ALRIGHT KIDS,
I'VE GOT MY BUCKWHEAT IN, RAIN IS STARTING TO FALL, LIFE IS GOOD......
MY QUESTION, ARE MY WHITETAIL FRIENDS GOING TO POSSIBLY WANT TO EAT THESE PLANTS AS THEY BEGIN TO DEVELOP? OR ARE THEY ONLY GOING TO COME AROUNG WHEN THE GRAIN STARTS TO RIPEN????
ANYONE..............

Like many things in life,,,,,,,,,,,,,,it depends.

The first time we planted BW on my daughters land in NY it went largely untouched for quite a while and ended up flowering for quite a while (it was new to them). However once they tried it and decided they liked it, it got hammered pretty good and in subsequent years they started eating it before flowering. Depending on where you are you may find they start using it as other stuff becomes less avaiable late in summer.

THANKS FOR THE REPLY RAYC. THAT'S THE KIND OF INFO I WAS LOOKING FOR......

I'll agree with Ray C's observation. Since the first years we've planted plots - I'd only consider Buckwheat as a "soil rebuilder". The deer might end up liking it a couple weeks / year - but it cannot compare to clover, soybeans or other long term food plots. BUT the soil has to be good first.

So - Buckwheat can be a great 1st plot on newley prepared ground. It Definitely helps add organic matter and pull up nutrients.

FH