fbpx

How To Create the Perfect Kill Plot

By Bow StaffMay 31, 2016

by Daryl Bell

Kill plots are an awesome tool when attempting to harvest deer on a food plot. Especially with a bow or any other close range weapon. I have heard kill plots called by many different names: kill plots, hidey-hole food plots, and bow plots, just to name a few. No matter what you call them, they are all designed for one main purpose, which is to get deer in close. When designing a kill plot, there are many different things you need to consider. You must establish: where to plant, the design of the plot, and what to plant. In this article, I will touch on all the considerations that I bring into account when designing kill plots on my own property. Here’s a look at how to create the perfect kill plot.

Location

Perhaps the most important consideration when creating your kill plot is location. You will not be able to plant the plot just anywhere that “looks” like a good area, and expect to attract deer on a regular basis.
My favorite place to plant my kill plots is off of travel routes to major food sources; preferably in between the food source and the bedding area. This location makes for a great staging area when deer are on their way to feed before dark. It is also a great spot to catch deer going to bed down in the mornings after feeding at night.
treestandplotshot

Kill plots with trails leading into and out of bedding areas can be dynamite spots to make things happen.

One thing you need to be careful of is putting the plot directly in the travel route. This will give the deer an opportunity to wind you when they are entering or exiting the plot. I prefer to plant mine slightly to the north or south of the route. This will give you the advantage of manipulating exactly where the deer enter and exit the plot.
For example, the best kill plot I have is 150 yards east of a big peanut field. The plot is in between the bedding area and the field, but south of the direct travel route. It’s a great location with any variation of north wind.
Another great location for a kill plot is around oak and fruit trees. For example, if you have a persimmon tree that has attracted deer year in and year out; planting a kill plot designed around this tree will only strengthen the attractiveness of the area. However, be sure to leave a barrier around the tree when planting the plot. You do not want to harm the feeder roots of the tree with yearly tilling or drilling. Also, to ensure the tree produces a good mast, you do not want your food plot competing with the tree for water and nutrients. A good rule of thumb is to not plant or till under the drip line of any tree.

Designing Your Kill Plots

I have seen kill plots from 1/2 acre down to 1/10 of an acre. The size doesn’t matter as much as making sure it’s laid out correcting. Remember, this is not a recruiting plot. The goal is not to attract and hold deer on your property, but to give deer a small, safe sanctuary to feed. There are a couple of designs that I have found to work very well in both making deer feel safe and funneling them within bow range.
The first one we will talk about is the hour glass plot. This is perhaps my favorite plot because it can be planted almost anywhere, given you have a tree to hang a stand in. The plot is shaped exactly like it’s name, an hour glass. It seems that even though deer can get the exact same nutrition from one end of a food plot; they always seem to work their way to the opposite end before its all over with. Given this, you want to hang your stand mid way down the plot, in the pinch point of the hour glass. You should make sure the pinch point is only about 30 yards wide will provide you with the best close range opportunity.
hour glass field

Watch for terrain features that will require deer to travel within bow range of your stand. Bottle necks, pinch points, and the hour glass are all ideal locations for a stand set within a kill plot.

Another great design for your kill plot is the V shape. Again, this plot is designed with the idea that the deer will feed along the skinny legs and eventually funnel through the bend of the plot, making their way to the other end. Typically, you want to hang your stand on the inside of the V. This will give you a shot opportunity not only in the bend of the plot, but on some parts of the legs as well.
One of my best kill plots is a V shaped plot. I have a stand placed on the inside of the V, which is directly across from a white oak at 33 yards on the outside of the V. This is extra encouragement for the deer to funnel exactly where I want. I have been able to successfully harvest a deer off of this plot every year since it was created.
Given these plots are relatively small in size, you want to be sure you have sufficient cover around each plot. This is very important to encourage daylight activity. Planting these plots in thick cover is the best way to ensure that the deer will feel safe in the plot. However, if there is not sufficient cover in area you choose, you can make up for this by planting a screen around the plot. Egyptian Wheat, Sorghum and Corn are great choices for any food plot screen. You can also use your food plot screens, as well as trees and brush, to help encourage deer to enter and exit the plot at certain locations.

What to Plant

When selecting the forage for your kill plots, variety is key. Deer are like humans, they do not want to eat the some thing everyday. Variety, or lack of, can make or break your kill plot. Personally, I like to plant spring/summer forage in my kill plots. As well as my fall/winter forage, of course. This keeps deer visiting the location all year round. This also provides a quality food source throughout the year.
On small plots, picking a spring/summer forage can be tricky. Soy beans are my go-to crop for summer plots. Unfortunately, soy beans, aside from a few varieties, can not withstand a lot of browse pressure which makes them virtually impossible to establish in small plots. Instead, I like to go with clover. Clover is high in protein, can take a lot of browse pressure, and is very shade tolerant. The clover can also be left in place and used as your fall/winter plot. However, keep in mind that the clover will go dormant towards late winter. If cared for properly, clover stands can survive 2-7 years. My clover plots are always a huge attractant during the summer and extends into the fall. They are also a very crucial tool in my food plot program.
clover

High in protein and a long “shelf life” make clover hard to beat for a kill plot food source.

On my winter plots, I like to go with a good variety of annuals. My fall/winter plots normally consist of the list below.
Soybeans: I don’t plant soy beans in the fall with the expectation that they will get established. A young soy bean is highly palatable and digestive to deer which makes it a great attractant right off the bat. It also works as a great cover crop to protect your slower growing forage while it becomes established.
Radishes: Most radishes, unlike turnips, do not need a couple of frosts to begin mobilizing their sugars. This makes them a great food source in the early season, as well as the late season once they have developed a bulb.
Oats: Oats are an annual, which means they grow and develop very quickly. Oats can begin to produce a food source even within 2 weeks of being planted. Oats will also continue to grow and produce food into the winter, which makes them a great early and late season food source.
Turnips: Turnips are great for a number of reasons. Turnips will not become attractive until after the first couple of frosts once they begin mobilizing their sugars. This gives them plenty of time to become established without having to worry about them getting over browsed in early fall. Once you get into late winter, most other food sources will die off. The bulbs of the turnips and radishes will then become very attractive to deer. Also, they will help hold nutrients in the soil throughout the winter, which will better help your spring plot in getting established.

Things to Consider

A couple of other things to keep in mind when developing your kill plot is wind and entrance/exit routes. You do not want to waste all of your time and money developing a plot if you are just going to disturb deer going to and from your stand. Ideally, you want to be able to access your stand without disturbing any deer that may be feeding on the plot. Also, you want to make sure that you are accessing the stand from a down wind side. Remember that you are going to be in close quarters with the deer. The wind can be your best friend, but it can also be your worst enemy.
Kill plots are a fun and exciting way to punch more tags on your properties. Keep in mind, it will be very easy to over hunt these little plots. Be sure to keep the pressure low and only hunt them in perfect conditions. If you do it right, you’ll soon discover that kill plots are your favorite spots of the season.
Post a Comment
Login To Account

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *