How to Plant to Draw Deer

While many gardeners invest time and money into measures that will keep deer away from their gardens, some wish to do just the opposite -- grow plants that will draw deer to their property. People plant forage for deer because they enjoy either watching or hunting deer. Realize that no matter how ideal a food plot you cultivate, deer will not be attracted to it unless the surrounding habitat is poor. If the area around your property contains abundant natural food, deer will get the nutrition they need far away from your house. However, when natural foods are scarce, deer will forage their way to your food plot, where you can enjoy them.

Soil-tilling tools (hoe, rake, spade)
Soil amendments (sand, lime, vermiculite, compost)
Foraging seeds
Chicken wire

Instructions

- 1
  Locate a spot on your property that is at least 1/2 mile away from all public roads, vegetable gardens and ornamental trees. Select a fertile spot with adequate sunlight and that will require a minimum amount of effort to cultivate and maintain.
- 2
  Test the soil in your chosen spot three months before planting and amend it as necessary, adding sand, lime, vermiculite, fertilizer, compost or mulch as needed.
- 3
  Plow the soil, removing large rocks and tree stumps. Erect a chicken-wire fence no more than 4 feet high around the perimeter of the plot to keep livestock out but allow deer in.
- 4
  Contact your local extension office to learn which seeds to buy to attract deer in your local area and where to get them. Sow a mixture of perennial as well as warm- and cool-season annual seeds that will grow into ground cover good for deer foraging. Consider perennials such as ladino clover, red clover, orchardgrass, alfalfa and chicory; cool-season annuals such as kobe, arrowleaf clover, kale, turnips and triticale; and warm-season annuals such as sorghum, corn and buckwheat.

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