Vet Judy

Prevailing wind is important because deer have an exceptionally keen sense of smell. The goal, of course, is to remain downwind of the herd so that your scent and that of your home or stand are not immediately apparent to the deer. Hunters and game photographers know to keep the wind in their face to prevent at least one of their quarry’s five senses from giving them away.

It doesn’t matter if you live in the hills, a valley, or on a wide open lane, every location has a usual direction that the wind is blowing from. The macro prevailing wind is the easiest and obvious to most people. Wait until a brisk and you can just walk out there and note which direction the wind is blowing.

The micro prevailing wind is created by topography differences. For instance, living in a valley can focus winds right through the valley, even if it runs north and south. If you live on a plain, even a small hill can redirect winds to whip around and appear to be coming from a different direction entirely. Some coastal areas have winds that are driven by ocean currents to come from the south. You may even live somewhere where the wind comes from one direction one time of the year and another in the other months. In these situations, you may need to use smoke bombs or gliders to determine the overall wind pattern in this selected region.

Consider where the deer will enter your property, whether clinging to the edge of a wooded area or emerging from a game trail in the woods. You want to envision the shape and location of your hypothetical plot by imagining where they will enter onto the property. Imagine them being funnelled with the wind at their backs, just in front of your blind or stand.

Make sure to arrange the plot to shield the entrance to your stand or blind from scent detection. While you can’t determine wind direction without error in most locations, you will likely be able to hedge your bets.

For more information on food plot Design Strategies feel free to visit our website at www.diydeerfoodplots.com/ and download ( free) Chapter 1 of deer food Plots Made Easy by Dr. Judy McFarlen.

1. Crops:  Some crops that deer seem to love are soybeans, clover, alfalfa, rye, corn and oats. Standing corn is used for both food and shelter. This is the category that food plot plants fall into. For more plant information please feel free to check out our free resources at www.diydeerfoodplots.com/

2. Forbs: These are herbaceous plants (other than grasses) generally seen growing out in open areas.  Deer eat these and hide in them too.

3. Shrubs: Known as bushes. The deer also eat these and use for cover.

4. Trees:

Mast-bearing hardwoods: Oak, beech, hickory, chestnut are the ones that deer prefer.

White oak group is preferred over red due to more bitter taste of the red. White group examples are post oak, white oak, chinquapin, and chestnut oak. These trees generally produce acorns every year.

Red oak examples are red oak, black oak, pin oak, willow oak, and water oak. Most of these bear mast every two years.

Beech trees seem to be inconsistent with mast production but deer do love these.

Fruit-bearing hardwoods: Apple, pears, cherry, persimmons( all time favorite), and plum trees are the most common. The deer eat the fruit and the leaves. Deer hunters love these trees, especially whenthey are ripening at hunting time. Other wild fruit loved by deer include: wild grapes, scuppermongs, muscadines, mulberries, and sumac, osage orange fruit,maypops,paw-paws and honey locust.

General Hard Woods: Maple, birch,ashes, elms, and gum trees are notable here and provide cover and food depending on conditions and area.

Soft Woods: Pine, spruce, cedar, hemlock, firs and junipers also important for food and cover pending conditions.

As part of your food plot location strategy you may consider the fruit and mast bearing trees are excellent drawing features in deer habitat.