How is wheat for deer, turkey, and dove? Also what are the protein counts on wheat as for deer. And someone told me they can last almost up to a year?

Thanks,

last year I put in some winter wheat in mid august here in MO. and it was about 6 to 8 inches tall come rifle season on deer. It was lush and green thru the whole season, and even all winter long really. Deer loved it, we harvested several deer over it. Turkey like it also. This spring I have added milo, and will soon put in soybeans. The w. wheat is now full grown and headed out, but in it's milk stage, I'm gonna leave it mature and stand untill August when I'll redo it back into w.wheat again.

Deer love winter wheat. I do a lot of deer hunting overlooking winter wheat fields. Every morning and afternoon, deer and turkey around here will flock to it in droves. How long they continue utilizing it depends upon the variety. If it is a bearded variety, they will quit using it when it starts heading out. If it is a beardless variety, like Russian beardless, Longhorn, or Weathermaster, they will keep coming to it even as it matures and dries.

I'm not sure what the protein content is in growing wheat, but it seems like the deer do pretty good on it. Especially if it is young andhas had some fertilizer put down on it.

I think I remember it being in the mid 20s as far as protein. Might be alittle higher???? Atleast in the 20s.

Wheat is fairly high in protein when young - but declines rapidly as it matures:

Energy and crude protein content of wheat silage harvest at different stages


http://muextension.missouri.edu/explore/agguides/dairy/g03260.htm#one

For this reason - Winter Wheat is a good fall/early winter plot for those interested in offering a protein supplement to the deer herd ( most cereal grains are similar in crude protein)

FH

[/align]