Buck Forage Oats

Some would say the plants growing from the soil are a medium, delivering nutrients to the critters eating the plants. I would also suggest that the watermelon may not taste any different to you and me, but deer have a much better sense of smell and taste. The variability with which deer in different areas consume different plants can only be explained by a few possible factors, one of which is the soil composition.
Probably better said than what I wrote but yes soil is a medium I just don't believe it's only a medium.
Better soil = better plant taste.
I broadcast redmund mineral on my plots every year at planting just like fertilizer. As we can't use mineral sites in IL Plots grow just fine. Now I am not dumping a 100lbs on a spot but 200lbs an acre as usual.

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This is what I did last weekend in a new "woods" plot I planted and what I will experiment with next Spring in my clover plots.
 
The collective experiences here show there can be different outcomes on different properties/regions but Paul Knox (LC/Doubletree) did some side by side BFO vs common oats (Jerry) and his results (in Iowa) were that the deer had a significant preference for the Jerry Oats. The BFOs stayed greener a little longer but the deer weren't interested in them. I took his word on it and have always used common oats. I have ran my own tests on AWP vs 4010 forage peas and found no difference in deer preference between the two. I plant regular oats and forage peas only as it keeps the seed bill down without losing anything in my experience. That said, experimenting is half the fun so run some side by side tests of your own if you're so inclined.
 
The collective experiences here show there can be different outcomes on different properties/regions but Paul Knox (LC/Doubletree) did some side by side BFO vs common oats (Jerry) and his results (in Iowa) were that the deer had a significant preference for the Jerry Oats. The BFOs stayed greener a little longer but the deer weren't interested in them. I took his word on it and have always used common oats. I have ran my own tests on AWP vs 4010 forage peas and found no difference in deer preference between the two. I plant regular oats and forage peas only as it keeps the seed bill down without losing anything in my experience. That said, experimenting is half the fun so run some side by side tests of your own if you're so inclined.
So right. Couldn't agree more.
 
I'm currently debating on if it is worth it for me to get BFO or just regular oats for my overseeding of whitetail institute fusion (clover/chicory)? Plot will be just under 2 acres
 
I'm currently debating on if it is worth it for me to get BFO or just regular oats for my overseeding of whitetail institute fusion (clover/chicory)? Plot will be just under 2 acres

In Arkansas? I'd go with the Jerry oats or bin run unless you got a really good deal on the BFO.
 
never understood the BFD on BFO

Read LickCreek threads on this

Hard to beat a field of Bob(NOT BOB!!) oats for attraction in east texas

bill
 
I've not ever tried BFO.

I mix Bin oats - with the cheapest Rye I can get around 9/1. This year it went in 8/24 because I'm going to be out of town 9/1 to 9/10. I also overseed it all with red clover and roll it in, so what I disked in 8/24 is already up, the soil had good moisture. For me its a decent fall plot - but really its about improving the soil and hopefully getting some clover esablished ahead of something else -

rye_is_up_8-30-17.jpg


What I broadcast into the beans- is just sitting there waiting for a real rain. I also heavily seeded oats into a meager clover strip - and mowed it down tight - also waiting on a rain. I did it last year too - and it came good but I had good rains, not so much rain coming yet here this time - so we'll see. The good thing is t was like $12 for 50 lbs.
 
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Always include a few BFOs in one of our fall plots. May be hype but I like them and some of the nicest plots each year that have high deer use are the BFOs. Planted 150 lbs of BFOs this year in our upper lower / lower lower plots. Here's a trail cam pic of what they looked like last week after planting 2 weeks ago.
BFOs.jpg

Also love daikon radishes. Deer in them day and night already.
Radishes.jpg
 
I do believe there is a difference in oats, but I think it’s a lot like ag beans vs forage beans. I’m not 100% thru thinking this out yet.

There are short maturity oats, and long maturity oats. Don’t know what those time differences are yet, but a guy can get certified seed for $9/1.5 bushel bag.

Look up Shelby oats and Goliath oats.


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Always include a few BFOs in one of our fall plots. May be hype but I like them and some of the nicest plots each year that have high deer use are the BFOs. Planted 150 lbs of BFOs this year in our upper lower / lower lower plots. Here's a trail cam pic of what they looked like last week after planting 2 weeks ago.
View attachment 9774
Also love daikon radishes. Deer in them day and night already.
View attachment 9775
Do your oats overwinter that far south? If so they would be worth it perhaps. Here, freeze has them by late Oct. And yea deer do love the Daikon but eat them faster than they can grow. Too much money going thru the pipe too quick for me so I don't use them anymore.
I do believe there is a difference in oats, but I think it’s a lot like ag beans vs forage beans. I’m not 100% thru thinking this out yet.

There are short maturity oats, and long maturity oats. Don’t know what those time differences are yet, but a guy can get certified seed for $9/1.5 bushel bag.

Look up Shelby oats and Goliath oats.


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That's the advantage of big farm country Mark. I think I paid 12-15$ for reclaimed oats this fall.
 
I plant Buck Forage Oats every year. The deer are in it every day/night from when it sprouts in early November until the Spring. Really does a great job of keeping them on my property until fawning season and spring green up.

See attached picBuckforage.jpg
 
Couldn’t find BFO this year, planted Jerry

The deer ate them down to ground but they yellowed by gun season. BFO never have yellowed before at gun season. Deer were still in them so I don’t know that it mattered much
 
I have a bunch of BFO that have gone to seed. Still green but probably way too mature for the deer other than the seed heads. They haven't been a hit here but we have had a very warm fall and the biggest acorn crop I have ever seen with acorns still dropping...
 
I have a bunch of BFO that have gone to seed. Still green but probably way too mature for the deer other than the seed heads. They haven't been a hit here but we have had a very warm fall and the biggest acorn crop I have ever seen with acorns still dropping...
Okie...Same here on the acorn drop. I didn't go to farm this weekend but talked to Brooks this morn and he said it's still raining water oak acorns. Never seen as many acorns as this year, particularly water oak, which makes up the majority of the oaks on our property. White oaks on the other hand hardly produced anything here. Deer are just wearing out the hardwoods right now. But, am getting quite a few pics in our BFO plot.
1109E0543.jpg
 
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