I planted a half acre of oats in mid-April.The oats came up pretty well although there's some weeds snaking through them now that they've turned. At no point, so far, have I seen deer eating them. I've seen them walking through them, I see trails in them and I've even see where they bedded in them in one area. However, they haven't been eating them as far as I can tell. I expected them to start once the seeds hardened, but no dice so far. What do the experts say?

All areas are different - but spring planted oats in my are draw little or no deer. Oats planted in Sept - can be very good in October -when its young - but can be winter intolerant - making Rye a better fall choice here.

FH

I too plant them in the fall (september) mixed with winter peas and rye....They never get over a couple inches all winter, the deer keep them eaten down, especially the peas....I never have planted them in the spring...

never heard of planting them in the spring, always planted ours in august and they were hit hardest in october, then once the acorns fell they dont eat them as much