Food Plot LaGrange Area

[Huntin]

Have a small place (66 acres) near Lagrange and looking for something to draw the deer in more. I have one corn feeder and planted Oats last fall. This has been feeding year round for last 5 years. Two seasons ago I had a lot of deer that were feeding but did not see that many this year. I have another corn feeder and a protein feeder to setup this weekend. I also have a tractor to plant food plots.
I am looking for the best product (beans, oatsect...) to plant for the food plot and when I should plant? Also looking for the best Protein to use for the area.

Here is my setup.

[TimH]

I don't think any one particular forage or browse is always preferred by deer. I think the food they eat appeals to them at different stages of it's growth. I would plant winter peas with your oats next fall and maybe even a couple of other things.

Your oats look a little short, so either deer are eating on them, or they may need a good push with some fertilizer, or both.

Why not plan a summer plot and add you a couple of cotton seed feeders, or protein feeders. You aren't too far from the Producers Coop in Bryan. They have a great deer pellet, probably cheaper than other protein options.

Do you have a good water source on the 66 acres?

[Huntin]

Yes we have a pond a 100 yards away. The deer have been eating the oats but It would not hurt to add fertilizer. I am going to do that this year.

I don't think any one particular forage or browse is always preferred by deer. I think the food they eat appeals to them at different stages of it's growth. I would plant winter peas with your oats next fall and maybe even a couple of other things.

Your oats look a little short, so either deer are eating on them, or they may need a good push with some fertilizer, or both.

Why not plan a summer plot and add you a couple of cotton seed feeders, or protein feeders. You aren't too far from the Producers Coop in Bryan. They have a great deer pellet, probably cheaper than other protein options.

Do you have a good water source on the 66 acres?

[TimH]

It's expensive, but sometimes it's necessary if the plot is getting hit hard. I planted two acres with a custom mix on a place I had in Kenedy and I couldn't keep up with the deer. It had about 7-8 different things in it and they flat tore it up. The 180 acres next door had about 30 acres of oats and peas and after dark, that field xploded with deer. Bucks that we never saw during the daylight hours. They seemed to prefer the peas early and the oats a little later on.

I'm impressed with how affective cotton seed has been for us this year down south. With or without food plots, I think I would keep a cotton seed feeder going during the off season. The secret is to buy it during ginning times so you get the best price. It went up to $500/ton last year during the off months. At that price, I would have to look at alternative protein choices I think.

[Splitting Hairs]

Iron Clay peas. plant towards the end of april. Austrian winter peas plant end of september. The deer on our place love both. We gave up on oats because we have plenty wild oats and clover. And some cotton seed

[Limbwalker]

I hear that area is overpopulated with deer. If you want some help with that, give me a jingle. ha, ha.

Good luck with the food plots, whatever you decide.

[TimH]

Iron Clay peas. plant towards the end of april. Austrian winter peas plant end of september. The deer on our place love both. We gave up on oats because we have plenty wild oats and clover. And some cotton seed

Found this on the web, sound about right?

"Cowpeas (Iron & Clay)Legume Seed

A great cover crop for warm weather and Southern growers.

Grown much like soybeans. Frost sensitive, but fast growing to 2 1/2' in warm/hot weather. Sow midspring once soil has warmed. Drill at 25-50 lb./acre or broadcast up to 120 lb./acre, 1/2 to 1" deep. Relatively long taproots help withstand drought. Cowpeas are not tolerant of high weed pressure or wet soils and will perform poorly in these conditions. If planted thickly, they will smother out weeds. Cowpeas can also be used for underseeding in spring crops and tilled under prior to fall-planted crops. They can produce as much as 315 lb./acre nitrogen, although 130 lb./acre is more typical. High organic matter production. Inoculate with #9321 or #9359 for best performance. Avg. 4,000 seeds/lb."

[Huntin]

Iron Clay peas. plant towards the end of april. Austrian winter peas plant end of september. The deer on our place love both. We gave up on oats because we have plenty wild oats and clover. And some cotton seed

Thanks, I will give that a try

[Chris1962]

I use to hunt in Dilley on a peanut field. They would swarm out in the field.

[Huntin]

I hear that area is overpopulated with deer. If you want some help with that, give me a jingle. ha, ha.

Good luck with the food plots, whatever you decide.

haha Had 15 or so deer that would come every morning and aftermoon. Last year only had a big doe and two nubbin bucks. A couple of nice bucks but only at night.

[gingib]

hogs will wipe out Soybeans....ask me how I know

And I know LG has plenty of hogs in most areas

[Splitting Hairs]

Found this on the web, sound about right?

"Cowpeas (Iron & Clay)Legume Seed

A great cover crop for warm weather and Southern growers.

Grown much like soybeans. Frost sensitive, but fast growing to 2 1/2' in warm/hot weather. Sow midspring once soil has warmed. Drill at 25-50 lb./acre or broadcast up to 120 lb./acre, 1/2 to 1" deep. Relatively long taproots help withstand drought. Cowpeas are not tolerant of high weed pressure or wet soils and will perform poorly in these conditions. If planted thickly, they will smother out weeds. Cowpeas can also be used for underseeding in spring crops and tilled under prior to fall-planted crops. They can produce as much as 315 lb./acre nitrogen, although 130 lb./acre is more typical. High organic matter production. Inoculate with #9321 or #9359 for best performance. Avg. 4,000 seeds/lb."

That is correct

[Huntin]

Found this on the web, sound about right?

"Cowpeas (Iron & Clay)Legume Seed

A great cover crop for warm weather and Southern growers.

Grown much like soybeans. Frost sensitive, but fast growing to 2 1/2' in warm/hot weather. Sow midspring once soil has warmed. Drill at 25-50 lb./acre or broadcast up to 120 lb./acre, 1/2 to 1" deep. Relatively long taproots help withstand drought. Cowpeas are not tolerant of high weed pressure or wet soils and will perform poorly in these conditions. If planted thickly, they will smother out weeds. Cowpeas can also be used for underseeding in spring crops and tilled under prior to fall-planted crops. They can produce as much as 315 lb./acre nitrogen, although 130 lb./acre is more typical. High organic matter production. Inoculate with #9321 or #9359 for best performance. Avg. 4,000 seeds/lb."

Great info, I wonder where I could buy some of these?

[Splitting Hairs]

Smith's supply company in smithville is where i get them. They will more than likely have to order it

[TXChickenRanch]

I hate to break it to you, but there are no deer in the La Grange area!!

Where around LaGrange do you hunt? There are quite a few of us that hunt down 154!