Wildlife Beyond Deer: Attracting and Supporting Turkeys, Small Game, & Pollinators via Fall Plot Design
Hunters and land managers know that a successful food plot does more than just attract whitetails — it shapes the entire ecosystem. A well-designed fall plot can become a magnet not only for deer but also for wild turkeys, rabbits, quail, and even pollinators like bees and butterflies. By diversifying your fall planting strategy, you can boost wildlife activity on your property all season long, enhance habitat quality, and improve hunting opportunities across multiple species.
At DeerGro, we believe in creating healthier, more productive soils that support all forms of wildlife. Our products — PlotStart and PlotBoost — help establish stronger root systems and nutrient-rich plants that benefit everything from big game to the smallest pollinator. In this article, we’ll explore how to design your fall plots to attract a variety of wildlife, the best seed mixes to support multiple species, and how soil health is the foundation for lasting success.
Designing Fall Plots for More Than Deer
When most hunters think of fall plots, they picture brassicas and cereal grains designed to hold deer through late season. But when you tailor your design to include plant diversity, you create a richer food web that supports birds, small mammals, and pollinators long before the rut.
The key is layering plant types — combining cool-season annuals like oats, wheat, and brassicas with perennials like clover or chicory. This not only extends forage availability into spring but also provides structure and cover for other species:
- Turkeys benefit from small-seed forages like clover and wheat, which attract insects during the brood-rearing period.
- Pollinators rely on flowering species that offer late-season nectar, like clover or native wildflowers planted along plot borders.
A diverse plot layout — a mix of open feeding zones and taller, protective edge cover — supports a balanced ecosystem while enhancing your property's year-round appeal.
The Role of Soil Health: Building a Foundation for Wildlife Diversity
Every successful wildlife plot starts with the soil. Healthy, biologically active soil fuels stronger plants, richer forage, and more robust wildlife populations. DeerGro’s PlotStart jumpstarts that process by unlocking bound nutrients and improving soil pH without heavy lime applications. This fast-acting liquid formula helps seeds establish quickly, ensuring early germination and uniform stands.
Once plants are established, PlotBoost enhances nutrient uptake, promoting thicker leaf growth, higher sugar levels, and greater forage digestibility. These improvements don’t just benefit deer — they translate into better insect populations for turkeys, denser cover for small game, and more flowering for pollinators. In short, improving your soil with DeerGro doesn’t just grow bigger deer — it grows a healthier ecosystem.
Selecting the Right Seed Mixes for Multi-Species Attraction
Designing a fall plot that attracts more than deer means thinking beyond single-species mixes. Consider these blend ideas based on your goals:
- Deer & Turkey: Combine oats, winter wheat, crimson clover, and radish. The grains attract turkeys for seeds and insects, while deer feast on the lush greens.
- Deer & Small Game: Add in a mix of clover, chicory, and brassicas near edge habitat. The low cover gives rabbits and quail concealment while offering nutrient-rich forage.
- Deer & Pollinators: Integrate perennial clovers or a wildflower strip around your main fall plot. These flowering edges extend the bloom season, helping bees and butterflies while creating soft transitions for deer movement.
Pairing these blends with PlotStart at planting and applying a PlotBoost foliar spray mid-season maximizes growth potential and keeps your plots vibrant deep into fall and early winter.
Real-World Success: Diversity That Pays Off
Across many properties, land managers have observed how a few thoughtful changes can dramatically expand the wildlife value of their fall plots. In one case, adding clover strips and applying PlotStart before seeding improved soil conditions and plant diversity, which in turn attracted more insect activity. The result was a noticeable increase in turkey use throughout the fall while deer continued to frequent the same areas.
In another example, integrating chicory and wheat into a brassica mix and using PlotBoost mid-season led to thicker, healthier stands that remained productive late into the year. The combination of varied plant structure and denser growth also created ideal edge habitat for quail and other small game species.
Together, these examples demonstrate how improving soil health and increasing plant diversity can elevate a deer-focused plot into a multi-species habitat, supporting a wider range of wildlife while maintaining strong forage quality for deer.
Maintenance Tips for Long-Term Success
To keep your multi-species plots thriving year after year, follow a few simple steps
- Soil Testing: Conduct a soil test each season and apply PlotStart accordingly to maintain proper nutrient balance.
- Rotate Crops: Rotate annuals and perennials to reduce pest buildup and promote soil recovery.
- Mow Strategically: For clover or perennial areas, mow lightly after peak bloom to encourage regrowth and maintain tender forage.
- Edge Management: Maintain native grasses or shrub lines around your plots to provide nesting and cover for small game and pollinators.
Conclusion
Creating wildlife diversity starts beneath the surface — with healthy soil and intentional design. By using DeerGro’s PlotStart and PlotBoost, you can build fall plots that attract not only deer but also turkeys, small game, and pollinators. A balanced mix of plant species, thoughtful layout, and good soil management ensures your property supports wildlife all year long — enhancing your hunting, conservation, and land stewardship goals.
Visit DeerGro.com today to explore products that help you grow better soil, stronger plots, and a more vibrant ecosystem for every species that calls your land home.