Deer Finally in my Brassicas
01-11-2008, 05:36 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
Deer Finally in my Brassicas
Well the deer are finally in the brassicas - they've stripped much of the obvious Leaffy vegetation and have even gnawed down much of the stalks in some sections. It was too late to hunt over - BUT - I hope all this "grubbin" for turnips will knock off a few Sheds to find this Spring
Here's a LATE December look at them.
Here's a couple "fall looks" at them in cas you wondered how they appeared before they were stripped.
FH
Here's a LATE December look at them.
Here's a couple "fall looks" at them in cas you wondered how they appeared before they were stripped.
FH
01-13-2008, 05:01 PM
#5
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Altmar New York USA
Posts: 1,247
RE: Deer Finally in my Brassicas
FarmHunter, Why do you think it took the deer so long to hit them? I thought Brassicas sweetened up after first frosts. You think the mild winter had anything to do with it.
01-14-2008, 07:57 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: cazenovia, NY USA
Posts: 2,973
RE: Deer Finally in my Brassicas
Buck Alley -
I think its pretty clear for us that the deer prefer the clover and Soybean podswhen there is none or little snow - then when the snow comes (58" in December this year) - they switch over to Standing Corn (plus their natural browse of course). Its my opinion that after a few weeks in the corn, the Brassicas offer a "new" flavorfor the deer. Deer are not content to feed on the same food day in and day out - and something in them seems to "know" when a food source is lacking something - which with corn is Protein. The Brassicas offer sugars and protein. So when the clover/soybeans are not accessible - they become a preffered food - at least for a while.
I will say that now that the snow has melted - the deer are seriously back on the clover and pretty much ignoring the standing corn and brassicas. Heck - they are STILL Pawing for soybeans - and they've been pretty much gone for a month - they REALLY seem to like soybeans this year.
I think the short answer is that we have enough other foods that they prefer over the Brassicas. Still, since they are easy to plant, I hope they have their place - and we keep offering them in plots smaller than 1 acre, for now anyways.
FH
I think its pretty clear for us that the deer prefer the clover and Soybean podswhen there is none or little snow - then when the snow comes (58" in December this year) - they switch over to Standing Corn (plus their natural browse of course). Its my opinion that after a few weeks in the corn, the Brassicas offer a "new" flavorfor the deer. Deer are not content to feed on the same food day in and day out - and something in them seems to "know" when a food source is lacking something - which with corn is Protein. The Brassicas offer sugars and protein. So when the clover/soybeans are not accessible - they become a preffered food - at least for a while.
I will say that now that the snow has melted - the deer are seriously back on the clover and pretty much ignoring the standing corn and brassicas. Heck - they are STILL Pawing for soybeans - and they've been pretty much gone for a month - they REALLY seem to like soybeans this year.
I think the short answer is that we have enough other foods that they prefer over the Brassicas. Still, since they are easy to plant, I hope they have their place - and we keep offering them in plots smaller than 1 acre, for now anyways.
FH
