How to Plant Food Plots for Turkeys

Tips, tactics, and products to make your turkey plots a success.

Planting food plots for turkeys might seem intimidating, but it isn’t. Those who use the right tips, tactics, and products can maximize their turkey food plot success. Here’s how to plant food plots for turkeys, with some food plot seed recommendations to consider.

Choose the Right Food Plot Species

Choosing the right food plot species for turkeys is an important step in the process. That said, knowing what turkeys eat assists in choosing the right seed to sow.

Turkeys, like most wildlife, eat a wide variety of things. Most of these are found naturally in a turkey’s environment. Of course, turkeys love bugs. Insects of all kinds are great. Green foods are important, too. Hard and soft masts are on the menu, too. In ag country, turkeys love picking across a good cut corn, soybean, wheat, or other crop field. Cattle pastures are especially attractive, because birds love flipping the cow pies to see what bugs, seeds, and other tasty morsels lie underneath.

That said, those who choose to plant food plots specifically for turkeys, or at least choose deer food plot species turkeys also benefit from, can immediately elevate their land. It will attract more turkeys, potentially increase survival rates, and otherwise help these birds to flourish.

Some of the best options that I’ve planted, hunted over, and otherwise know about include alfalfa, buckwheat, cereal rye, chufa, clover, Korean lespedeza, millet, milo, oats, soybeans, winter wheat, and more.

Buy Reliable Food Plot Seed

It’s important to know that all food plots are not created equal. Oftentimes, certain offerings have low germination rates. A good rule of thumb — if the seed is really cheap, it usually has lower odds of performing well. “You get what you pay for” certainly applies to food plot seed bags.

Fortunately, food plotters have some excellent offerings to choose from. Whitetail Institute’s Alfa-Rack Plus, Imperial Whitetail Fusion, Imperial Whitetail Super Slam, Turkey Select Chufa, and other selections, are great food plot choices to consider.

Of course, chufa is all the rage for turkeys. That said, turkeys target the tubers (nut-like morsels) in fall, winter, and early spring. Thus, it’s great for holding birds during the harsher months, but doesn’t guarantee use during the spring hunting seasons.

Because of this, consider planting chufa in some areas, and other options in others. Provide great options turkeys are likely to target in spring, such as when you’re hunting, when gobblers need replenishment, and while hens are nesting. Also, plant things that peak in summer, when hens are brooding, and gobblers are recouping for the turkey “rut.”

According to most sources and opinions, chufa grows well wherever corn thrives. That varies a bit but serves as a good rule of thumb for most situations. The same is true for many other turkey food plot species.

Regardless of where you source food plot seed, ensure you buy from reputable brands (https://whitetailinstitute.com), whether those be local, regional, or national. Do that, and germination rates should be higher.

Select the Right Food Plot Location

Selecting the right location is a critical part of food plotting for turkeys. It’s important to think about current turkey activity patterns, roosting locations, feeding areas, and travel routes. Plant food plots in spots that turkeys already travel close to, and you’ll see better results. That said, if you need to “pull” turkeys to new areas, food plots can assist with that, but will have less of an impact if located further from existing turkey hotspots.

Generally, it’s good to plant food plots in different areas to benefit from the cyclical patterns they traverse throughout the day. For example, a plot closer to roosting areas might see action early morning and late afternoon. One that’s further, and maybe close to destination food sources (i.e.: ag fields, pastures, oak flats, etc.) might see peak use from mid-morning to mid-afternoon. Plant food plots in different areas to create various spots to hunt throughout the day.

When planting food plots, factor in other turkey needs, too. Consider the roosting, feeding, watering, and security cover needed to help turkeys thrive. For example, consider planting food plots adjacent to a field of native grasses, where hens might nest and brood. Plant near roost trees, and along waterways, so turkeys don’t have to travel long distances between important needs.

Follow Proper Food Plot Protocol

Finally, the basics of planting a food plot for turkeys is no different than planting plots for deer. Choose the right site. Conduct soil tests. Prep the seedbed. Apply lime and fertilizer as called for. Kill weeds pre- and post-emergence as needed. Sow seed at the optimal time (in regard to time of year and incoming rainfall). Plant at the right depth for the seed. Continue protecting, feeding, and otherwise maintaining the plot as required. Do these things, and you’ll have successful turkey plots in no time.

Photos by Honeycutt Creative