Blacktail food plot

[nwwanderer]

Explore mallardmasher's idea, a soil analysis might give good info on how to fertilize.  I am not up to speed on wetside soil fertility but I would bet that nitrogen (urea) and calcium (lime or gypsum) would be high on the list.  With your browse situation fertilizer is a better bet than small planted plots.  On the micro side, you have more selenium than the dry side but still low.  It and others should be part of your mix.

[Special T]

I've used Evolved Habitats Brown Stump Licker. BT wouldn't touch it but the elk took an old rotten  stump 4' in the air and 3' in Diameter to the ground in one year.

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[lokidog]

Not to thread jack but I have the Apple trees already and deer are at my place about 6 months out of the year. I’m trying to keep them around year round so was thinking about starting a mineral lick. Wondering if anyone has used deer Cain and had good results for blacktail?

 
Just out of curiosity what 6 months are they not there?

December until about June. One still passes through every now and then but not very frequently.

Depending on the apple variety, they might not utilize it starting even earlier.

Plums are also good to plant as they will get the deer into an area before the earliest of apples, and if you like crow hunting... bingo.   

[180-GRAIN]

Not to thread jack but I have the Apple trees already and deer are at my place about 6 months out of the year. I’m trying to keep them around year round so was thinking about starting a mineral lick. Wondering if anyone has used deer Cain and had good results for blacktail?

 
Just out of curiosity what 6 months are they not there?

December until about June. One still passes through every now and then but not very frequently.

Depending on the apple variety, they might not utilize it starting even earlier.

Plums are also good to plant as they will get the deer into an area before the earliest of apples, and if you like crow hunting... bingo.   

Ah yes plums! I have 4 trees on my property and they did not produce fruit this last year for some reason. Year before had a bumper crop and the deer were at my place early and often.

[lokidog]

If I was planting plums specifically for deer attractant, I would plant the small cherry plum type as they produce more of them and it takes the deer longer to eat all of them. 

I've thought about trying to get some native oaks going as well for after the apples are eaten up.  We save a lot of the apples in a second fridge so we can toss them out under the trees to keep them coming and looking regularly.

[Boss .300 winmag]

Italian plums, deer love them things, even green. 

[elkfins]

Not to thread jack but I have the Apple trees already and deer are at my place about 6 months out of the year. I’m trying to keep them around year round so was thinking about starting a mineral lick. Wondering if anyone has used deer Cain and had good results for blacktail?

 
Just out of curiosity what 6 months are they not there?

December until about June. One still passes through every now and then but not very frequently.

Depending on the apple variety, they might not utilize it starting even earlier.

Plums are also good to plant as they will get the deer into an area before the earliest of apples, and if you like crow hunting... bingo.   

Ah yes plums! I have 4 trees on my property and they did not produce fruit this last year for some reason. Year before had a bumper crop and the deer were at my place early and often.

Interestingly enough, my plum trees had very few last year but a bumper crop the year before as well.

[lokidog]

Italian plums, deer love them things, even green. 

This is what I would plant if I wanted wine or jelly and not just deer food.   

[JimmyHoffa]

If I was planting plums specifically for deer attractant, I would plant the small cherry plum type as they produce more of them and it takes the deer longer to eat all of them. 

I've thought about trying to get some native oaks going as well for after the apples are eaten up.  We save a lot of the apples in a second fridge so we can toss them out under the trees to keep them coming and looking regularly.

The cherry plums drop fruit so early, though.  I guess some of them can hold off through part of early archery, but seems like they are pretty much done by September.  But the deer do love them.

[Mallardmasher]

Like I mentioned earlier, we fertizile our natural browse, it bring the nutritional value of all natural browse up. The same things they eat on a daily basis, but they no the difference of the fertilized and non fertilized browse, as they eat it to the ground, and then we supplement with a higher protein regime this time of year. All geared toward a healthier herd, stronger fawns, and horn growth.

[lokidog]

If I was planting plums specifically for deer attractant, I would plant the small cherry plum type as they produce more of them and it takes the deer longer to eat all of them. 

I've thought about trying to get some native oaks going as well for after the apples are eaten up.  We save a lot of the apples in a second fridge so we can toss them out under the trees to keep them coming and looking regularly.

The cherry plums drop fruit so early, though.  I guess some of them can hold off through part of early archery, but seems like they are pretty much done by September.  But the deer do love them.

This is my idea for using these plums, it gets the deer coming in earlier in their more reliable summer cycle, then the apples take over.  The Italian Plums will just be ripe the same time as many apples.

[Mallardmasher]

Like candy for kids, very little positive value, but effective

[fishnfur]

Apples seem to be king in the NW.  Persimmons and chestnuts have been big on the lists of Mid-west and Eastern WT managers in the last few years.  Big time deer candy.  Persimmons seem to be an excellent choice for Western WA.  They grow fast, start producing fruit at an early age. The late drop variety should bring in deer during the general/MF season.

http://www.chestnuthilloutdoors.com/store/c/19-Deer-Candy-Persimmon-Tree-Collection.aspx

Oak trees generally take 20 plus years to produce mast, and 50 years till they reach peak production.  They may go several years between major crops, so a large plantation is required to keep deer coming in year after year.   Not a great choice in my mind.

[lokidog]

Apples seem to be king in the NW.  Persimmons and chestnuts have been big on the lists of Mid-west and Eastern WT managers in the last few years.  Big time deer candy.  Persimmons seem to be an excellent choice for Western WA.  They grow fast, start producing fruit at an early age. The late drop variety should bring in deer during the general/MF season.

http://www.chestnuthilloutdoors.com/store/c/19-Deer-Candy-Persimmon-Tree-Collection.aspx

Oak trees generally take 20 plus years to produce mast, and 50 years till they reach peak production.  They may go several years between major crops, so a large plantation is required to keep deer coming in year after year.   Not a great choice in my mind.

Interesting, anyone here ever tried them?

[Seahawk12]

From what I've read the persimmon take years to become fruit bearing.
7-10 years. And it alternately produces fruit and blooms every other year.