In the latest QDMA magazine it talks about how deer may not adjust to a food plot in the first year or two. But it depends on certain factors including how much other Ag is in your area. I want to learn more about this topic. For those of you that have started new food plots, discuss how the deer reacted to your new food plot. How long did it take before it was a major asset on your property? Was the first year effective or did it take a few years to really see the effects? Is there anything that you found to speed up the process of getting deer to use your food plot? Please also post a basic description of your property and how much other AG is there in your area.
I planted a nice brassica plot 2 years ago that came in beautifully. It was very lush and had big plants all the way through. I was excited as all get out for that first frost. The first frost came and went and to my surprise they didn't touch the plants. They never did eat any of the plot and it just turned to weeds the following summer. I was dissapointed, so I did some reading and research about food plots and introducing new sources to them. I found that alot of times with new food sources this is normal. I read about other guys that have had the same experiences. In these deer core area, where I planted the brassicas, I'm willing to bet that they have never seen a brassica food plot. That may explain why I had the results I did. I also read that once the deer do actually eat the plants they realize just how good they are and become more acustom to eating them on a regular basis. With my clover plots I never had this problem because clover is natural around here and I think they are used to eating it in the first place. I'm not as discouraged now that I know this and will be trying another brassica/turnip plot hopefully this year. Hopefully this is not the case for you Brad and your deer like what you introduce to them immediately. This was just my first hand experience though. Good luck!
This is almost exactly word for word the article I read. Sometimes you almost have to show the deer to eat the plant. Did you keep trying with the brassicas? Did they deer eventually come around and get used to them?
No, I didn't keep trying with the brassicas. Mostly because it was new to me and I just kind of figured that they didn't/wouldn't work. After reading though and knowing what I know now I will be trying them again. When I do it though I will be mixing something else with them; either turnips, oats, or winter wheat most likely. Just something that will hopefully draw them into the plot to get them eating the brassicas. My first plot was only brassicas and that could have been another reason the deer didn't get to them. I am excited to try again though, hopefully this summer
What is interesting to me about this topic is that you have others (Like Greg) that the deer right on the food plot right away.
I've had beautiful lush plots in the past, mainly of brand name mixes that had trails through them with no browse. Instead of sticking with it I would change brands or seed types trying to find something they would eat. IMO, as mentioned if it's not native and they won't know if they like it until they try it.
I know what you mean Brad. My plot was absolutely perfect. It was my first real food plot where I did everything right. I was thinking slam dunk for sure. It definately turned me off a little on food plots. The internet is great though for learning about others experiences. I hope you have immediate success like Greg and others. Like I said too, my clover plots have been awesome. My trail cams tell me this on a regular basis.
We've discovered that deer will discover your food plot almost over night...however it may take some deer longer to adjust and use them as a food source, especially when introducing a new food. The most common example is the first introduction of radishes or turnips to deer. In some areas deer have absolutely no clue what they are, nor do they know how awesome and sweet of a food source they are late in the season. As always though, exceptions are everywhere; as deer vary from deer to deer just as much as people do. It's one of the reason food plots are simply awesome, watching how each deer utilizes this new found habitat improvement is simply amazing.
I will also state one of the biggest things you can do to help deer want to utlize your food plots, especially the smaller ones, is to MAKE THEM SECURE AND SAFE. Have minimal entrance/exit points (I like 3 primary ones) and thick cover otherwise throughout plot edges. Deer are less afraid of what they can't see than what they can, by eliminating that aspect they'll feel much safer in your plots. Also by giving them 3 to 4 entrances or exits they know where danger will come from (unless something trounces through the thick cover making an astounding amount of noise). That makes them feel safe as well. If you treat your creation of food plots like the creation of buck beds or deer beds you'll begin to see multiple entrance/exit points and cover are CRUCIAL in both, which is why I always think cover-cover-cover and then 3 entrance/exit points on every single food plot I do.
I have two different parcels about twenty miles apart. One is north of the other. On the northern parcel there is no ag for 7 plus miles. On that parcel the results were immediate. Deer were there almost overnight. The southern parcel is in an ag area. I have planted Brassicas and turnips and they came up really well three sperate years. The deer would not and did not touch it. However, the clover plots get hammered hard in both parcels. Clover is about all I plant on the South parcel. On the North parcel I have yet to plant somethings they wont devour.
Dean, what would you predict will happen on my land since I am in the transition area from ag to big woods. Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
I really believe they will hammer the clover and any Brassica's the first year and in to the future. I think there is a very slim chance that they will ignore the Brassicas the the first year.
My deer ussually begin to utilize it right away. This is a brand new plot I planted last year. sprayed it with round up fourth of july. worked it up planted a brassicas mix. The picture dates speak for themselves. I shot the wide eight second morning of bow season forty yards off this plot. biggest thing for response will be are the deer used to what you are planting! If you want to introduce them to brassicas plant them in with something they are familar with, like wheat, clover, or oats! Remeber fertilizer and lime sweeten the plant, if you take a bite of the plant and it is bitter, so is your soil. Deer like sweet tasting greens!
