Jewel Weed...

[chummer]

It seems every year at this time deer disappear from my plots. I always forget about Jewel weed. I have acres of it around me, it grows in every wet area. The browsing is unbelievable on it. Has anyone else experienced this. Could a common weed take over a deer's diet to the point plots are almost abandoned. This is 4 years now I have noticed this trend. It works out great because I did my final mowing and deer won't start hitting them again till September.

 

[Native Hunter]

I wouldn't say they abandon everything else for it here, but they do hammer it hard.

 

[Seriously]

They sure hit it hard by me as well...doesnt take them long to go from thigh high to ankle high!

 

[phil@thesidehill]

yup Jewel weed is big draw here. I have a little wet spot along the edge of my back yard and the Jewel was waist high about 3 weeks, but now its like its completely gone...just short nibbled stems with the tips turning brown.

 

[j-bird]

Deer are browsers and by nature they will eat whatever suits them at that time and it tends to be different things. Jewel weed is no different - when it gets to a certain stage the deer will use it but will use other things as well. I have 100's of acres of soybeans around me and the deer will still browse on other plants even at the same edge of a soybean field. Same happens with other plants, berries and nuts as they become available to reach that stage the deer like.