8 Pieces of Equipment for Planting a Fall Food Plot

The air is just starting to get that crisp edge, a sure sign that fall is on its way. For anyone managing a piece of hunting property, this means one thing: it’s time to get seed in the ground. A successful fall food plot can transform your hunting season, but a failed one is just a patch of expensive weeds—and the difference often comes down to having the right equipment for the job.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, this site earns from qualifying purchases. Thank you!

Planning Your Fall Food Plot: First Steps

Before a single tool comes out of the shed, a successful food plot begins with a plan. The most critical decision is location. Look for an area that receives at least four to six hours of direct sunlight per day, as most fall forage crops like brassicas, clover, and winter peas need it to thrive. Consider access for your equipment; a remote, hard-to-reach spot might seem ideal for seclusion, but it’s useless if you can’t get your ATV and implements there.

Once you’ve chosen a spot, create a timeline. Fall food plots have a narrower planting window than spring plots, typically late summer to early fall depending on your region and crop choice. Work backward from your target planting date, scheduling time for mowing, spraying to kill existing vegetation, soil testing, and ground preparation. Rushing any of these steps is the fastest way to guarantee a poor result. A well-thought-out plan turns a daunting project into a series of manageable tasks.

Soil Test Kit – MySoil Complete Soil Test Kit

Planting without a soil test is like building a house without a foundation. You are simply guessing, and guesses in farming are expensive. A soil test tells you the precise pH and nutrient levels of your plot, allowing you to add exactly the right amount of lime and fertilizer. This not only saves money but also ensures your expensive seed has the fuel it needs to germinate and grow.

The MySoil Complete Soil Test Kit is the perfect solution for the modern land manager. It bypasses the often slow and confusing process of using a local extension office. You simply collect a sample using the provided tools, register your kit online, and mail it in the prepaid envelope. Within days, you receive a detailed, easy-to-understand report that provides specific fertilizer and lime recommendations tailored to the crop you plan to plant. This takes all the guesswork out of amending your soil. While it costs more than a basic university test, the speed and clarity are well worth it for anyone who values their time.

Chainsaw – Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss Chainsaw

Sunlight is the engine of a food plot, and often, you need to create more of it. A reliable chainsaw is essential for clearing small trees on the plot’s edge, removing fallen logs that obstruct your equipment, and cutting shooting lanes for better visibility. It’s a foundational tool for shaping the environment to your advantage.

The Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss hits the sweet spot between homeowner saws and professional-grade behemoths. It has enough power from its 50.2 cc engine to handle substantial trees, but it’s light enough to use for hours without excessive fatigue. Its pre-separation air filtration system extends the time between filter cleanings, a huge plus when working in dusty field conditions. We recommend pairing it with a 20-inch bar, which provides the versatility to handle both small limbs and larger trunks. This saw isn’t for clear-cutting a forest, but for the serious property manager who needs a dependable tool for recurring land-clearing tasks, it’s the gold standard.

Backpack Sprayer – Chapin 61900 ProSeries Sprayer

Before you can plant new life, you have to eliminate the old. Killing existing weeds and grasses with a non-selective herbicide is a non-negotiable step for reducing competition and giving your seeds a clean slate. A backpack sprayer allows you to apply that herbicide efficiently and evenly across your entire plot.

The Chapin 61900 ProSeries Sprayer is a workhorse built for this exact task. Its 4-gallon capacity is large enough to cover a decent area without being too heavy to carry, and the padded shoulder straps make a big difference in comfort. The key feature is its durable piston pump, which builds pressure quickly and handles common herbicides like glyphosate without issue. It also includes three different nozzles, allowing you to switch between a wide fan for broadcast spraying and a focused stream for spot treatments. This isn’t a flimsy, disposable sprayer; it’s a piece of equipment you can rely on season after season.

ATV Disc Harrow – Kolpin Dirtworks 3-Point Disc Plow

Once the vegetation is dead, it’s time to break ground. A disc harrow is the primary tillage tool for most food plotters. Its angled, saucer-shaped blades slice into the ground, breaking up compacted soil and sod, and mixing in the dead plant matter to begin decomposition. This creates a loose, workable seedbed.

For ATV-based work, the Kolpin Dirtworks 3-Point Disc Plow is an excellent choice. Unlike simpler drag-style discs, this implement attaches to an ATV’s 3-point hitch (sold separately), giving you precise control over depth and pressure. Its eight 12-inch notched discs are aggressive enough to cut through tough ground, and the cutting angle can be adjusted from 0 to 20 degrees. This tool requires an ATV of at least 500cc to be effective, and it works best in soil that isn’t pure rock or hardpan clay. For someone committed to the ATV implement system, it’s the right tool for turning sod into soil.

Broadcast Spreader – Moultrie 100 lb. ATV Spreader

Whether you’re spreading seed or granular fertilizer, consistency is everything. A broadcast spreader ensures an even distribution across the entire plot, preventing the clumps and bare spots that are common with hand-spreading. This leads to a uniform stand of forage and efficient use of your materials.

The Moultrie 100 lb. ATV Spreader is built for the rugged conditions of off-road food plotting. Its heavy-duty 100-pound capacity plastic hopper won’t rust and minimizes refill trips. The unit mounts universally to most front or rear ATV racks and features a simple, adjustable shut-off gate that’s easy to operate while driving. The built-in agitator helps prevent seed from clogging, and the included rain cover is a thoughtful touch for unpredictable weather. This spreader is designed for spreading larger seeds like peas and soybeans as well as smaller seeds like clover, making it a versatile tool for any planting mix.

Drag Harrow – Field Tuff 4′ x 5′ ATV Drag Harrow

After discing, your plot will be rough and uneven. A drag harrow, or drag mat, is the perfect tool for the next step. It smooths the seedbed, breaks up soil clumps, and creates a uniform surface for planting. Crucially, it’s also used after seeding to lightly cover the seeds with soil, which is a key part of ensuring good germination.

The Field Tuff 4′ x 5′ ATV Drag Harrow is simplicity at its best. Made of a heavy-duty steel mesh, it requires no assembly and has no moving parts to break. You simply attach its tow chain to your ATV’s hitch and pull it across the plot. One side of the mat is more aggressive for breaking up clumps, while the other side is smooth for final leveling and seed covering. Its 4-foot width is a perfect match for most ATV trails and small plots. This is an indispensable, low-cost tool that performs a critical job.

Cultipacker – Packer Maxx 4-Foot ATV Cultipacker

The final step in seedbed preparation is often the most overlooked—and the most important. A cultipacker is a heavy, rolling implement that presses down the soil after seeding. This action firms the seedbed, removes air pockets, and, most importantly, presses the seeds firmly into the soil for excellent seed-to-soil contact.

The Packer Maxx 4-Foot ATV Cultipacker is a serious tool for those who want professional results. It features 20 individual 9.5-inch cast iron packer wheels that allow it to follow the contours of your plot perfectly. The heavy-duty steel frame and greaseable bearings are built to last. Pulling this implement over your plot after dragging and seeding is the single best thing you can do to boost your germination rates. While it represents a significant investment, the dramatic improvement in your food plot’s success makes it a worthwhile one for the dedicated land manager.

Pull-Behind Mower – Swisher Rough Cut Trail Mower

For plots that are overgrown with thick brush, tall weeds, or saplings, a standard mower won’t cut it. A pull-behind rough cut mower is a specialized implement designed to reclaim these tough areas. It allows you to knock down heavy vegetation quickly, preparing the site for the herbicide and tillage stages.

The Swisher Rough Cut Trail Mower is the right tool for this aggressive job. It features its own powerful engine (typically 11.5 to 14.5 HP), so it doesn’t put any strain on your ATV’s drivetrain. Its heavy-duty cutting deck and articulating hitch allow it to float over uneven terrain, while the stump-jumper blade design prevents catastrophic damage if you hit a rock or stump. This is not a finishing mower; it’s a land-clearing machine. If you’re starting a new plot in a previously untouched area, this mower will save you days of back-breaking work with a brush hog or chainsaw.

Why Seed-to-Soil Contact is So Important

Many first-time food plotters make a critical mistake: they throw their seed onto a fluffy, loose seedbed and call it a day. This is a recipe for failure. Seeds are living organisms that need two things to germinate: moisture and warmth. When a seed is suspended in a loose, airy seedbed, it dries out quickly and struggles to send down roots.

This is where tools like the drag harrow and cultipacker prove their worth. The drag lightly covers the seed, protecting it from birds and the drying sun. The cultipacker then finishes the job by firmly pressing the seed into the soil. This physical contact ensures the seed can continuously draw moisture from the surrounding soil. It eliminates air pockets that can kill a young root and provides the stable foundation a seedling needs to emerge. Skipping this final step is like running a marathon and quitting in the last 100 yards; you’ve done all the hard work, only to fail at the most crucial moment.

Safety and Maintenance for Your Plot Equipment

Your food plot equipment is a significant investment, and it needs to be treated as such. Before operating any piece of machinery, thoroughly read the owner’s manual. Pay close attention to safety warnings, especially for equipment like chainsaws and mowers. Always wear appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including safety glasses, hearing protection, sturdy boots, and gloves. When spraying herbicides, add chemical-resistant gloves and long sleeves to your list.

Proper maintenance is just as important as safe operation. After each use, clean dirt and plant debris off your implements. This prevents rust and allows you to spot any loose bolts or worn parts. Check and tighten all hardware on your disc, drag, and cultipacker regularly, as the constant vibration of field work can loosen them. For motorized equipment like the chainsaw and pull-behind mower, follow the manufacturer’s schedule for changing oil, cleaning air filters, and sharpening blades. A few minutes of maintenance after each job will ensure your equipment is ready to go when you need it next season.

Your Complete Food Plot Equipment Checklist

Here is a quick-reference list of the essential equipment for establishing a successful fall food plot from start to finish.

• Soil Analysis: MySoil Complete Soil Test Kit
• Clearing and Prep: Stihl MS 271 Farm Boss Chainsaw
• Initial Mowing: Swisher Rough Cut Trail Mower
• Weed Control: Chapin 61900 ProSeries Sprayer
• Primary Tillage: Kolpin Dirtworks 3-Point Disc Plow
• Seeding & Fertilizing: Moultrie 100 lb. ATV Spreader
• Seedbed Finishing: Field Tuff 4′ x 5′ ATV Drag Harrow
• Seed-to-Soil Contact: Packer Maxx 4-Foot ATV Cultipacker

Planting a food plot is a process of deliberate, sequential steps, and having the right tool for each step is what separates success from failure. This equipment isn’t just about making the work easier; it’s about doing the work correctly. By investing in the right gear, you’re investing in healthier wildlife and a more rewarding fall.