5 Reasons Why Planting Rye is Great for Deer

[@stevegermain1222]

Another great video thanks

[@PFHabitat]

Thanks Steve!

[@kokadjooutdoors620]

Been doing the same thing and old cutting next store that also can hunt. Put few of these plots on our land 1/2 to 1/4 acre. Deer on our land daily. Makes nice rotation as only have to mow few times and occasionally seed it

[@PFHabitat]

It is a great low maintenance plot. I'm becoming a bigger fan of perennial plots every year

[@kokadjooutdoors620]

@@PFHabitat don’t have lot of equipment so works for me. Usually to dry in late summer early fall for brassicas.

[@PFHabitat]

Yah there's always a way to get it done, even with simple hand tools

[@transamguy9073]

I like rye as well. Im about to plant some this wkend. My plots seemed to be a failure due to the drought here in ohio

[@PFHabitat]

@transamguy9073 yah I've heard the water really shut off down there. We just got dry the past couple weeks but had plenty of rain this summer

[@chrisschwersenska1670]

College guy, it’s rye grain or winter rye, cereal rye. Rye grass is something totally different. For oats I buy feed oats from Fleet Farm and plant. Grows good and is about $20/bag. Double what it was a few years ago. I do a 50/50 oats/ rye mix.

[@PFHabitat]

@@chrisschwersenska1670 nice combo, oats is certainly an attractive food source during the early season

[@Treyno94]

I plant rye but I do have a question. Does deer grazing hurt the rye? If they eat off the tops will it continue to grow through the fall and pop up in the spring?

[@PFHabitat]

@Treyno94 it handles grazing just fine and yes, it will come back in the spring

[@StevenSmith-7t391]

How do you handle the rye next year in those shady spots where brassica won’t grow

[@PFHabitat]

Spray late June with everything else and reseed labor day weekend

[@Schooloutdoors]

I threw out rye over my brassica plot last week because my brassica has struggled due to lack of rain believe it or not, I have sandy soil and most of the storms missed my area

[@PFHabitat]

@@Schooloutdoors that was us last year, couldn't buy a drop

[@richstafford1245]

Rye is definitely the most versatile tool in food plotting. I started to prefer oats as a nurse crop if I’m going to till. No till, rye all day…

[@PFHabitat]

@richstafford1245 oats definitely makes for a great nurse crop as well. That was always the go to with our alfalfa back when my dad dairy farmed.

[@tristanfu1055]

Any tips on doing rye after rye? I'm planting this weekend because i want the late season food source. I don't necessarily want to plant a summer food source or perrenial in my plot after the rye has done its thing. Can i just let the rye go to seed and mow it next year? Will the rye come back up in the fall without me having to spray and replant next fall? Thanks

[@Schooloutdoors]

I think you will have way too much seed per acre if you let it seed out

[@PFHabitat]

@tristanfu1055 yah it will work. I've done it. It comes in exceedingly heavy (you're basically planting at 40x the normal drill rate) but it will make a thick green carpet. Don't do it too early. You want it young and green for the deer

[@tristanfu1055]

@@PFHabitat thanks

[@PFHabitat]

@@tristanfu1055 no prob!

[@TheLegendaryLbuck12]

So no issues with not covering the seed and throwing it on top of the dirt?

[@PFHabitat]

@TheLegendaryLbuck12 the only issue is the birds. If it lays there too long with no rain to cause germination the turkeys or other birds may find it. I try to time my spreading of seed before a rain if possible

[@TheLegendaryLbuck12]

@@PFHabitat that makes sense thanks for the reply👍. Good luck this season

[@PFHabitat]

You as well!

[@collegeguy14]

Sir please send us a link of any PHD biologist or deer manager that recommends rye grass. I understand you like it but where is the science?

[@PFHabitat]

Ryegrass is garbage, this is cereal rye/winter rye.

[@troybrake5686]

Looks like the rye thatch is sucking the nitrogen out of your dirt!

[@PFHabitat]

@troybrake5686 the brassicas were actually just hit with urea prior to shooting this video