Small plots or big plots, if you have a good pH and plant a good seed they'll find it. It all depends on your budget as well. I've had 10 - 15 in my small plots and one sit I had close to 20 in my acre plot. I would not slick the field off before season. In my opinion if a deer lives in a field that is shoulder high for most of the year and wakes up to see it cut, it will probably run them off. I would probably cut it once a year, probably around February. I have only a creek with woods on the banks and mostly open field. The grown up field is all the cover I have and letting it stand tall has and is working for me.