planting alfalfa for deer
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Frankfort mi USA
Posts: 41
planting alfalfa for deer
I was just wondering if anyone can give me some info on planting alfalfa,recommended soil ph,time of year to plant and field prep.Last year I planted corn and sunflowers and this year i want to plant corn and alfalfa.I live in Northern Michigan 4 miles from lake Michigan are the conditions right in this area for alfalfa.How much would I have to plant to cover 2 acres.will it draw deer.
#2
RE: planting alfalfa for deer
Alfalfa will draw deer all right - but its a much higher maintenance plot than say clover. Alfalfa needs a Ph of 6.5 - 7.0 to do very well, and yearly applications of P & K on our soils. Most farmers in my area plant in the spring by planting oats then overseeding and cultipacking the alfafa seed into the soil. When the straw is harvested (or mowed down) in August, the alfafa is well established, and the plot is maintained through fertilizer applications for 2-3 more years before the feild is planted to corn.
You can drill alfafa or broadcast it - but its important to have a firm seedbed (like clover) which is accomplished by cultipacking the soil. Do not disk the seed in.
Some people say the alfala is "bitter" to deer come fall, and they will head for greener pastures - though we certaintly see deer in the neighbor's feilds during the fall. We can agree that the deer in our area do seem to prefer Rye,Oats or Winter wheat come fall, if available.
You can drill alfafa or broadcast it - but its important to have a firm seedbed (like clover) which is accomplished by cultipacking the soil. Do not disk the seed in.
Some people say the alfala is "bitter" to deer come fall, and they will head for greener pastures - though we certaintly see deer in the neighbor's feilds during the fall. We can agree that the deer in our area do seem to prefer Rye,Oats or Winter wheat come fall, if available.
#4
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ontario Canada
Posts: 2,059
RE: planting alfalfa for deer
Okelly45; The deer use my alfalfa field as a bedding/feeding area. They live on a hill crest of alflafa through the late spring and early summer.
The determining factor in the Bruce peninsula (comparable to Upper Michigan) is your snow cover. If your site has little snow cover during the coldest part of the winter your stands will thin out quickly. We have an average snowfall of about 14' so this usually isn't a problem.
Dan O.
The determining factor in the Bruce peninsula (comparable to Upper Michigan) is your snow cover. If your site has little snow cover during the coldest part of the winter your stands will thin out quickly. We have an average snowfall of about 14' so this usually isn't a problem.
Dan O.
#5
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Frankfort mi USA
Posts: 41
RE: planting alfalfa for deer
Thanks Dan O.the field usually stays deep with snow all winter its in a valley surrounded by large oaks.does alfalfa need alot of sun?The corn and sunflowers did well last year.
#6
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ferry Township, Michigan United States
Posts: 165
RE: planting alfalfa for deer
OKELLY 45, I'm not a farmer. I tried alfalfa last year. It didn't do anything. Soon after I planted it,it didn"t rain for 6wks.. You have come to the right place with your question. the people on this forum are very , very helpful. Have you had a soil sample taken? I have wasted plenty of time and money by not doing that. I'm west of Hesperia in Ferry Township. <img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle>
LIVE FREE OR DIE
LIVE FREE OR DIE
#7
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Frankfort mi USA
Posts: 41
RE: planting alfalfa for deer
lawnfarmer thanks for the info.That was one hell of a drought we had last summer.I plan on getting a soil test done soon.does anyone know how many samples I should take from a 3 acre field? been threw Grandhaven lots of times going to softball tournements.Its a nice place
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 59
RE: planting alfalfa for deer
last year my alfalfa made it through the dry summer in pretty good shape. it did not grow very much but it did stay green. it will be interesting to see how this summers weather will be. hopefully not a repeat of last year. by the way my property is near mt. pleasant.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: USA
Posts: 59
RE: planting alfalfa for deer
the last two years we have seen more deer on our property than previos years. we also had our property selective cut 6 years ago so the surrounding area is very thick now. one thing we really noticed is we see deer at all times of the day in the plot. the deer seem to use the plot heavy till late june then starting again in late july. we have almost 3 acres planted and it never has been more than 6 inches tall but in the wire cages it has reached 12-14 inches so the deer are keeping it grazed. when we started our soil ph was only 5.4 and the soil was all sand. the only thing that was growing at the time was ferns. we limed in the spring heavely and disked the soil up and planted rye. the following spring we relimed and planted alfalfa and clover mix. so far the effort has been well worth the time and money.