LAST UPDATED: May 8th, 2015
One of my favorite techniques for early season bow hunting is to create a honey hole. For me, this means a small area (maybe 30’ x 30’) that I can rake, seed, fertilize, and mow relatively easily without farming equipment. The concept is to create a spot within your food plot for the deer to key in on. Typically I create a honey hole within 20 yards upwind of my treestand. In middle of August I planted Imperial Clover and fertilized using this method; I mowed a few weeks later. I then mowed again in early September, each time focusing on that exact specific spot.
Notice the “ring” of fresh growth – I created this without farm equipment.
Don’t expect every food plot to be perfect – just work hard, and try to peak interest with fresh green growth.
A view from my treestand – Looks pretty good!
I like to set up my Moultrie Trail Cameras before doing a specific setup like this – mostly to test the effectiveness.
Mowing a small area can pull deer within your food plot to a specific spot. Even creating a direct path from cover can be beneficial.
This fawn walked out a few hours after I finished mowing – directly where I wanted the deer to travel.
Another nice deer using my honey hole – IT WORKED!
I will be hunting this weekend in northern MN over this setup (morning/evening) and hopefully will have some luck.
See you in the woods,
Neal McCullough
