Weeds that deer love

[rjtfroggy]

Planted all my plots this morning B4 the rain from the “him”a caine (iAN). Planted Rackmaster deluxe with the normal blend. Also planted oats and for the first time Australian Winter Peas. Not sure how they will do but gave it a go in two small plots.

I don't do food plots and really never did. Hell, I don't even hunt anymore, but wouldn't something called Rackmaster be better planted in the spring when their racks are growing?
Not trying to be a smarta** just wondering.

 

[flatlander]

I used to wonder why the farmers in eastern Colorado let their field bindweed get so out of control without spraying it. But over the past 20+yrs, as our deer population has exploded here in western Kansas, it's become pretty obvious why - the blasted deer & antelope love the crap, and will chow down on it when there's nice green winter wheat growing right there with it. I've got deer trails across wheat, milo, and corn fields just west of the house - they go back & forth between the forks of the creek north & south of here, and there will almost always be bindweed (morning glory) growing all along those trails. For years, Ks. Wildlife & Parks had tables beside mine at our gun club's annual gun show, and I've asked them more than once about deer spreading bindweed - they always gave me a line of BS about how the seed wouldn't be viable after going through their rumen (a 4-part stomach). Pure, unadulterated BS.

 

[markT]

@rjtfroggy You have a very good point! Pennington Marketing I guess. They do have a spring and summer mix, but I don't plant for them then.. Plenty of briars, leaves and other food for them.

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Pennington’s RACKMASTER Fall Deluxe Deer Mixture is a combination of winter annual grasses, legumes and brassica species that attract deer and provide the carbohydrates needed to help the deer herd build up stored fat to maintain good body condition through the rut and winter stress period. Wheat, oats, rye, Austrian winter peas, crimson clover and brassica are included in this premium seed mix -

 

[msalm]

Food plots may always be the clear winner when surrounded by piney woods, but in ag country it has been my experience that they aren't the do all end all. Late fall and winter, corn and soybean plots are super though.

My (small) plot of land has soybeans on one side and corn on the other. I probably have an advantage with about 50-80 wild apple trees along with my food plot on the edge of the woods, but they certainly don’t ignore the chicory, clover and forage peas. That chicory always seems to attract them though. Last night the four good bucks that came in did start out in one patch of beans to the south that was still green, but moseyed my way after 20 minutes in the soybeans. They spent the next 20 eating chicory. Is it THE magic plant? Heck no, but it is a good one and being a perennial is easy to keep in good shape…just my opinion of course. I’ll rotate forage brassicas, turnips, clover, etc….but I’ll always have chicory and some clovers.

 

[Bill K]

About the only living green/colorful flower or plant around my yard, that the deer do not eat or nibble on, is the Marygolds. Every thing else is a dinner table for them, each and every day and night.

 

[Steve morgan]

I'm making the assumption that these are perennials native to your area.

 

[ChrisA]

Honeysuckle is a favorite probably not considered a weed.

Ya, it's a weed

 

[remy3424]

We are talking about weeds....If you see a single water hemp along the fence line of a field, look at it, the deer browse those, but you would sure rather not have that weed.

 

[loinhunter]

If you are managing a plot, be on the lookout for Japanese Stiltgrass (Microstegium vibineum) . This grass was imported years ago as a “green” alternative to be used as packing material. It has no natural check in our ecosystem . It will crowd out and consume nutrients even for trees. Deer will not eat it. You can easily pull it , but that can be an enormous task in large plots. Bayern Acclaim plus Or a 1% solution of glyphosate, 2 applications and an application of Barricade in the early spring to control seed germination. I hate using chemicals, but this is an invasive species , so drastic measures.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

We were late one year(end of May) finishing a food plot in front of my buddies blind. He is wheelchair bound. We grabbed a seed mix called Wildlife Mix from the seed store. I spread the 1/4 acre area with a drag/spreader behind a quad. A month later had a nice green cover, July/August we could see sunflower and sudex grass, many other flowering plants. My buddy was like I guess I have a nice view this fall. We left it along until mid October, several morning frosts. We decided to go in at noon and hang a couple cameras. What we saw when we rode in was shocking, looked like cattle or hogs had been in the plot. Trampled down, ate, deer droppings everywhere. Smelled of deer urine. My buddy sat nearby in his truck(truck is on the property everyday), he had deer walk right next to the truck. Said there must have been 20 deer in the plot well before sunset. Shot a very nice buck first day of firearms season on the edge of what remained of the plot.