Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: TimBarlow on June 26, 2020, 02:24:51 AM

Title: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: TimBarlow on June 26, 2020, 02:24:51 AM: 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
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: nwwanderer on June 26, 2020, 05:51:30 AM: 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?
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: Jpmiller on June 26, 2020, 06:34:38 AM: 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
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: lastmk8 on June 26, 2020, 09:14:08 AM: Tim, Here is the link I was talking about in the PM.

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,150355.30.html
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: sjhgraysage on June 26, 2020, 01:42:37 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: TimBarlow on June 26, 2020, 02:43:11 PM: Quote from: nwwanderer on June 26, 2020, 05:51:30 AM
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!
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: TimBarlow on June 26, 2020, 02:44:33 PM: Quote from: sjhgraysage on June 26, 2020, 01:42:37 PM
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
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: baldopepper on June 26, 2020, 03:34:17 PM: 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
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: Fletch on June 26, 2020, 04:04:45 PM: 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.
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: dvolmer on June 26, 2020, 11:04:13 PM: How much land do you have to work with?
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: meatwhack on June 27, 2020, 06:02:28 AM: Garbonzo beans or peas will draw mule deer much better than alfalfa.
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: TimBarlow on June 27, 2020, 03:10:45 PM: Quote from: dvolmer on June 26, 2020, 11:04:13 PM
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
Title: Re: Eastern WA mule deer
Post by: buckfvr on June 27, 2020, 04:18:30 PM: The hoppers will take that down before the deer find it.