Green thicket in creek with round 1" sharp pods?
 

Got a place to hunt & I'm not sure what these are. They are in a creek bottom and are very thick. Their pods are about 1inch & oblong& have sharp needles covering them. When I saw these yesterday (9-7-2 they were green. I believe they turn to brown & get replanted when you brush against them. Are these called greenbriars? Also don't the deer eat these when they're green like this?? Any help would be greatly appreciated. I'm looking to find the primary feed in the area-its all natural. Thanks!!

RE: Green thicket in creek with round 1" sharp pods?
 

Reaserched & found it is the common cockelbur. It is a coarse, bushy summer annual that infests pastures and other moist areas. Cocklebur is toxic to mammals.

RE: Green thicket in creek with round 1" sharp pods?
 

They are tough suckers too. Several years ago I saw a test result where they had buried some seed about a foot deep and even after 17 years (the length of the test at that time) when brought up and buried about 1" deep they sprouted.