Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility

Deer destroying food plots

Discussion in 'Food Plots & Habitat Improvement' started by sbrandt300, Aug 1, 2013.

  1. sbrandt300

    sbrandt300 Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2013
    Posts:
    203
    Likes Received:
    0
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Birnamwood, Wisconsin
    Ok guys I feel kind of dumb to be complaining about deer eating my food plots but I'm at a loss. Here's my problem I planted 2 beautiful plot about an acre each of all rape and clover. They have been in about 2 months now and the deer have ate it to the dirt. It's was over a foot high and now it's just stalks and dirt. So my question is what can I plant to focus the deer on that instead of my late season plots? Like would a rye grass and winter wheat be best?
     
  2. Tim Ainsworth

    Tim Ainsworth BHOD Crew

    Joined:
    Nov 1, 2010
    Posts:
    689
    Likes Received:
    38
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    NW Illinois
    Imo, if they are pounding clover so hard that it can't keep up you are going to have a hard time finding any plant that will outlast the pressure you are experiencing. Clover can take a real beating and on a well established plot, I haven't ever seen deer completely wipe a plot out.
    I would stick with the clover. Plant a fall food plot in rye and or wheat, I prefer Rye for it's soil benefits and allopathic characteristics. This will attract the deer all fall as well as improve your soil. Then in late winter/ early spring frost seed Alice, Kopu II and Jumbo Ladino at 5-8 # per acre (I always go heavy). Fertilize at this time as well. Allow the rye to grow as well. Mow the rye just before it "goes to head" and there should be plenty of clover hiding underneath. Continue to mow the clover plot to kill back any weeds and you will have a great plot for up to 5 years or more. It is important to mow clover throughout the year to help fight back the weeds and encourage more growth. If all is done correctly the plot should be beautiful and the deer won't be able to keep up.
     
  3. BJE80

    BJE80 Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Jan 2, 2009
    Posts:
    14,267
    Likes Received:
    277
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Central and Northern Wisconsin
    As Tim said, Clover provides the most tonage out there to keep up. My only question would be is what type of clover did you plant? A Ladino white clover will give you the most tonage to keep up as good as possible but maybe that would of not even kept up?
     
  4. Slugger

    Slugger Grizzled Veteran

    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2012
    Posts:
    8,583
    Likes Received:
    9,994
    Dislikes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Central MO
    You need a bigger plot or thin the herd this year.
     
  5. Buck master

    Buck master Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Jun 23, 2013
    Posts:
    340
    Likes Received:
    1
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Michigan
    What you can do is put fencing around the some of the plot to the let the deer eat the outside stuff and then come deer season, take all the wire off. There is a lot of videos on youtube or growingdeer.tv that show you how to do this. That's what I did this year.
     
  6. sycamoretwitch

    sycamoretwitch Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2011
    Posts:
    2,283
    Likes Received:
    3,178
    Dislikes Received:
    2
    Location:
    West Central Indiana
    Plot saver and Milogranite will do the trick.

    Also you should consider putting up a scarecrow.
     
  7. tynimiller

    tynimiller Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2011
    Posts:
    13,050
    Likes Received:
    4,852
    Dislikes Received:
    5
    Card board cut out of Pat?? :)
     
  8. sycamoretwitch

    sycamoretwitch Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2011
    Posts:
    2,283
    Likes Received:
    3,178
    Dislikes Received:
    2
    Location:
    West Central Indiana
    LMAO picking on Pat while he is fishing in Michigan. A scarecrow named Pat-O-Plotter - deer shutter at the thought of walking near the Pat-O-Plotter... Yeah that might do it!
     
  9. tynimiller

    tynimiller Legendary Woodsman

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2011
    Posts:
    13,050
    Likes Received:
    4,852
    Dislikes Received:
    5
    Hmmmm.....this could be the start of something epic!
     
  10. sycamoretwitch

    sycamoretwitch Die Hard Bowhunter

    Joined:
    Aug 9, 2011
    Posts:
    2,283
    Likes Received:
    3,178
    Dislikes Received:
    2
    Location:
    West Central Indiana
    Lol let's just see how good that Monster Raxx and Covert is with a Pat-O-Plotter out...
     
  11. sbrandt300

    sbrandt300 Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2013
    Posts:
    203
    Likes Received:
    0
    Dislikes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Birnamwood, Wisconsin
    On our property in birnamwood, wi we are under a very tight management program were if we are not going to put it on the wall we do not shoot it!!! This year after taking with my father-in-law "landowner" it is time to start harvesting some of the does. In the last few years only about 5 does have been taken on our land which is 300 acres. We came to the conclusion that this years is going to be a doe management year. Only in moderation tho.....I want to say thank you for the helpful tips. I plan on increasing the size of our big food plots even tho it may be a ill late in the year...just to keep the deer on our tract of land. In up coming years we plan on going really big and putting up fencing and more than doubling the size of existing plot. Again thank you all for the helpful tips and your thoughts......may your shots be short and blood trails be shorter!

    Scott
     
  12. dbl lung

    dbl lung Weekend Warrior

    Joined:
    Jun 4, 2010
    Posts:
    724
    Likes Received:
    618
    Dislikes Received:
    12
    Location:
    west central wi
    Milorganite is the key to your success. Not only does it give a boost of nitrogen but its human feces so for about 3 weeks to a month the deer wont be in it. Works every year for me.
     

Share This Page