Deer land management

[S-3 ranch]

While soybeans are great, the deer would blow through them with that small amount planted just as soon as they sprout.

We planted awnless wheat, crimson and arrowleaf clover this year for our fall plots and the deer are enjoying it. The deer will eat the awnless wheat heads in the Spring better apposed to traditional awned wheat.

But yeah, you'll be pissed if you do that small amount of acreage in beans.

With that amount of acreage, you could do more food plots at that 1/2 to 1 acre size. I'd do it close to the real thick areas and planted pines aka bedding.

Vetch, daikon radishes , buckwheat, sun hemp in spring , wheat , clover ect in fall
Beans need something to climb like millets stalks or sun hemp

“”
For winter and spring deer plots in Virginia, focus on
Cereal Grains (Winter Wheat, Rye, Oats) for quick green-up and energy, and Brassicas (Turnips, Radishes, Kale) for bulbs and protein, especially after a frost, while Spring plantings should feature high-protein legumes like Clover, Alfalfa, and Chicory, plus Protein Peas for antler/fawn development. A mix of these provides year-round nutrition, with grains/brassicas for winter energy and legumes/peas in spring “”

Plantings to Attract Deer

Food plots are valuable for attracting wildlife to specific areas for hunting or viewing, but do not substitute for management activities that improve habitat.

dwr.virginia.gov

 

[ArrowForester]

The family isn’t worried about tree value. The focus is enjoying the land and making it as happy and natural as possible to be the best piece of land it can be. It’s not relied on for any income and is there to enjoy

That's good to hear. An awesome goal when feasible and very freeing to work toward objectives without value constraints. I would still encourage folks to consider economic values when implementing large projects because they can be done in a way that they pay for themselves or they can improve future values while also meeting habitat objectives. The two are not mutually exclusive.

Please don't take anything I am saying as any kind of sales pitch. Forestry and habitat management is what I do because I love it and I just want anyone managing their resources to be happy. And when I say "forest value" I do not mean just timber dollars. I mean ecosystem, native habitats, recreational use, timber dollars, land values, invasive species control, and on and on... I don't rely on timber sales for my forest management or my business and I hope it didn't sound like I was trying to get in your business.

 

[K9kodi]

No offense taken at all. I appreciate the pov. I agree w you

 

[dr.mooseknuckles]

I would plant sorghum around the edges of your food plot. Put whatever mix of cereal grain, clover, brassicas, etc in the plot itself and border the plot on 2-3 sides with sorghum, depending on what sort of shape you want.

Technically, the more plant species you put in a fall plot mix the better.

 

[WoolOverAll]

I would highly suggest looking into native mixes. I do native food plots for my land and its brought in all sorts of life. In particular, bunch grasses are going to go over well if you want turkey/ground birds.

 

[K9kodi]

Yea, I’m putting together a game plan now

 

[Jmedin]

Have you thought about doing some burns? The MSU Deer lab highly recommend doing burns.

 

[K9kodi]

I’ve been working a person from that company. Just recently I shoukd say. We’re gonna do a walk through and make a plan. I know I can burn, I know how to lay glysophate, I know how to hinge cut and clear cut, I know how to select cut or thin, but I’m not sure I can do it all where it needs to be done in what fashion and time frames. I called in a lrofessinal