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?

 

[Muley_]

Thank you!

 

[Ossifrage]

I look forward to reading this whole thread in detail. I provide landowners technical guidance on improving wildlife habitat, including game species, but my experience is mostly with whitetails so this is a very helpful post!

 

[Bull_n_heat]

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

Sorry for the delay here - This is actually Corn Lilly. I wouldn't have pegged this for great forage, but I rarely see it where I am at. I've seen it all over in Colorado though*. I do wonder if deer are actually feeding on something beneath the corn lilly plants and not the corn lilly itself. It looks like there is some understory forbs mixed in there, and I tend to think of corn lilly as one of those larger forbs that has a lot of biomass, but not a lot of nutrition. Nonetheless, if you're seeing deer around it, keep an eye on it!

*My wife tells me there is a festival in Crested Butte where people make scandalous clothing from the leaves.

 

[Bull_n_heat]

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?

We've had some traffic on ceanothus in this thread. I think the general consensus is that the deer don't necesarily use it as forage, but are found in it's proximity often. I know it can provide excellent cover, but when I'm near it, it seems deer are bedding in it, and feeding in other areas. There are likely small forbs and other shrubs mixed in with it that they do eat.

Was it in an otherwise burned area? Where I'm at, if you can find ceanothus and fireweed close to each other, you probably can find some bucks.