Every situation is different. But you will want to walk the wooded portions of the property looking for oaks and other trees that produce nuts. Look for water. Learn the topography and begin observing deer movement. In the winter (like now), hike the property looking for deer tracks and trails. Deer will use the same trails year to year as they often have been established long ago.
Learn the boundaries of the property. Mark them if it is appropriate.
If there is an orchard, clean it up cutting out dead wood and so forth. Fruit can be harvested, but are big draws for wildlife during the fall.
If there is grazing or pasture land, fence off the creeks to avoid damage to the banks and so forth by cattle. Access to water would be at a couple locations only. Plant trees along the creek if it is open fields. This will provide cover for wildlife.
I would make arrangements with a farmer to farm the land. As part of that agreement, the farmer will leave a certain amount of corn standing and agree to plant other grain crops and harvest them. Again, some can be left standing.
Do discuss access to the property by the farmer and his family/friends as doing the farming does not necessarily give them hunting rights. This can be a problem come deer season. If the farmer harvests game out of season, it's a problem.
Farmer can do all the work on the food plots after the relationship is established as he has the equipment or you can pay him a fee for this service. Mow fallow fields with a bush hog at least every other year. This keeps them from growing up in trees.
Ditch roads so they drain and do not erode significantly during the wet seasons.
If there are fields, hunt wood chucks on the property and this will help you learn what other wildlife is there and where. The more time you spend on the property, the better.
Use common sense. Nothing replaces the time you spend on the property learning about it.
