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Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: kodiak06 on February 14, 2025, 07:11:02 PM


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Title: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 14, 2025, 07:11:02 PM
How soon after putting out alfalfa are the whitetails finding your bait? Just curious... It takes the blacktails a few days and there's so much green here they don't hammer it. They like corn though. The elk will eat it as soon as they find it.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: hunter399 on February 14, 2025, 08:29:43 PM
WT will eat as soon as they find it
With how cold it's been past two weeks .
You'd most likely have a WT eating before dark if you put it out in the day time .
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: Ghost Hunter on February 14, 2025, 10:10:28 PM
 :yeah:  Would think a little late to start feeding.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: jackelope on February 15, 2025, 06:54:42 AM
I’ve always heard grass hay is better for their gut, especially if they haven’t been eating alfalfa. It’s really rich and hot. I could be wrong. 
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: Rainier10 on February 15, 2025, 07:06:22 AM
I’ve always heard grass hay is better for their gut, especially if they haven’t been eating alfalfa. It’s really rich and hot. I could be wrong.
That’s what I’ve been told as well.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: huntnnw on February 15, 2025, 08:38:25 AM
Grass? For deer? Elk maybe . I have bales of Timothy and orchard grass and deer rarely touch it . Alfalfa they devour.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 08:45:50 AM
:yeah:  Would think a little late to start feeding.

I didn't say I was gonna start feeding lol, It's a simple question
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: LDennis24 on February 15, 2025, 09:03:59 AM
You shouldn't introduce alfalfa to them out of nowhere during this time of year if there is snow on the ground. It can kill them. Their stomach is a furnace and if you stock it with the wrong fuel it will get too hot and they will die. You can give them a small amount at a time to build up tolerance but if you just dump alfalfa bales that they can gorge on they can die, can die, doesn't mean they will.  :dunno:
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: hunter399 on February 15, 2025, 09:16:51 AM
I did a bunch of new bait spots last year.
I want to say 75 percent of new spots had a deer there before dark on the first day .

Alot of factor play into it .
Decent population of animals,bait spot location,
If they hear the feed sack being dumped....lol

I did look on my cams to see how quickly they find it.
It was day one most times .

But I wasn't using alfalfa.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: jackelope on February 15, 2025, 10:00:14 AM
You shouldn't introduce alfalfa to them out of nowhere during this time of year if there is snow on the ground. It can kill them. Their stomach is a furnace and if you stock it with the wrong fuel it will get too hot and they will die. You can give them a small amount at a time to build up tolerance but if you just dump alfalfa bales that they can gorge on they can die, can die, doesn't mean they will.  :dunno:
This is what I meant, to clarify my last post.
Introducing it to them out of nowhere is no good.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 10:10:47 AM
You shouldn't introduce alfalfa to them out of nowhere during this time of year if there is snow on the ground. It can kill them. Their stomach is a furnace and if you stock it with the wrong fuel it will get too hot and they will die. You can give them a small amount at a time to build up tolerance but if you just dump alfalfa bales that they can gorge on they can die, can die, doesn't mean they will.  :dunno:

Why do some of you post irrelevant comments? I didn't mention baiting them this time of year and had you read comments you'd see it was already mentioned. Not being a weenie just think it's strange that simple questions get a lot a rambling off subject
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 10:11:50 AM
You shouldn't introduce alfalfa to them out of nowhere during this time of year if there is snow on the ground. It can kill them. Their stomach is a furnace and if you stock it with the wrong fuel it will get too hot and they will die. You can give them a small amount at a time to build up tolerance but if you just dump alfalfa bales that they can gorge on they can die, can die, doesn't mean they will.  :dunno:
This is what I meant, to clarify my last post.
Introducing it to them out of nowhere is no good.

Your last post had nothing to do with the question though lol. My question was in regards to BAITING not supplemental feeding as mentioned in my OP
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: jackelope on February 15, 2025, 10:18:54 AM
You shouldn't introduce alfalfa to them out of nowhere during this time of year if there is snow on the ground. It can kill them. Their stomach is a furnace and if you stock it with the wrong fuel it will get too hot and they will die. You can give them a small amount at a time to build up tolerance but if you just dump alfalfa bales that they can gorge on they can die, can die, doesn't mean they will.  :dunno:
This is what I meant, to clarify my last post.
Introducing it to them out of nowhere is no good.

Your last post had nothing to do with the question though lol. My question was in regards to BAITING not supplemental feeding as mentioned in my OP

Umm. It’s a hunting forum. It’s completely normal and should be expected that threads only stay on topic for the first couple posts. Beyond that it becomes a discussion that sometimes sort of stays on topic(this scenario) for 100-200 more posts if it’s a good one.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: hunter399 on February 15, 2025, 10:24:25 AM
If that bait ban statewide goes through.
I'll probably just spend the money on reloading stuff instead of attractant. Do a lot more shooting,and target practice.
Which I need to do anyway.
Bait spots that may have salt still there,I just won't put anymore down after it goes into effect. Hopefully most will be gone,by the time the snow melts .
I'll continue to run a few cameras,not as much though.
Focus on game trail,saddles, funnel areas that animals use.
Probably focus more on bear hunting,when I'd normally be working my cameras early fall.
Just move forward that way.



Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 10:46:05 AM
If that bait ban statewide goes through.
I'll probably just spend the money on reloading stuff instead of attractant. Do a lot more shooting,and target practice.
Which I need to do anyway.
Bait spots that may have salt still there,I just won't put anymore down after it goes into effect. Hopefully most will be gone,by the time the snow melts .
I'll continue to run a few cameras,not as much though.
Focus on game trail,saddles, funnel areas that animals use.
Probably focus more on bear hunting,when I'd normally be working my cameras early fall.
Just move forward that way.

I have a mobile set up (light weight stand/climbing sticks) as well as a few fixed stands that I put up. I spend 100+ hours easily a year e-scouting Id, OR, and Wa so have that all worked out.
I've written letters to WDFW and am a non-resident in regards to the proposals, hopefully the resident hunters are filling their desks with letters and emails. I know non-hunters are doing so.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 10:51:26 AM
You shouldn't introduce alfalfa to them out of nowhere during this time of year if there is snow on the ground. It can kill them. Their stomach is a furnace and if you stock it with the wrong fuel it will get too hot and they will die. You can give them a small amount at a time to build up tolerance but if you just dump alfalfa bales that they can gorge on they can die, can die, doesn't mean they will.  :dunno:
This is what I meant, to clarify my last post.
Introducing it to them out of nowhere is no good.

Your last post had nothing to do with the question though lol. My question was in regards to BAITING not supplemental feeding as mentioned in my OP

Umm. It’s a hunting forum. It’s completely normal and should be expected that threads only stay on topic for the first couple posts. Beyond that it becomes a discussion that sometimes sort of stays on topic(this scenario) for 100-200 more posts if it’s a good one.

UMM, either way your comment has absolutely nothing to do with the question lol and on "most" forums they call it hi-jacking a thread with an off topic comment. I simply pointed that out, I guess it's a good way for people to up their post count with irrelevant comments...  +1 lol
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: jackelope on February 15, 2025, 11:41:03 AM
You shouldn't introduce alfalfa to them out of nowhere during this time of year if there is snow on the ground. It can kill them. Their stomach is a furnace and if you stock it with the wrong fuel it will get too hot and they will die. You can give them a small amount at a time to build up tolerance but if you just dump alfalfa bales that they can gorge on they can die, can die, doesn't mean they will.  :dunno:
This is what I meant, to clarify my last post.
Introducing it to them out of nowhere is no good.

Your last post had nothing to do with the question though lol. My question was in regards to BAITING not supplemental feeding as mentioned in my OP

Umm. It’s a hunting forum. It’s completely normal and should be expected that threads only stay on topic for the first couple posts. Beyond that it becomes a discussion that sometimes sort of stays on topic(this scenario) for 100-200 more posts if it’s a good one.

UMM, either way your comment has absolutely nothing to do with the question lol and on "most" forums they call it hi-jacking a thread with an off topic comment. I simply pointed that out, I guess it's a good way for people to up their post count with irrelevant comments...  +1 lol

Gotcha and understood.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: bearhunter99 on February 15, 2025, 01:08:46 PM
Grass? For deer? Elk maybe . I have bales of Timothy and orchard grass and deer rarely touch it . Alfalfa they devour.
They prefer alfalfa I think but will still eat grass hay.  We feed the mule deer on our property every winter.  Mostly apples but supplement with hay. If I put out a bale of grass they eat it. I never have fed alfalfa due to the stomach issues I have read about. 


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Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: trophyhunt on February 15, 2025, 01:29:00 PM
The deer and elk love my alfalfa, I put out a couple buckets worth and they are on it within hours.  They are costing me money with all this cold weather. 
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: erronulvin on February 15, 2025, 02:39:42 PM
Garbanzo beans work really good to, whitetail and mulies love em
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: CedarPants on February 15, 2025, 02:56:29 PM
In my experience, they jump on it almost as fast and aggressively as you responding to people on this thread.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 03:04:02 PM
In my experience, they jump on it almost as fast and aggressively as you responding to people on this thread.

I wouldn't call pointing out comments that are unrelated to the post as aggressive. Had I been a jerk I could see your complaint,  but whatever  lol.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: trophyhunt on February 15, 2025, 03:51:35 PM
So what are they feeding the animals at the winter feed sites?  I thought it was alfalfa?
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: vandeman17 on February 15, 2025, 04:08:41 PM
I have had pictures of deer on my camera within a few minutes of me putting out alfalfa. Pretty sure they had to have been within eye sight of me and just waited for me to get far enough away before they went in to chow down
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: LDennis24 on February 15, 2025, 04:13:22 PM
You shouldn't introduce alfalfa to them out of nowhere during this time of year if there is snow on the ground. It can kill them. Their stomach is a furnace and if you stock it with the wrong fuel it will get too hot and they will die. You can give them a small amount at a time to build up tolerance but if you just dump alfalfa bales that they can gorge on they can die, can die, doesn't mean they will.  :dunno:

Why do some of you post irrelevant comments? I didn't mention baiting them this time of year and had you read comments you'd see it was already mentioned. Not being a weenie just think it's strange that simple questions get a lot a rambling off subject

Sorry threadmaster, back on topic, to answer your question i went out and fed the sheep and the whitetails came to the alfalfa in about 45 seconds. So there you go... 45 seconds is the answer! 💩
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: LDennis24 on February 15, 2025, 04:16:34 PM
We can delete this irrelevant thread now
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 04:45:37 PM
You shouldn't introduce alfalfa to them out of nowhere during this time of year if there is snow on the ground. It can kill them. Their stomach is a furnace and if you stock it with the wrong fuel it will get too hot and they will die. You can give them a small amount at a time to build up tolerance but if you just dump alfalfa bales that they can gorge on they can die, can die, doesn't mean they will.  :dunno:

Why do some of you post irrelevant comments? I didn't mention baiting them this time of year and had you read comments you'd see it was already mentioned. Not being a weenie just think it's strange that simple questions get a lot a rambling off subject

Sorry threadmaster, back on topic, to answer your question i went out and fed the sheep and the whitetails came to the alfalfa in about 45 seconds. So there you go... 45 seconds is the answer! 💩

LOL, I know pets come quick, they do at the farm here as well. Your emoji skills are cool, my kids are good at it as well.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 04:47:38 PM
We can delete this irrelevant thread now

It's not irrelevant, there's a specific reason I asked. I already have the answer I was looking for though


I see why you're wanking now, you made an irrelevant comment earlier that had nothing to do with the question lol... Wasn't trying to hurt anyone's feelings, just don't need answers that are meaningless to the thread. lol
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: LDennis24 on February 15, 2025, 04:51:05 PM
I don't have any pet deer.  Just stealthy deer that know when I feed the sheep cuz the sheep start calling out and the deer sneak in after I leave. Quit talking about your kids and emojis and stay on topic. Why do people post irrelevant answers to topics on here? This is a thread about alfalfa and whitetails, not your kids.  :dunno:
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 04:52:50 PM
I don't have any pet deer.  Just stealthy deer that know when I feed the sheep cuz the sheep start calling out and the deer sneak in after I leave. Quit talking about your kids and emojis and stay on topic. Why do people post irrelevant answers to topics on here? This is a thread about alfalfa and whitetails, not your kids.  :dunno:

I guess making DA comments helps your post count huh? LMAO
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 04:53:16 PM
I have had pictures of deer on my camera within a few minutes of me putting out alfalfa. Pretty sure they had to have been within eye sight of me and just waited for me to get far enough away before they went in to chow down

Thanks...
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: LDennis24 on February 15, 2025, 05:12:41 PM
🤡
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 05:16:23 PM
🤡

lol
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: hunter399 on February 15, 2025, 06:45:49 PM
Pretty soon where gonna have to plant food plots that are all natural and organic anyway.
Noticed a little tension on the forum these days
We all know middle of winter is not good to start a feeding regiment.
I never baited deer or elk till I got into trail cams about ten years ago. So I'm not to worried. I'll still hunt,of course deer was more plentiful ten plus year ago.

Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on February 15, 2025, 07:35:18 PM
Pretty soon where gonna have to plant food plots that are all natural and organic anyway.
Noticed a little tension on the forum these days
We all know middle of winter is not good to start a feeding regiment.
I never baited deer or elk till I got into trail cams about ten years ago. So I'm not to worried. I'll still hunt,of course deer was more plentiful ten plus year ago.

My question wasn't in regards to baiting specifically, I was just curious how quick they found the alfalfa. I was simply comparing the PNW to a couple other states/areas that I've lived in and hunted. The proposal WAC 220-440-260 Prohibition of Feeding Deer, Elk and Moose CR 102 isn't just baiting, it includes minerals and scents/attractants. I could see the urine based scents getting removed since multiple states have done it, but to remove synthetic scents is just dumb from a scientific standpoint. Hopefully everyone's leaving public comments on the WDFW page as well as sending emails.
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: hal on April 18, 2025, 01:54:33 PM
not an issue this year. Baiting has been banned
Title: Re: Alfalfa
Post by: kodiak06 on April 18, 2025, 02:28:08 PM
not an issue this year. Baiting has been banned

Yep, and the funny part to the whole new law is the ass clowns approved a ban with transport methods that could actually spread CWD  lol. If it's only been found in a couple isolated places, you would think the transport of deer would be unit specific and not region specific  smh...
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