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Quote from: bearpaw on August 10, 2020, 09:57:35 AMComparison of Winter Wheat / Winter Peas / OatsThis year I planted oats, winter wheat, and winter peas in individual plots next to each other. We've reached some conclusions after watching the wildlife usage of these plots next to each other. The winter wheat is great for a late fall season deer draw but not that much usage the following spring and summer. Perhaps if I didn't have oats and peas growing next to the winter wheat this spring it might have had more appeal, but the deer and turkeys favored the oats and the deer also favored the peas during the spring and summer. The peas never got more than a few inches tall due to deer grazing pressure, the oat seeds have already been completely removed from the stalks by turkeys this late summer, meanwhile the wheat seeds are only partially eaten. For next year I'm going to plant half as much winter wheat, I still need some winter wheat for a late fall draw after clover attraction drops off this fall. I'm going to plant more oats and double the peas in the spring. After reading this article I may mix the peas and oats together and throw in some turnips to make the same plot attractive longer into the late fall.https://www.qdma.com/austrian-winter-peas/#:~:text=With%20regard%20to%20planting%20dates,winter%20pea%20in%20pure%20stands.I realize there are wildlife mixes you can buy but buying bulk individual seed at the farm supply is cheaper and I can pick which seeds I want in the mix. I don't have a lot of time to keep up on sensitive crops so I'm defaulting to crops that grow well with minimum upkeep and soil maintenance in my area and that seem to be the most attractive to the deer and turkeys I am feeding.DaleThanks for this update. I am in the same boat and have been experimenting for the last couple years on what grows best with minimal upkeep. I will be planting oats this fall to see how they do in my neck of the woods. I wish they were perineal as it makes it even easier....but hey you can't win them all. I will inner seed with clover and peas as they have been proven winners at my place and the clover coves back every spring. I have also had great luck with a sucra grass blend that the deer and turkeys love and is a perineal. Last fall I planted a rack master blend with a bunch of annual root vegetables and the deer loved It. The beets, turnips and daikon radish were a big hit. thanks for posting the pics too. I love watching the bucks grow this time of year.
Comparison of Winter Wheat / Winter Peas / OatsThis year I planted oats, winter wheat, and winter peas in individual plots next to each other. We've reached some conclusions after watching the wildlife usage of these plots next to each other. The winter wheat is great for a late fall season deer draw but not that much usage the following spring and summer. Perhaps if I didn't have oats and peas growing next to the winter wheat this spring it might have had more appeal, but the deer and turkeys favored the oats and the deer also favored the peas during the spring and summer. The peas never got more than a few inches tall due to deer grazing pressure, the oat seeds have already been completely removed from the stalks by turkeys this late summer, meanwhile the wheat seeds are only partially eaten. For next year I'm going to plant half as much winter wheat, I still need some winter wheat for a late fall draw after clover attraction drops off this fall. I'm going to plant more oats and double the peas in the spring. After reading this article I may mix the peas and oats together and throw in some turnips to make the same plot attractive longer into the late fall.https://www.qdma.com/austrian-winter-peas/#:~:text=With%20regard%20to%20planting%20dates,winter%20pea%20in%20pure%20stands.I realize there are wildlife mixes you can buy but buying bulk individual seed at the farm supply is cheaper and I can pick which seeds I want in the mix. I don't have a lot of time to keep up on sensitive crops so I'm defaulting to crops that grow well with minimum upkeep and soil maintenance in my area and that seem to be the most attractive to the deer and turkeys I am feeding.
Here is something you might add to your plots, sweet clover. It is a biennial so will get a second year that is 5-7 feet tall and a insect factory, excellent nitrogen fixer for the next crop and great thermal cover for the second winter. Great deer and turkey pics, have watched turkeys chase deer off of something they want, thanks
That one on the right a few pictures back is a tank. Looks like you'll have lots of happy customers, Dale. Good luck!
Quote from: nwwanderer on August 10, 2020, 08:50:17 PMHere is something you might add to your plots, sweet clover. It is a biennial so will get a second year that is 5-7 feet tall and a insect factory, excellent nitrogen fixer for the next crop and great thermal cover for the second winter. Great deer and turkey pics, have watched turkeys chase deer off of something they want, thanksMan that is some steep country!!
Dale, Are you getting lots of predators on your cams. I have a pic from my last cam check that has three cats in one photo. Lots of cats and even more bears.
