When it comes to attracting & sustaining wildlife, especially deer and other game animals, custom food plot mixes can be a game-changer. While our pre-packaged seed blends are convenient, easy to use, & ready to plant, some customers want to tailor a mix specific to their property, soil conditions, & wildlife needs.
Why Choose Custom Food Plot Mixes?
- Local Adaptation – Every property has unique soil types, climate conditions, and wildlife pressure. Custom blends allow you to select species that thrive in your region.
- Extended Attraction – By combining plants with different growth rates and maturity times, you can provide year-round nutrition.
- Targeted Nutrition – Custom mixes let you prioritize high-protein, high-energy plants that benefit antler growth, lactation, and overall herd health.
Key Components of a Winning Custom Mix
Cool-Season Mixes (Fall/Winter)
- Cereal Grains – Oats, wheat, and rye provide quick attraction and cold tolerances
- Brassicas – Turnips, radishes, and rape offer high protein and remain palatable after frost.
- Clovers – Red, White & crimson clovers add nitrogen to the soil and sustain deer through winter.
Warm-Season Mixes (Spring/Summer)
- Soybeans, Lablab & Cowpeas – High-protein legumes that deer love; excellent for antler growth.
- Sunflowers, Buckwheat, Sorghum & Millet – Provides cover and seed heads for turkeys and upland birds.
Year-Round Perennials
- Clover, Alfalfa & Chicory – Deep-rooted, drought-resistant, and packed with nutrients.
- Small Burnet – Very desirable forage for elk, deer, antelope and birds either as herbage or seed. Birds use the seed in fall, winter and spring. It also provides cover for selected small bird species.
How to Design Your Custom Mix
Interested in planting a custom food plot mix, but don't know where to start? Check out our new custom seed mix calculator. It's as simple as selecting your planting method, picking out your preferred crops and percentage of each, & inputing your planting area size. You can then contact us for a free quote.
- Soil Test First – Adjust pH and fertility based on test results to maximize growth.
- Match Your Goals – Are you feeding deer, attracting turkeys, or improving soil health? Select plants accordingly.
- Consider Planting Timing – Stagger planting dates or use a mix of annuals and perennials for continuous food.
- Adjust for Pressure – In high-traffic areas, use hardy plants like brassicas that can withstand heavy browsing.