DIY Land Management

If you’ve planted food plots for whitetails for any length of time, you’ve faced this dilemma: The calendar says you should plant but it’s bone dry. What should you do?

Modest finances and some grit can drastically improve the deer hunting on even a small acreage. Here’s how the author and his wife boosted their small property’s deer appeal in a few months last year.

Here are the most common traps — and how to avoid them.

The author has planted Evolved food plot seed in western Wisconsin for two consecutive years. Growing conditions were less than ideal in 2024, and it was a repeat in 2025. Thankfully, the results were better than expected.

Late-winter is the perfect time for building, maintaining and improving whitetail bedding areas, and on some properties a technique called “hinge-cutting” works well.

During fall 2025, the author and his hunting partners field tested five annual seed blends from Mossy Oak BioLogic on three of their western Wisconsin food plots.

The author and his family test three blends from Magnet Outdoors on a few of their Wisconsin food plots.

The author has been building and maintaining food plots for 30 years, but he made two big blunders in 2025.

Landowners in snow country can make life easier on winter whitetails by using a tractor to plow away deep snow from food plots.

Magnet Outdoors enters the food plot arena as a new company, but its leadership team goes back to the very beginning of the industry.

The EHD-fense Water Treatment Kit has just been announced, and aquatic biologists say it will protect deer from EHD.

Clover is an excellent choice for whitetail food plots across the country, but they can be made even better by adding chicory.

During late summer 2024 in western Wisconsin, the author planted three food plot blends from Evolved. How did they grow, and did the local whitetails target these green fields?

The acquisition of new hunting territories can be a daunting task. Indeed, it often takes savvy, perseverance and even a little luck to acquire sufficient land to hunt predators.

Landowners can greatly improve their whitetail property by building bedding areas in strategic locations.

Habitat consultant Jason Say offers five proven tips for getting the most out of your frost seeding efforts.

Late winter and early spring is prime time for frost seeding clover, and the best news is you need almost no equipment for the task.

Even with timely rains, a food plot often comes in too sparse, even though you planted at the recommended seeding rate. You probably made a common — but rarely discussed — mistake.

Fall food plots are planted in late-summer, and whitetails will begin targeting them a month or two later — during deer season!

It’s a big decision to lease or purchase hunting property, and there’s more to consider than the annual cost.

Land Holdings north of Lolo Creek in western Montana are now forever protected and secured for public use.

You don’t have to wait for snow to melt before spreading clover seed on food plots. Here’s how to get a jumpstart on spring food plot chores.

A Wisconsin deer hunter compares the results of planting brassicas on two food plots — one disked vs. one where the soil wasn’t disturbed. The results might surprise you.

Conducting a small and safe prescribed fire can help you improve deer habitat within shooting range of your treestand.

When time is tight, is it possible to spray, fertilize and plant a food plot all in a single day and still experience success?

On properties big and small, whitetails must have food and cover to survive, and a lack of hunting pressure will help them feel comfortable. Here’s how to get started on your land.

Create a whitetail feed and forage plan with each season in mind, and then set the table for the deer on your property.

A detailed look at which brassicas are best during various times of the season and under different conditions.

Protein-packed Antler King Sugar Beets draw in deer during the prime hunting periods of fall and winter.

A cultipacker is often discussed when DIY land managers talk about planting food plots. Do you really need to purchase one?