Deer feed more on beans in the mid to late summer when they are green. Once they start to turn the deer tend to spend less time in the beans. Having said this IMO there is nothing better to be sitting near when its dec-jan cold with snow on the ground than beans. I have had beans side by side with standing corn, turnips, clover, alfalfa and wheat and the deer pound the beans harder than anything else. It never ceases to amaze me how many deer can pour in to a standing bean field in jan.