Antler Growth Plot
#1

I forget the months they need the protein during the antler growth phase but I want two goals out of my food plots. What can I plant that can be during the antler phase that can last till fall?
Is there a food plot that will be planted in the antler growth phase that will last clear till fall?
I planted bio-logic Full Draw last August and it did really good, but I'm ready to try something else.
Thanks
Is there a food plot that will be planted in the antler growth phase that will last clear till fall?
I planted bio-logic Full Draw last August and it did really good, but I'm ready to try something else.
Thanks
#4
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ponce de Leon Florida USA
Posts: 10,079

I hunt in South Bama and we have Yucci Arrowleaf clover with our cereal grain food plots. The clover is just getting high enough to provide grazing now and will provide good protein into the summer. If you fertilize honeysuckle and briars on your hunting area the deer will benefit from that also.
#5
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Missouri, Ozarks
Posts: 47

This works for us,plant a mix of jumbo ladino clover and chicory in the early spring, mix it at 2-1 and plant 3lbs. per acre. Mow it 2 or 3 times during the summer, depending on rainfall. Then around the end of Aug. disc through the plot but don't completely destroy it, and over seed with about 40lbs. per acre w.wheat and about 5lbs per acre dwarf essex rape. As you get some rain through the fall the clover and chicory will bounce back and grow right alongwith the wheat and rape making a good plot right through the late season. Theclover and chicory will come backfor 2-3 years, and will just need to be mowedin the summer 2-3 times. Of course do a soil test, and lime and fertilize to the recommendations.
#6

For antler growth, you need to deliver forage high in calcium and phosphorus to the deer. Not only is protien required in spring and summer, but also during winter. Nothing does this quite as well as brassicas, as a winter forage. Follow this with white clovers and alfalfafor spring/summer forage .... and the deer are getting the maximum mineral - protien combo for max antler growth long term.With this in mind, all the required primary, secondary, and micro nutrient/minerals need to be in the soil so the forage can deliver it to the deer.