Plants every mule deer hunter should know

[Plainsman79]

Hunted a burn this past week and thought I’d share a few photos of fire-weed post frost. It’s very prolific throughout the burn. I noticed about 50% of all the tops were clipped off from browsing.

 

[Tperdue]

Great post!

 

[watson138]

Wow, tons of valuable info here

 

[highcountrymuley]

This stuff was getting hammered by deer mid September in Central CO around 10k ft. Pre first frost. Mainly in a moist low-lying area but also tucked in the woods where I would find a patch of it. Help identifying appreciated.

 

[Bull_n_heat]

This stuff was getting hammered by deer mid September in Central CO around 10k ft. Pre first frost. Mainly in a moist low-lying area but also tucked in the woods where I would find a patch of it. Help identifying appreciated.

Hard to tell with certainly from that photo, but I might guess either geranium or hollyhock. How tall was it and did it seem to have a stiffer (almost more "woody") stem? If the latter, I would lean more towards hollyhock.

The taller, dried out stuff is cow parsnip (not that that helps...), which is generally not something I would think they would eat much, but can provide some cover when they are foraging beneath it.

 

[highcountrymuley]

I think it was 2 to 3 ft tall and a kind of reed-like stem. Big leaves

 

[Bull_n_heat]

I think it was 2 to 3 ft tall and a kind of reed-like stem. Big leaves

Sounds like Hollyhock to me. Regardless of what you call it, remember it and look for it in other spots!

 

[highcountrymuley]

It seemed like they were really keying in on it as it died just before first frost. Thanks!

 

[Mattskeen]

Awesome post thanks for putting that together!

 

[Gato2]

Very Helpful. Thanks to everyone !

 

[highcountrymuley]

Thanks B.I.H. I think it was this type of plant which I had photographed earlier in the season. Hollyhock?

 

[HilltopHitman]

Anybody have any experience with snowbrush ceanothus? I’ve seen deer and killed one nice buck in it. It holds its leaves into winter, they seem to kinda curl up a bit. All experiences I’ve seen deer in it was during heavy snow and mid winter. I’ve now been keen to focus on it but it could just be better bedding?