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Foodplot: Deer preferences.

Kirk

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 7, 2001
Messages
13,814
Location
Charleston, TN USA
I have a little bit of a lot different things planted this year.

Dwarf Essex Rape: Deer haven't touched it this year.

Turnips: Deer ate it early and won't touch it now.

Clover: Browsed to ground level.

Winter Wheat: Browsed to ground level.

Forage oats: Browsed to ground level.

Austrian Winter Peas: Gone, no trace they ever existed.

Biologic New Zealand plot: Looks like it has not been touched.
 
Kirk,

Your experiences are why--after years of experimenting--I've come to the conclusion that if you just want a food plot that will attract a lot of deer during hunting season, the old cheap standbies of cereal grains (wheat, oats) and annual clovers (crimson) work darn well. Austrian winter peas also make for a good "candy" plant.

Now the brassicas will produce forage that is used during the critical winter months, but it's all about what the intended purpose of the plot is.
 
After experimenting with various food plot mixtures over the years, there is no doubt that deer preference varies from one farm to the next. For example, on one of my farms, the deer have used DER heavily, but have not touched it on the other farm. I have used iron clay peas in the summer with good results on one property and poor results on the other. You have to find out what the deer like to eat, and then stick with those choices. I used Austrian winter peas this year, but they did not fare well on soils that have somewhat lower soil fertility. However, DER, crimson clover, and winter oats all did well in the same plot as the peas. For this reason, I won't use the Austrian winter peas next year, since the deer utilize the other plant species just fine. It would just be a waste of money.

Also, I have come to the conclusion that a lot of the commerical food plot mixtures are not worth the money. They may work, but I can provide the same nutritional benefits by using basic mixtures I can buy locally, without spending a lot of money. For summer annual plots, I am extremely pleased with Roundup ready corn and soybeans. If the deer browse these plots too much, I will overseed them with buckwheat in the late summer to extend the life of the plots. For fall annual plots, I have narrowed it down to winter wheat/oats, crimson clover, and possibly DER. This is a cheap mixture that is easy to plant.

Also, about 60-70% of my plots are established to cool season perennials consisting of red clover, ladino clover, crimson clover, and chicory. If managed properly, these plots can be maintained for at least 4-5 years.

As BSK mentioned, the "old cheap standbys" seem to work best and they cost the least.
 
rackaholic72 said:
Quailman,did you have a good stand of corn with the Biomax?

Rackaholic, I have actually never tried Biomaxx, but I have worked with landowners that planted it in the past. They had good results, but it does cost a great deal of money. It would also cost a lot if you bought RR corn and soybeans from the local Co-op or other farm supply store.

I have been a member of several conservation groups for almost 10 years. These groups, like QU and NWTF, have seed programs for local chapter members. My own local chapter of QU has distributed over 500,000 lbs. of seed to members over the last 7 years. We receive what is known as "discard seed" from most of the largest seed companies. Discard seed is seed not sold after 1 year, so it is donated to various groups to be used for wildlife habitat projects. It is actually very good seed, with most germination rates falling between 60-80%, and sometimes higher. In the past, we have received milo, wheat, corn, and soybeans. Members pay $2-3/bag, just to cover the shipping costs. For planting food plots, it works perfectly, and you can just plant at a slightly higher rate to make up for the lower germination rates.

For all of my other plantings, I purchase it mostly through the local Co-op's.
 
Believe it or not,the plot that is getting the most activity is planted along side my driveway and up the side of my yard along yhe tree line. 600 feet long by 3 feet wide. It is planted in wheat, oats and clover. 100% nocturnal activity. This may sound like a good idea but it was not. My dang dogs bark all night and the plot won't be there next year. :D
 

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