Buck Forage Oats
- Thread starter Buckeye
- Start date
catscratch
Well-Known Member
The couple of times I planted it, it wasn't a preferred food source. I might be an isolated case though, I've heard others talk highly of it.
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Jason Broom
Well-Known Member
Many have reported both higher utilization and longer hardiness (staying green) into the fall. That may be factual, or it could be the observational bias that often accompanies paying more for a product that is supposed to be superior. Folks I respect have performed side-by-side comparisons of the various cereal grains and found them all to be of value, with relatively little to distinguish one from another. The keys are good soil conditions and secure feeding areas. It has been my own "observation" that it doesn't matter if you plant BFO or bin run oats...deer will eat them equally well, if the soil and security are there. 
Bullwinkle
Active Member
I've done multiple side by side with Jerry oats. Even put the Jerry on field edge and bfo on inside. Bfo get browsed more but like said above the Jerry oats get eaten too
The reason I plant bfo is because they stay greener longer and I been able to have green plots most years through gun season. They are more cold tolerant
The reason I plant bfo is because they stay greener longer and I been able to have green plots most years through gun season. They are more cold tolerant
Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
BFO worked better here than the oats planted side by side with them on a test done very long ago.Test oats had simply come from right out of the combine--no idea what type they were. As Bullwinkle also experienced, the BFO stays green throughout our hunting season which goes to early/middle of December.
I don't like that the BFO I have used has brought with it cheat weed seeds which is a weed we didn't have before. Cheat Weed dominates the plot the following spring and the deer do not eat it here.
The cost for BFO is too pricey for what I believe it should be so for now I use it but mix other oats in as well and all does get eaten. That wasn't so in the side by side test though;The deer wanted the BFO and not the combine oats showing that other oats that others have used like Jerry oats may be just fine but not every strain of oats will work here as a major draw.
I don't like that the BFO I have used has brought with it cheat weed seeds which is a weed we didn't have before. Cheat Weed dominates the plot the following spring and the deer do not eat it here.
The cost for BFO is too pricey for what I believe it should be so for now I use it but mix other oats in as well and all does get eaten. That wasn't so in the side by side test though;The deer wanted the BFO and not the combine oats showing that other oats that others have used like Jerry oats may be just fine but not every strain of oats will work here as a major draw.
Chipdasqrrl
Active Member
I planted BFO once, and like everyone else has said they stay green late. Mine were green under the snow well into December. As far as deer preference, the deer seem to like them little to no more than regular oats.
If you're looking to spend more money for better Oats, I would highly recommend The Whitetail Institute's Oats. They will stay green through hunting season and the deer love them.
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If you're looking to spend more money for better Oats, I would highly recommend The Whitetail Institute's Oats. They will stay green through hunting season and the deer love them.
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Bullwinkle
Active Member
Don't know. Around Green Bay it's 8/15-9/1
They grow fast. You want them 6-8" at frost time which is 10/15-10/31 around me
They grow fast. You want them 6-8" at frost time which is 10/15-10/31 around me
Chipdasqrrl
Active Member
I planted my Oats on 8/20 and another plot on 9/11 in Northern MI. Both turned out well. So for Ohio I would say around 9/1
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We've been planting them for years as well and have noticed the introduction of the weed after planting the following spring. Always wondered what it was. We've wondered if we just got some bad mixes, glad to know we're not the only ones. I'm thinking of mixing them with bin oats this year as well to keep the costs down.
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swat1018
Well-Known Member
Labor Day weekend.
Bullwinkle
Active Member
I am going to stick my neck out and claim BFO are my best hunting plots
Don't like the Deer Czar but a plot of BFO and AWP will beat any LC or other mix for hunting. He's right. BFO is the best food plot. WInter rye is a joke compared to BFO. I've done the tests. Can't even get the deer to ear WR
Don't like the Deer Czar but a plot of BFO and AWP will beat any LC or other mix for hunting. He's right. BFO is the best food plot. WInter rye is a joke compared to BFO. I've done the tests. Can't even get the deer to ear WR
Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
Buckeye, a good planting date for Ohio is an impossible question to answer. A good planting date for what planting zone you are in is a lot more specific. If you aren't familiar with planting zones just google hardiness zone with your town and it should come up. Ohio seems to be zone 5 and 6. There would be a difference in preferred planting dates for 5 versus 6.
Thanks for the info it shows me 6a and 6b
Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
Bullwinkle, I experience the same thing, the BFO mixed with AWP is hard to beat for part of the fall. Winter rye does not draw as BFO does but the fawns that don't get eaten by coyotes in the spring appreciate the rye that hid them. And the deer on the brink of starvation that stumbles onto the rye(which is the absolute first green plant of spring) appreciate it as well and the soil screams with joy with the nitrogen the rye has mined from the lower parts of the soil as well as the Organic matter it leaves as its legacy.
I am a fan of DR. Kroll and think his book , "A Practical Guide To Producing and Harvesting White-tailed Deer 1991 told the whole story about setting up land and has stood the test of time. I don't care about the modern day politics; His teachings brought me to a new level of deer management and shooting at that time just as Steve Bartylla and the QDMA forum guys did a few years ago for me.
Still, I don't think anything beats the LC mix for meeting the combined objectives of hunting, keeping the deer on your land and helping the deer.
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Chainsaw,so I thought about doing a oat/brassica mix from what I have read they say for my area plant brassica early August and to plant oats early September I don't want to plant turnips to late and not get a good bulb and don't want to plant oats to early where deer won't eat them because they got to tall any suggestions?
Chainsaw
Well-Known Member
You are welcome Buckeye. So now anyone in area 6a and 6b no matter where they live can relate to your planting dates. So guys from 6a and 6b lets hear what works for you
On your questions about turnips Buckeye, basically they need 60 to 75 days before too cold to grow or frost to mature. Oats on the other hand work best here in zone 4b/5a planted Sept. 1. I am only projecting dates as compared to here but would put your best oat planting date at Sept. 7- Sept. 10 for oats. The turnips have a larger window and it probably runs around Aug. 1 as being a great beginning planting date.
I have limited experience with Throw-N-Mow but think a week or two earlier than when tilling the soil works best. Rain is always important relative to germination but more so with throw-N-Mow. So yes Buckeye, you sound like you are in the right ballpark dates for your turnips and oats.
Hopefully someone from 6a or 6b will chime in here.
