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Property Calendar

Property Calendar

Month-by-month tasks for Zone 5-7 landowners. Food plots, habitat, trail cameras, and equipment — organized by priority.

Zone 5-7 Midwest · 2026 Season

High Priority
Medium Priority
Low Priority
Current Month
January
  • Review trail camera data from season trail-cameras
  • Map next year's food plot locations food-plots
  • Maintenance on sprayers and implements equipment
  • Order soil test kits food-plots
February
  • Prepare for frost-seeding clover food-plots
  • Start shed hunting deer-management
  • Plan timber stand improvement projects habitat
  • Check trail cameras for winter activity trail-cameras
March This Month
  • Frost-seed clover on frozen ground food-plots
  • Collect soil samples before spring rush food-plots
  • Apply lime based on soil test results food-plots
  • Plant bare root fruit trees habitat
  • Service sprayer equipment equipment
  • Order seed before spring sellout food-plots
  • Plan controlled burns (check local regs) habitat
April
  • Plant spring oats and clover food-plots
  • Apply pre-emergent herbicide food-plots
  • Set trail cameras on mineral sites trail-cameras
  • Clear shooting lanes habitat
  • Start mowing access trails equipment
May
  • Plant warm-season food plots (wait for 60°F soil) food-plots
  • Spray weeds in established plots food-plots
  • Check trail cameras — velvet bucks appearing trail-cameras
  • Hinge cut timber for bedding areas habitat
June
  • Monitor food plot growth food-plots
  • Refresh mineral sites deer-management
  • Pull trail camera cards monthly trail-cameras
  • Mow firebreaks and trails equipment
July
  • Spray food plots for weeds food-plots
  • Begin fall plot prep — soil test if needed food-plots
  • Inventory trail cameras and batteries trail-cameras
  • Order fall seed varieties food-plots
August
  • Plant fall food plots (brassicas, cereal grains) food-plots
  • Deploy trail cameras on travel corridors trail-cameras
  • Hang and check treestands gear
  • Clear shooting lanes habitat
September
  • Check food plot germination food-plots
  • Pull trail camera cards — pattern bucks trail-cameras
  • Early season scouting deer-management
  • Prep ground blinds gear
October
  • Hunt pre-rut food plot edges deer-management
  • Run cameras 24/7 for movement patterns trail-cameras
  • Check treestand safety equipment gear
  • Note food plot utilization for next year food-plots
November
  • Peak rut hunting — all-day sits deer-management
  • Run cameras on scrapes and funnels trail-cameras
  • Plant winter rye cover crop food-plots
December
  • Late season food plot hunting deer-management
  • Year-end trail camera data review trail-cameras
  • Service and store equipment equipment
  • Plan next year's food plot layout food-plots

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Related Guides

Seasonal Planning for Rural Landowners

A complete framework for organizing property work by season.

When to Plant Food Plots

Detailed planting dates by seed type and growing zone.

Food Plot Guides

Complete learning path for food plot success.

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