Posted by Archery Country on Mar 26th 2021

Small Acreage Food Plots and Land Management

If you are looking for a way to get the most out of your hunting season, you should consider planting food plots. At the same time, you may not have time to take care of multiple acres of land or access to that much land. In this situation, you might be thinking about going with a smaller food plot. If you would like to get the most out of your food plots, you need to keep a few important tips in mind. You can put smaller food plots to work for you as long as you plan accordingly.

Food Plot Location Is Everything

Food plot location is essential. It is much easier to get animals to utilize your food plot if it is in the path of their natural movement or close to the bedding area. If it is not, you still will be able to attract deer, but it may not be the quantity or during daylight hours as if it was in a place where they feel secure and close to the bedding area. A smaller food plot is already going to have a harder time putting out the tonnage of food than a larger food plot. Therefore, you have to place your smaller food plot in the best position to be successful. Even though you do not necessarily have to put your food plot in an open area, you need to think about the surrounding cover and other food sources they may be traveling to. Your small food plot can be a great ambush site that they visit on the way to other food sources such as big agriculture fields. You want your deer to feel as comfortable as possible when they enter the area. Make sure you have a place to conceal yourself with a treestand or blind.

Plan Your Food Plot Around the Equipment You Have Available.

You do not need extensive equipment to plant small food plots. Tractors, disks, etc., are nice, but many people do not have access to it. You can do small food plots successfully with a backpack sprayer, rack, and broadcasting seeds. The less equipment you have, the more you will have to be ahead of the game unless you are game for a lot of hard physical labor.

Test the Soil For Your Food Plot

If you want to get the most out of your small acreage plot, you must be willing to get down in the dirt. Make sure that you test the soil. You want to check the pH and the mineral content. In general, a closer to neutral pH will be better, and you will have to haul in lime to help reach that. With that soil sample, it will give you an idea of how to fertilize the plot based on the plants you want to grow.

Pick your Food Plot Seeds Carefully

When you are thinking about what you want to plant in your small acreage area, it is tempting to focus on what the deer will eat. Yes, you want to pick something that deer will enjoy; however, you also need to pair this with the information from your soil sample and your willingness to fix pH and fertilize. Also, think about the food plots sunlight, exposure, and available moisture. Check out our selection of food plot seeds online, then give a call or stop into one of our 3 Archery Country locations to further discuss your land and pick up your seeds for your food plot.

Start Your Food Plot Planning as Early as Possible

One of the most common mistakes people make when trying to plant a smaller food plot is waiting. You might think that because a smaller acreage requires less space, it won’t take as long to get ready. In reality, this is probably not the case. For example, a smaller food plot will probably not be in a wide-open field where equipment is easily brought in and probably has brush and trees to remove. As a result, try to start as early as possible. You want to make sure that you have a fertile food plot when the hunting season rolls around.

Invest in the Latest Hunting Gear from Archery Country

These are a few of the top tips that you should keep in mind if you want to get the most out of your hunting season. Smaller food plots can work for you as long as you take advantage of them. This means investing in some of the best gear on the market. If you need help deciding on your equipment, don't hesitate to reach out to Archery Country professionals for help!

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