Beets are not difficult to grow. They like extra nitrogen - and goodly amounts of water to produce a "beet".

No I've never planted them.

I've heard mixed reveiws on beets for deer. Seems they will browse the young greens, but not the older leaves. I've heard they will root the beets themselves - because they are sweet in the fall. But........ If deer are are digging up roots instead of browsing thick green forage - I'd assume the deer were over-populated or the surrounding forage was thin at best.

Just an opinion - I do not have 1st hand knowledge.

FH