What can I plant in a food plot that is pretty to neighbors and attractive to deer?
Filed under: Ask Grant, Food Plots
I own 14 acres in central Missouri. My land is surrounded by a mixture of mature woods and pastures. There are no ag crops in the vicinity. I do have a couple of small food plots on my land, but I’m really trying to figure out the best thing to plant in the 2 or 3 acres of fields I have that are currently fescue. These fields are really an extension of our yard, so how they look is important (at least to my neighbors!). Ideally, I’d like it to be something perennial. I mow these patches two or three times per year. Would rye grass be a better option than fescue? What could I plant that would benefit the deer in this situation? Thanks for your help and the incredible wisdom that you share with deer nuts like me!
Todd
Todd,
I’m not a rye grass fan. However, heavily fertilized rye grass is more attractive and will provide more nutrition to deer than fescue. Given that you want something that looks like turf that deer will consume, rye grass is a viable option. If it was my yard, I’d plant soybeans, make the deer happy and let the neighbors worry about their own yard. Obviously, I’m more of food plot guy than a yard guy — just ask my wife.
Growing Deer (and relationships) together,
Grant
