Standing Soybeans

[megalomaniac]

The 4.5 yo killed on my place opening day of archery this year was FULL of leaves AND green pods.

Normally, I see deer feeding HARD on the leaves all summer. I don't have enough personal experience with standing unharvested beans later in the year, as all the beans around me are cut by mid November at the latest. It just doesn't make sense that deer would avoid the dried beans if they were left standing in December or January, but they may.

 

[BSK]

The 4.5 yo killed on my place opening day of archery this year was FULL of leaves AND green pods.

Normally, I see deer feeding HARD on the leaves all summer. I don't have enough personal experience with standing unharvested beans later in the year, as all the beans around me are cut by mid November at the latest. It just doesn't make sense that deer would avoid the dried beans if they were left standing in December or January, but they may.

Mega, I find deer hit the dried beans/pods starting mid-December through the winter months, IF there aren't better foods available. Soybeans are loaded with proteins, but not that high in easily digested carbs. And carbs is what a deer's body is after during the cold months.

 

[BSK]

One caveat to dried beans being low on the deer menu is after a 4+ inch snow. With every other food source covered in snow, I've seen deer go CRAZY over an unharvested bean field. With the dead stalks standing a foot or more tall, and the pods still on, it's an easy food source to reach.

 

[jmf]

We have found that the two best things on our farm are corn #1 and beans #2. We have literally planted every kind of winter plant and the deer always go to the corn and beans. We had to quit planting corn a few years ago because of the coons so all beans now.

 

[megalomaniac]

Mega, I find deer hit the dried beans/pods starting mid-December through the winter months, IF there aren't better foods available. Soybeans are loaded with proteins, but not that high in easily digested carbs. And carbs is what a deer's body is after during the cold months.

Not being a smart ass, being totally serious... but what is a better food source in January after a few freezes and browse is burned, acorns are dried up? What am I missing (because I want to provide it for my deer!) Even though I have plots with grains, clover, and brassicas, I would think deer would derive more benefit from beans than any of those. What's the BEST food for deer in late Dec thru spring greenup?

 

[BSK]

Not being a smart ass, being totally serious... but what is a better food source in January after a few freezes and browse is burned, acorns are dried up? What am I missing (because I want to provide it for my deer!) Even though I have plots with grains, clover, and brassicas, I would think deer would derive more benefit from beans than any of those. What's the BEST food for deer in late Dec thru spring greenup?

Go with whatever they hit the hardest in your area. Deer, like most animals, have the ability to "taste" what their bodies need most. And that's going to be different in different regions. In my area, it's cereal grains. In others, brassicas. Try everything and watch what they hit hardest.

 

[UTGrad]

I've watched deer come barreling out of the woods in December to hit standing beans that didn't get harvested by the farmer.

 

[bbqit]

Yep they love standing beans. They love anything green like wheat and rye. But, they get addicted with an intoxicating need for milo after the milo goes through a heavy frost. It changes the milo and deer go nuts for it. @PossumSlayer

 

[utvolsfan77]

Yep they love standing beans. They love anything green like wheat and rye. But, they get addicted with an intoxicating need for milo after the milo goes through a heavy frost. It changes the milo and deer go nuts for it. @PossumSlayer

I've heard from friends in other states that it's because a freeze or two makes the plants turn "sweet" when they convert to sugar. Think carbs.

 

[Jmoore]

Last year beside my house deer absolutely destroyed standing soybeans and what was left after picking. Them jokers picked that field over all the way up to February! What really sucked was they stayed there rather than my food plot.

 

[smalljawbasser]

I'll give it a go if I can find some seeds. Thank you.

Rye grain is the easiest thing in the world to grow. I had some germinate on a truck tailgate one time.

 

[catman529]

I've heard from friends in other states that it's because a freeze or two makes the plants turn "sweet" when they convert to sugar. Think carbs.

Soybeans don't turn to sugar in the cold. Up north, standing beans are a hot food source when snow is covering the ground because the beans are about the only thing not covered by snow.

 

[younggun308]

Soybeans don't turn to sugar in the cold. Up north, standing beans are a hot food source when snow is covering the ground because the beans are about the only thing not covered by snow.

I believe he was referring to milo.

 

[jetboater]

I put a camera on a big pile of spilled beans. I have had a couple of does on it a few times. And a bunch of buzzards today. I thought it would be a good spot for a camera. Evidently they don't like the beans near as much as corn.