WHAT COULD I PLANT NOW THAT WOULD BENEFIT THE DEER?

I DONT KNOW BUT IF YOU ARE AS LOUD IN REAL LIFE AS YOU ARE ON THE INTERNET YOULL SCARE THEM ALL AWAY BEFORE THEY CAN EAT!


WE'LL NEED TO KNOW WHERE YOU ARE LOCATED, WHAT TYPE OF SOIL YOU HAVE, HOW MUCH SPACE YOU HAVE TO PLANT, ETC., LOUD ETC.!

I don't understand about being loud on the internet? But anyway, in Lee County South of Lexington. I know it is too late for oats or rye. Maybe turnips or something like that?

all caps = yelling on the intertubes

Same question as OP. Wilson county, Sandy soil. Already have about 60 acres of coastal hay.

I've never had luck with winter wheat this late in the year. You might since your further south. Latest I've successfully planted it was early to mid December. That was mainly due to a warmer and mild December.

If I were you, I'd wait and maybe plant some soybeans or even milo this spring. But I will say spring food plots are much more difficult to keep in the hot Texas summer months. We have never had beans get bigger than 10-12" before either they burn up or get eaten to the ground.

Maybe try some milo and beans planted in the feb/March depending on your last freeze date. Then get your ducks in a row to plant wheat this October.

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I've never had luck with winter wheat this late in the year. You might since your further south. Latest I've successfully planted it was early to mid December. That was mainly due to a warmer and mild December.

If I were you, I'd wait and maybe plant some soybeans or even milo this spring. But I will say spring food plots are much more difficult to keep in the hot Texas summer months. We have never had beans get bigger than 10-12" before either they burn up or get eaten to the ground.

Maybe try some milo and beans planted in the feb/March depending on your last freeze date. Then get your ducks in a row to plant wheat this October.

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Are milo and soybeans a "go-to" spring/summer food plot plant?
I've always planted fall/winter plots, but am thinking about doing my first spring/summer plot this coming spring.

Beans could be considered as more of a "go to" type plot. Milo might not be as common, but deer definitely will eat milo. And as an added bonus, you could have a good dove food plot with milo. You could shred a few strips 3-4 weeks before dove season and have a dual purpose plot. Heck, depending on your food plot size, you could buy some "dove blend" sunflowers just for dove.

We are going to plant a dove sunflower plot this spring. About 10 acres. I've thought about adding milo so the deer could have something to eat as well and it would be used for dove, too. I might split our drill/planter. Or just do half and half.

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I don't understand about being loud on the internet? But anyway, in Lee County South of Lexington. I know it is too late for oats or rye. Maybe turnips or something like that?

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You're probably too late for much of anything this winter. You're growing season is very different than mine but I won't be able to plant anything until at least late April.

I believe in variety, so plant something different than what the deer can already find in the area. Then plant "mixes" in your plots. I am not a fan of the pre-mixed seed blends available because the seed sizes are very different and it can be difficult to broadcast evenly.

When deciding what to plant try to figure out your "critical need" time and plant something that will address that. If it's late winter you don't want to plant something that will be completely eaten before February rolls around for example. Turnips and radishes are a good option for that, planted in September in your area. If late summer is your "need time" then clover and chicory would be a good option.

In the spring I plant a mix of sunflowers, milo, soybeans, and cowpeas. In other plots I have red clover and chicory. Then I have a wheat/rye/clover plot.

Be careful that if you plant "candy" plants you protect them in some way. Soybeans, sunflowers (in some places), lupine. These are plants that deer will just smash and totally obliterate in a few nights if you don't A) plant a lot, or B) plant a mix of things so that deer don't find it all. This varies a lot on your deer density and plot location as well.

Also, someone said they had coastal. Coastal is pretty much total s*** for any wildlife. If you're wanting wildlife then nuke the coastal. If you have livestock or are haying it that's fine, but if you think it's providing anything for wildlife it's not.

You're kinda between planting times for most anything right now. Might as well wait until it warms up and plant a mixture for spring crop(s).

But here is something you can research until things warm up......

If you are bored with the typical crops, you might try something a little different. The jury is still out, but some good research coming out on sunn hemp :
http://www.petcherseeds.com/about-sunn-hemp/sunn-hemp-for-deer/sunn-hemp-as-a-summer-deer-food-plot/

http://www.petcherseeds.com/sunn-hemp-for-cattle/

Good spring/summer crop that actually is beneficial for your fall food plot soil! This will be my first year, but more and more people are planting it! Grows in lots of soil types and is drought tolerant. Can't wait to see how it works out.

Austrian winter pea, Oats, Ryegrass.

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Austrian winter pea, Oats, Ryegrass.

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No, no, no on ryegrass. Rye grain, yes. Ryegrass, no.

Deer barely utilize it and it will take over everything.

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Austrian winter pea, Oats, Ryegrass.

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No, no, no on ryegrass. Rye grain, yes. Ryegrass, no.

Deer barely utilize it and it will take over everything.

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Ya what Sean said....plant cereal rye that is meant to be harvested. Ryegrass is for overseeding pastures or keeping your lawn green in the winter.

I agree with buying your seed separately and not as an all in one mix. Usually you can get move "cheap seed" like wheat or cereal rye, than winter peas or clover. Ya, you will have to make a few more passes over your plot, but I feel like it is worth it.

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You're kinda between planting times for most anything right now. Might as well wait until it warms up and plant a mixture for spring crop(s).

But here is something you can research until things warm up......

If you are bored with the typical crops, you might try something a little different. The jury is still out, but some good research coming out on sunn hemp :
http://www.petcherseeds.com/about-sunn-hemp/sunn-hemp-for-deer/sunn-hemp-as-a-summer-deer-food-plot/

http://www.petcherseeds.com/sunn-hemp-for-cattle/

Good spring/summer crop that actually is beneficial for your fall food plot soil! This will be my first year, but more and more people are planting it! Grows in lots of soil types and is drought tolerant. Can't wait to see how it works out.

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Sounds interesting does anyone include it in a blend?