Deer food and hay maker

[warrington]

What is the best thin to plant in the summer for the deer that will provide them
With food and also will get tall enough to cut for hay

[warrington]

Right now planted wheat and oats and will get to cut them for hay

[justin156bc]

we plant hybrid Sudan hay gives good cover decent protein content and it grows 8-9ft tall.

[unclefish]

Alfalfa is hands down IMO the best thing that deer actually prefer to eat and makes a summer hay crop. Baling it actually encourages new tender plant growth that deer really love...win-win!! But you got to have your soil pH real close to 7.

[warrington]

Will the alfalfa grow in Abilene or is it too hot. Also, wont it come back each year?

[unclefish]

Originally Posted by warrington

Will the alfalfa grow in Abilene or is it too hot. Also, wont it come back each year?

Yes it will grow fine in Abilene if you have moisture and it will come back every year. They have varieties with low dormancy in the winter. It should last 4-5 years and then you might have to re-plant.

You have to get your soil right though....its critical.

[giterrell]

very interesting...We have a 6-7 acre hay field and if deer love alfalfa so much, it makes me reconsider.

[KactusKiller]

For alfalfa u really need irrigation. We had a field when I lived in sweetwater but it had a pivot system on it. We didn't have any deer on our place at the time, but if you do it will be a magnet!