RE: clover vs alfalfa
Gred-dude I don' t believe it would be any of the reasons you mentioned because we have had alfalfa in this same plot other years and deer used it heavily and it is located close to good cover. Also, the neighbors alfalfa field isn' t even that prime, it is about 5 years old, has a fair number of grasses and weeds mixed in it and hasn' t been fertilized for several years. As far as the neighbor' s alfalfa being taller, yes it is but it' s only about 8" , and I' m seeing mostly buck use in it.
Dan O., if your alfalfa is cut so as to maintain fresh growth do the deer still seem to migrate to the clover later? I can understand why they would if the alfalfa isn' t cut because the alfalfa would be far past the succulent stage.