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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jan 1, 2017 21:30:47 GMT -5
I planted a mixture of brassica, turnips and radishes. Honey hole is the name of it and the deer won't touch it in my area. I planted turnips another time before and same results. Deer just do not eat them in my area. I guess some areas the deer love them and other areas they have better things to eat. My deer seem to be picky eaters for a wild animal. They grew up eating soybeans and corn, and these seem to be their favorites. They did go crazy over my sunflowers as they were growing, but this doesn't do me much good during hunting season. Sure they like the clover and sweetpeas that I planted, but I'm wanting something they will do back-flips over. I'm planting corn next year for them; I'm hoping it also becomes a bedding area. If nothing else, it could be good for late season hunting when the other crops are harvested. |
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Post by HuntMeister on Jan 2, 2017 19:25:11 GMT -5
Was on the hunting grounds yesterday eve. Plots are not so vibrant green anymore.  Many holes in the ground where radishes used to be growing and numerous radishes laying half eaten on the ground and the aroma was pretty rank!  |
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Post by swilk on Jan 3, 2017 15:26:43 GMT -5
I planted a mixture of brassica, turnips and radishes. Honey hole is the name of it and the deer won't touch it in my area. I planted turnips another time before and same results. Deer just do not eat them in my area. I guess some areas the deer love them and other areas they have better things to eat. They say to give it time .... a few years even. Im not sure who "they" are or why "they" know more than others but that is what they say. My deer took to them the very first year but I had read on the QDMA forums that it sometimes takes time. |
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Post by steiny on Jan 4, 2017 10:00:43 GMT -5
Yep!
If you've never had turnips in your area, you have to train the deer to eat them. First 2-3 years mine didn't see much use, now they get hammered every year.
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Post by boonechaser on Jan 4, 2017 10:24:53 GMT -5
They absolutely destroy them at my place. Planted 3 acres of Whitetail Institutes Winter Greens. Tops completely gone and nearly all radishes and turnips have been dug up. Went by plot last night to fill a feeder and there were 14 deer in plot milling around trying to dig up remaining bulbs.
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Post by steiny on Jan 4, 2017 10:57:54 GMT -5
I intentionally stay out of and away from my plots this time of year and leave them to the deer.
They usually reward me with some shed antlers.
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Post by boonechaser on Jan 4, 2017 11:06:37 GMT -5
I am out once every 8-10 days to fill feeders as I supplemental feed. I put feeders in plots or fields to maximize there use. Deer rarely leave fields when I'm out as I think they have figured out goodies are on way.
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Post by Woody Williams on Jan 4, 2017 11:19:39 GMT -5
I've planted radishes and purple top turnips for awhile now and I've never seen an actual bulb on the plants that was dug up.
First decent day In get I'll head op with a spade and see if I can dig a few up. Then maybe the deer will get the hint?
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Post by bill9068 on Jan 4, 2017 11:34:52 GMT -5
I've planted radishes and purple top turnips for awhile now and I've never seen an actual bulb on the plants that was dug up. First decent day In get I'll head op with a spade and see if I can dig a few up. Then maybe the deer will get the hint? I had the same experience with turnips, usually disc them under. |
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jan 4, 2017 11:43:13 GMT -5
My turnips will bulge out of the ground, and then they'll get them. They will take bites out of them, but in no way devour them. They will eat the greens though.
I hope corn will grow in there. I have a low area where not much of anything will grow. This use to be a horse pasture. Maybe lots of waste ran off this way. I have put lime down, and will put more.
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Post by steiny on Jan 4, 2017 11:52:07 GMT -5
Interesting observations.
Heck, I watch deer pull a turnip up by the leaves, chew all the leaves like a wood chipper then take the turnip in their mouth. Comical to watch, looks like a squirrel with a cheek full of nuts.
John - I'd think twice on planting corn. It's not easy for the average food plotter to get a good stand of corn that will produce anything. You have to keep corn weed free, and it requires a whole lot of expensive nitrogen. Soybeans on the other hand grow quite easily. Deer love the green plants all summer and early fall, then start hitting the beans in pods when it gets cold.
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Post by swilk on Jan 4, 2017 11:59:04 GMT -5
My plot resembles a cattle pasture .... These were taken about 10 days ago .... there really isnt much left of them now. I collected soil samples from this plot as well as where my planned plot is going in and sent it off for analysis. Hopefully I can take the plot from the 30% or so of coverage and growth that I am now getting up to near 100%.   |
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Post by swilk on Jan 4, 2017 12:04:20 GMT -5
Interesting observations. Heck, I watch deer pull a turnip up by the leaves, chew all the leaves like a wood chipper then take the turnip in their mouth. Comical to watch, looks like a squirrel with a cheek full of nuts. We watched the buck my dad killed do that very thing for 10 minutes before he shot him. Rip a radish out of the ground and eat the entire thing .... head tilting back and from side to side to maneuver the thing while he ate it. |
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jan 4, 2017 12:08:32 GMT -5
Interesting observations. Heck, I watch deer pull a turnip up by the leaves, chew all the leaves like a wood chipper then take the turnip in their mouth. Comical to watch, looks like a squirrel with a cheek full of nuts. John - I'd think twice on planting corn. It's not easy for the average food plotter to get a good stand of corn that will produce anything. You have to keep corn weed free, and it requires a whole lot of expensive nitrogen. Soybeans on the other hand grow quite easily. Deer love the green plants all summer and early fall, then start hitting the beans in pods when it gets cold. I'm going to give it my best shot once, and see how it goes. If the benefits are worth everything, I do it again. If just the stalks would grow and no corn, I would be happy. I'm wanting a feeling of shelter for them. My sweet peas and soybeans did well this year and they liked them; they still graze in the clover. Even though I'm feeding them corn now, they still seem to like a variety when it's available. |
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Post by boonechaser on Jan 4, 2017 13:27:16 GMT -5
Interesting observations. Heck, I watch deer pull a turnip up by the leaves, chew all the leaves like a wood chipper then take the turnip in their mouth. Comical to watch, looks like a squirrel with a cheek full of nuts. John - I'd think twice on planting corn. It's not easy for the average food plotter to get a good stand of corn that will produce anything. You have to keep corn weed free, and it requires a whole lot of expensive nitrogen. Soybeans on the other hand grow quite easily. Deer love the green plants all summer and early fall, then start hitting the beans in pods when it gets cold. I'm going to give it my best shot once, and see how it goes. If the benefits are worth everything, I do it again. If just the stalks would grow and no corn, I would be happy. I'm wanting a feeling of shelter for them. My sweet peas and soybeans did well this year and they liked them; they still graze in the clover. Even though I'm feeding them corn now, they still seem to like a variety when it's available. Just spread 100-150 lbs. 15-15-15 and disk in or if have fertilizer boxes on planter wait till planting to apply. I generally following up with 50 lbs. acre top dressing of 15-15-15 when corn is about a foot tall. My corn always has done well with most stalks producing 2 ears. Corn I am giving you is Roundup Ready if you want to hit with a small dose of roundup to keep weeds out. I generally lightly spot spray with backpack sprayer as I do not like to spray ROUNDUP directly onto the plant for deer to consume. (That's just me). I generally do 3-4 acre corn plot each year. |
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Post by Jamie Brooks 1John5:13 on Jan 4, 2017 14:45:17 GMT -5
I'm going to give it my best shot once, and see how it goes. If the benefits are worth everything, I do it again. If just the stalks would grow and no corn, I would be happy. I'm wanting a feeling of shelter for them. My sweet peas and soybeans did well this year and they liked them; they still graze in the clover. Even though I'm feeding them corn now, they still seem to like a variety when it's available. Just spread 100-150 lbs. 15-15-15 and disk in or if have fertilizer boxes on planter wait till planting to apply. I generally following up with 50 lbs. acre top dressing of 15-15-15 when corn is about a foot tall. My corn always has done well with most stalks producing 2 ears. Corn I am giving you is Roundup Ready if you want to hit with a small dose of roundup to keep weeds out. I generally lightly spot spray with backpack sprayer as I do not like to spray ROUNDUP directly onto the plant for deer to consume. (That's just me). I generally do 3-4 acre corn plot each year. Is the original 100-150lbs of fertilizer / acre? I will spray to kill all growth before I seed with non-residual spray. I can spot spray too. I'll put down some more lime too. Thanks! |
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Post by boonechaser on Jan 4, 2017 17:32:29 GMT -5
Just spread 100-150 lbs. 15-15-15 and disk in or if have fertilizer boxes on planter wait till planting to apply. I generally following up with 50 lbs. acre top dressing of 15-15-15 when corn is about a foot tall. My corn always has done well with most stalks producing 2 ears. Corn I am giving you is Roundup Ready if you want to hit with a small dose of roundup to keep weeds out. I generally lightly spot spray with backpack sprayer as I do not like to spray ROUNDUP directly onto the plant for deer to consume. (That's just me). I generally do 3-4 acre corn plot each year. Is the original 100-150lbs of fertilizer / acre? I will spray to kill all growth before I seed with non-residual spray. I can spot spray too. I'll put down some more lime too. Thanks! |
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Post by boonechaser on Jan 4, 2017 17:36:18 GMT -5
Yep John approx. 150 lbs acre disk in. My planter has dry fertilizer boxes and drops beside corn row when I plant. But I have broadcast and tilled in before with good results. If you spray roundup pre tillage you shouldn't have much grass, weeds. Corn grows pretty quickly and our grows grass weeds usely.
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Post by MuzzleLoader on Jan 4, 2017 17:50:31 GMT -5
I've planted radishes and purple top turnips for awhile now and I've never seen an actual bulb on the plants that was dug up. First decent day In get I'll head op with a spade and see if I can dig a few up. Then maybe the deer will get the hint? I had the same experience with turnips, usually disc them under. Never had luck with turnips. Big as softballs, most rotted and the smell wasn't pleasant. |
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Post by bill9068 on Jan 4, 2017 18:01:07 GMT -5
I had the same experience with turnips, usually disc them under. Never had luck with turnips. Big as softballs, most rotted and the smell wasn't pleasant. I'll give them another shot next year. |
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