What is the best early season food plot?
For September-October hunting, perennial clover is the most reliable early-season food plot. It greens up early, pulls does and family groups consistently, and bucks shadow doe groups onto it during pre-rut. A clover field next to a bedding area produces evening hunts from opening day through the first frost.
Soybeans (where they fit your rotation) are also excellent early-season pull — green soybean leaves are highly palatable through August and September. They lose draw once they yellow and dry, which is when brassicas and clover take over.
If your property has none of the above, a fall-planted oat plot germinates in 7-10 days and produces a quick green draw through October. State crop calendars time the planting; variety reviews pick the cultivar.