Alfalfa Plots
Alfalfa is the protein king of forage - the crop dairy farms are built on - and the most demanding common plot: deep well-drained soil, high pH, real management, spectacular draw.
Nothing grows more protein per acre than alfalfa, and in farm country a lush alfalfa field is a deer magnet of the first order. It is also the food plot with a syllabus: it demands deep, well-drained soil at pH 6.5-7.0, hates wet feet, wants cutting or mowing management, and punishes shortcuts - the advanced course that repays its tuition where conditions allow.
Why deer love it
Up to 30% protein and tonnage no other perennial matches - summer nutrition that grows antlers and milk, drawing deer from remarkable distances in ag country.
When & how to plant
Spring (with weed vigilance) or late summer (cleaner); firm seedbed, shallow seeding (1/4"), inoculated seed. Establishment year is the fight; established stands last 4-7 years.
Soil & pH
The gatekeeper: deep, WELL-DRAINED soil, pH 6.5-7.0 non-negotiable, real P&K fertility per test. Heavy wet clay = choose clover instead, full stop.
Maintenance
Mow/cut 2-3 times a season (or partner with a farmer who hays it - the classic arrangement), watch alfalfa weevil, and re-test soil annually. This is farming.
When it draws best
All growing season, especially mid-late summer when native forage browns off - the velvet-antler months where alfalfa properties shine on camera.
Common mistakes
- Planting into wet or acid ground (guaranteed failure)
- No management after seeding
- Choosing it for a 1/4-acre woods plot where clover would thrive - alfalfa is an open-ground, real-acreage crop
🌦️ Planting dates and varieties shift with your zone and rainfall - your county extension office gives free localized advice and cheap soil tests. Also note: rules on hunting over planted plots vs 'baiting' differ by state - plots are legal most places, bait often isn't; confirm your regulations. We don't give legal advice.