Brad - This is a really tough one - and not a lot of real good news for those of us that get a lot of snow.

Food plots aside - I've learned that a large % of a deer's diet is natural browse - especially in the winter. So a good plan might be to clear your foodplot trails 20 ft on either side in the early spring and allow new growth to come in thick. Plant the trails with clovers and or annuals like Rye in the fall - and fertilize the sides.

This type of program can really benefit your local deer - it wont feed a yarding herd of 100 deer - but can help your local deer go into the winter and come out of it better off.

As far as a food plot goes - Stick with high carbohydrate foods like Winter Wheat or Rye - the deer will paw through at least 1 foot of snow for them. Clover is important too - especially at green up - and in the summer - but the Hi Energy carbs help deer make it through the winter.