As many of you read in my post re "Big Antler Experiment" I gave our results with food plots. In short, the plots that we have planted over the years have failed to attract deer.
I started my deer hunting in East Texas in the Trinity area north of Houston. Our rancher planted large Oat Patches strictly for cattle consumption but the deer flocked to them, especially at night. This same approach was used on a place in south Texas in Maverick County with the same flocking of deer to the oats. It was part of the camp culture to spotlight a field and see all of those glowing eyes and deer that we never saw in the daylight. This was at a time before trail camera and baiting with corn and we hunted simply by patterning bucks and watching trails with the hope that we would be there when the big buck cruised through.
The "Big Antler Experiment" ranch is east of San Antonio and the soil analysis shows that it is good soil with plenty of base components. The rancher has thirty years of experience and appropriate equipment to properly prepare soils and to fertilize as necessary. Since the high fence went up 9 years ago, he has had 16-20% free access protein available to the deer and has planted oats for cattle in a 30-acre field and has planted a mixture of oats, ryegrass, and 3 type of peas in three separate deer food plots of approximately 2 acres each. These plots have been successful with an excellent stand of desired plants. Unfortunately, the deer have never utilized the oat patch or the food plots extensively and we end up turning the cattle in to use up the goodies.
With all that said, now to the issue. What suggestions does anyone have that we might plant that would attract deer? I have read about beets, radishes, and carrots. Has anyone in south Texas had experience with those plantings? What other possibilities are there?
I started my deer hunting in East Texas in the Trinity area north of Houston. Our rancher planted large Oat Patches strictly for cattle consumption but the deer flocked to them, especially at night. This same approach was used on a place in south Texas in Maverick County with the same flocking of deer to the oats. It was part of the camp culture to spotlight a field and see all of those glowing eyes and deer that we never saw in the daylight. This was at a time before trail camera and baiting with corn and we hunted simply by patterning bucks and watching trails with the hope that we would be there when the big buck cruised through.
The "Big Antler Experiment" ranch is east of San Antonio and the soil analysis shows that it is good soil with plenty of base components. The rancher has thirty years of experience and appropriate equipment to properly prepare soils and to fertilize as necessary. Since the high fence went up 9 years ago, he has had 16-20% free access protein available to the deer and has planted oats for cattle in a 30-acre field and has planted a mixture of oats, ryegrass, and 3 type of peas in three separate deer food plots of approximately 2 acres each. These plots have been successful with an excellent stand of desired plants. Unfortunately, the deer have never utilized the oat patch or the food plots extensively and we end up turning the cattle in to use up the goodies.
With all that said, now to the issue. What suggestions does anyone have that we might plant that would attract deer? I have read about beets, radishes, and carrots. Has anyone in south Texas had experience with those plantings? What other possibilities are there?
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