I manage a small property where I plant food plots every year, both for hunting and for the satisfaction of watching deer use them. Seed quality, mix design, and planting prep matter more than acreage. Here are the five food plot mixes I would buy and plant in 2026.
| Mix | Plant Type | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover | Perennial clover | Multi-year plots |
| BioLogic Maximum | Brassicas and clover | Fall hunting |
| Antler King No Sweat No Till | No-till mix | Beginner plots |
| Real World No-Till | Brassicas and grain | Small acreage |
| Frigid Forage Big-N-Beasty | Brassicas | Late-season draw |
Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover
Imperial Clover is the plot I keep coming back to. Plant it once and it produces for three to five years with proper mowing and fertilization. Deer hit it year-round, and turkey use it too. The seed is coated for better germination, and the per-acre cost is reasonable once you spread it over the life of the plot.
BioLogic Maximum
For fall hunting plots, BioLogic Maximum is the mix I use most. It is a blend of brassicas (turnips, radishes, rape) and clover that grows fast through late summer and peaks during bow season. After the first hard frost the brassicas sweeten and deer pile in.
Antler King No Sweat No Till
If you do not have a tractor or a tiller, the Antler King No Sweat No Till mix is the one I recommend. Designed to be sprayed, raked, and seeded over a kill zone of weeds. Mix includes brassicas, clover, and grains. Germination is honest, not magical, but it works.
Real World No-Till
Real World makes a no-till brassica and grain mix that performs well on small plots where heavy equipment is impractical. Slightly pricier than Antler King, but the seed quality is noticeably better and germination rates have been higher in my plots.
Frigid Forage Big-N-Beasty
For late-season draw, Frigid Forage Big-N-Beasty is heavy on brassicas designed to hold deer through December and January. Plant in mid-summer, watch growth take off in fall, and the brassicas pull in deer once snow covers other food sources.
What Matters Most
Soil test matters most. A 20-dollar soil test tells you pH, phosphorus, and potassium, which determine whether your plot grows or fails. Lime application matters if your pH is acidic. Mix selection matters next, since the right mix for your zone and goal matters more than brand. Planting timing matters last, because perfectly timed bad seed beats poorly timed great seed.
My Setup
I plant two main plots each year: a fall brassica plot for hunting season, and a perennial clover plot that produces year after year. The brassica plot gets fresh seed annually. The clover plot gets a light spring fertilization, an early-summer mow, and otherwise gets left alone. Total prep time is maybe four weekends across the year.
Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake is planting too small. A quarter-acre is the floor, and even that gets browsed down in heavy deer country. The second mistake is skipping the soil test and planting on acidic soil, which gives you weeds instead of food. The third is planting at the wrong time, since brassicas planted too early bolt to seed before season.
Final Recommendation
For perennial low-maintenance plots, Whitetail Institute Imperial Clover is the seed I would buy. For peak fall hunting, BioLogic Maximum or Frigid Forage Big-N-Beasty are the right picks. For no-till small plots without equipment, Antler King or Real World no-till mixes are the most forgiving. Pick the mix that fits your equipment and goals, not the loudest marketing.
Frequently asked questions
How big of a food plot do I need?+
A quarter acre is the practical minimum for deer. Smaller plots get browsed down to dirt in days. Half-acre to one-acre plots hold up better through the season and feed more animals.
When is the best time to plant a food plot?+
Fall plots go in late summer (August in most northern zones) for hunting season hold. Spring plots go in April or May for summer growth. The exact week depends on your zone, soil temperature, and the specific seed mix.