--- title: "The Best Food Plots for Deer of 2026" description: "Grow a healthy heard and keep them on your property with our regional and seasonal picks for the best food plots for deer." date: "2022-08-04" modified: "2023-06-08" authors: - name: "Brodie Swisher" link: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/authors/brodie-swisher/" url: "https://www.outdoorlife.com/gear/best-food-plots-for-deer/" categories: - "Big Game Hunting" - "Deer Hunting" - "Gear" - "Hunting" - "Hunting Gear" tags: - "Evergreen" - "Gear Reviews" --- # The Best Food Plots for Deer of 2026 ![The best food plots for deer]() *Depending on where and when you hunt will determine which food plot works best for you. Mossy Oak* Food plots for deer can benefit both the deer and the hunter. Some of my best memories of hunting season take place around a food plot. One year my son and I were hunting a food plot on the last afternoon of archery season. I knew a wave of orange would hit the woods the following day, so we had the added pressure of bagging a buck that evening. We watched several does and fawns feed across the food plot early that afternoon, and then the action died for the next few hours. With 10 minutes of shooting light left on the clock, we caught movement to our left. A quick glance with my binos confirmed it was a shooter worthy of my boy’s tag. Eventually working within 20 yards of our blind, the buck finally presented a broadside shot, and I gave my son the green light. One perfect shot later and we had our hands on a “man-sized” 8-point buck. That food plot attracted and held does which gave us the perfect opportunity to punch a tag on a mature buck. If you're looking to maximize your shot opportunities, you’ll need the best food plots for deer for your specific time of year and region. - **Best for Fall:** [Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover]() - **Best for the South:** [Whitetail Institute PowerPlant]() - **Best for the Midwest:** [Mossy Oak Biologic New Zealand Maximum]() - **Best for the Late-Season:** [Mossy Oak Biologic Deer Radish]() - **Best No-Till:** [Mossy Oak Biologic Hot Spot]() ## Best Food Plots: Reviews and Recommendations ### Best for Fall: [Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover]() If you plan to [hunt early season deer](), clover can be a great option for deer who haven’t fully transitioned from their summer feeding habits, especially once it's established. [Imperial Whitetail Clover]() has an extremely high protein content for antler, muscle and bone growth. It also thrives in extreme cold, which makes it a great option for northern states, as well as warm, dry climates thanks to its disease and drought resistant qualities. It’s also coated with RainBond for seedling survivability. ![Clover Patch]() *For most seasons and regions, clover is hard to beat. Brodie Swisher* With routine maintenance, a food plot with clover can last up to five years or more. It’s essentially the all-terrain-vehicle of the food plot world. It will grow just about anywhere. I’ve even found it growing in the bed of my truck where I spilled some seed on old dirt and mulch. You can plant it in the spring or fall but will likely see best results the following spring after planting. One four-pound bag plants up to half an acre. ### Best for the South: [Whitetail Institute PowerPlant]() [PowerPlant]() provides deer with ample protein during the long spring and summer months of the south, and it handles heavy grazing. In fact, it continues to grow as deer feed on it. The blend consists of vining forage soybean, peas, sunn hemp, and sunflowers to assist in maximum growth. Aside from the incredible drawing power and nutrition, this seed serves as cover for your deer herd, thanks to plants growing well over six-feet tall. Deer will find plenty of security and shade living in and around this food plot. Plant at a rate of 25 pounds per acre in the spring when soil temperatures reach a constant 65 degrees. ### Best for the Midwest: [Mossy Oak Biologic New Zealand Maximum]() The name says it all. You get maximum forage with [this brassica option](), which produces anywhere from 10-15 tons of forage per acre. The yield, attractiveness, and nutritional value make this a fantastic option for hunters and land managers. It grows in a variety of soil types and keeps the groceries stocked for your deer all season long. The brassica in this blend mature at different rates to provide highly palatable forage for the entire life of the plot, particularly after the first frost when sugars flow from the roots to the leaves. Plant Maximum in late summer to fall at a planting rate of 2.25 pounds to one-fourth of an acre. ### Best for the Late-Season: [Mossy Oak Biologic Deer Radish]() Want every deer in the neighborhood on your property in the late-season? Radishes can help make that happen. They have incredible drawing power in the later months of hunting season, and [Biologic’s Deer Radish]() is hard to beat. Deer crave this highly nutritious forage, as well as the sweet roots. From top to bottom, this Deer Radish planting is 100-percent consumable. Deer Radish grows in a variety of soil types with adequate soil moisture, and you can plant it by itself or with other seed blends for early season attraction. Though it works best as a late-season alternative. Regardless, this is one of the best food plots to draw deer for extended periods of time throughout hunting season. Plant in late summer to early fall at a rate of two pounds to one-fourth of an acre. ### Best No-Till: [Mossy Oak Biologic Hot Spot]() No farming equipment? No problem. [Hot Spot ]()works perfect for small, hidey-hole food plots or micro-plots and allows you to plant without big equipment. Clear the ground with a rake to ensure seed-to-soil contact to get this plot started, and it’s good to go. It’s perfect for remote stand sites where using equipment isn't feasible. Hot Spot contains a blend of wheat, deer radish, rye, and rape that germinates fast and easy (usually within a week of planting), which allows you to draw deer to your plot in no time. Plant Hot Spot in late summer to early fall at a rate of five pounds to one-fourth of an acre. ![Mossy Oak Hot Spot on Bike]() *Hot Spot is a perfect option those hard-to-get places. Brodie Swisher* ## FAQs ![Food plot]() *Food plots can benefit both the deer and the deer hunter. Brodie Swisher* ## Food Plot Tips for Beginners [Growing successful food plots]() doesn’t have to be complicated, but there are a few tips that can help eliminate a lot of the guesswork. - Take a soil test for your potential plot - Don’t underestimate the need to lime and fertilize your plot - Consider herbicides for weed control - Always follow recommended planting rates and dates - Fight the urge to spread extra seed—overcrowding will stunt growth - Rotate brassicas every two years - Plant products like Biologic Hot Spot No-Till or Imperial No-Plow in small plots with minimal equipment ## Things to Consider Before You Plant a Food Plot Not all food plots are created equal. You’ll rarely find a one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to them. That’s why it’s important to consider food plot size, timing, and what you can realistically plant with the equipment you have. **Size** Depending on the tract of land you have access to hunt, as well as the terrain features, you may have limited or limitless plot size options. Your budget will also determine the size of the food plot you can plant as well. Larger food plots will cost more. Smaller ones will cost less. **Timing** The timing of when you plant and hunt makes a huge difference. Just because you get your seed in the dirt, doesn’t mean you’ll reap the full benefits this season. If you plant too early or too late, you might even kill or delay your efforts. Also, some food plots thrive in the early part of the season, while other options like clover are extremely cold tolerant and can handle the frigid temps of the late season. If you hunt in colder regions, having a high-protein food source on your property during that late season can help keep the deer on your side of the fence. **Equipment** Do you have the tools and equipment to till and plant a food plot, or will you be looking for a no-till option with minimal equipment? ## Final Thoughts on the Best Food Plots Food plots are not the end-all means for success this deer season. While there are plenty of [myths about food plots](), they should certainly be a part of your land management plan. They can be as simple or complex as your time allows, like a small kill-plot or a large destination food source for deer throughout the entire season. The name of the game with whitetail hunting is creating opportunities. Put the time, energy, and effort into the best food plots for deer this season, and watch new opportunities abound for both you and the bucks you pursue.