Vet Judy

Many North American hunters may not own the land that they hunt on. However, this does not necessarily need to keep you from establishing deer food plots. Here are three tips for establishing food plots on hunting ground that you don’t own:

• Transparency

It’s obviously a very, very bad idea to do something to the ground where you hunt without the owner’s knowledge and permission. (In cases where you’ve leased hunting rights, it may also go against the terms of your contract!)

That’s why, if you’re convinced that a deer food plot would benefit the deer habitat where you hunt, you’ll need to make your case to the land owner and manager first.

If they’re truly interested in guaranteeing their property’s great deer habitat, it’s very likely that they’ll respond favorably to an educated proposal for an appropriate deer food plot. Especially if you’re volunteering to provide the money and labor for the venture!

For assistance with food plot plans please visit www.diydeerfoodplots.com/ Also see www.vetjudy.com and look under tab for food plots to find blog content regarding food plots.

Put It in Writing

Any food plot should be part of a comprehensive wildlife management plan, which is always best put in writing. You don’t need an attorney to present your food plot plan to the owner. But sitting down and mapping out your strategy on paper for a well-placed food plot will show the owner that you’ve put thought into the proposal. Be sure to include a map or diagram showing how the food plot will fit into the existing habitat.

Furthermore, in cases where your hunting rights are contracted, you’ll probably want to add terms for the food plot establishment and maintenance to the contract. Because I’m a vet and not an attorney, I’m not blogging to give you legal advice—so be sure to retain the proper legal or real estate professionals if needed to make any contractual adjustments required.

• Emphasize the food plot’s Benefit

A properly established and planted food plot should be attractive to the landowner. After offering to initially pay for food plots, some sportsmen are pleasantly surprised when some landowners decide to incur the expense themselves.

Presenting a deer food plot plan to a landowner can be a way to improve the ground’s deer habitat for the long-run. It can also help improve and enhance the unique partnership that sportsmen and landowners enjoy—and that’s good for everyone, including the deer that you’ll hunt the next season.

Need assistance with your food plot plan? Click here.