My plot is about 4-5 inches high but the deer are not hitting my imperial clover. Is this common until a hard frost or until other browse dies off? Anyone have the same problem?
I dont know about there,, but here the acorns are dropping fast,, and the deer are hitting them hard. While there are acorns on the ground, the deer dont care much about other foods,, it seems they prefer the acorns to just about everything,, they quit using my summer plots when the nuts fell,, and are spending all their time deep in the woods.
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It's the same here except that they're also working the apple trees. Also; how many deer are local to your area for the size of the plot? I've got about 10x as much food supply as the deer can consume. The snow and predators keep the deer population well below the level that they would ever overgraze during the spring, summer or fall.
Like the others say, they have plenty of protein to eat and dont need the grazing right now, but they;ll get on there after a bit when other stuff gets a little scarce...
All summer - the deer have picked their way through the clover - to chow on Soybeans - and Soybeans are still hot here.
With all the apples (huge apple crop this fall!) - the deer won't want for food much during the hunting season - It will be interesting to get some weighed in this season to see if the weights are up.
I would agree with everyone else that they are hitting the acorns right now. Also, should you mow your clover plot when it gets to about 4-5 inches or should you just let it grow?
ir655 -- i would only mow to reduce competing vegetation.... mowing pure stands of clover will only reduce the amount of forage available to deer when they do start hitting it...
my experience over the last few years w/ clover plots is to be patient....this time of year there's an abundance of food for all wildlife and i haven't seen any sign of deer browsing in my ladino clover, either.... in my area, my clover plots are "competing" with local agriculture fields (corn and soybeans everywhere), a few
oaks, persimmon trees, etc. --- in a month, all my competition will be nearly obsolete and presto the deer are thick in my clover
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Thank you! I don't have any real 'pure' clover plots, but I am planning to do something for next season. I might start in spring to see how it does first. All I have now is clover mixed into other plot mixes, which is like 4% of the whole content of a 50# bag.
Also, I heard you don't need as much clover seed per acre as with other plot mixes, true?
I don't have any real 'pure' clover plots, but I am planning to do something for next season.
man, i've caught myself saying that before!!! lol, i still haven't seen a "pure" stand of clover --- matter-of-fact, i don't think they exist!!!
i broadcasted inoculated ladino clover at a rate of 3-4lbs per acre (coop guys tell me i'm overseeding)... if my math is correct you have 2 lbs of clover seed in a 50lb consisting of 4% clover, plus 48lbs of additional seed to add a little variety to the food buffet.......
i planted plots last weekend that consist of ladino, ladino w/ rye, and red clover w/ p.t. turnips..... best of luck!
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Deer are not eating my clover
