Eastern WA mule deer

[TimBarlow]

Hey guys, I’m an experienced hunter but very new to food plots. I have some questions for the veterans! I just bought i great chunk of hunting land in tonasket,WA. There is doe all over the property but haven’t see any shooters yet. I’m wanting to start a food plot to attract more deer hopefully some nice bucks.

What do you guys recommend for a basic food plot to get the deer coming? I’ve heard alfalfa coming up a lot in conversations. Most of the property is either grass or sage brush. 

Id rather not just set out a bait barrel, I’d like to grow some real crops that they can’t resist!

Give me some tips and ideas from the veterans!

Thanks

[nwwanderer]

Mule deer are not home bodies like whitetail, but plots will sure get used.  What, how and when mostly depends on water and weed loads.  Best to go with some annuals for a few years if weeds are in control and then establish perennials.  Want some lists of possible plants?

[Jpmiller]

I'm no expert but the alfalfa field next to my old man's house always seems to have deer in it summer and fall

[lastmk8]

Tim,  Here is the link I was talking about in the PM.

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,150355.30.html

[sjhgraysage]

I think alfalfa is good, but it really should be cut for hay so that you get the regrowth a couple times a summer. Will you be able to put up hay on your acreage?
Deer will eat at the tops of mature alfalfa but it seems to me they really like the new tender stuff after it has been cut off and starts growing again.
 We did a food plot experiment on my folks place years ago with one of the clover mixes that had chicory in it.
To me it looked like the deer that visited nibbled on the chicory at least as much as the clover.

[TimBarlow]

Mule deer are not home bodies like whitetail, but plots will sure get used.  What, how and when mostly depends on water and weed loads.  Best to go with some annuals for a few years if weeds are in control and then establish perennials.  Want some lists of possible plants?

Weeds are in control and the property is very well maintained. There’s not a water source in the area I’m thinking off using, so it would rely on rain mostly.

Let me know what you think!

[TimBarlow]

I think alfalfa is good, but it really should be cut for hay so that you get the regrowth a couple times a summer. Will you be able to put up hay on your acreage?
Deer will eat at the tops of mature alfalfa but it seems to me they really like the new tender stuff after it has been cut off and starts growing again.
 We did a food plot experiment on my folks place years ago with one of the clover mixes that had chicory in it.
To me it looked like the deer that visited nibbled on the chicory at least as much as the clover.

Yes I can put up hay on the land.

Another thing I forgot to mention is there’s a pear orchard on the adjacent property next door that the deer seem to like

[baldopepper]

Might want to go with Ladak alfalfa. Quite drought resident and used extensively in warmer, low rain areas. Mule deer don't seem to be the consistent food plot users that whitetail are, but they do like their alfalfa

[Fletch]

How about Canola? In the dryland fields near Waterville and Mansfield the deer seem to love it in the fall when it first comes out of the ground.  Not sure if they eat it once it grows up though.

[dvolmer]

How much land do you have to work with?

[meatwhack]

Garbonzo beans or peas will draw mule deer much better than alfalfa.

[TimBarlow]

How much land do you have to work with?

180 total, but will only be hunting 100 acres of it. The food plot would probably be an acre or so

[buckfvr]

The hoppers will take that down before the deer find it.