Food plot and whitetails have never before been so intertwined within the fabric of our hunting pursuits.
From books to magazines to TV, it is hard to ignore the next great seed blend or planting implement. As I travel around the country for a large portion of the year designing my client’s whitetail parcels, the most commonly growing food plot question is not necessarily how or what to plant, but where to plant and why! The complexities of every parcel shape and size, population numbers, landowner goals and resources, as well as the variety of soil types are just some of the pieces of the puzzle that need to be explored to create a logical recommendation for not only what to plant, but more importantly where to plant. From installing food plots to hanging a bow stand “location” is everything. I am excited to share with you the 5 steps of using precision habitat alignment to simplify the puzzle of creating your next great bowhunting opportunity.
1. Food for Does
*Consistent, unpressured food sources can attract, hold and even build a deer herd if desired.
2. Doe Family Group Bedding
*By using food plots you can effectively dictate where doe family groups bed.
3. Buck Bedding Opportunity
*When you have developed the buck bedding to doe bedding to food plot habitat alignment, installing a waterhole along the way can end up being an oustanding stand location!
4. Stand Location
*Precision alignment for deer, equals precision alignment for stand placement and stand access. The above example shows how you can take advantage defined deer movements to locate your stand, to determine an effective access, and to keep the wind patterns in your favor.
5. Hidden Access
By making sure that the access to your stand location does not travel near/through the food source during the hours of darkness, or near/through the bedding areas during the hours of daylight you are ready to choose a wind pattern that blows outside of the line of movement that you have created to have a great bowhunt!
Conclusion
Is the best tree in the woods the best spot to hang a treestand, and while you are considering that question is the best soil on your property the best spot to plant a food plot? In my experience the answer to both questions follows the same concept; find the best location and then pick the best tree or soil that you can work with to fit the location. When it comes to choosing your next food plot location, consider the 5 steps to finding Precision Habitat Alignment so that while creating your next great plot, you are also creating a variety of precision bowhunting opportunities.
*This awesome 5 year old was taken over the waterhole picture above during an October 22nd cold front in 2011, while hunting the precision alignment of buck bedding, waterhole, doe bedding and food plot food.
Jeff Sturgis has been hunting whitetail deer without guides or outfitters in several states, on public and private lands, since 1985. In 1996 Jeff planted his first food plot and began making habitat improvements in pursuit of quality herds that included mature bucks. In 2004 Jeff received the Al Brothers Deer Manager of the Year Award from the Quality Deer Management Association, and in 2005 he founded Whitetail Habitat Solutions, LLC. Jeff is a full-time whitetail habitat and hunting designer, writer, and enjoys the challenge of teaching dozens of clients each year throughout the country how to experience their optimum level of whitetail success. Learn more at http://www.whitetailhabitatsolutions.com/books/