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Brassicas

turkeyriver said:
Three possibilities I can think of. Do deer have a better food source nearby? Standing corn or beans cut high that left a lot of grain out there? Have the deer moved to a winter bedding area a long ways from your plot? Lastly, maybe your deer have never tasted brassicas and don't know what they are. There is a learning curve for deer to eat them. Try mixing some winter rye in with brassicas next year.
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I agree usually it's due to plentiful ag crops that deer are adapted to feeding. That's part of the reason we divide plots and provide multi-source crops that feed them year around. White clover perimeters for instance, habituate deer to feeding there.

Lush rye/oats/peas in 1/2 the plot are irresistible to deer and forage radish mixed with rape and turnips usually train them quickly to feeding on brassicas.

Avoid planting one crop if you can...
 
Thanks alot! Ill have to give that a try. This coming year i plan on going away from food plot companies and mixing my own seed. Is there a way i can order seed online from some of the seed stores you guys mention?
 
Bone Slayer said:
Thanks alot! Ill have to give that a try. This coming year i plan on going away from food plot companies and mixing my own seed. Is there a way i can order seed online from some of the seed stores you guys mention?
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I get mine from Welter Seed and Honey Co. You can order by phone and they will ship but certain items like oats, you have to order by the 50 lb bag. Other seeds like turnips, rape, and radishes you can order as small as a quantity that you want. They aren't too far away from me so last year I drove there to save on shipping.
 
Deer don't eat my brassicas?

When deer are acclimated to crops of any kind, they may at first turn up their noses when brassicas are introduced. I've never witnessed this with lush cereal grains, but brassicas can on occasion seem "foreign" to whitetails in ag country.

Fred's plots are not only beautiful and lush but also provide diversified food sources and plenty of it!



In Fred's case it took 4 years before they started eating his brassicas, probably in part to familiar and plentiful food sources.



Based on feedback from across the country I'm guessing 5-10% experience what Fred has, while most witness the exact opposite and deer decimate brassicas, sometimes before hunting season. Usually, once deer become habituated to finding a steady source of food close to bedding cover and ag crops removed they will quickly turn on the brassicas.

A few yards away from these deer are ag fields but deer have long ago adapted to feeding the clover, cereal grains and brassica strips...



During the rut bucks could care less what we plant...



it's the does we need to keep fat and happy



Later...rut weary bucks know where the food is...



Brassicas are winter hardy but temps around zero exact a toll on the foliage



The colder it gets...



The more they turn on the brassicas



Unlike grain crops, the browned brassica foliage is still attractive



and deer dig thru the snow for it



Always lots of night time feeding when it's hard to determine total number of deer feeding on what...






The rape plants stay green the longest making them an attractive part of the mix



and the turnips get eaten to the dirt



Along with the forage radish which begins decompose early winter, this allows water follow the root channels and subsequent freezing/thawing breaks up hardpan soils.



Plenty of green feed and roots to keep them well fed into the near year



If trying brassicas for the 1st time near ag crops, start small and plant narrow strips between cereal and clover strips. Include plenty of forage radish since it is the most palatable and helps adapt deer to this new food source... :way:
 
I will be weaning the deer off beans next year. It gets harder every year to grow beans without deer wiping them out. Now that I got the deer eating brassicas i feel comfortable planting more and taking the beans away.
 
I did the dbltree rotation on a couple plots that are cut into the edge of existing ag fields (beans this year). I was hesitant that the deer were not going to hit my brassicas but I sat in the ground blind tonight and had 20-25 deer come out and they walked right into the brassica section.

The deer didn't really start hitting the brassica section until just recently...I would assume now they are in there, they will hammer it all winter long until it is gone. I can only assume they will be in there even earlier next year as they become more accustomed to it, does that sound right?
 
Just wanted to say thanks for the recent posts on this thread as I thought I had done something wrong. This is my first year planting food plots, I planted half clover and half brassicas in a 2 acre plot (this is in SE Iowa). The deer found the clover early and have been coming to it ever since. Even now, with snow and ice on the ground and the clover laying flat, they are ignoring the brassicas and digging down to get at the flattened clover. My plan is to start the dbltree rotation next season, but I was starting to second guess going with brassicas again. After reading through here the past couple of days, I have decided to give it another go with the brassicas next year.
 
patoconn said:
Just wanted to say thanks for the recent posts on this thread as I thought I had done something wrong. This is my first year planting food plots, I planted half clover and half brassicas in a 2 acre plot (this is in SE Iowa). The deer found the clover early and have been coming to it ever since. Even now, with snow and ice on the ground and the clover laying flat, they are ignoring the brassicas and digging down to get at the flattened clover. My plan is to start the dbltree rotation next season, but I was starting to second guess going with brassicas again. After reading through here the past couple of days, I have decided to give it another go with the brassicas next year.
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I would be fairly surprised if they didn't start gnawing on your brassicas yet this year too. What "mix" of brassicas did you plant? It seems like deer might gravitate towards brassicas faster when there is a decent percentage of Ground Hog Forage Radish(GHFR) present.
 
During the rut, it was fun watching all the abandoned fawns come into the winter rye. They would walk out, kick up their heels, run around like baby calves, and then settle down to eat. Many times I watched them eat for awhile, lay down for an hour and then get up to eat again. Nice to know they had plenty of quality food as I'm sure many were just weaned and needed it. They should go into winter fat and sassy!
 
The deer can be extremely finicky. We found that it took about 3 years to get them really eating it. Ironically enough I've had horrible results with WI products. Evolved harvest have been preferred every time by the deer. I'll have to take some picks and post. The WI tall time tubers isn't touched and the evolved harvest is browsed to the stems.
 
Daver said:
I would be fairly surprised if they didn't start gnawing on your brassicas yet this year too. What "mix" of brassicas did you plant? It seems like deer might gravitate towards brassicas faster when there is a decent percentage of Ground Hog Forage Radish(GHFR) present.
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I planted Big-n-Beasty from Fridged Forage this year, but next year I will be mixing my own (have my order in at Welter Seed already). I do plan on leaving my trail cameras out even after the season to monitor when or if the deer do start hitting the brassicas.

I think the thing that frustrated me most about it, is that I made sure to do everything the "right way". Took soil samples, applied lime, prepared a good seed bed, applied the suggested fertilizer with extra nitrogen, even caught a decent (and rare) early August rain. The plot looks really good too.

No worries though, as stated in my previous post, I'm going to be patient and keep giving them a try. Thanks again!
 
I have planted big n beasty for a number of years, they have have still do hammer them. It might be area/location dependent. I had one plot by my house and they didn't touch them until January. Another plot a couple thousand yards away they destroyed by mid December. Or, they are just preferring the clover right now. I bet you find a ton of sheds around that plot this year. Turnips have always been my best locations for sheds.
 
I have been watching my brassicas plots from a distance to see if any bucks show up that I want to hunt. No luck in that dept., but man are the deer pounding the turnips/radishes. Had 23 deer in a 1/2 acre plot the other night with acres and acres of corn and bean stubble across the fence completely empty! Pics of what they're eating now on Page 101 posted 9-11-13. Seed from Welter's.Appin forage turnip, groundhog radish and DER. And there's still a lot of feed out there under the snow.
 
Compete with complete habitat

I’ve mentioned from time to time that one of our landowners has a farm that borders Lee & Tiffany’s and in fact some of his farm is bordered on 3 sides by L&T. Lee and the landowner willingly share cam pics and information regarding managing for mature bucks, so they have a great relationship and of course friendly competition for bucks that know no boundaries.

Jesse and I make up Dbltree Habitat Enhancement Inc. and we build whitetail habitat for a living, making situations like this personally challenging. Our job is to create outstanding habitat in all cases and keeping our jobs often means attracting huge whitetails from Lee’s side of the fence to ours…no mean feat considering the landowner does not have unlimited financial resources and sponsors offering free seed and equipment.

For 2 years in a row the landowners family and friends have harvested 170+” mature bucks like this 6.5 year old …which got Lee’s attention



Lee was encouraging and happy but he and his cameraman grilled the landowner’s son “what is planted in your food plots??” Lee is an excellent deer manager but I have never known him to do any habitat work and the son replied honestly that he did not know …just some mixes that Jesse and Paul planted .



Obviously there are no secrets but what Lee does not realize is, it’s not about a “mix”…it’s about a combination of crops that provide year around food sources that adapt deer to coming to one place every day 365 days a year .



It’s about tree orchards dropping fruits of all kinds, irresistible chestnuts and low tannin sweet acorns that pique whitetails attention and cannot be found next door.



It’s about premium cover by using sound timber management, radical hinging and thick native warm season grass.



It’s about screening feeding areas and road and property lines so deer feel secure and safe from poachers.



Success is about habitat and whitetail management in tandem …it’s NOT about fancy buck a bag seed, or this crop or that.



Lee does none of the aforementioned things while in a concerted effort between landowner and DHEI, we do ALL of things and more.



Personally I’m honored that Lee wants to know what Jess and I are doing to attract mature bucks away from his place and anything we do…you can do also. Just remember brassicas, rye and clover are only one part of the habitat equation, if you want to compete with the big guns…make use of the full habitat arsenal.



Note that large numbers of deer come to this centralized feeding area daily and have been for 6 years now.



Lee typically has tenant farmers leave corn or beans standing, yet these deer ignore those crops.



Lee plants “bred for deer” seed but it’s clear that these deer could care less. Please note in no way are my comments meant to demean Lee, he’s a good hunter and knows how to manage for big whitetails.



This post is meant to share how many habitat improvements combined together make an unbeatable combination and they can be implemented by almost anyone and with some variations over much of nation…….

Plant ALL in one plot in strips or blocks

Alice, Kopu II, Durana (or comparable) white clover 10% of plot, sow at 6#'s per acre with the rye combination in the fall or in the spring with oats and berseem clover. Correct Ph and P&K with soil tests

Brassicas in 45% of plot

Purple Top Turnips 2.5#
Dwarf Essex Rape 2.5#
GroundHog Forage radish 5#

Plant in mid to late July in most Midwest states, or 60-90 days before your first killing frost, Use 200#'s of 46-0-0 urea and 400#'s of 6-28-28 per acre. Follow the dead brassicas with oats and berseem or crimson clover in mid spring at 50#'s oats and 12-15#'s berseem clover an/or same of crimson clover and/or 50#'s of chickling vetch)

Cereal Grain combo in 45% of plot...I use 50# each rye, oats and peas along with radish and clover seed all plant in half of each feeding area

We use 50#'s each of the following:

Winter rye 50-80#'s per acre (56#'s = a bushel)
Spring oats 50-120#'s per acre (32#'s = a bushel)
Frostmaster Winter Peas or 4010/6040 Forage peas 20-80#'s per acre

Red Clover 8-12#'s per acre or white clover at 6#'s per acre (or 20-40 pounds hairy vetch and 20-30#'s crimson clover on sandy soils)
Groundhog Forage Radish 5#'s per acre

Plant in late August to early September, if following well fertilized brassicas use 100 - 200#'s of urea, if starting a new plot add 400#'s of 6-28-28 but for best results soil test and add only what is necessary.

Rotate the brassicas and rye combo each year
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Paul,
What do you recommend planting in the spring? I help maintain a property owned by a friend of mine. This is where i hunt part of the season. We planted your cereal grain combo on one plot last fall. We plan on getting the rest of the fields into your rotation this year. The property is 3 hours from my home so i don't get down there as much as i like. We usually try to do a couple of work weekends in the spring summer and fall. As far as i can tell, we shouldn't plant your rotation until later in the year. We have four 2 acre plots to work with. Was hoping to be able to plant a plot in the spring. What would you suggest?

Thank you for all off your free input on this site!!
Wishing the best for you and your family.
 
Paul

I kinda follow your rotation but I sometimes plant a few other bonus plots of sorghum and such and order my seed from the nearest dealers (I'm in Iowa) I was wondering how long the seed stays good after sitting all winter in a shed. I know you lose germination rate but how long would you keep seed stored before you toss it. Some seeds may last longer than others but I don't know how long to keep each seed. I usually try to order for just the year used but you know how things happen.

Thanks for all that you do.
A fellow Iowa land manager
 
eulingertrim said:
Paul,
What do you recommend planting in the spring? I help maintain a property owned by a friend of mine. This is where i hunt part of the season. We planted your cereal grain combo on one plot last fall. We plan on getting the rest of the fields into your rotation this year. The property is 3 hours from my home so i don't get down there as much as i like. We usually try to do a couple of work weekends in the spring summer and fall. As far as i can tell, we shouldn't plant your rotation until later in the year. We have four 2 acre plots to work with. Was hoping to be able to plant a plot in the spring. What would you suggest?

Thank you for all off your free input on this site!!
Wishing the best for you and your family.
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We follow the dead brassicas with oats and annual clovers planted late April...plant brassicas mid July, rye mix late August.

Seeds will keep very well for one year, after that do a ragdoll test to ck % germination.
 
Paul can add to this if he likes but seed can stay viable for a long time as long as it is kept dry in moderate temperatures out of light, etc. Here is one post Paul describes the ragdoll test for checking seed germination. From this test you can then adjust your seeding rate or decide if you need fresh seed.

http://iowawhitetail.com/forum/showthread.php?t=15879&highlight=ragdoll+test&page=8

Looks like Paul beat me to the punch typing at the same time!
 
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