Trying to get my yard deer to eat some alfalfa - TexasBowhunter.com Community Discussion Forums

Brute Killer · 02-14-2021, 04:26 PM

I got a 3 strand alfalfa bale yesterday at the feed store, and the deer didn't seem to know what to do with it. I left it out whole for them where I normally feed them. This is what I did today.
I had to seriously crop this picture to get it to load.
Name: 20210214_151631.jpg
Views: 962
Size: 307.0 KB

Name: 20210214_151631.jpg
Views: 962
Size: 307.0 KB

SwampRanger · 02-14-2021, 04:36 PM

Good idea. In to see if it works

kingranch · 02-14-2021, 04:47 PM

Just use a bag of that chaffhaye it's like gold
I had deer that would eat the dirt it was on.

PeePaw on Fork · 02-14-2021, 04:49 PM

Molasses

Sika · 02-14-2021, 06:23 PM

It can take them awhile to get on it if they've never had it before. Once they start eating it there will be a deer on it until it's gone.

Take em · 02-14-2021, 06:30 PM

I tried some in Weatherford and they ate some but in the end had to pick up and throw away.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

JWHunt · 02-14-2021, 06:30 PM

Pull it apart more so they can get to the leaves better.

Mertzon Man · 02-14-2021, 09:01 PM

This!

wdtorque · 02-14-2021, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sika

It can take them awhile to get on it if they've never had it before. Once they start eating it there will be a deer on it until it's gone.

Word

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Bayouboy · 02-14-2021, 09:25 PM

You need to bust up the flakes and spread it out.

chaseh · 02-14-2021, 10:21 PM

I bought 2 100lb bales this year, and couldn't get the deer to eat. Cows on the other hand, tore my feed pen down to lick up every last straw

Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

Brute Killer · 02-18-2021, 09:35 AM

I got back to the cabin last night and the deer may have eaten some alfalfa, but it looked mostly like they just dug down into it getting all the corn. I poured more corn on it to encourage them to eat the hay.

Hills of Texas · 02-18-2021, 09:39 AM

Mine just started eating it. The first few nights, they were using it for bedding.

JES · 02-21-2021, 10:53 AM

I put some out at sour place in Aspermont and it scared the deer ran away, they saw it and wouldn’t even come to the feeder until we took it away. I think our deer are the most nervous deer on the planet though...

bgleaton · 02-21-2021, 11:00 AM

Our deer didn’t eat it at first either, just like cottonseed. Once they learn to eat it and like it, they will go through them quickly!

I’m thinking of adding Ladak Alfalfa to our food plots this fall as it’s supposed to be very drought resistant and great for higher pH soils.

Bayouboy · 02-21-2021, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brute Killer

I got back to the cabin last night and the deer may have eaten some alfalfa, but it looked mostly like they just dug down into it getting all the corn. I poured more corn on it to encourage them to eat the hay.

They push their nose into it looking for the leaves.

Mouse · 02-21-2021, 11:37 AM

The elk usually get to it before the mule deer can get to it. Once the elk find it there will be a herd there every night.

Brute Killer · 02-23-2021, 05:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JES

I put some out at sour place in Aspermont and it scared the deer ran away, they saw it and wouldn’t even come to the feeder until we took it away. I think our deer are the most nervous deer on the planet though...

That's crazy!.

cva34 · 02-23-2021, 08:03 AM

I never had any luck with it as hay ..as Green and growing they go nuts over it...But its hard to grow..Its real picky about Soil/PH/weather/moisture

Hogmauler · 02-23-2021, 08:56 AM

They don’t like the stems.

texasdeerhunter · 02-23-2021, 11:11 AM

I’ve never seen deer in East Texas where I hunt eat it. Until this past year. They were so hungry by the time the end of November got here, they were eating 30 mins after I put it out. They prefer the leaves in it vs the stem part

02-14-2021, 04:26 PM	#1
Brute Killer Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Llano. Hunt In: Pleasanton	Trying to get my yard deer to eat some alfalfa I got a 3 strand alfalfa bale yesterday at the feed store, and the deer didn't seem to know what to do with it. I left it out whole for them where I normally feed them. This is what I did today. I had to seriously crop this picture to get it to load.

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

02-14-2021, 04:36 PM	#2
SwampRanger Pope & Young Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: 3rd Coast Hunt In: Batson	Good idea. In to see if it works

02-14-2021, 04:47 PM	#3
kingranch Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: lakeway	Just use a bag of that chaffhaye it's like gold I had deer that would eat the dirt it was on.

02-14-2021, 04:49 PM	#4
PeePaw on Fork Four Point Join Date: Feb 2015	Molasses

02-14-2021, 06:23 PM	#5
Sika Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Llano Hunt In: Hill Country and East TX	It can take them awhile to get on it if they've never had it before. Once they start eating it there will be a deer on it until it's gone.

02-14-2021, 06:30 PM	#6
Take em Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Fort Worth Hunt In: NE Texas	I tried some in Weatherford and they ate some but in the end had to pick up and throw away. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

02-14-2021, 06:30 PM	#7
JWHunt Ten Point Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Beeville, Texas	Pull it apart more so they can get to the leaves better.

02-14-2021, 09:01 PM	#8
Mertzon Man Pope & Young Join Date: Jul 2012	This!

02-14-2021, 09:25 PM	#10
Bayouboy Pope & Young Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: League City Hunt In: East Texas	You need to bust up the flakes and spread it out.

02-14-2021, 10:21 PM	#11
chaseh Four Point Join Date: Mar 2016	I bought 2 100lb bales this year, and couldn't get the deer to eat. Cows on the other hand, tore my feed pen down to lick up every last straw Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

02-18-2021, 09:35 AM	#12
Brute Killer Pope & Young Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Llano. Hunt In: Pleasanton	I got back to the cabin last night and the deer may have eaten some alfalfa, but it looked mostly like they just dug down into it getting all the corn. I poured more corn on it to encourage them to eat the hay.

02-18-2021, 09:39 AM	#13
Hills of Texas Eight Point Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Llano Hunt In: Llano	Mine just started eating it. The first few nights, they were using it for bedding.

02-21-2021, 10:53 AM	#14
JES Ten Point Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Richmond Hunt In: Stonewall County	I put some out at sour place in Aspermont and it scared the deer ran away, they saw it and wouldn’t even come to the feeder until we took it away. I think our deer are the most nervous deer on the planet though...

02-21-2021, 11:00 AM	#15
bgleaton Ten Point Join Date: Aug 2012 Hunt In: Menard County, TX	Our deer didn’t eat it at first either, just like cottonseed. Once they learn to eat it and like it, they will go through them quickly! I’m thinking of adding Ladak Alfalfa to our food plots this fall as it’s supposed to be very drought resistant and great for higher pH soils.

02-21-2021, 11:37 AM	#17
Mouse Eight Point Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Denton County Hunt In: Caddo/Big Lake/Datil NM	The elk usually get to it before the mule deer can get to it. Once the elk find it there will be a herd there every night.

02-23-2021, 08:03 AM	#19
cva34 Ten Point Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: van vleck Hunt In: LOOKING	I never had any luck with it as hay ..as Green and growing they go nuts over it...But its hard to grow..Its real picky about Soil/PH/weather/moisture

02-23-2021, 08:56 AM	#20
Hogmauler Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Katy Hunt In: Kerrville	They don’t like the stems.

02-23-2021, 11:11 AM	#21
texasdeerhunter Ten Point Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Lufkin Hunt In: East Texas	I’ve never seen deer in East Texas where I hunt eat it. Until this past year. They were so hungry by the time the end of November got here, they were eating 30 mins after I put it out. They prefer the leaves in it vs the stem part