I first discovered how much deer loved hosta when I got into a suburban hunting program. In a garden where they obviously get plenty of water and good soil, they seem to come back quite well even after being eaten right down to the ground. It seems that the deer leave em alone in early summer and hit em as the summer progresses.

This year is my first attempt at putting them in the woods. Since the suburban area I hunt has no agriculture, I wasn't sure if they would use hosta where crops were available but they've eaten em up next to corn and bean fields on my Illinois property and they're doing the same here less than 300 yards from the corn. As far as how well they'll survive the browsing, I'll let you know after this season plays out. I do feel that putting in live plants in fair quantity might be better than trying to grow them from seed in the woods. Once they get established, I understand they're pretty tough to kill.

Someone also suggested making baskets of chicken wire to protect them till they get well established and then remove the baskets. (maybe just before bow season) Havent tired that but the idea seems to make sense.