Food plots are they ruining your hunting? Becky asked Mike and Karl about foodplots hunting them locations on where and when to hunt them. Do we think they are ruining your hunt? Heck ya we think so here is why.

The consensus among many seasoned hunters is that while food plots are excellent for habitat and herd health, hunting them incorrectly or too often can absolutely ruin your hunting opportunities by educating deer to avoid the area during daylight hours. The key issue is not the food plot itself, but the hunting pressure and access/exit strategies surrounding it.

Here is a breakdown of why food plots can seem to ruin your hunt, and the general locations and times recommended for hunting them effectively:

Why Food Plots Can Ruin Your Hunt

Educating Deer: The biggest problem is overhunting, which quickly teaches mature bucks to only visit the plots after dark. Deer are highly sensitive to human presence (scent, sight, sound) and will adapt their movement patterns to avoid danger.

Poor Access Routes: If your entry and exit routes to the stand cross through staging areas or bedding cover, you will spook deer before you even settle in, making the entire area unproductive. Unrealistic Expectations: Many hunters expect deer to appear in daylight simply because a plot exists. If the plot lacks adequate nearby cover, or is in a high-pressure area, deer will not feel secure enough to use it during the day.

Focus on the Wrong Time/Location: Hunting destination plots (large, primary food sources) is often ineffective for mature bucks, who prefer to use staging areas just inside cover before committing to the open plot at dark.

Locations and When to Hunt Them

Instead of hunting directly over the main food source, experts like Mike and Karl (implied from the user's prompt context and general hunting advice) advocate for a more strategic approach: Hunt Staging Areas: The most consistent success for mature bucks is found in transition areas or "staging areas" between bedding cover and the main food plot. Set up stands in these locations (often 50-100 yards away from the plot itself) where bucks feel safer during daylight hours. Use "Sanctuary" Plots: Designate certain high-quality plots as sanctuaries where you never hunt. This gives the deer a safe place to feed, encouraging consistent use of your property. Plan Access First: Only place stands where you can access them without being detected by deer. Access and exit routes should be planned based on prevailing winds and terrain to remain scent-free and out of sight.

Match Plot Type to Season: Early Season:

Small staging plots near bedding areas are highly effective. The Rut: Focus shifts to doe bedding areas and travel corridors, with food plots being effective during specific conditions or in conjunction with these other areas. Late Season: Large, nutritious destination plots (like standing grains or brassicas) become more valuable as other food sources diminish.

Hunt Sparingly: Hunt premier food plot locations only a maximum of one or two times per season, and only when conditions are perfect (e.g., the right wind, just before a weather front). Ultimately, food plots are a powerful tool for habitat management, but success in hunting them depends heavily on managing hunting pressure and employing smart, strategic positioning away from the main food source to ambush deer in more secure, natural movement areas.

Mike and Karl, hosts of The Obsession Podcast, have discussed how fog can influence deer movement, noting that the condition of the fog—its density and duration—plays a role in hunting success. They and other hunters have observed both positive and negative scenarios for buck movement depending on the fog's characteristics. Findings on Fog and Deer Movement Here is a summary of the points discussed by Mike and Karl, supported by general hunting consensus: Positive Scenarios (Good Fog): Increased Sense of Security: Many hunters, including those sharing opinions on Facebook, believe deer feel safer and more likely to move in the fog due to reduced visibility, which they use to their advantage. Delayed Morning Movement: Deer may move later into the morning, especially as the fog begins to lift or "burn off," providing opportunities for hunters who stay in their stands longer. Enhanced Scenting Conditions: The high humidity and dampness associated with fog can increase a deer's ability to smell, potentially making them move more cautiously but also providing advantages to a hunter who manages their wind effectively. Negative Scenarios (Bad Fog): Extremely Diminished Visibility: Very dense fog significantly limits a hunter's visibility, making it difficult to spot or take a clean shot at a distance, which can decrease confidence. Secretive Behavior: Some research suggests that whitetails become more secretive and movement can be minimal during periods of dense, unsettled weather associated with low-pressure fronts that bring fog. Scent Pooling: The dense air in foggy conditions can cause scent to "pancake" or hug the ground, making wind direction crucial and increasing the risk of a deer smelling the hunter and spooking. Summary of Best Practices Based on their experiences and documented findings, the guys suggest: Stay in the stand longer, past first light, as movement may occur later in the morning. Be meticulous with scent control and pay strict attention to wind direction, as scent behaves differently in dense, humid air. Set up in locations where you anticipate deer movement once the fog begins to clear, such as field edges or transition areas, as movement often increases right after the fog lifts. What specific type of terrain do you typically hunt in when faced with foggy conditions, and would you like some tips for setting up in that environment?

2025 end of year discussion the good and the bad from this season things we learned, and some things we want to forget! Karl and Mike discuss the season. We also hit on a couple of your questions and thank you all for watching this season. We share the success from many of our listeners. Happy New year to all of you, and as always we appreciate each of you. Thanks for watching.