Food plot spacing

[LabLuvR]

I’ve often pondered how far apart one food plot should be to the next. Watch y’all’s thoughts?

[JABIII]

Many variables. 200 or 2000 acres? What is the goal?

[Slaya]

I presume your thinking primarily about deer? If so, large Plots designed for feeding I like centrally located and spread strategically across a tract - a small property may only have one such plot, or ag fields may fill this role. Smaller hunting or kill plots can be scattered or worked into areas between bedding, water sources, and/or large feed plots - I'd try to manipulate them to be hunted on different winds and easy to get in/out of with minimal disturbance. I'd think the tract size, topography, timber type, ag scenarios, etc. would dictate all of that. No sense placing a kill plot where winds are more likely to swirl, unless you're hunting it from afar and usually above it in elevation. Also, I'd think a bow hunter may want more, smaller plots; whereas a rifle hunter may prefer less plots, but larger ones.

Not sure there's a blanket answer, but you need cover for travel corridors, bottoms, ridges, bedding areas, escape from predation or you'd wind up with a giant field.

All that said, chufa plots could be added between deer plots wherever there's opportunity; clover plots could serve multiple purposes, i.e. for bugging areas for birds and deer chow; brood plots for quail with partridge pea/pollinators/ragweed will serve for browse for deer, bugging for turkeys, and cover for rabbits and birds; open, thinned pines with periodic fire create massive amounts of native browse and food opportunities for about every species of critter in the woods and you can still enjoy the benefits of species targeted food plots scattered into them to increase tonnage of forage or brooding areas or whatever your goal may be.

[KRT]

The shit you over think. It’s a food plot.

[banded_mallard]

The shot you over think. It’s a food plot.

That all depends on the objective. If all you want to do is plunk a doe with a rifle at 200 yards, yes. But if you are serious about hunting mature deer and manipulating behavior in your favor, that’s a big negative. I have been blown away how much adding plot screen to my kill plots has changed daytime movement this far. It’s night and day. That’s not just does either. I also split any larger plot than 1/2 acre into different sections with the plot screen for the same effect.

As far as the original question, for me, it’s more important to make in coincide with that they are actually doing. I prefer more kill plots than a large food plot. But I bow hunt 95% of the time so 100 yards does nothing for me.

[Palmetto Bug]

There's an area on my property that doesn't have many alternative food sources nearby so there's a minimum size of food plot that can make it to maturity. Too small and they wipe it out as soon as it germinates. I like having different plots with food that matures at different times. i.e. soy beans for early season and winter veggies for later.

[LabLuvR]

The reason I am asking is because I have about 150 acres. I want to put in three plots outside of the ones already on the powerline. So far, it looks like to of them would be about 200 yards apart. I don't want to be sitting on one plot and the jackasses are in another.

[Slaya]

Its going to happen, but they aren't getting shot feeding in the other plot. You just have to figure out what the best way to hunt the plots is.

[Duracraft]

Plant them. More food the better.

[LabLuvR]

Ya'll make good sense thanks!

[Huntinjunkie]

Plant them to take advantage of different wind direction

[Carolina Counsel]

The reason I am asking is because I have about 150 acres. I want to put in three plots outside of the ones already on the powerline. So far, it looks like to of them would be about 200 yards apart. I don't want to be sitting on one plot and the jackasses are in another.

I have multiple plots that are close to each other and set up for different wind directions. I wouldn't worry about that. I think access is the most important element to a food plot. I'm just as concerned with my wind going to and from as when sitting. We have 10 foot plots on 350 acres, ranging in size from less than half an acre to close to 8 acres. Hub and spoke shaped, strips plots, and traditional block shaped. I like to vary it.

[centurian]

On timber land property you got what you got so plant what ever you can access. This is usually not the best dirt either. but it is what it is.