How to Make Food Plots for Deer in Maryland

Food plots are an excellent way to attract deer to a specific area for spectating or hunting purposes. They are also a means of nourishing and propagating the local deer population. If you reside in Maryland, it is best to have an idea of the types of soils that make up your county and what kinds of vegetation are sustainable. By planting an assortment of seasonal crops which deer are known to eat and enjoy, you will soon have the animals flocking to your plots.

Things You'll Need

  • Several acres of land
  • Soil test kit
  • Tilling equipment
  • Shovel
  • Seasonal seed
  • Seed spreader
  • Fertilizer
  • Fertilizer spreader
  • Weed killer
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Instructions

  1. Instructions

    • 1

      Assess your soil situation. Using the USDA Maryland Soil Survey in the third Reference link below, read up on the properties of the soil in your county of residence. The survey contains a wealth of helpful information including the dominant types of soil, like loam or clay, the average slope of the county's topography and the different crops the soil can sustain.

    • 2

      Test your soil for pH content and note the results. A variety of inexpensive soil testing kits can be found at your local nursery or hardware store. This step will help you purchase an acceptable fertilizer for your soil.

    • 3

      Till your soil if necessary. Much of the soil in Maryland is of a soft loamy consistency, which means they have relatively equal parts sand, silt and clay and are easily broken-up. They are hospitable to nearly all plant life and don't require much preparation. If the soil blend in your county is high in sand or clay, or has a rocky surface layer, thorough tilling is recommended to ensure sustainable planting. You can rent an industrial tiller machine, if you want large plots; or use hand tools like a hoe or a spade if you are making smaller plots.

    • 4

      Purchase your seed seasonally. It is easiest to divide the types of plants deer eat into summer and winter categories. Generally speaking, Maryland deer require an abundance of protein-rich foliage in the summer -- making alfalfa, clover and soybeans optimal choices. During the winter, deer look for carbohydrate-rich nourishment -- corn, winter wheat, rye and oat will satisfy.

    • 5

      Dig and build your rows. Decide how you want to shape your plots -- long and thin or square and compact -- and construct accordingly. The most common way to create a row is by digging two channels parallel to each other, spaced 6 inches to a foot apart. The seeds are planted in the middle of the resulting mound and watered by filling the channels.

    • 6

      Plant your seeds. Pour your seed into the tank of a push-along spreader and run it across the mounds of your rows. The seeds will be dispensed with enough space in between them to allow for proper growth. If you will be growing several types of vegetation, alternate your seeds accordingly. Save leftover seeds by pouring the spreader's tank into a labeled bag.

    • 7

      Fertilize your plots. Consult your soil test results from Step 2 and purchase a fertilizer that is right for your soil. Bags will be labeled either "For Acidic Soils" or "For Alkaline Soils." This step may be done with a combination seed and fertilizer spreader or a simple hand-operated rotating spreader. Fertilizer helps ensure sustainable soil and increases the nutritional value of your plots.

    • 8

      Tend to your plots. Read the packages for your seeds and water them as recommended. Monitor which plots tend to see the most attention from deer and re-plant accordingly. Spray an environmentally-friendly weed killer as necessary -- this is not for appearance purposes but rather the health of your plots.