Urban food plots for deer

[Alpinegus]

I have been thinking of setting up a small food plot / tree's to attract some urban deer into the yard.
Have any of you tried this? Success vs non-success? 

[nwwanderer]

Are you hoping for winter or all year use?  How big?

[Alpinegus]

Winter is #1 choice; year around would be better. Size 1/2 to 3/14 acre.

[BULLBLASTER]

Plant some apple trees

[nwwanderer]

Good sized backyard plot!  I would split it in thirds.  Clover (white, strawberry, sweet), grain (wheat, barley, triticale), and canola on the last third.  The clover part might last several years depending on use and stand, the grain and canola are for winter use.  If you can irrigate it a time or two it is easy.  If all rainfall, timing is ctritical.  You should be able to keep the seed cost under $50.

[Camp David]

My place is a little more rural. I planted apple (5 types),  Oak 4 types, and Chestnut trees (3 types). I tried to get early and later producers. Also put in blue, black and raspberries. Finally I have tons of clover. Started planting 3 years ago. Depending on how long you can wait, you can buy seeds, 1st year trees or 5 year old trees. Plan on some sort of irrigation for the first few years. Fencing 7 - 8 foot is also extremely important. Ground cloth around the trees/plants to keep the weeds from taking over should be installed. Lots of books on the subject. I'm still a few years from my trees producing anything to make my place a complete wildlife destination, but hopefully within the next few years 

[D-Rock425]

Looks like you're off to a great start.

[nwwanderer]

Alpinegus,
If you want a perrenial plot that you do not need to replant every year or two, try something unique.  Take your binoculars or spotting scope and follow your deer (blacktail I presume) for as many seasons as you like, record the plants used and plant those.  Probably more practical on the wet side than trying annual plots.

[Special T]

Apples, WILD ROSE! I would also say that everytime i head into the woods later in the year i see that the BT have been eating tht e leaves off Black berry plants...

[Todd_ID]

I planted 2 acres of alfalfa in my field as an urban food plot.  The local deer kept it mowed down fairly well.  I don't have any cover for them over a foot tall, though, so I've never been able to shoot one with my bow, because the bucks wait for the cover of darkness to come in.  Pretty much any night through the season I could shine a flashlight out there and find a good buck and several does.  One consideration is the cost of water if you're on public water.  I paid through the nose to get that growing and keep it alive.  I didn't water it this year, and none of it survived.  I was about $400 into it plus the cost of the water; just don't tell my wife that!  Round-up, seed, fertilizer, and water add up fast.

[deadwoodbuck]

camp david pretty well nailed it...but proximity to traditional deer movements is also important.  i can tell you what they won't eat...heather, rody's, azaleas, madrona, fir tree's are a few.  but just have your wife pick out the nicest periennals, plant them along with some nice roses, rose of sharron, ornamental cedars(perimadalis for winter time) and everything else your wife thinks is pretty....and they will browse.  apples, raspberries, blackberries, fruit tree's and other general garden foods we like they like too.  if you plant fruit trees wrap them in fencing, they will rub the tree's bare and stomp them into the ground given the chance. .  but i do think the key is to be located in a traditional browsing corridore for them to stumble into your feed.  then once they do stand back and watch it all get mowed down. I have two acres in town across from a park and close to a mountain biking mecca...if it is not behind wire....our the deer blight is so bad my non-hunting animal loving wife is ready to bust out the heavy artillery and open up on them.  we use blood meal on EVERYTHING not behind a wire to have some plantings make it bloom and beyond....good luck...... I think

[Alpinegus]

Thanks all for your input. Great input, now to create the design of the plot.   

[jaymark6655]

Cool info.  I have been thinking about doing this for years; guess now I just to pull the trigger and start planting.

[Special T]

What general area of the state RU in?

[Alpinegus]

Wetside for me; Blacktails.