Conservation // 2 min Read

Summer Food Plots

Written by Palmetto Bluff

Spring is all about new growth – like the flowers we found blooming out in the field and the baby bluebirds we discovered in our birdbox last week. It’s also the time when the summer food plots that Jay and the Conservancy team planted start to sprout. As land managers, it’s important not just to plant these summer food plots, but also to monitor the growth and the amount of grazing pressure that is occurring. As any of our food plots begin to grow (summer or fall), the amount of deer browse can be difficult to judge. This is where an exclusion device comes in.

What is an exclusion device?

We’ll let Justin explain more in the video below, but generally speaking, an exclusion device is used to block any deer or other animal from eating the plants. Dimensions vary but the device acts as a control – showing what the crop would look like if there were no deer to graze on the plants. The plants outside of the device will be eaten naturally.

Why is it important to have?

The practice of using exclusion devices is popular among land managers as it allows us to gain insight into the amount of plant productivity and grazing pressure within our food plots.

And here is a short video of what an established winter food plot looks like.

But wait! There’s more! What is that fence around food plot? If we want to provide a nutritional buffet for the wildlife at the Bluff, why are we roping off what we just planted? We’ll let Big Jay explain more in the video below…

Spring is a busy time at the Bluff – especially for the Conservancy team. Stay tuned for more videos of what the team is currently working on out in the field.

Real Estate
Six Palmetto Bluff Homes That Redefine Outdoor Living

Contemporary and Comfortable: 63 Marsh Rabbit Street Outdoor living takes center stage with a broad screened porch that opens fully to the main living area through a multi-slide wall of glass, creating seamless year-round flow. The space extends into a priv...

Apr 2026

Club Life
Upcoming Can’t-Miss Conservancy Events in May

Step outside this spring and explore with the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy team! Whether you’re a budding archaeologist, an avid bird lover, or simply looking to experience the Bluff in a new way, there’s always an opportunity to learn and broaden your horizons....

Apr 2026

Real Estate
All Access: Five Palmetto Bluff Homes Featuring Tier One Golf Memberships

Palmetto Bluff Golf Club Tier One members enjoy a premium golf experience, and priority access to golf tournaments along with vertical family privileges that include the member's spouse or significant other, children regardless of age, grandchildren, great-gra...

Apr 2026

Food & Wine
Off Course

A secretive, twelve-seat dinner series leads Palmetto Bluff Club members into the community’s most beautiful and hidden landscapes.Story by Hailey Wist | Photographs by Summer PagatpatanDeep within Palmetto Bluff’s forests and winding back roads are landscapes...

Apr 2026

Club Life
The Latest Issue of the bluff Magazine: Uncovering More Stories of Life at Palmetto Bluff

With the excitement and activity of summer on the horizon, this edition of the bluff magazine captures the moments and memories that define life at Palmetto Bluff. From the magic of watching dolphins strand feed along the local waterways to secret dining exper...

Mar 2026

Club Life
Palmetto Bluff Club: Experiences That Go Above And Beyond

Becoming a Palmetto Bluff Club Member means each day offers something new to explore, learn, and create. A thoughtfully curated annual calendar ensures residents enjoy experiences that extend well beyond traditional club programming. Each April, the RBC Her...

Mar 2026
Palmetto Bluff Real Estate

Real Estate
Inside 42 Flicker Street: An Inland Waterway Trail Home in Moreland at Palmetto Bluff

42 Flicker Street: $5,250,000 Palmetto Bluff Real Estate on the Moreland Inland Waterway Trail   42 Flicker Street claims one of Moreland's most coveted positions; set along the inland waterway, with a covered dock and water trail views that extend all the wa...

Mar 2026
Palmetto Bluff Golf

Club Life
Three Courses, Three Experiences: Golf at Palmetto Bluff

At Palmetto Bluff, no two rounds of golf are the same. The tides, the wind, and the light shifting across the marsh all play their part. Three courses, each crafted by a legendary architect—each offering golfers a distinctly different story to experience. E...

Mar 2026
Palmetto Bluff Conservancy

Conservation
What the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy Does—and Why It Matters

How the Palmetto Bluff Conservancy Protects 20,000 Acres of Lowcountry Land Every Day Set at the confluence of the May, Cooper, and New Rivers in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, Palmetto Bluff spans 20,000 acres of some of the most ecologically rich land on the ...

Mar 2026

Food & Wine
Blueberry Bundt Cake with Lemon and Thyme: A Recipe from Palmetto Bluff’s Director of Food & Beverage Operations Rhy Waddington

Photographs by Lindsey Shorter Ingredients:Thyme Sugar2 cups granulated sugar30 thyme sprigs, Remove the thyme leaves and discard the stalks.Process sugar and thyme in a food processor.Set aside until ready to use.Bundt Cake2...

Mar 2026

CURIOUS ABOUT LIFE AT THE BLUFF?

Sign up for our newsletter

LIVE
Community Villages
Experience
Palmetto Bluff Club
On The Water
The Arts Initiative
Events
Conserve
About Us