Best Food Plots for Small Plots
A quarter-acre kill plot near a stand plays by different rules than a big field — browse pressure is the enemy, so pick crops that take a beating.
The challenge
On a small plot, the local deer can eat it faster than it grows, so high-attraction crops that don't regrow (like soybeans) get wiped to dirt before they establish. The winners either regrow from grazing (perennial clover), come on fast (cereal grains), or peak on a schedule you control (frost-sweetened brassicas timed to the hunt).
What to plant
Best crops for small plots
Tips
- Favor regrowth crops (clover) and fast grains over crops deer can wipe out (soybeans).
- Time brassicas to peak after the first frost, right at hunting season.
- Over-seed slightly — small plots take heavy grazing pressure.
Where to buy seed
Compare prices on Ladino White Clover and Cereal Rye seed and a broadcast spreader online.
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FAQ
- What is the best crop for a small kill plot?
- Perennial clover and cereal grains (rye, oats) are ideal — clover regrows after deer graze it, and grains come on fast and tolerate browsing. Frost-sweetened brassicas make an excellent late-season kill plot if you can keep deer off them until they mature.
- Why does my small food plot get eaten so fast?
- Browse pressure. On a small plot, the resident deer can out-eat the growth, especially with non-regrowing crops like soybeans. Switch to graze-tolerant clover and fast cereal grains, over-seed a bit, and consider a temporary electric wire until the plot establishes.
Size your plot
Pick a crop above and calculate exact seed and lime for your plot, or estimate lime with the lime calculator.
Other conditions