Buck Forage Oats = C-

[Bardo]

I guess I bit into all the marketing hype surrounding Buck Forage Oats. I have a 4-acre food-plot that I planted to BFO for 3 years in a row. Did it bring in deer? Yes. Lot's? Nope! I'd give it a C- overall

An another plot, I planted dwarf essex rape. Id give it a solid B.

The best reults that I have had through the years however, has been Biologic Full Draw. I'll go back to that next year.

[FREEPOP]

Bardo, that informtion would be more useful if a reader had a clue as to the region that you live. You don't have to put an address in, but a clue that you're near some place. You are in Michigan aren't you?

[Bardo]

I'm in the Thumb, Sanilac County (3 miles in from the lake)

[FREEPOP]

It's okay, just helps to know :cool:

[farmlegend]

I've got a rectangular plot, 1.25 acres in size, which I planted this past September in thirds - north 1/3 BFO, central BFO "bin run" oats, and south 1/3 "bin run" winter wheat.

As of the last time I examined the plot(10 days ago) the plot was covered with snow, but deer had obviously been digging through for chow. 100% of the feeding had been on the winter wheat portion of the plot. This was consistent with previous observations, when I viewed deer in this plot (from over 100 yds away, with binos), and the deer fed nowhere but the wheat portion.

[Backwoods-Savage]

So far I've found nothing better than BFO, for October hunting in Central Michigan. This year with the warm it extended into November quite a bit and the deer are still digging through the snow for some, but normally after about Nov. 10, you are better off with something other than the oats.

Planting BFO and bin oats side by side, they prefered the BFO but still ate the other. Also the BFO lasts a little longer. So, for bowhunting in October the BFO are hard to beat. For rifle and late season hunting, better stick with the wheat or something else.

[NorthJeff]

By most accounts, BFO's stay green longer than regular oats. But, depending on your needs and soil, I'd go with rye or wheat for an all green field that will last into early spring. At the same time, I like using oats...and BFO because they stay green longer, because rarely do I plant a field in the fall that I am not putting a base of clover and chicory, or just clover in, along with the oats. The oats are great because you can count on them dying over the winter, and not offering any competition to the establishment of the perennials in the spring. If I use 100% oats though, my fields are full of young clover and oats turning brown by late Nov to mid-Dec with little attraction, so over the years while experimenting with different percentages from 20% oats-80% rye, to 80% oats-20% rye, to 50% rye-50% oats...the 50:50 mix assure adequate green growth into spring, but not too much to outcompete the establishment of the perennials. The rye is extremely important for my property because that is what the deer primarily eat for as long as 4 weeks or more when they return from the yards in the spring. The clover, and even forage in the woods has not emerged from winter dormancy, yet you get one 55 degree day and the rye stands up proud and ready to be eaten. Without the rye..or even wheat, the deer on my property would miss out on at least 4 weeks of adequate forage at one of the most critical times of the year. It's no different in late fall...the clover turns dormant by the middle part of Oct and without the grains, or even brassica at that time, the deer would miss out on several weeks of forage at another very critical time of the year. Unlike TX and drought, during a summer in the U.P. the deer have several times more food than they require and it is literally the most abundant time in the whitetail woods, but the BFO and other grains help fill the void during the most critical times of the year and are the most important plantings I can make with the conditions I have.

[Ed Spin04]

Farm Legend,

Your experiences of deer being exceptionally picky about the forage they eat on your land has caused me to do some serious research.

I contacted DR Kroll. Dr Grant woods and spent some considerably time on my own researching forage for deer at the Michigan State University library.

I also asked our MSU forage expert Dr. Richard Leep for some answers.

This is what I found out FL. Your deer are obviously from a genitic pool of misfits. They certainly are not normal Michigan deer. The consensous is that your deer are probably decendants of English Red deer that interbred with whitetail deer. These English red deer were known for their uppity attitude and are of Royal blood. However there was a purching of less than royal stock (AKA misfits) in the early 19th century and these were secretly shipped to Jackson County Michigan and never heard from again, that is until now.

[FREEPOP]

I like that Ed. Maybe he should try force feeding or the old "here comes the plane, open up the hanger" :D

[bucklessyooper]

I didn't have very good luck with bfo's this year either. May have been the acorn crop that affected it.

[farmlegend]

Ed, you may be onto something.

Thought you might like to see a pic my trail camera took back in September, feeding on my clover/alfalfa mix. Saw him twice during the bow season, and so far as I know, he's still out there. Yeah, he's not the "big boy" of the farm, but I sure wouldn't berate one of my younger guests for taking a buck like him.


http://www.kynd.net/~gnsmkldg/dillon-reddeer.JPG

Ps: I read all the books at the MSU library, and neither of them had anything whatsoever to say about deer nutrition, let alone forage preference.
:evil:

[GrouseBuster]

My property is in Cheboygen Co. We have very sandy soil. I used BFO for the first time this year and I would say the results were impressive. The BFO stayed green even under snow. I do continue to use WhiteTail Institute No plow with good success in the fall. For spring plantings I am staying with Rye. I did a Tecomate Bird seed plot this year and it turned out very nice. BFO is tuff to beat for price, ease of growing and it doesn't hurt that the deer actually eat the stuff.

[Luv2hunteup]

I'd also give BFO a C rating. I planted mill run oats (at about 1/3 the price) in side by side test. I did not see a difference. It doesn't seem to be anything special except for the price.

Brassica or brassica mix plots got my highest ratings again this year. I would say that measured in volume brassica was a 10 to 1 winner. Brassica lasted much longer than oats.

One experiemental plot that really showed promise was a mix of buckwheat, dwarf essex rape and austrian winter peas. It was a heavy draw in September and continued through muzzleloading season. It is also an inexpensive plot to put in. I will plant it again.

[Ed Spin04]

FL, thanks for the confirmation of the misfit English red deer being translocated to Jackson County. I was hoping that one would show up. Not a bad interbreeding after all eh?

That's still a low antler quality for red deer, but then again its poor managed Michigan, what can one expect?

You wouldn't of found any material at the state library about deer nutrition, I borrowed them all. See you saturday FL.

PS, how long did it take for you to come up with that altered pic, nice job?

[farmlegend]

That's still a low antler quality for red deer, but then again its poor managed Michigan, what can one expect?

:lol: :lol: :lol:

[Lew]

Luv2, Which month did you plant buckwheat, dwarf essex rape and austrian winter peas mixture. It sounds like a mixture I would like to try and was wondering if is best to plant it early or wait until August. Thanks. Lew

[NorthJeff]

I saw that mix on Luv2's property and it looked outstanding! I have my doubts about it making it into mid-October on my property, but that mix is a lot like pure brassicas in that if by Labor Day you suspect your plots are going downhill...just broadcast 100#'s per acre of rye and enjoy the season.

[Honker]

Luv2, would you mind sharing the percentages of that mix? Thanks