6 Best Pull Behind Spreaders For Deer Food Plots That Old-Timers Swear By
Discover the top 6 pull-behind spreaders for deer food plots. We review the time-tested, durable models that seasoned land managers swear by.
You’ve spent hours on the tractor, turning soil and getting that seedbed just right. You’ve invested in good quality seed and fertilizer, hoping to create a lush green magnet for deer. Now comes the moment of truth: getting that seed and fertilizer onto the ground evenly, which is where many well-intentioned food plots fail before they even start.
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Why a Good Spreader Is Key for Food Plots
A reliable pull-behind spreader isn’t a luxury; it’s a fundamental tool for success. Trying to spread seed or fertilizer by hand over anything larger than a backyard garden results in clumps, bare spots, and wasted money. Deer are browsers, and an uneven plot means they’ll hit the good spots and move on, never establishing a consistent feeding pattern.
The cheap, plastic-wheeled spreaders you find at big-box stores often can’t handle the reality of a food plot. They bounce uncontrollably over rough ground, their plastic gears strip under the strain of a full hopper, and their spread patterns are inconsistent at best. A good spreader delivers a uniform application rate, ensuring every square foot of your hard work gets the right amount of seed and nutrients. This translates directly to thicker, healthier forage and, ultimately, more deer sticking around your property.
Think of it this way: you wouldn’t use a rusty, dull broadhead for a hunt. Applying that same logic to your equipment is crucial. The spreader is what delivers the potential of your seed and soil. A failure here undermines every other step you’ve taken, from soil testing to disking.
Agri-Fab 45-0463: The All-Around Workhorse
If there’s one spreader that hits the sweet spot for most food plotters, it’s the Agri-Fab 130 lb. tow-behind. This isn’t a commercial-grade machine, but it’s a massive step up from entry-level models. It’s the dependable farm truck of spreaders—it does the job without fuss and is built to last more than a couple of seasons.
What sets it apart is the combination of practical features. It has large pneumatic tires that absorb the bumps and ruts of a typical plot, which is critical for maintaining a consistent spread pattern. A bouncy spreader throws material erratically. The gearbox is fully enclosed, protecting the gears from the dust, dirt, and fertilizer grit that quickly destroy exposed plastic components.
With a 130-pound capacity, it’s big enough to handle a one or two-acre plot without constant refilling, yet it’s still nimble enough to be pulled by a standard ATV or UTV. The flow control is easy to reach from the driver’s seat, allowing you to shut it off quickly for turns at the end of a row. For the person managing a few plots each year, this spreader offers the best balance of durability, performance, and price.
Brinly-Hardy BS36BH for Larger Acreage Plots
When you start managing five, ten, or more acres of food plots, refilling a smaller spreader becomes a real time-sink. The Brinly-Hardy 175 lb. tow spreader is built for exactly this scenario. That extra capacity means fewer stops and more time spent getting the work done, which matters when you’re trying to beat the rain.
The standout feature on the Brinly is its patented auto-flow technology, which stops the material flow when you stop your vehicle. This single feature saves an incredible amount of wasted seed and fertilizer. Anyone who has left a pile of expensive clover seed at the end of a row knows how valuable this is. It also features directional spread control, allowing you to block off one side to protect trails, creek beds, or property lines from getting covered.
This machine is built tough with a heavy-duty polyethylene hopper that won’t rust or dent and a fully enclosed gearbox with stainless steel hardware. The large pneumatic tires and solid steel frame handle rough terrain well. It’s a significant piece of equipment that bridges the gap between homeowner models and true commercial units, making it perfect for the serious land manager.
Earthway 2170: Built for Spreading Accuracy
Some seeds, like brassicas or clover, are tiny and expensive. Spreading them accurately is the difference between a lush, dense plot and a patchy, mediocre one. Earthway has built its reputation on precision, and the 2170 tow-behind model is a perfect example of that focus.
The heart of this spreader is the EV-N-SPRED 3-hole drop system. It’s designed to provide a balanced spread pattern of all types of granular materials, which is something many other spreaders struggle with. This means you get a much more uniform application, which is especially critical for those small, high-cost seeds. It prevents the "striping" you often see with less accurate spreaders.
While its 100-pound capacity is a bit smaller than some others, its accuracy more than makes up for it. The high-flotation pneumatic tires handle uneven ground smoothly, and the heavy-duty frame is built for years of service. If you’re a meticulous plotter who obsesses over calibration and getting the seeding rate just right, the Earthway 2170 is the tool for the job.
Spyker P70-12010: The Pro-Grade Investment
Let’s be clear: the Spyker is an investment. It’s the kind of tool you buy once and expect to hand down to your kids. For the land manager who runs dozens of acres of plots or uses their spreader for everything from salt in the winter to lime in the spring, this is the professional-grade choice.
Everything on the Spyker is overbuilt. The gearbox features all-metal gears in a die-cast housing, a world away from the plastic components found in lesser models. The frame is heavy-gauge steel, and the hopper is oversized and durable. This spreader is designed to be used hard, day in and day out, without failing.
The Accu-Way spread pattern control is another key feature, ensuring an even swath and preventing material from being thrown back onto the operator or vehicle. While the price tag is higher, the cost is justified by its longevity and flawless performance. If you’ve broken two or three cheaper spreaders over the years, the math starts to make sense pretty quickly.
Chapin 8620B: Heavy-Duty Hopper and Frame
The Chapin 8620B is a beast, plain and simple. Its most noticeable feature is the massive, 150-pound capacity poly hopper, supported by a rugged, powder-coated steel frame. This spreader is designed to handle heavy loads of fertilizer or pelletized lime without straining.
A unique and highly practical feature is the auto-stop dual impeller. It stops spreading when you stop moving, which, like the Brinly system, prevents wasteful piles and ensures you’re only putting material where you want it. The oil-impregnated bronze bearings and enclosed gearbox are built for durability in harsh conditions. It’s a small detail, but it shows a commitment to longevity.
The 11 incremental gate adjustment settings offer a good degree of control over your application rate. This spreader is a fantastic choice for someone who needs a large capacity and a bombproof frame to handle rough, demanding plot locations. It’s less about finesse and more about heavy-duty, reliable function.
Field Tuff FTF-80LBSB: A Simple, Tough Option
Sometimes, you don’t need a dozen features. You just need something that’s tough, simple, and works every time you hitch it up. The Field Tuff 80 lb. spreader is exactly that—a no-frills tool built for reliability over complexity.
Its design is straightforward: a steel frame, a poly hopper, and pneumatic tires. The controls are simple lever adjustments, easy to operate with gloves on. There are no complex linkages or delicate parts to break when you’re bouncing through the backwoods. It’s the kind of equipment that you can leave in the barn and trust it will be ready to go next season.
With an 80-pound capacity, it’s best suited for smaller plots of an acre or two. But for the hunter with a few kill plots tucked away in the timber, its simplicity is a major asset. It’s easy to maintain, easy to use, and tough enough to handle the job without asking for much in return.
What to Look for in a Pull-Behind Spreader
Choosing the right spreader comes down to matching the tool to your property and your needs. There’s no single "best" spreader for everyone, but there is a best one for you. Keep these key factors in mind when making your decision.
First, consider the core components. These are the parts that fail most often and separate the good from the junk.
- Tires: Pneumatic (air-filled) tires are non-negotiable. They absorb shock on rough terrain, preventing the spreader from bouncing and throwing an uneven pattern. Solid plastic wheels are a deal-breaker for any serious food plot.
- Gearbox: Look for a fully enclosed gearbox. This protects the gears from corrosive fertilizer, dust, and moisture. Metal gears are the gold standard for durability, but a well-made, enclosed polymer gearbox is sufficient for most users.
- Frame: A steel frame provides the rigidity needed to handle a full, heavy hopper on uneven ground. Lighter-duty frames can flex and twist, leading to premature failure.
Next, think about your specific use case. How big are your plots? What materials will you be spreading?
- Hopper Capacity: Match the hopper size to your acreage. For one-acre plots, 80-100 lbs is fine. For larger, multi-acre plots, stepping up to a 150-175 lb. model will save you significant time and effort on refills.
- Flow Control and Adjustment: The ability to easily open and close the hopper gate from your ATV seat is a huge convenience. Also, look for a system with clear, repeatable settings so you can calibrate your spreader for different seeds and fertilizers and get it right every time.
Ultimately, the goal is to buy a tool that makes your job easier and your plots better. Investing a little more in a spreader with pneumatic tires, an enclosed gearbox, and a solid frame will pay dividends for years to come in the form of less frustration and healthier, more attractive food plots.
In the end, a great spreader is an investment in every bag of seed and fertilizer you buy. It ensures that your time, effort, and money result in a field full of forage, not a patchy mess of wasted potential. Choose wisely, and you’ll be building a tool into your land management plan that will serve you well for many seasons.
