High deer numbers and food plot

[BobinCt]

I planted a 5 acre plot of the LC Mix on this new farm that this farmer let me hunt. I knew this area had high deer numbers. I'm curious to know if this plot will last through the winter. I've always hunted properties with low deer numbers. I know the Cereal Rye can grow in very low temps ( and very little growth obviously), but does anyone have experience with high deer numbers and LC Mix ? For example, I saw 16 deer in the plot tonight. I also have a 3/4 acre brassica plot which won't do much. Any thoughts?

 

[4wanderingeyes]

Shoot several.


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[swat1018]

I'm sure there is a limit, but I've had 25 out in about 6 acres at one time. They can't kill it, it's like mowing the grass. The brassica can take a beating if they catch on to them. Mine are usually all gone by spring and looks like someone run a roto tiller where they were, from all the digging.

 

[BobinCt]

Good to know

 

[4wanderingeyes]

My turnip, radish plot is missing most of the tops. About the only green is the top seeded winter rye, oats, and winter wheat I planted on Labor Day. But the bulbs are still there.


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[S.T.Fanatic]

My turnip, radish plot is missing most of the tops. About the only green is the top seeded winter rye, oats, and winter wheat I planted on Labor Day. But the bulbs are still there.


This just blows my mind every time I hear it said. My deer wont hit the brassica plots until Jan/Feb and i've been planting them for years.

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[4wanderingeyes]

The deer start hitting mine hard about the middle of August. It seems about right after I fertilize, they dont stay out of it. I ended up getting decent bulbs/tubers before they ate all of the greens, and they are chewing them up at a good rate now. If it werent for the grains I planted, it would be pretty much a bare plot right now.

Now it isnt a huge plot, it is only 3/4 of an acre, but I have another plot with turnips, and radishes about a half acre as well, then about 3/4 acre of clover. All of my plots get over seeded in winter rye, oats, and winter wheat on Labor day. But the radish and turnips have been a good draw from Aug through December.

 

[j-bird]

You want to see just what the deer are doing to the plot - put out an exclusion cage. Set it out for some given time period and just see what grows inside that never has the chance outside.

 

[bbcoach]

Not sure where you are Bobin but the LC mix is PRETTY hardy. The oats will winter kill at about 20-25 degrees but the rye will be ok and continue to supply food into the winter. I've planted the Mix for several years, here in Eastern NC, and they normally leave the rye and oats alone until the leaves fall off the trees (mid to later part of November here). Then I have the only green food source and they will start Hammering it. Depending on the deer density, I can usually have quality forage until about February where they will keep it nipped right to the ground until early spring. With high deer numbers and brassicas, they seem to nip the tops early. If you have enough growing season left, hit them with a GOOD dose of 34-0-0 and with some rain they will pop back out and grow some more. Five acres of LC's mix should get you into the winter, how far depends on the deer density, how early that hit it and how tall it is before they start hitting it. Keep us posted on how it is doing.

 

[BobinCt]

I'm located in Connecticut. The deer are hitting all of it hard already. I'm surprised how hard seeing there is corn 1/4--1/2 mile north and south of the plots. I knew there would be a lot of deer in this plot, but I figured I would see more in it later in the season rather than now due to browse and corn still available. Hard to imagine seeing more than 16 deer out there.

 

[H20fwler]

I usually put out two one acre plots of mixed brassicas. I'm in a heavy ag area so mine hardly get touched until after few good hard frosts then they keep at them until they are gone.