Food plot question.....

[Blucollar]

I hunt a farm that has a small field (about3-4acres) on a hill top, deer come to the field ok now, it has fesque & orchard grass for pasture for horses.

The question, What can I add to this that will be the best for deer but also in late winter benifit the land owners horses or at least not turn them off whats already there?

I've tried plain wheat with some success, just wondered if there is something better.

 

[BigGame]

Wheat is the cheap and less labor route, most everything else you need to break the ground to get a decent germination rate. Something you proably dont want to do if the farmer is useing the pasture. If he resows it you could throw in some buck forage oats and or clover.

 

[hard county]

crimson or arrow leaf clover are both reseeding clovers, in my experience the annuals work better with high competitors such as grasses. the crimson clover would be the most aggresive, and the arrowleaf would be the most palatable.

 

[deerchaser007]

Do not throw out wheat or oats if horses are gonna be in that pasture. You can kill a horse like that. The horse will eat the grains til it goes fallow and dies or becomes VERY ill. Anytime a horse is feed any grain such as wheat or oats (even in bales), its only in moderation.

Your only chance would be with red or white clover. BUT,.. with horses,.. they will eat it up before deer have a chance.

 

[Semibald]

I wouldn't put clover out there either! It makes horses founder if it makes up more than 20% of their grazing - founder means joint pain, and it can kill them. I wish I had a good practical answer for you blucollar. Maybe rye grass? Deer like it, though it's not their favorite. Horses eat it OK, I think. And when the normal summer grasses die out and turn brown, the rye will still be nice and green. Should come up right through the other grass without plowing; I know people who want a green winter lawn plant it this way. Anyone ever tried this for deer?

 

[Living2Hunt]

RYE GRASS IS A PRETTY SAFE CHOICE! IT WANT BOTHER THE HORSES AT ALL! I HUNT SOME OF THIS FARMERS LAND IN RIDGETOP AND ABOUT EVERY 3 YEARS HE'LL PLANT RYE GRASS TO HELP THE SOIL, AND THE DEER SEEM TO LOVE IT. WE WANT SEE AS MANY AS WITH THE CROPS (TURNIP GREENS) BUT IT SEEMS LIKE WE SEE MORE BUCKS!