Spring Food Plot Strategies to Attract Big Bucks This Fall

When it comes to getting a jumpstart on your deer season, few things are more valuable than a spring food plot—especially one designed to pull big bucks out of thick bedding cover and into daylight. On a Kansas farm this April, we kicked off our 2025 planting with a clover-and-chicory kill plot aimed squarely at early season success.

Here’s how we built it, why we chose this spot, and what you can learn for your own food plot setup this spring.

Why a Spring Food Plot?

Spring planting gives your forage a strong head start. Clover, in particular, thrives in cool-season conditions and is an excellent perennial base for a variety of wildlife—especially whitetails and turkeys.

This plot is specifically designed to:

• Attract early-season bucks as they shift out of winter patterns
  
  

• Provide a lush, high-protein food source for does and fawns
  
  

• Keep deer on the property long enough to pattern them
  
  

• Offer a turkey strut zone during spring season
  
  

The Plot Location: Bedding to Feed

This small plot is tucked in a corner just above a thick bedding area made up of oaks and cedars. Bucks have historically used this ridge, and by planting just above it, we’re setting the stage for close-range action during south wind sits.

The deer can move from the bedding to this clover plot, then continue into nearby ag fields after dark. It’s a classic funnel-style setup with a close-range food source to create natural daylight movement.

Step-by-Step: Clover Plot Planting Process

Whether you're planting a half-acre honey hole or a tucked-away quarter-acre clearing, following a proven process can mean the difference between a lush clover patch and a patchy disappointment. Here’s how we built this Kansas plot from the ground up—and how you can do the same.

1. Prep the Ground

The first step is breaking up the soil. For this plot, we came in with a tiller two weeks ahead of planting and loosened the dirt across the entire area. Tilling helps aerate the soil and gives your seed a better shot at establishing strong roots.

Why wait two weeks? Letting the soil sit allows rain and natural compaction to settle the “fluff” created by tilling. That way, your clover seed doesn’t drop too deep and fail to germinate. You’re aiming for a firm, shallow seedbed—think seed-to-soil contact, not seed-to-soil burial.

2. First Cultipack

Once the soil had time to settle, we brought in the cultipacker. This piece of equipment firms up the soil, pressing down air pockets and lightly compacting the surface to create an ideal seedbed.

This step is critical for small-seeded crops like clover. Broadcasting onto soft, fluffy ground causes the seed to sink too deep, where it struggles to germinate or fails entirely. Cultipacking gives your seed the right conditions to sit near the surface where light, moisture, and warmth can do their job.

3. Seed the Plot

We used a mix of several clover varieties with a little chicory added in. This blend offers diversity in texture, growth timing, and nutrient content—perfect for keeping deer interested and fed through multiple stages of the season.

Our plot measured 0.30 acres, and we pre-measured the exact amount of seed needed to avoid over- or under-seeding. We used a battery-powered handheld broadcaster for even distribution. It’s light, precise, and simple to operate—just make sure the batteries are fresh. (We learned that the hard way.)

Pro Tip: Start with a smaller seed door opening. If you don’t lay down enough on the first pass, you can always walk it again. You can’t un-spread seed if you blow it all out in the first 30 feet.

4. Final Cultipack

With seed on the ground, we came back for one more cultipack pass. This step presses the clover just slightly into the soil—exactly where it wants to be. You’re not trying to bury it, just ensure that it has solid contact with the dirt.

One trick: If your first pass was east-to-west, do the final cultipacking north-to-south. This helps you track coverage and make sure no spots are missed. The intersecting lines also add extra firmness across the plot.

Quick Tips for Food Plot Success

Whether you're planting your first plot or fine-tuning a system that’s worked for years, these best practices make a difference:

Soil Test First

A simple soil test can tell you exactly what amendments (lime, phosphorus, potassium) your plot needs for optimal growth. Skipping this step is like building a house without checking the foundation.

Time It Right

Clover loves cool temps and moist soil. Look for multiple days of rain in the forecast and plant just ahead of it. This gives your seeds the best possible germination window.

Bring a Backup Seeder

Technology is great… until it’s not. Always have a manual hand-crank seeder in your truck or gear bag. It’s lightweight and reliable, especially when batteries die or electronics fail.

Seed Depth Matters

Clover seeds are tiny. They should sit just below the surface, not buried. Deep seed equals poor growth, so pay attention to your soil texture and packing process.

Why Clover?

If you’re only planting one food plot this spring, make it clover. It’s one of the most versatile and whitetail-friendly food plot species you can grow.

• ✅ Grows early in the season and stays lush well into fall

• ✅ High in protein, supporting antler growth and fawn development

• ✅ Thrives in part-shade or edge plots where other crops may fail

• ✅ Attracts deer in both spring and fall, offering year-round value

We’ve seen clover stay green in Kansas into late November, providing critical food when other green sources have dried up or been harvested. That late-season value turns a simple clover plot into a potential rut and post-rut hotspot, especially near thick bedding cover.

Final Thoughts: Set It, Fertilize It, Pray for Rain

This food plot is now seeded, packed, and ready for the good Lord to do the rest. We’ll fertilize it in the coming days and keep an eye on growth as the spring rains roll in.

With a little luck, this corner of Kansas will hold a shooter buck this fall—and if he walks into this clover under a Code of Silence camo hoodie, you’ll be the first to hear about it.

Stay silent. Stay ready. Stay lethal.

Follow along on the Code of Silence YouTube Channel for food plot how-tos, whitetail tips, and proven gear built to blend into your world.
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