DIY Deer Food Plot Seed Mix: A Proven, High-Protein Recipe

Things You'll Need

• Kitchen scale

• 5-gallon bucket with tight-fitting lid

• Millet or oat seed

• Rye or buckwheat seed

• Alfalfa seed

• Clover seed

• Rapeseed

• Kale or turnip seed

• Chicory seed

Warning

Keep your seed mix in a dry, cool place or the seed will rot. To avoid attracting rodents, keep your seed mix tightly sealed

Tip

This is only one recipe for a deer food plot seed mix. Contact your local extension office to determine which high-protein forage plants grow well in your region. Many deer food plot seed mixes contain plants that self-seed and spread easily. Avoid planting your deer food plot near your vegetable garden or flower beds. If you have both types of seeds in steps where there is an option (such as Step 1 where you can choose millet or oat), make a 50/50 mix of both seeds for that measurement. This recipe makes ten pounds of mix, you can increase or decrease it according to your needs. A quarter-pound of seed covers 1,000 square feet.

Attract deer with a food plot

If you have deer on your property setting up a deer food plot is one way to attract them to a location where you can watch the deer and provide them with a reliable source of high-protein food. A deer food plot is a section of land on your property you set aside to grow plants specifically for visiting deer. You can either buy a commercial deer food plot seed mix or make your own. Plant this seed mix in late spring when the danger of frost has passed.

Step 1

Measure out 2 pounds of the millet or oat seed. Pour this into the bucket.

Step 2

Measure out 2 pounds of the rye or buckwheat seed. Pour this in the bucket.

Step 3

Measure out 2 pounds of alfalfa or timothy grass seed. Pour this into the bucket.

Step 4

Measure out 2 pounds of clover seed. This can be a single species of clover or you can combine several species to make up the 2 pounds of seed. Add the seed to the bucket.

Step 5

Measure 1 pound of rapeseed. Add this to the bucket.

Step 6

Measure out half a pound each of the kale seed and chicory seed. You can substitute turnip seed for the kale seed. Add the seed to the bucket.

Step 7

Stir the seed mix with your hands. Secure the lid onto the bucket. Turn the bucket several times to thoroughly mix the seed. Store in a cool and dry place until you are ready to use the mix.