Red. White. Crimson. Ladino. Alsike. Zigzag. Trifolium. And more. There are many varieties of clover you can plant. So, which one is best? Well, I’m not going to say red clover reigns supreme. But it reigns supreme. At least, it’s my personal favorite (best or not). Red clover, also referred...
For many years hunters and outdoor enthusiasts have planted food plots to improve the nutrition available to their deer herd and increase their chances of harvesting a quality buck. While this is a good practice, food plots typically represent only 1 to 5 percent of the available habitat on most...
Trees are an important aspect of a whitetail’s diet. It doesn’t matter where you go in their range — trees play a role. Both soft and hard mast trees provide food for deer. Even trees that don’t produce a viable fruit or nut are oftentimes targeted for the leafy and...
Deer management has been a steadily growing trend over the years. There is no doubt that today's hunter is more informed, and more knowledgeable about his or her quarry than ever before. In fact, most deer hunters today would rather discuss buck-to-doe ratios, age structure, and the importance of scent...
Cowpeas originated from Africa and have been grown in the United States for several centuries. But even though they aren't new to the New World, they are the new craze in the food plot world. Everybody is planting them, and a lot of deer are eating them. And for good...
Grain sorghum (similar to milo) isn’t a popular choice for most modern food plotters. It’s extremely underrated, though — especially if you want to attract multiple species of wildlife such as turkey, quail, dove, etc. It’s important to note there are two slightly different varieties — milo sorghum alum. Sorghum...
Wheat is good. This cool-season cereal grain is highly digestible, has 18 to 20 percent protein and holds a lot of nutritional value. Furthermore, it can commonly produce up to 6,500 pounds of forage per acre during the hunting season. But wheat has a bad side. It doesn’t provide as...
The soybean plant is the king of deer feed. Period. It’s higher in protein (approximately 25-30 percent), offers a good number of carbohydrates and is more palatable than most food sources available to deer. Furthermore, deer don’t have to work hard to eat it. It sits at an easy-to-reach height...
Ladino clover is one of several great perennial clover varieties. It’s also likely the most popular of the white clovers. Ladino is very healthy for deer and comes packed with essential nutrients cervids need. It’s a larger variation of the clover species and offers a lot of forage for wildlife...
With food plot season well underway, there are still some decisions to be made ... and mistakes to be learned from. You might find more questions than absolute truths. The first head-scratcher probably involves what to plant, a major consideration of which is the choice of annuals or perennials. Annual...
Corn is an annual, warm-season plant that deer most certainly love. And I love it too. Not only does it provide a great food source but it also offers quality cover for deer, too. While corn isn’t high in protein (only about 8 to 10 percent), it is high in...
Commonly confused with rye grass, cereal rye is a much better option for wildlife. While rye grass is poor in health value and palatability, cereal rye will benefit the deer you’re planting it for. Grown as a grain crop, it is most commonly consumed by wildlife (and livestock) during the...
Alyce clover originated in Asia but is another great seed option right here at home. Deer love this annual legume due to its higher glucose levels and sweeter taste. It’s high in protein (15 percent) and provides nutrients necessary to boost both milk production in lactating does and antler growth...
Chufa is a warm-season perineal sedge that is high in health value — both for humans and turkeys. It has 30 percent fiber, 10 percent protein and 15 percent carbohydrates. It even has high levels of vitamins A and B. While numerous wildlife species benefit from it, this is a...
Lablab is one of the best early season food sources available for deer. It’s a warm-season annual legume like soybeans and different varieties of peas. It contains approximately 25 to 30 percent protein and provides many nutrients necessary for a healthy deer diet. At its peak, lablab can produce as...
Grasses and clovers are good plants to use in your wildlife openings and are especially important to wild turkeys. They offer excellent foraging and brood habitat for adult wild turkeys and turkey poults. These plants produce a large amount of seeds, which benefit mature birds, and attract hordes of insects,...
Very few trees are appreciated more than a flowering dogwood. From Maine to Michigan and Texas to Florida, flowering dogwoods beautify the understory of mature hardwood forests and decorate communities with their lovely spring flowers and vibrant autumn foliage. Indeed, dogwoods are a year-round favorite, valuable to man and beast...
The best winter wheat crops have to have a healthy, vigorous start, good tillering (shoot growth) and be well established before winter hits. DeltAg Seed Coat is a dry biostimulant formulation designed for hopper box seed treatment in the field. Seed Coat, applied at a rate of 4 ounces per...
Love it or hate it, honeysuckle is here to stay. Wildlife managers and hunters, particularly in the South, recognize honeysuckle as a significant browse species for white-tailed deer. The leaves provide a year-round, highly digestible, quality forage with reported protein contents ranging from nine to 20 percent, depending on time...
