How will I know if deer and other wildlife are utilizing my food plots?

Question:
Q: How will I know if deer and other wildlife are utilizing my food plots?

Answer:
A: Pennington recommends this simple wire cage solution: Construct a tomato-type cage out of strong, heavy gauge wire so that all animals will stay out of this specific area of the plot. The cage should contain a two by two surface area. This structure will allow growth factors (sunlight, rain, fertilizer) to enter, but will keep out grazing pressure from animals. As your plots grow and the deer and other wildlife graze, the plants inside the cage will grow considerably taller than the area outside the cage. This will indicate that animals like the food source.