[JrNation88]

I am impressed with my first year plot and have seen decent grazing..but now the cold weather has hit it does not seem to be doing too well. From your experience, what food works best in the cold winter/snow? I currently have turnips/ww/clover the turnips seem to be doing fine.

 

[usfwc]

Clover is usually knocked back a little by colder weather, winter wheat will build its resources and send up a huge spurt of growth when things become warmer in the spring and the turnips will stay how they are until spring as well and either rot or send up a shoot, then die and rot. What kind of clover were you using?

 

[nastyjack63]

It's gonna be hard to beat annual grains for pure feed value in the dead of winter. Corn, milo, and soy beans are the big 3 for winter feed grains. ww, rape, etc will still be utilized to some degree also.

 

[Ozarks-Bowhunter]

Here in my area they will be in the clover/wheat plots untill there is nothing but dirt showing and then you will still see deer in them. My turnips were gone by the end of rifle season but at least they ate em this year. Sometimes they wont.
I suppose standing corn or soybeans would be a good choice but my ground is not suited for them so i haven't tried them. I would like to tho.

 

[JrNation88]

I had a bit of corn and milo out which was planted at the same time farmers planted their big fields. But by now its all dry/hard and some of the corn is rotting. Will the deer still eat whats left after the birds get done with it? Also, my wheat has never got above ankle height, is that normal? its real green and looks like carpet however

 

[nastyjack63]

They will continue using the corn/milo all winter or until it's gone. The wheat will really start growing in the spring (at that time it probably won't be vary productive as a food plot). The wheat will put seed heads on and mature in May/June. I let mine stand all summer and the turkeys really work the seed heads over.

 

[Ozarks-Bowhunter]

[rquote=1518652&tid=105873&author=JrNation88]I had a bit of corn and milo out which was planted at the same time farmers planted their big fields. But by now its all dry/hard and some of the corn is rotting. Will the deer still eat whats left after the birds get done with it? Also, my wheat has never got above ankle height, is that normal? its real green and looks like carpet however[/rquote]
Can't advise on the corn or milo as i have never tried any. It is common and preferred that your wheat is not more than ankle high. If it gets too tall the deer wont eat it as much as they like it when it is young and tender. I am really surprised that it is ankle high right now tho. You must have lots of good food in your area or i'm sure it would be eaten down to the dirt.

 

[Ozarks-Bowhunter]

I might add that in the spring your wheat and clover will really take off. The wheat will probably be really thick at first and it will be hard to see the clover but it will be there. Some people will mow back the wheat when it gets too tall. If your plot doesn't have too many weeds in it and the deer keep the clover ate down enough you can let the wheat grow to maturity as stated earlier. Deer and turkey both love to eat those heads.

 

[JrNation88]

stupid question but is the ww an annual or perinial?

 

[Hannibal Bowhunter]

Annual. You may some volunteer regrowth, but it will be minimal.

 

[henry]

I don't think its unusual for deer to abandon WW and other green plots when it gets real cold and snowy. If its all there is they might still utilize it,,but if there are grains and other sources of carbs in the vicinity, they will probably utilize them heavier, because they help produce body heat better.(.02)

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