When most hunters think of whitetails, the first season that comes to mind, of course is fall. The great thing about deer management is that the least amount of work is required in the fall. That is if you've made good use of your free time the rest of the year.

As a food plot specialist/manager, I consider spring to be one of, if not the most important season for management of whitetail deer. Velvet racks are starting to grow, fawns are being born and does are nursing. Deer, in general, are trying to replace what they've lost over a harsh winter.

It is a very important time of year, however. I'd say 85%, or more, of deer hunters only plant food plots for fall. The reason is simple: That's when deer season is and people like to hunt around food sources. Food plots are legal in every state whitetails inhabit and their attractiveness make them extremely popular with hunters.

But fall food plots also serve another purpose. They provide nutrition for deer going into the key winter stress period. This nutrition is important for post-rut bucks and newly bred does, as well as fawns, helping them reach spring in good condition.

That's why I prefer to plant a good mix in the fall food plots offering a variety of plants. A mix with a winter type of cereal grain, not only is it very high in protein for the fall but it's the first thing up in the spring, and a variety of brassicas, for the greens and also the nutritious tubers, that if grown properly and can reach maturity, will provide excellent protein for the deer to dig up all winter long.

I have had many food plots where the turnips and radishes have lasted late into the spring after the snow melted, giving great food for them in the critical time before green up.

Also, winter is a very important time, if legal in your area, to keep up with putting out your mineral and vitamin supplements because it's very important for the deer to replace minerals in their skeletal structure that they borrowed for antler growth and milk for nursing.

Just keep in mind that all your hard work in spring, summer and fall should be done in a way to carry over into the winter months, the most critical season of all.