Food plots have a significant impact on deer herd health and growth. Don’t worry if you’ve missed the late-spring and early-summer planting period. Establishing a food plot later in the summer has many benefits you can still take advantage of. Below are a few you can expect if you’ve finished site development and are ready to plant.

Why You Should Plant a Food Plot in Late-Summer

1. Peak Growth Closer to Hunting Season

The deer-hunting season officially begins in early October. A late-summer plot ensures plenty of time for plant growth and that the crop will be thriving at the beginning and into the hunting season.

Crops planted in early spring may already be entering a dormant period. Deer may not frequent the area as often or be as healthy because of the diminished food supply. After the site development is complete, consider planting radishes, turnips, oats, and wheat that will grow well into deer-hunting season.

2. Better Nutritional Value & Harvest

Late-summer plants will avoid any extreme summer heat, drought, or other seasonal factors that can make it difficult to promote healthy growth. Without these extreme conditions, young leaves with high protein content can sprout more easily.

Regrowth can also establish closer to the start of the hunting season. Vegetation will have better flavor, as well as higher fiber content and digestibility, because it hasn’t been overwhelmed by grazing pressure or poor soil fertility of early summer. The longer the plants remain nutrient-rich, the healthier deer will be at the start of hunting season.

3. Preventing Overgrazing

Food plots increase herd numbers. Once does and fawns establish a grazing area, they’ll stay until it’s exhausted. Planting in late-spring creates more time for breeding, and come fall, there could be an overpopulation in the area.

Overgrazing by large herds of fawns and does may prevent bucks from getting their share of nutrients from the food plot. Late-summer plots prevent overpopulation and give plenty of time to build a larger, healthier herd.

If you need assistance with developing a food plot site, contact Jeff Simek Construction Company in Ogema, WI. This locally owned and operated excavating contractor brings over 25 years of experience to every job site. They provide a variety of earth-moving services, including trenching, site development, land clearing, and hauling. Visit their website to learn more, or call (715) 767-5295 to speak with a friendly representative.