 10% in Fruit Tree / Shrub orchards.

WHITE-TAILED DEER NUTRITIONAL CYCLE

White-tailed deer need differing amounts of various nutrients throughout the year, depending upon their life cycle. They have the uncanny ability to know what nutrients they need and which plants contain those nutrients. Although this chart is based on a rigidly defined schedule, in reality there is a gradual changeover from season to season with overlaps in the requirements and favored foods. Depending upon the geography and climate of your area, the food preference shifts associated with the times on this chart could vary by as much as a month, earlier or later.

WINTER -- DECEMBER THROUGH FEBRUARY

All deer naturally reduce their food intake by 25% or more over the winter, even captive deer on unlimited rations. It is a survival mechanism to survive the limited, low quality and hard to obtain food supplies of winter -- they live off their fat reserves -- or die due to inadequate fat reserves. Winter food is the least important factor in deer nutrition.

They will, and must, eat browse to keep their Rumens full and functioning even if the browse is of low quality and requires more calories to digest that it contains. Good plantings for winter food

include: Corn, Sorghum, Turnips, Beets, Swede and late hanging Apples and Crabapples. Avoid feeding deer high protein feeds at this time as they can not properly digest or utilize the protein -- it is not needed.

SPRING -- MARCH THROUGH MAY

As spring approaches, the amount of daylight increases, triggering the start of antler growth in bucks, accelerated fetal growth in pregnant does and body growth in the previous year's fawns. All this requires protein -- lots of it. Deer will resume feeding heavily where they can find new, high protein growth. Good plantings for spring nutrition include: Clover, Alfalfa, Cereal Grains such as winter wheat and rye and oats. If feeding deer, keep gradually increasing the amount of high protein feed throughout this period.

SUMMER -- JULY THROUGH AUGUST

This period marks the rapid growth phase for all but nursing does. All deer require high quality, high protein forage during this period. Bucks for antler and body growth, yearlings for body growth and does for milk production and body growth if excess food is available. Good plantings for summer nutrition include: Clover, alfalfa, chicory, Warm Season Legumes (Beans and Peas) and early planted Brassicas.

FALL -- SEPTEMBER THROUGH NOVEMBER

This is the important period for winter survival. The amount of high quality, high fat and high carbohydrate food a deer can process during

this time will determine the extent of its fat reserves. Important foods during this period include Acorns and other nuts, Apples and other fruits, Brassicas (greens, then roots), young winter grains (wheat, rye, and oats), corn and sorghum.