I have some of those ridges with thin topsoil that get dry in the summer. One thing that helps big time is going no-till, the residue preserves moisture, if you want to lay out the money for a no-till drill. No-till drilling seed gets better germination rates than broadcasting and it preserves fertilizer loss, lime loss, and soil loss due to runoff from tillage. Also, oats is like a magic crop for deer on thinner more acidic soil. Deer aren't as fond of rye as oats, although rye has an edge for late winter green growth and if you're to far north oats might not survive the winter, however in the past I've been guilty of undervaluing oats as a deer attractant. If there's no big ag fields like beans in the neighborhood deer will eat oats down to the roots in the fall. Expect dry conditions? Oats + chicory is the answer. Seed spring oats at 40 lb acre if nurse crop, let the heads go to seed for deer and turkey food or mow to release the clover/chicory.