Food Plot Tools Every Hunter Should Have

Regardless of your thoughts on the true impact a food plot can make on your hunting property, there’s no denying the excitement and anticipation that comes from the food plot chores each season.

For some, the task of creating a new food plot can be intimidating. After all, it’s no easy chore. But with the right tools, you can certainly simplify the process.

Creating a successful food plot requires the right equipment to prepare the soil, plant effectively, and maintain healthy growth. So whether you’re managing a small kill plot, or a larger feeding area, here are the essential food plot tools every hunter should have.

Soil Testing Kit

Soil quality can make all the difference in the success of your food plot. So before you start throwing seed to the soil, you can save yourself a lot of headache by knowing the condition of your soil.

This is easily accomplished by taking a soil sample of the ground you intend to plant and utilizing a soil testing kit. You can usually find and submit these at your local Co-op or soil conservation office.

A soil testing kit is crucial for understanding the pH and nutrient levels in your plot. Knowing your soil conditions allows you to make the right changes to promote optimal plant growth.

In fact, testing your soil annually and adjusting lime and fertilizer as needed will ensure you maintain balanced nutrients to maximize plant growth.

Plow, Disc or Harrow

Once you are confident your soil is suitable for growing groceries for deer, it’s time to break the ground. And you might find turning dirt to be your favorite part of the process.

Breaking up and turning over soil is essential for proper seedbed preparation (unless you go the no-till route). Seed-to-soil contact is everything when it comes to getting your plot started. A plow and/or disc allows you to properly break the ground ensuring better seed-to-soil contact, promoting improved germination rates.

Don’t have access to farm equipment? No problem. You can use something as simple as a mini-plow, disc, or harrow pulled behind an ATV or side by side for smaller plots. But of course, a tractor-mounted implement certainly comes in handy for larger plots.

Cultipacker

As mentioned above, seed-to-soil contact is a must for proper germination. A cultipacker is a great tool to help make that happen, pressing seeds into the soil after planting.

It helps firm up the seed-to-soil contact, ensuring germination and protecting the seeds from being washed away or eaten by birds.

You’ll find a wide range of professional cultipackers on the market, but you can also use other items found around the farm to drag the plot to achieve seed-to-soil contact as well. An old pallet, log, or section of chain-link fence can work surprisingly well to get your seed covered.

Seed Spreader

One of the more affordable tools you can buy for your food plot is a broadcast seed spreader. The seed spreader makes planting efficient by evenly distributing seed and fertilizer across your plot.

They are adjustable to handle seed of all sizes, quickly adapting to whatever planting you desire from season to season.

Hand-crank spreaders are affordable and can easily handle plots of most any size. And if you’re dealing with plots of larger acreage, you can find ATV or tractor-mounted spreaders as well.

Sprayer for Weed Control

Regardless of how well you get your food plot started, things can go south in a hurry if you don’t maintain proper weed control.

Weeds can quickly overtake your food plot if left unchecked. A quality sprayer allows you to apply herbicides to control invasive species, as well as prepare your plot for planting.

There are plenty of options here as well, from hand-held sprayers, backpack sprayer, or ATV-mounted sprayer for large-scale weed control.

Mower or Bush Hog

You’ve likely already got a mower around the house that can come in handy for keeping your established food plot maintained throughout the year.

Periodic mowing encourages fresh growth, controls weeds, and maintains a lush, inviting food source for wildlife.

A bush hog can handle the bigger jobs of clearing or maintaining heavy growth, but a number of hunters rely on their smaller lawn tractor or finish mowers for maintaining manicured plots.

Chainsaw

Every man (and woman, too) needs a chain saw, right? And they come in handy, particularly when it comes to cleaning and clearing around food plots. A chainsaw is invaluable for clearing trees, trimming shooting lanes, and improving sunlight exposure on your food plot.

You’ll always find work to be done around the farm with the chainsaw, but they’re also the perfect tool for removing dead trees and brush to maximize sunlight penetration in shaded areas around your plot.

Hand Tools

You’ll probably find a number of the basic hand tools for food plot prep and maintenance around your garage, shop, or shed. Basic hand tools help with tasks that require precision or involve tight spaces.

Rakes can be used for spreading soil or seeds. Shovels work great for moving dirt or leveling ground, and a hoe can be used for breaking up dirt or compacted soil.

Conclusion

Establishing a thriving food plot requires the right tools for preparation, planting, and maintenance. By investing in these essential items, you’ll improve your chances of attracting and holding deer throughout the season.

With proper planning and a few basic tools and equipment, your food plot can become a vital part of your hunting success this season.

Brodie Swisher

Brodie Swisher is a world champion game caller, outdoor writer, seminar speaker and Editor for Bowhunting.com. Brodie and his family live in the Kentucky Lake area of west Tennessee.