Will deer eat rape in the Summer?

[Chipdasqrrl]

I have a small 1/5 acre plot tucked into some pines, and the deer seem to love the plot. The only problem is my buckwheat planting lasted about 3 weeks in this plot. I would really like to keep something growing in this plot for them. I figured I could throw some rape seed down and have it grow pretty well, but would they eat it? The other option I'm considering is lightly tilling and replanting buckwheat.
Thanks


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[Chipdasqrrl]

Here's a picture of the plot before the deer demolished the buckwheat.


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[JFH]

Yes. Some people say their deer don't like it until it gets sweet in the fall, but in my experience they love it year round. Might depend on their other options (nearby soybeans, alfalfa, other ag).


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[Chipdasqrrl]

Yes. Some people say their deer don't like it until it gets sweet in the fall, but in my experience they love it year round. Might depend on their other options (nearby soybeans, alfalfa, other ag).


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Thanks for the input. I'm gonna go ahead and try it


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[Jason Broom]

You've learned a valuable bit of information about deer, Chip; they LOVE a secluded place to eat! It's not that deer are crazy about buckwheat, or that you've got a ton of deer in your area, but if you're the only place around with good food AND security, they're going to gobble up whatever you plant. I hate to be a wet blanket, but if they wiped out 1/5 of an acre of buckwheat, expect the same thing to happen to any rapeseed you get to germinate. Even if your soil is good enough for a brassica to thrive, deer are even more likely to put a hurtin' on that. It's frustrating how you want to help them have a better food source option, while improving your hunting, but they can't wait long enough to let stuff grow!

Your best bet is another round of BW, followed by a winter rye based mix in the fall. On low-pH sandy soil in the northern LP, alsike clover is THE way to go. Include 1/4 pound of chicory, if you can get it. Also, you're going to need to bring more ground into rotation, or make other improvements to provide different browse options...otherwise, it's going to be a struggle to get plots to maturity. (Except winter rye...it's one of the few things that can keep up with hungry deer!)

 

[Mennoniteman]

I have a small 1/5 acre plot tucked into some pines, and the deer seem to love the plot. The only problem is my buckwheat planting lasted about 3 weeks in this plot. I would really like to keep something growing in this plot for them. I figured I could throw some rape seed down and have it grow pretty well, but would they eat it? The other option I'm considering is lightly tilling and replanting buckwheat.
Thanks


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Plant separately or a mix of small grain, oats rye barley wheat triticale etc. You can get the seed cheaper than buckwheat at the feedmill, it grows almost anywhere anytime, suppresses weeds and will stand heavy grazing. And when it's mature it makes the best throw n mow or throw n roll cover or nurse crop for clover.

 

[THE LLC]

They won't at my place which us unusual. Got some that came up after I sprayed a fall plot to get rid of ryegrass and plowed in May.
It's growing good but deer won't eat it--yet anyway. I'd do another planting of buckwheat.

 

[Chipdasqrrl]

All good info, thank you guys. Out of curiosity I want to try throwing some rape down as an experiment. This plot isn't designed for hunting, so I think I'll plant buckwheat again in August and let it frost kill.


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[Vandy]

I would say that my horny buck booyah blend I planted is getting hammered and it is mainly brassica's which you would think wouldn't be the case but it is in a secluded spot which I believe is why as well.

 

[j-bird]

I would suggest a top dressing of an annual clover, or at least add it to your mix.

 

[Rempump870]

I agree with Jbird- Get some clover growing in there and help spread out the browsing pressure. Maybe try the winter rye/clover/brassica planting this fall. Then next spring the rye will come back along with the clover. At least for me, the clover can tolerate heavy grazing and gives them good nutrition all spring, summer and into the fall when you replant.

 

[Mennoniteman]

All good info, thank you guys. Out of curiosity I want to try throwing some rape down as an experiment. This plot isn't designed for hunting, so I think I'll plant buckwheat again in August and let it frost kill.


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That's part of the fun of foodplotting, experimenting and trying new things. I discovered that my deer prefer a new oats planting rather than a ripe cornfield totally by accident through a failed experiment.

 

[THE LLC]

I went up today to spray the plot that had the "volunteer" rape in it and lo and behold the deer have been eating it. So, I left it alone.

 

[Chipdasqrrl]

I eventually plan on turning this into a permanent clover plot, but whether I start it this fall or the next depends on what I feel like doing when the time comes. Since it's a small plot, I like to experiment in it. I plan on broadcasting rape into this plot this weekend, and I'll keep this updated with results.


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[sagittarius]

Location and desperation. In our northern Wisconsin plots the deer never let brassicas, rape, or turnips get larger than 3". The deer really prefer it to the native browse. The same mix in SE Wisconsin the deer would not touch even in mid winter. Apparently there were enough other old ag crops, and browse that the deer did not need to resort to brassicas. However, the sugarbeets the deer would hit as soon as the snow fell, first eating the leaves, then the bulbs. Go figure.