Food Plots Deer not browsing on summer plot.

lpo1981 · Jun 24, 2015

Planted a large summer plot back around the 1st or 2nd week of may.. Did soil sample and fertilized as was recommended. Plot is approx 2.5-3 acres, outer edge all the way around is milo/eagle soybeans/sunflowers and middle is planted with iron clay cow peas, additional soybeans, sunflower and sunn hemp.. As of now my plot is creeping up on 3ft in height and appears to have zero browse pressure on it.. Have 3 exclusions cages on it and no difference in and out of cages. Did I do something wrong do the deer not hit these plantings until later in the summer? I have mineral block about 60yds from said food plot and getting a lot of deer on camera.. Can't figure out why there not browsing in the food plot..

Boll Weevil · Jun 24, 2015

Sounds like you did everything right so no worries there. Not sure about your area but we've had a very wet spring and early summer; there's native browse/food EVERYWHERE. It's possible they're just spending more time munching natural foods.

lpo1981 · Jun 24, 2015

Boll Weevil":2vp92wct said:
Sounds like you did everything right so no worries there. Not sure about your area but we've had a very wet spring and early summer; there's native browse/food EVERYWHERE. It's possible they're just spending more time munching natural foods.

Didn't think about that, you maybe right.. First time I have ever really planted a summer time plot and did it right with soil samples an fertilizer.. Been halfway thinking it wasn't worth all the hype and just do my fall plots...

Hunter 257W · Jun 25, 2015

When gauging deer usage are you looking at individual plants for tips that have been bitten off or just expecting the whole plot to show a big sign of grazing outside the exclusion cages? My experience with almost the same planting is that it produces so much tonnage that deer can't begin to eat it down but when you start walking around in it you see signs of browsing all over it.

lpo1981 · Jun 25, 2015

Hunter 257W":2iofcw99 said:
When gauging deer usage are you looking at individual plants for tips that have been bitten off or just expecting the whole plot to show a big sign of grazing outside the exclusion cages? My experience with almost the same planting is that it produces so much tonnage that deer can't begin to eat it down but when you start walking around in it you see signs of browsing all over it.

I'm gonna put a camera over it this weekend and see what kind of usage I'm getting.. Doesn't appear that any of the plants are browsed on though... Coul be that I'm looking at it the wrong way as you described.

Hunter 257W · Jun 26, 2015

Hopefully you'll get pictures of deer using the plot. It is aggravating when you work and spend money and the deer won't eat it. I've planted several brassica plots where that happened in the past. After a few years though they learned to eat them in some locations at least.

chebuck · Jun 26, 2015

I bet they are eating something in there. The good thing about that type plot it provides good cover as well. Its almost like planting a beading area.

feathersandfur2214 · Jul 1, 2015

I agree with Boll Weevil. Our weather has been a bit off this year.What I have seen are the deer are eating every blackberry and honeysuckle plant they can find.As the weather dries up a bit more i bet you will see a lot of usage.