Foods to Attract Deer

Applying some methods of using food to attract deer may be illegal in your state. It is unlawful to bait a deer for hunting purposes with corn, pellets, minerals or salt in many states. However, planting forage or food plots for the deer to feed on is legal. Before you plant food, you should test the soil to find out if it needs to be fertilized ahead of time. Prepare the site by excavating all rocks, roots, brush and stumps and raking to a smooth seedbed.

  1. Clover

    • Deer have a strong liking for clover. There are two different types of clover that can be planted to give the deer nutrients: red clover and white clover. These clover species are easy to grow and contain high levels of protein. White clover can grow for up to five years from a single seeding. The seeds for red and white clover are not difficult to find.

    Alfalfa

    • Alfalfa is another deer favorite, but it can be high maintenance that requires monitoring for weevils. These pests and other insects can be controlled with organic pesticides. Alfalfa will grow best on fertile, well-drained soils. The soil needs to have a pH of 6.5 for the seeds to grow properly. Alfalfa should be planted between August and September with 15 to 25 pounds of seed per acre. The seeds can be planted 1/4-inch deep into the soil.

    Chicory

    • Chicory is a perennial herb that deer enjoy grazing on. It may be planted by itself or in combination with other herbs. Chicory provides sufficient food plot forage for spring and summer. It is a drought-tolerant plant with the help of its long tap root. Forage chicory is low-growing with road leaves in the wintertime. Warm spring temperatures will help produce large amounts of leaves from the crown. Chicory needs to be planted at a rate 5 to 7 pounds per acre at a depth of 1/4-inch.

    Rye Grasses

    • Rye grasses should not be confused with rye. Rye is a cereal grain and rye grasses are cool-season grasses. Rye grasses are very high in protein. They are highly digestible, grow quickly and have a long growing season. Rye grasses grow best in fertile soils with a pH of 5.0 to 7.0. Rye grows faster than legumes, making the deer graze heavily on it before the legumes grow during the spring.