BFO- Report Card Time

We planted 3 acres of BFO on our propertyy in Iowa and the deer loved them. I counted 40 deer in the field one evening in late November. We planted them the first week of September but didn't get a chance to check them until late November. None of the oats were over an inch tall.

We planted them only after our corn failed but I would plant them again.

Tim

Natty Bumpo, The difference between my oat planting and that of FL may have been the timing of the plantings. I believe FL planted his oats in August(correct me if I'm wrong). Mine were planted in September. Our properties are both in Hillsdale county so we had similar growing conditions. FL's oats grew fast due to the optimum growing conditions. His oats may have been ready for the deer before the deer were ready to eat the oats. Deer prefer oats when they're young and tender. Each time I've planted BFO(the past 3 years) the deer have eaten them to the ground. I've tried planting them at opposite ends of my property and the results are the same. I like them because the deer like them in November. That's when I do most of my hunting. Luv2hunteup, has a different planting time because he is several hundred miles north of me.

Unquestionably, BFO was my biggest food plot bust of 2003.

Grew like mad, but the deer barely ate it. The instructions on the bag recommended an August planning for my region. Too early! As MH said, we had tremendous growing conditions. My friend measured 30" of precipitation between 9/1 and mid-December.
By late September, my oats were already a foot high, and getting tougher by the day. A few even developed seed heads.

Next year, I'll plant it much later. If that doesn't work, I'll derive immense satisfaction from using up my remaining few bags of BFO in my bird feeder.

Originally posted by farmlegend
Unquestionably, BFO was my biggest food plot bust of 2003.

Grew like mad, but the deer barely ate it. The instructions on the bag recommended an August planning for my region. Too early! As MH said, we had tremendous growing conditions. My friend measured 30" of precipitation between 9/1 and mid-December.
By late September, my oats were already a foot high, and getting tougher by the day. A few even developed seed heads.

Next year, I'll plant it much later. If that doesn't work, I'll derive immense satisfaction from using up my remaining few bags of BFO in my bird feeder.

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LOL! Me too

I planted mine around the 20th of Aug. I may plant another plot next year but plant it on 9/15.

What's the difference between BFO and co-op oats? I planted regular oats this year in fields that we'd always planted rye. I was very pleased with the plain old co-op oats. Before, our rye was hardly touched, until Spring green-up. This year, we had a fair amount of tracks in the oats and you could see where everything was biten off. Plus one field is right behind the house where I have flood lights. There was usually 1 or 2 deer in it. All this despite far less deer. Is BFO worth wantever more it costs? Assuming it does cost more.

Is BFO worth wantever more it costs? Assuming it does cost more.

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I'm going out on a limb here and say, "NO"

They are about 2-3x more expensive than regular oats.

They say they are more winter hardy, which I question.

I have to say winter wheat is a much better option.

I've heard Dr. James Kroll state thet oats are the preferred food for whitetails in the fall. BFO are supposed to be cold hardy oats. In Michigan, the oats will freeze out, perhaps a bit later that other oats. I've had good luck with BFO, but I also wonder if cheaper oats would be just as good. I like the idea of planting wheat because the deer will eat it in the fall and again in the spring.

My BFO plots were without a doubt my most consitantly drawing plots throughout hunting season. I actully had deer hitting them during the first part of december, after many hard freezes, and multiple snowfalls. I have friends down state that used them the past 2 years, and last year compared them to MI oats. They said the MI oats turned yellow a month before the BFO's, and the deer ignored the MI oats, letting them get several inches tall, and kept the BFO 1-2" high.

That being said though, the overall location of food plots, as well as soil fertality and moisture content, may have had quite a bit to do with it.

I'm in a pretty different habitat than most of you, so my deer don't seem to be too picky, as long as there is something green in place.

Who knows..

While I was out planting some speckled alder this past Saturday, I noticed a prominent deer trail going thru my sprayed planting area. It was headed for the Buck Forage Oats. Normally, the oats would freeze out sometime in December. Last December, the snow covered the oats and they did not freeze out. Now, the oats are about 4 inches tall and they're getting eaten by one particular deer. 90% of the tracks on the previously mentioned trail are from a mature buck. He appears to be using the trail daily from all the tracks that are present. It got me pumped up just knowing there's a big fella hanging around.