Food plots · Habitat · Land management
Build better food plots. Manage better habitat.
Wildlife Management & Food Plot Equipment
Seeders, drills, harrows, sprayers, mowers and crimpers, matched to the ATV, UTV or tractor you already own (tractors from 30 hp up). Sold and serviced at our Dickson, Clarksville and Columbia stores.
What are you trying to do?
Start with what you drive
ATV / UTV
Small acreage · Tight access · Remote plots
Best for small, remote or wooded plots a tractor can't easily reach.
- Seeder4×4 of 650cc+ that weighs at least 750 lb (Seeder 180: 800cc+ and 900 lb)
- DH140 harrow27 hp+
- Sprayer 70Bolts onto an ATV/UTV, 12 V
- FM130 flail mower25 hp+ 4×4 that weighs at least 882 lb
- Dry material spreader12 V ATV rack, or a 2 in receiver on an ATV, UTV or pickup
- 4 ft roller crimperATV or UTV over 800cc
- G3 no-till drillWith its optional wheel and hydraulic kits: 800cc+ UTV
Tractor
Larger plots · Open ground · More capacity
Best for bigger, open fields with a 3-point hitch.
- G-Series no-till drill30–120 hp, Cat 1/2 3-point
- M-Series min-till drill30–40 hp, Cat 1/2 3-point
- Row planterCat 1 3-point
- 6, 8 and 10 ft roller crimpers30–50 hp
- SeederAlso hitches to a Cat 1 3-point
- DH140 harrowAlso hitches to a Cat 1 3-point
Not sure what fits? Tell us your ATV, UTV or tractor model and how many acres you're managing. We'll help match the equipment.
You don't need a 10-acre field.
UT Extension says a food plot meant for hunting deer can be under half an acre, and UT researchers say several smaller, well-spread plots may reach more deer in spring and summer than a few large ones. That's where ATV-sized equipment earns its keep.
Source: UT Extension, Landowners' Guide to Wildlife Food Plots (PB1874) (opens in a new tab)
The process
From bare ground to a planted plot: the steps and the tools
Six stages, in order, with the machines that do each job. Dates for Middle Tennessee are in the planting calendar below.
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Step 1: Test & prep
Test the soil, then lime and fertilize.
UT Extension recommends sampling 6 inches deep, mixing 10 to 20 cores into each sample, and retesting every two to three years. Your county Extension office takes samples.
Lime takes about 5 to 6 months to work fully, so lime about six months ahead: in fall for spring plots, in spring for fall plots. Spread on the surface, it still works.
Pelletized lime can be spread with an electric hitch-mounted spreader, but bulk ag lime needs a heavier chain-driven or drop spreader (Alabama Extension).
Machines for this
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Step 2: Clear
Knock down what's growing.
Mow tall growth, spray the regrowth with a burndown herbicide (always read and follow the label), and let it die before you work or plant the ground. UT says that usually takes one to two weeks after a glyphosate spray.
Machines for this
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Step 3: Prep or go no-till
Till a seedbed, or plant no-till.
Tilled
Work the ground into a clean, smooth, firm seedbed. That matters most for small seeds like clover; big seeds like soybeans and cowpeas handle a coarser bed if they're covered about an inch.
Machines for this
No-till
Plant straight into the sprayed-down residue. A Mississippi State Extension guide written with UT's Craig Harper points to fewer tractor passes, less erosion and better soil moisture: bare soil can top 130°F in summer, while a layer of residue keeps it cooler. The trade-off is that lime and fertilizer are harder to work in.
Machine for this
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Alternate path Replaces Step 2's burndown and Step 3's tillage
Or skip the spray: cover crop and roller crimper.
Grow a cover crop such as cereal rye and roll it down with a roller crimper into a mulch mat that holds moisture and shades out weeds, then plant straight through it. USDA researchers in Auburn, Alabama found that rolled rye dries into a mat within about three weeks.
Timing matters: crimp small grains from flowering (yellow pollen on most heads) to the soft-dough stage. Too early and the rye can survive; too late and it can drop seed into your next planting.
A crimper won't kill perennial grasses like bermudagrass, johnsongrass or tall fescue, so those need a burndown spray first.
Machine for this
Then continue at Step 4: plant.
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Step 4: Plant
Plant at the right depth.
UT's food plot guide (PB1874) (opens in a new tab) says planting too deep is a common reason plots fail: cover clover and other small seeds no more than 1/4 inch, and plant big seeds such as soybeans, peas, corn and sunflowers about 1 inch deep (UT's seeding guide, PB378 (opens in a new tab), allows 1 to 2 inches for soybeans and sunflowers).
Drilling is the most efficient method: seed goes in at the right depth and more of it survives, so UT says drilled seeding rates can be cut by about 25 percent compared with broadcasting.
Machines for this
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Step 5: Firm
Firm the seed into the soil.
When you broadcast small seeds like clover or brassicas, a National Deer Association article recommends rolling (cultipacking) the seedbed before and after seeding for good seed-to-soil contact. For grains and other big seeds, one pass after seeding is enough.
Our drills and seeder firm the seed as they go.
Machines for this
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Step 6: Maintain
Control weeds and keep perennial plots productive.
Weeds are easiest to kill while they're young. In cool-season plots, UT recommends controlling cool-season weeds from fall through mid-winter: a grass-selective herbicide for grass weeds in clover, and a broadleaf-selective one for broadleaf weeds in grain plots, always per the label. UT researchers typically treat perennial clover plots twice a year, in spring and fall.
Go easy on the mower: in UT research, mowing a clover and alfalfa plot every three to four weeks didn't reduce weed cover, and trail cameras logged 53 percent fewer deer detections in the mowed sections. They suggest one mowing a year, in late summer, before the fall herbicide.
Machines for this
Middle Tennessee calendar
When to plant food plots in Middle Tennessee
Show the planting windows as a table
| Crop | Planting window |
|---|---|
| Crimson, arrowleaf, red and white (ladino) clover | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Red, white (ladino) and alsike clover, late-winter seeding | Feb 15 – Apr 1 |
| Forage rape and turnips | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Cereal rye, oats, Austrian winter peas | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Wheat for forage | Aug 15 – Nov 1 (September if you want fall forage) |
| Forage soybeans | May 1 – June 15 |
| Cowpeas | Apr 15 – July 1 |
| American jointvetch | Apr 15 – June 15 |
| Sunflowers | Apr 15 – May 15 |
- The seeding guide allows rape and turnips until Oct 1, but for deer plots UT's food plot guide suggests planting brassicas (rape, turnips, radishes) in late August to early September in USDA hardiness zones 6 and 7, ahead of clovers and grains, so they grow before hard frosts.
- Several annual cool-season forages planted by mid-September will give deer a grazable stand by mid-October, given enough rain (UT).
- Plant into moist soil or just ahead of rain.
Sources UT seeding guide (PB378) (opens in a new tab) UT food plot guide (PB1874) (opens in a new tab)
The machines
For your ATV or UTV
The seeder and harrow also hitch to a Cat 1 3-point.
Faunamaster
Faunamaster ATV/UTV Seeder
Meters small seed like clover and alfalfa as well as big seed like corn and beans, with separate seed and fertilizer hoppers so you fertilize as you plant. A built-in 12-volt actuator raises and lowers it from the seat, using your machine's switch or a Faunamaster wiring kit (ask us). Choose the 7-row Seeder 105 or the 12-row Seeder 180.
- Hooks up to
- 650cc+ 4×4 ATV/UTV (Seeder 180: 800cc+) or Cat 1 3-point
- Width / capacity
- 41 in (7 rows) / 71 in (12 rows)
Faunamaster
Faunamaster DH140 ATV/UTV Harrow
A 55-inch seedbed harrow with four tools on one frame: tines and goose feet loosen the soil, two gangs of notched discs cut and level it, and a spring rake finishes the bed. The tines, goose feet and disc gangs can each be set to work on their own, and a 12-volt actuator sets the working depth (from the seat if your machine has a switch for it, or with a Faunamaster wiring kit).
- Hooks up to
- 27 hp+ ATV/UTV or Cat 1 3-point
- Width / capacity
- 55 in
Faunamaster
Faunamaster Sprayer 70 ATV/UTV Boom Sprayer
A 70-liter (18.5 gal) sprayer that bolts onto your ATV or UTV. The 9.8-foot folding boom swings back on springs when it catches a post or brush, and a 33-foot hose reel with spray gun reaches the spots the boom can't.
- Hooks up to
- Bolts onto an ATV/UTV, 12 V
- Width / capacity
- 70 L (18.5 gal) tank, 9.8 ft boom
Faunamaster
Faunamaster FM130 ATV/UTV Flail Mower
A 51-inch tow-behind flail mower with its own Honda engine, so your ATV only has to pull it. A remote sets cutting height, opens the tailgate and stops the engine without leaving the seat.
- Hooks up to
- 25 hp+ 4×4 ATV/UTV (own Honda engine)
- Width / capacity
- 51 in cut
Wildlife Farming
Wildlife Farming ATV/UTV Electric Dry Material Spreader
A 12-volt broadcast spreader for seed, fertilizer and other dry granular material, with variable speed for a 5- to 45-foot spread. It comes in two versions: one bolts to an ATV's rear rack, the other drops into a 2-inch receiver on an ATV, UTV or pickup.
- Hooks up to
- 12 V ATV (rack version), or ATV, UTV or pickup with a 2 in receiver
- Width / capacity
- 2.2 cu ft, up to 145 lb, 5–45 ft spread
For your tractor's 3-point
The roller crimper also comes as a 4 ft ATV/UTV tow-behind, and the G3 drill can follow an 800cc+ UTV with its optional kits.
PH Outdoors
PH Outdoors G-Series No-Till Drill
A true no-till drill for planting straight into existing cover. Tempered cutting discs on 7.5-inch spacing open the seed slot, solid rubber packing wheels close it, and calibration needs no tools. Four widths, from the 37.5-inch G3 to the 120-inch G10.
- Hooks up to
- 30–120 hp tractor, Cat 1/2 3-point (G3 also behind an 800cc+ UTV with its kits)
- Width / capacity
- 37.5 / 60 / 97.5 / 120 in
PH Outdoors
PH Outdoors M-Series Min-Till Drill
PH Outdoors' entry-level drill, for ground that's in good shape or has been worked beforehand: double-disc coulters on 7.5-inch spacing, a cultipacker-style rear roller and a front bar for suitcase weights when you need more down pressure. Available as the 60-inch M5 and 82-inch M7.
- Hooks up to
- 30–40 hp tractor, Cat 1/2 3-point
- Width / capacity
- 60 / 82 in
Wildlife Farming
Wildlife Farming 3-Point Conventional Row Planter
A ground-driven plate planter (Wildlife Farming 6010 series) for food plots, hobby farms and replanting. With the right plate it plants corn, soybeans, sunflowers and food plot mixes. Comes in 2-row and 4-row; seed plates are sold separately.
- Hooks up to
- Cat 1 3-point
- Width / capacity
- 2 or 4 rows, 1.3 bu hopper per row
PH Outdoors
PH Outdoors Roller Crimper
Rolls and crimps a standing cover crop so it dies back into a mulch mat that holds moisture and shades out weeds, with no herbicide. 6, 8 and 10 ft 3-point models for tractors, plus a 4-foot tow-behind for ATVs and UTVs.
- Hooks up to
- 30–50 hp tractor (3-point) or ATV/UTV over 800cc (4 ft tow-behind)
- Width / capacity
- 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 ft
Who builds them
Three brands built for food plots
PH Outdoors partnered with Faunamaster to add Faunamaster's ATV and UTV implements to its lineup. We carry both, plus Wildlife Farming planters and spreaders, so you can match the tool to the machine you already own.
PH Outdoors
No-till and min-till drills and roller crimpers for planting food plots with little or no tillage.
Shop PH OutdoorsFaunamaster
by PH Outdoors
ATV and UTV seeders, harrows, sprayers and a flail mower, so you can work a plot without a tractor. The seeder and harrow also fit a Cat 1 3-point.
Shop FaunamasterVideo
See it work
How to adjust your Faunamaster seeder Faunamaster · YouTube
Technical details
Specifications at a glance
| Machine | Hooks up to | Width / capacity | Models |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faunamaster ATV/UTV Seeder | 650cc+ 4×4 ATV/UTV (Seeder 180: 800cc+) or Cat 1 3-point | 41 in (7 rows) / 71 in (12 rows) | Seeder 105, Seeder 180 |
| Faunamaster DH140 ATV/UTV Harrow | 27 hp+ ATV/UTV or Cat 1 3-point | 55 in | DH140 |
| Faunamaster Sprayer 70 ATV/UTV Boom Sprayer | Bolts onto an ATV/UTV, 12 V | 70 L (18.5 gal) tank, 9.8 ft boom | Sprayer 70 |
| Faunamaster FM130 ATV/UTV Flail Mower | 25 hp+ 4×4 ATV/UTV (own Honda engine) | 51 in cut | FM130 |
| Wildlife Farming ATV/UTV Electric Dry Material Spreader | 12 V ATV (rack version), or ATV, UTV or pickup with a 2 in receiver | 2.2 cu ft, up to 145 lb, 5–45 ft spread | Rack version, Receiver version |
| PH Outdoors G-Series No-Till Drill | 30–120 hp tractor, Cat 1/2 3-point (G3 also behind an 800cc+ UTV with its kits) | 37.5 / 60 / 97.5 / 120 in | G3, G5, G8, G10 |
| PH Outdoors M-Series Min-Till Drill | 30–40 hp tractor, Cat 1/2 3-point | 60 / 82 in | M5, M7 |
| Wildlife Farming 3-Point Conventional Row Planter | Cat 1 3-point | 2 or 4 rows, 1.3 bu hopper per row | 2-Row, 4-Row |
| PH Outdoors Roller Crimper | 30–50 hp tractor (3-point) or ATV/UTV over 800cc (4 ft tow-behind) | 4 / 6 / 8 / 10 ft | CRIMPER 4, 6, 8, 10 |
What size tractor does each 3-point model need?
| Model | Working width | Recommended tractor | Minimum 3-point lift capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| G3 | 37.5 in | 30 hp | 1,870 lb, 24 in behind the lift eyes |
| G5 | 60 in | 40 hp | 2,400 lb, 24 in behind the lift eyes |
| G8 | 97.5 in | 65 hp | 3,200 lb |
| G10 | 120 in | 120 hp | 5,500 lb, 24 in behind the lift eyes, loaded |
| M5 | 60 in | 30 hp | 1,495 lb, 24 in behind the lift eyes |
| M7 | 82 in | 40 hp | 1,900 lb, 24 in behind the lift eyes |
| CRIMPER 6 | 72 in | 30 hp | 1,200 lb, 24 in behind the lift eye, drum empty |
| CRIMPER 8 | 96 in | 40 hp | 1,500 lb, 24 in behind the lift eye, drum empty |
| CRIMPER 10 | 120 in | 50 hp | 1,800 lb, 24 in behind the lift eye, drum empty |
- Optional wheel kits convert any G-Series drill to pull-type for tractors short on lift. With the wheel kit plus the G3 hydraulic kit, the G3 can be pulled by a UTV of 800cc or more.
- Crimper figures are for an empty drum. The drum can be filled with water for extra crimping weight (about 75 lb per foot; a 6 ft goes from about 1,145 lb to 1,650 lb), so check your lift before you fill it.
- Bring your tractor's make and model to any of our stores and we'll check the fit.
Brochures, manuals and calibration tools
Faunamaster
PH Outdoors
- G-Series Brochure (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- G3 Manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- G5 & G8 Manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- G10 Manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- G-Series Seed Setting Chart (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- M-Series Operator's Manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- M-Series Seed Rate Chart (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Drill Calibration Calculator (web page) (opens in a new tab)
- Roller Crimper User & Parts Manual, 6/8/10 ft (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Wildlife Farming
- 3-Point Row Planter (6010 series) Brochure (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- 3-Point Row Planter (6010 series) Operator's Manual (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Dry Material Spreader Owner's Manual, 2 in receiver version (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
- Dry Material Spreader Owner's Manual, bolt-on version (PDF) (opens in a new tab)
Food plot equipment questions
What equipment do I need to start a food plot?
You need a soil test, a way to kill what's growing now, and a way to get seed into the ground at the right depth. On an ATV or UTV that usually means a sprayer, a spreader or seeder, and a harrow if you'll till. With a tractor, a no-till drill can plant straight into sprayed-down ground without a seedbed.
Machines for this Sprayer 70spreaderseederDH140 harrowG-Series drill
Can I plant a food plot with just an ATV or UTV?
Yes, especially for small, remote or wooded plots. Match the implement to your machine: the Faunamaster Seeder 105 needs a 4×4 ATV or UTV of at least 650cc that weighs at least 750 lb (Seeder 180: 800cc and 900 lb), the DH140 harrow 27 hp or more, the FM130 flail mower a 25 hp+ 4×4 (it has its own engine, so your ATV only tows it), and the 4 ft roller crimper an ATV or UTV over 800cc. With its optional wheel and hydraulic kits, the G3 no-till drill can be pulled by an 800cc+ UTV.
Machines for this seederDH140 harrowFM130 flail mowerroller crimperG-Series drill
What's the difference between a no-till drill and a min-till drill?
A no-till drill like the PH Outdoors G-Series is built to cut through untilled ground and residue, so you can plant straight into a sprayed-down plot. A min-till drill like the M-Series is an entry-level drill for ground that's in good shape or has been worked first. If you don't want to disc, choose the G-Series.
Machines for this G-Series drillM-Series drill
What size tractor do I need for a food plot drill?
Lift capacity matters as much as horsepower. PH Outdoors recommends 30 hp and 1,870 lb of 3-point lift for the 37.5-inch G3, up to 120 hp and 5,500 lb for the 120-inch G10, and 30 hp and 1,495 lb for the 60-inch M5. Optional wheel kits turn any G-Series drill into a pull-type. Bring your tractor's make and model to any of our stores and we'll check the fit.
Machines for this G-Series drillM-Series drill
Do I need to disc before using a no-till drill?
Usually not. Kill the existing vegetation with a burndown herbicide (follow the label), mow first if it's tall, and drill into the residue. Disc only if you want a conventional seedbed.
Machines for this G-Series drillSprayer 70FM130 flail mowerDH140 harrow
Should I broadcast seed, drill it, or use a row planter?
Broadcasting is quick but takes more seed, and small seed needs rolling afterward for good soil contact. A drill places seed at the right depth, so UT says drilled seeding rates can be cut by about 25 percent. A row planter suits large seed like corn, soybeans and sunflowers.
Machines for this spreaderseederG-Series drillM-Series drillrow planter
When should I plant food plots in Middle Tennessee?
UT Extension's seeding guide lists August 15 to October 1 for fall clovers, cereal rye, oats and Austrian winter peas, and UT's food plot guide suggests late August to early September for brassicas in USDA zones 6 and 7. Late-winter clover seedings go in February 15 to April 1, and warm-season crops such as forage soybeans from May 1 to June 15. Plant into moist soil.
Read more UT seeding guide (opens in a new tab)UT food plot guide (opens in a new tab)
What does a roller crimper do, and when should I use it?
It flattens and crimps a cover crop such as cereal rye into a mulch mat that ends the cover crop without herbicide, holds moisture and shades out weeds, and you plant straight through it. Crimp small grains between flowering and the soft-dough stage. It won't kill perennial grasses like bermudagrass or fescue.
Machines for this roller crimper
Can an ATV spreader spread lime?
Pelletized lime can go through an electric hitch-mounted spreader (Alabama Extension), while bulk ag lime takes a heavier chain-driven or drop spreader. Our Wildlife Farming spreader's manual lists seed, fertilizer and pellets but doesn't name lime, so ask us before you lime with it.
Machines for this spreader
Should I rent a no-till drill or buy one?
Some county soil conservation districts rent drills. Montgomery County's, for example, rents a 10-foot no-till drill for use in Montgomery and surrounding counties. Owning one lets you plant when the soil moisture is right and reach small or remote plots with a narrower drill or an ATV seeder.
Machines for this G-Series drillM-Series drillseeder
Free help for Tennessee landowners
- UT Extension, Landowners' Guide to Wildlife Food Plots (PB1874) (opens in a new tab)
- UT Extension, Forage and Field Crop Seeding Guide for Tennessee (PB378) (opens in a new tab)
- Mississippi State Extension with UT, Comparing Conventional and Regenerative Approaches to Wildlife Food Plots (P4118) (opens in a new tab)
- TWRA: free technical help and wildlife management plans for landowners, plus pointers to USDA programs such as NRCS EQIP and CSP (opens in a new tab)
- Your county UT Extension office takes soil samples.
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Three yards across Middle Tennessee — Dickson, Clarksville, and Columbia. Stop by whichever one’s on your way. Coffee’s usually on.