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Post by sd51555 on Sept 9, 2020 21:15:54 GMT -6
I was walking the plots over the weekend and I was somewhat concerned about how much browse was happening already in my new clover expansion from last fall. Starting to wonder if this cold weather and increased browse pressure isn't some kind of farmers almanac kind of message about an early and tough winter coming. Seems like we're a little overdue for a herd reducer. It's been a few years.
Anyone else seeing the switch to plots kicking on sooner than previous years? I've even got a decent bur acorn crop and there's still a clover chowdown in progress.
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Post by Sandbur on Sept 10, 2020 2:41:59 GMT -6
I suspect it is from having healthy deer numbers.
Grazing pressure on my beans is down, tiny oats plots aren’t touched, clover doesn’t appear to be browsed.
I am in a sea of food at present . Deer are on alfalfa. Neighbors commercial sweet corn was hit hard from what I hear.
The fall season does seem a bit early. My apple crops have matured earlier. Probably the corn also.
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Post by nhmountains on Sept 10, 2020 10:54:53 GMT -6
With the drought here deer were hitting my plots all summer long.
SD, that clover expansion probably brought in more deer too. They love a fresh healthy clover plot. Plus, the deer are more secure in your land as as opposed to an open field so if you provide them with food they won’t have to look elsewhere. Hopefully it holds up for you through November.
One guy near my camp decided not to do brassicas this year. He’s relying on clover and chicory. I don’t think they’ll make it to November for him. He’s got lots of oaks too though.
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Post by Catscratch on Sept 10, 2020 19:30:04 GMT -6
Yard plot tonight. They've been in the unmowed stuff for weeks. It's knee high clovers, rye residue, alfalfa, chicory, and a huge host of weeds. Pretty rank stuff! The mowed strip next to it doesn't have as many weeds... they don't care for it as much and graze the other side heavy. Good crop of ragweed and giant ragweed in this strip. Ragweed is in the ambrosia genius... which means food of the gods. Don't know if their grazing means a hard winter but I can hope.  |
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Post by honker on Sept 10, 2020 20:35:03 GMT -6
Yard plot tonight. They've been in the unmowed stuff for weeks. It's knee high clovers, rye residue, alfalfa, chicory, and a huge host of weeds. Pretty rank stuff! The mowed strip next to it doesn't have as many weeds... they don't care for it as much and graze the other side heavy. Good crop of ragweed and giant ragweed in this strip. Ragweed is in the ambrosia genius... which means food of the gods. Don't know if their grazing means a hard winter but I can hope. That one on the left got anyone at your place excited or is that just common down there? Looks like a monster to me. |
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Post by sd51555 on Sept 10, 2020 20:37:52 GMT -6
Yard plot tonight. They've been in the unmowed stuff for weeks. It's knee high clovers, rye residue, alfalfa, chicory, and a huge host of weeds. Pretty rank stuff! The mowed strip next to it doesn't have as many weeds... they don't care for it as much and graze the other side heavy. Good crop of ragweed and giant ragweed in this strip. Ragweed is in the ambrosia genius... which means food of the gods. Don't know if their grazing means a hard winter but I can hope. The more I watch, the more I like just opening the canopy. I can't begin to ID the stuff that comes up, but when I look closely enough, almost everything is getting eaten. If I could buy ragweed seed, there'd be a stash next to the chicory at stab camp. I've got a high spot next to a low spot I cut open last year. I might give that a day on the Stihl to see what comes of it. |
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Post by Catscratch on Sept 10, 2020 21:07:56 GMT -6
Yard plot tonight. They've been in the unmowed stuff for weeks. It's knee high clovers, rye residue, alfalfa, chicory, and a huge host of weeds. Pretty rank stuff! The mowed strip next to it doesn't have as many weeds... they don't care for it as much and graze the other side heavy. Good crop of ragweed and giant ragweed in this strip. Ragweed is in the ambrosia genius... which means food of the gods. Don't know if their grazing means a hard winter but I can hope. That one on the left got anyone at your place excited or is that just common down there? Looks like a monster to me. He's a nice buck. Still in velvet so he looks a little bigger than he is. The youngest is wanting to shoot him. We sat on the porch and watched for a while tonight. Asked if I thought he could hit him with his recurve at that range (just over a hundred). Not sure if I'll put anyone on his path this season or not. Might try to get him another yr, or not. Sd, weeds/native are so important. I'm always surprised there isn't more talk about them on habitat forums. Palatablity, nutrition, protein, and free. They are a purposely part of damn near everything I do for deer and cattle. I guess paying for something gives it more value. |
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