Summer Mix?

[deer patch]

I have a fairly high deer density and I planted 50 pds soybeans per acre on 8 acres a couple years ago and the deer kept them ate down pretty low but they did make a few pods without e-fencing. I am going to plant 10 acres total but this is a combination of 4 plots ranging from 1-3 acre plots. Planting is going to be with a no-till drill and my initial thoughts per acre are 50 pds soybeans, 5 pds grain sorghum and 5 pds sunflowers. Hoping that the sunflowers will make it to help feed the turkeys this fall/winter but who knows. My question is, are these rates about right or not? Give me your input.

 

[THE LLC]

My stupid deer ate three one acre plots of milo in the dough stage last year. I mean EVERY head. I don't think I'm going to plant them anything this year. Might plant some millet for birds.

 

[Letmgrow]

My stupid deer ate three one acre plots of milo in the dough stage last year. I mean EVERY head. I don't think I'm going to plant them anything this year. Might plant some millet for birds.

I wouldn't call your deer stupid. They found an easy meal and went for it. Pretty smart IMO.
I'm not so sure millet will survive much better. Some of the deer food plot blends used up here have millet in them.

 

[THE LLC]

Never had them mess with brown top millet.

 

[Letmgrow]

I can't honestly attest to the deer liking the Millet but something did. We do have a pretty dense population of turkeys here. My fall plots mix last year had two different Pearl Millet varieties in it along with Brown Top Millet and by early winter the fields were nearly clean.
Maybe my deer aren't as fussy to what they eat as yours are.

 

[THE LLC]

If they’ll eat the mature seed heads, that’ll be awesome.

 

[deer patch]

My deer it the milo heads also. Since nobody has commented on my planting rate, I guess I’ll just run with it.

 

[Letmgrow]

If they’ll eat the mature seed heads, that’ll be awesome.

If they don't I'll shoot them. LOL

 

[cutman]

My deer it the milo heads also. Since nobody has commented on my planting rate, I guess I’ll just run with it.

I think your rate is theoretically ok but it wouldn’t last where I hunt. I’d add in buckwheat (10#), cowpeas (20#), millet (5#) and sunn hemp (6#). If I plant just soybeans I do 100# per acre. The sunflowers never do anything for me and the sorghum is hit or miss.

 

[bowhunt160bucks]

Ace Hardware Bird seed is my summer mix. 12#/acre equates to about $3.50 an acre. It grows fantastic!!

 

[THE LLC]

Ace Hardware Bird seed is my summer mix. 12#/acre equates to about $3.50 an acre. It grows fantastic!!

I’ve done that. Makes a heck of a dove plot. Just be sure not to buy cheap birdseed because it WILL have sicklepod in it. Don’t ask how I know.

 

[deer patch]

I think your rate is theoretically ok but it wouldn’t last where I hunt. I’d add in buckwheat (10#), cowpeas (20#), millet (5#) and sunn hemp (6#). If I plant just soybeans I do 100# per acre. The sunflowers never do anything for me and the sorghum is hit or miss.

Thanks for the info. I’ll plant a fall mix in the same area if the deer doesn’t let it grow so I’ll just give it a try.

I’ve done that. Makes a heck of a dove plot. Just be sure not to buy cheap birdseed because it WILL have sicklepod in it. Don’t ask how I know.

I’ve seen pics of bird seed planted and they have looked good but I’m with LLC on this one.

 

[Letmgrow]

Sicklepod. I've never heard of this before. Can someone enlighten me on what this is?
Lynn

 

[cutman]

Sicklepod. I've never heard of this before. Can someone enlighten me on what this is?
Lynn

A weed developed in hell and spread by satan himself.

 

[Letmgrow]

Sounds more like a southern weed and that's probably why I've never heard of it.
I did find some information on it and maybe you're right. They say the plant is poisonous yet they have cooking directions for it.
I'm not so sure about that! (Got to taste like chicken)
https://images.equipmentlocator.com/equipment/3402620-0001.jpg?mode=crop&404=noimage.jpg&w=673&h=500