Food Plot Size & Seed Calculator
Calculate food plot acreage, seed recommendations, and planting plans for deer, turkey, and more.
1–3% minimum, 5–10% ideal for deer management
Primary Planting Season
Results
3.0
Plot Acres2
No. of Plots1–3 acres
Plot Size• Get a soil pH test before planting. Most food plot crops need pH 6.0–6.5. Lime may be needed.
• Spread plots throughout your property rather than concentrating them in one area.
• With 100 acres total, spread across 2 plots for multiple feeding areas.
• Plant brassicas and cereal grains in August–September for best hunting season results.
Recommended Crops
| Crop | Plant | Seed Needed |
|---|---|---|
Winter Wheat Top fall/winter food. High palatability. Deer and turkey both use it heavily all season. | Sep–Oct | 240–360 lbs |
Cereal Rye Extremely cold hardy. Provides green forage all winter. Very easy to establish. Best insurance crop. | Sep–Oct (later planting OK) | 240–360 lbs |
Oats Fast germination, excellent early-season attractant. Deer hammer fresh green oats in October. | Aug–Sep | 240–300 lbs |
Brassica Blend (Turnips/Radishes/Kale) Late-season deer magnet after first frost. Converts starch to sugar in cold — very attractive. | Aug–Sep | 15–24 lbs |
Frequently Asked Questions
Wildlife biologists recommend a minimum of 1–3% of your hunting property in food plots for basic deer attraction. For a serious deer management program, 5–10% is ideal. On 100 acres, that means 1–5 acres of food plots. More is generally better, but plot location and layout matters as much as total acreage.
White clover is arguably the best year-round food plot plant — high protein (25%+), palatable from spring through fall, and self-seeding once established. For fall hunting season attraction, brassicas (turnips, radishes) are exceptional after frost when they convert starch to sugar. Cereal rye is the easiest and most reliable fall annual.
Most successful food plot programs include both. Perennial plots (clover, chicory, alfalfa) provide year-round nutrition and are less work to maintain. Annual plots (brassicas, cereal grains, soybeans) can be planted specifically for hunting season attraction. Many hunters plant perennial clover mixes with annual fall plots for best results.
Start with a soil pH test (most extension services offer cheap kits). Most food plot crops require pH 6.0–6.5. Apply lime to raise pH if needed (lime takes 3–6 months to work). Till or spray existing vegetation, then disk or rake to prepare a seedbed. Broadcasting seed on a firm, bare seedbed with good seed-to-soil contact gives best results.