Do Deer Prefer NWSG or Woody Cover?
Filed under: Ask Grant, Deer Biology, Food Plots
Dr. Woods, Is there any research to show any difference in which might be better at holding mature bucks: NWSG such as switchgrass versus early successional habitat? Eric
Eric,
I’m not aware of any research that examined if deer prefer using NWSG’s or early successional habitat (I assume you are talking about woody species). However, the two are rarely grown in the same area as most woody early successional habitat is in the forestry belt and NWSG’s are in the Ag belt. With that said, I know deer readily use NWSG’s habitat. I prefer NWSG’s habitat as it is easier to manage and maintain as productive cover than woody regeneration. NWSG habitat is always easier to hunt. Where practical, I’d strongly prefer to establish, hunt, and maintain the NWSG over woody early succession habitat.
Growing Deer together,
Grant
