Best Year Round Food Source For Deer

What is the best year round food source? Before I answer that, should you even be planting a year round food source? Here is the best food plot that you can plant to meet the needs of the local deer herd...
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[@charlesschauberger6700]

In December, I hiked through 6 inches of crusty snow to look for patterns of how the deer were walking through my land. I saw limited hoof prints except in my clover patch. The deer were breaking through the snow to get to the clover which stayed green under the snow. By March, it was eaten down to the ground. No question in my mind that clover is the best late-season food. I have far too many alfalfa and soybean fields surrounding me. (West Salem, WI)

[@janitorialguy4436]

Thanks Jeff, you have taught me so much. Every year i binge listen to your playlist at work, you always keep me thinking.

[@daddylee4216]

I mowed my clover/ rye plot from last fall to terminate the rye, but i think i terminated most of the clover too. Had my mower deck as high as possible but the clover hasn't come back very well. Had a lot of rain and mild Temps too. Guess it's time to reseed. Don't cut it too short lol. I have definitely learned that

[@markchesnut6883]

I am surrounded by alfalfa and ag in central Illinois. Very little wooded property in the area.. I have about 5 acres of river bottom soil on a permission property available that does not have cattle run on it. Clover has been the only relatively “shade tolerant” seed I have been able to grow consistently. I did the work to clear about 1/4 acre, lime it, and put seed out for my 10 yr old. It draws a lot of daytime activity. While we aren’t shooting monsters, I love that my son has filled tags the past 2 yrs.

[@Bow-Man]

Love the small clover plot videos !!! TY 👍

[@WobblyRooster]

Clover is amazing. Clethodim and butyrac to control weeds. Frost seed every year to keep it going for years and years to come!

[@billsmith1241]

Great timing! Planted your Perennial Power Plot on 5/6 here in Central MO and it is doing great. Mine is taller than yours and now understand I need to mow! Thanks again for the coaching. Oh, congrats to you and Jenn's new addition.

[@darrenturcotte7799]

I’m loving my 15 acres of clover/alfalfa. Fall seeded last year and now it’s really coming up nice. It’s been a really wet spring it’s a thick carpet. Sprayed 2-4db last week doing a shot of cleth next week. Just seeded another 5 acres of canola now planning on topping it off with winter rye labor day.

[@DirtRoadLife1]

Loved the vid, Jeff, and I have similar luck with clover plots.

[@robertboston9778]

Jeff, I respect and admire you. In my area of big woods in OH we overseed oats early Aug and rye early Sep into all our perennial legume plots, birdsfoot, red and white clover, chicory. It's catch rate appears to be 75-85%. One of your principles is the same food across all the plots- this keeps our browse pressure constant Aug-Mar. Thanks for all you do and keep experimenting! 🏹

[@tymiller4743]

I am astonished this works.....THE Jeff Sturgis says it isn't....

[@robertboston9778]

@@tymiller4743 😉

[@tomgray256]

Another great video…. I have learned so much about food plots from you…I’m hoping to start my own this year… thx again

[@transamguy9073]

I like my clover. Frost seeded it and it came up great. I like the idea of s good qaulity food plot for anlter growth and lactating does. I have my other crops beside my clover

[@ragnarw6600]

My issue is I have a huge hidden field 20 acres if not more, and don’t have big enough mower. Maybe I need to lease out 110 acres to someone that has the equipment.

[@jjnatte9996]

Been too wet get into my foodplots this year. i missed out on beans an corn i was thinking about planting oats. I can probably till by end june this year. We got rain everyday since 1st january it seems like. What time year in northern michigan would plant oats?

[@ThirdLawPair]

I don't always get good rain in the late summer, and many of my spots have less than ideal light and soil conditions. What I do is plant rye in March and let it grow all year. Are there any downsides to this strategy?

[@dmouse522]

My small S shaped clover plot becomes a rut highway every year.

[@timhatfield6367]

My small, somewhat shady spots do really well until all the leaves fall and bury everything. And no, I'm not going to rake them or get my blower out because by the time that takes place, it's already GO TIME !

[@parkerruby5071]

Jeff, can you use that mix in the ultimate no till strategy for the first year to get it established? And how short do you mow?

[@dennismartin7664]

What do you use to mow your plots that won't compact the soil and kill the plants?

[@jakedrew7365]

I have great luck with broadcasting winter rye into clover before my last mowing end of summer. Rye into everything end of August I say.

[@kurtpearson2793]

6!!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

🤣 No kidding!! If only they would last into November 👍

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

I'm sorry Kurt I will get back to somewhat normal times some day 😁

[@steveski8643]

Great Infromation Question for you Jeff Will Clethodim kill Crabgrass? I have a lot in my clover Thanks for your time!

[@DeerSlayermi]

How many times per summer do you mow your clover plot?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Usually 2-3 times. I like it looking thick, lush and beautiful!

[@DG-jf1is]

How short do you mow the clover? Would a weed whipper work or need a cleaner blade cut? Thanks Jeff

[@stevespeltz9785]

Do you sell Kentucky crimson? Do you recommend it?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

We do have a very good annual clover coming soon in 1 of our new Fall blends....

[@briangregory6692]

5

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Much closer

[@connorkropp6017]

😁🦌

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Blazing, Connor!

[@Treeplanter73]

Hostas, they eatem to the ground.

[@ThirdLawPair]

How fast do they grow back?

[@Treeplanter73]

@@ThirdLawPair pretty fast, 2 weeks

[@figandcloverranch5871]

Yes they do 😂😂