I have lived in Snyder Texas for the last fiftenn years and finally got two huge sctions of land to hunt this year. I want to spen the following off-season preparing a small section of maybe two or three acres, of a good food plot in order to bring more deer in and increase the size of both bucks and does. I have never managed any game and have only been a free range hunter. We get very little rainfall here in Snyder therfore I need to find a food source that will grow good in this climate. The land owner is going to allow me to work some areas in this off season to prepare the land and my main goal is to prepare a spot to take some of the less fortunate kids from this area to a place where there success rate of getting a good buc will be better. I enjoy hunting but my main concern is for my nephews and some less fortunate children from this area. I have been watching many hunting shows and the Bucks of Tecomate are very impressive in size and growth. I’m willing to put forth great effort in reaching my goals for the kids but my funding for the project is going to be tight with todays economy plus I will be doing all the labor myself and with some help from my wife. I think my best bet is to plant a good food plot and place some feeders in the area. We have lots of deer in the area but most are small in stature with small racks. I have been bless to have aquired this lease at no cost and need some advice from hunters with more experience in the land managing process. I’m a good Christian person who love nature and want to share my blessing of having good property to hunt with children and people who have not been as lucky. I will not be able to afford to have a consultant come assist but I would apreciate and advice from the forums and professioanal of Tecomate. Any advice would be appreciated and may God Bless all hunters and their families.

I have some property near Childress so we get about the same amount of rain as you.  I had TPW Biologist out a couple of years ago, and the main item they stated was try to avoid specialty seeds like mixtures of clover, wheat, etc. as the lack of rain will hinder their growth.  The seeds I would recommend would be wheat and oats in the fall, and sunflowers or millet in the spring.  I pick some years to just plant in the fall because it is really hard in dry summers to get anything to grow. Spring/summer plots will be harder to grow because it gets really hot really fast, but I have found sunflowers do pretty good.  Yes, deer like sunflowers and you will also get doves and turkey as well as other birds.  Your plan for bringing kids is great, and the more wildlife they can watch and see makes being in the outdoors more exciting. No matter what you plant, rain will be key for them to grow, even if it is a little bit.  Try to time your planting to have rain/cooler weather within several days after planting.  I normally turn the soil in Feb./march and just leave the dirt.  You will get weed growth which they like, plant summer seeds in march/April.  If you want to do just fall planting, I’ll turn the dirt again in Sept. and plant in Oct. Hope this helps.