Do you guys plant them?This was my first year doing our food plots at my grandparents and I am certain that the only ones that have been planted are in late September for the upcoming season and nothing has ever been planted during the spring and summer. Would I see a difference in the amount of deer on an 80 acre tract by planting these times too? And what would you plant during the spring and summer?

I have a mix in mine that last all year. A mix of annual and perennial clovers provide something for Spring and Summer. Cereal grains along with the clovers are good for fall and winter. Remember, no matter what you plant for Spring and Summer, it will require some sort of maintenance , spraying and or mowing to keep undesirables in check.

I plant WMS Deer Magnet and add some Coker 227 Oats and in some plots Durana clover. Makes for a great mix.

http://www.productsforwildlifemanagement.com/

Not sure if you'll actually hold more deer on 80 acres, but you've got to try. Corn, beans, sunflowers are all great for deer.

cow peas , sunflowers, soybeans , lab lab are what we plant for spring /summer plots. i do have a perennial clover plot thats been regenerating the last few years........fall is a whole other type of planting we plant a mix of grain rye, oats and over seed with sugar beets, radish,rape,chicory and sometimes throw in some clover they seem to get used until we plant our summer plots.........
I own 80 acres aside from our 1700 acre lease and yes you will see more deer if you plant and manage your small peice of land as best you can.remember security cover,water and food....and the number one thing.... stay out when your not hunting or working the land, hunt smart and you'll do fine...

Peas, sunflowers, hemp and corn. If you make your property more attractive then deer will come.

Since I've started doing summer plots my deer usage on my 40 acres has gone up majorly.

I've had great luck with RR soybeans.

So..when do I need to start getting ready to plant this spring? I need to lime but cant get the buggy to most of my little fields..id I buy the small peletized lime will it work and do I need to break the ground first then add it? last year was the 1st year I had this lease and am wanting to try and keep and attract more deer

I plant pea's,sunnhemp,buckwheat,milo,sunflowers and i'm going to try some corn for a screen. I normally use EW, but thought i would try corn this year. I don't have to spray, my plots in the summer, because i don't disturb the soil, prior to planting. I spray, then sew and mow.

Sure the pelleted lime will work, and like powdered lime the quicker you can get it in the ground the better. If you are planting early spring you can just broadcast it at that time and lightly disc it in. Shop around on prices, they vary a lot.

I wouldn't use corn for a screen blum. When the ears mature and dry out the deer will be in it heavily breaking and trampling it down.

To the OP......I'd look at getting the soil right and planting Durana clover this fall along with your normal fall plot.