Brassca or clover

[Big_Bubbles]

what would you rather hunt over??

[Hillbilly]

Re: Brassca or clover

Well, I'm kind of dumb, so clover. Brassca doesn't ring a bell for me.

[Tominator]

Re: Brassca or clover

I planted Whitetail Institutes Imperial clover last year, along with 2 other of their mixes. One of the mixes had rye mixed in, and brassicas too.

Of the 3 choices, the deer hit the rye most, then the clover, and practically ignored the brassicas.

Go with the clover if you're thinking of planting.

[wtnhunt]

Re: Brassca or clover

Have never tried planting brassicas, but might this fall. Todd keeps suggesting I plant some, and might get some out this fall. Our clover plots see a lot of activity. Best luck on plots I have had of all I have planted has been penningtons clover and rye supreme. Our hamann farms grower plot we planted last year has also been seeing a lot more activity this summer.

[Squirrelhunter91]

Re: Brassca or clover

I once read somewhere, I think in the Whitetail Institutes magazine, that the brassicas get sweet after the first frost and the deer and turkeys can't stay off of them. Turnips are like that also, after the first frost, they get hit hard.

[SaskMan]

Re: Brassca or clover

My garden is like a mini food plot, deer in it all the time. They do not touch the brassicas, even after the first frost. The clover and alfalfa scattered around my lawn gets hit all the time. Go with the clover.

[BowtechTurkeyHunter]

Re: Brassca or clover

clover brassicas seem like they arent as forgiving and you cant go wrong with clover EVER and its cheaper in most cases.

[kidd]

Re: Brassca or clover

clover is great!!!

[ranchand99]

Re: Brassca or clover

[ QUOTE ]

My garden is like a mini food plot, deer in it all the time. They do not touch the brassicas, even after the first frost. The clover and alfalfa scattered around my lawn gets hit all the time. Go with the clover.

[/ QUOTE ]

Agreed,they didn't touch the brassicas on my Uncles 1/2 acre foodplot.They did eat all the lab-lab,and Iron Clay peas.Brassicas are still growing,they are as bad as coffee weed. He pulled a few up a while back,and cooked them,said it was just like a turnip.Maybe that's why cows,and deer in a pen eat them more than wild animals. This is in Southeast Ga,I don't know if that makes a difference or not..So,between your choices...Clover.

[FSU_Seminole]

Re: Brassca or clover

Brassica is only platable after a HARD FORST, deer totally ignore it until a hard freeze turns the startch in the leaves & stems into sugar. I'd say brassica is very good for hunting up north, the midwest & its good for hunting where the season runs into Jan & Feb.

Deer hit clover pretty much year round.

The best attraction I've found for SC deer is beans & peas in the early fall & oats in the late fall heading into winter.

Matter of fact I just snuck out of a secluded bean field I just got permission to hunt. I tried to hang a stand this afternoon & a doe along with a nice 6 pointer were eating in the beans about 3 pm. I snuck out before they knew I was there.

[superguide]

Re: Brassca or clover

Canola is a member of the Brassica family-go look at my 'beyond bizarre' or great scout' posts you'll see some big bucks in canola fields. Just last week I saw three 150 plus whitetail bucks and a cow moose grazing in a field of it. Deer will feed out in the stubble after it is harvested too-just ask my neighbors my cows love it too lol.

[dogdoc]

Re: Brassca or clover

If I had to choose one it would be clover. As far as hunting over--early to mid season clover for sure. The deer just seem to hit the clover better in the early season. Like others have said after a good freeze the starched turn into sugars in the brassicas and when they do the deer devour them. Here are some pics of how the deer will devour the brassica greens.

This plot was planted in early september. it got a slow start as after planting it went 4 weeks without any rain. This is a blend of rape, forage brassica, sugar beets, and turnips mixed by www.hamannfarms.com this pic was taken the first of november:

by january the brassicas were knee high. this pic was taken first of febuary. you can see all the tall bare stalks--those are the stalks from the brassica mix- every green leaf was eaten off the stalks by the deer--you can actually see a little regrowth down by the soil:

here is a pic of a purple top turnip. you can see the deer have eaten every bit of forage all the way down to the turnip.

As far as tonnage of forage per acre nothing produces like the brassica family for a great winter forage for the deer. So if possible try to plant both--a nice annual fall/winter forage of cereal grains and brassicas and a high protein perennial such as clover, chicory, and trefoil.

good luck

todd

[RangerClay]

Re: Brassca or clover

Clover is great!! First to pop out in the spring and the last to die in the fall. Just make sure you pick the correct clover for you region. Stay away from the expensive commercial garbage at the sports stores. Go to you local feed store or farm supply store. You get a regional seed and a better seed at half the price.

Ranger