Food Species Profile: Wheat
Wheat is a cool-season cereal grain that is easy to establish and germinate, and deer enjoy foraging on it throughout the hunting season. Turkeys enjoy the seed heads in the spring and summer, while deer enjoy foraging in the fall.
Planting
Wheat is available in “winter wheat” and “spring wheat” varieties, and can handle a wide range of pH levels, but does best on soils with a pH of 6.0-7.0. Soil testing is recommended to determine the pH and fertility levels of the planting site.
Maintenance
Wheat is an annual crop that must be replanted each year, so it’s best to get started early in the growing season. If production and harvest aren’t a concern, the initial fertilization and additional nitrogen mentioned above should be enough to get your crop through deer season.
Varieties
Consult your local county Extension agent for the best varieties to plant in your area, as some varieties are better suited for the South and others for colder climates. Read here why deer prefer awnless wheat varieties.
Do deer prefer wheat or oats?
Oats, with wheat a close second, may be the most favored cereal grain in terms of taste (attraction). Oats planted in late summer or fall can provide a strong flush of growth and attract deer for several months in northern regions, but it rarely survives the winter.
What month do you plant wheat?
Spring wheat is planted as soon as possible in the spring and harvested in the late summer; dormant seeding occurs in late November or early December, when the ground is cold enough to prevent germination until spring.
How long will deer eat wheat?
Yes, deer will graze on wheat, especially young, green winter wheat in the late fall. Winter wheat is a great food source in January, February, and March around here, and the deer love it when it gets green and is about 4-5 inches tall.
When should I start a deer food plot?
The end of July and early August are arguably the best months to plant a food plot because weeds will be dying, moisture will be increasing, and food plotters will have months to plan their next great food plot planting.
Will deer eat uncooked oatmeal?
Deer can eat uncooked or raw oats because they have strong digestive systems that can break down most bacteria found on said oats. Corn, on the other hand, is very difficult for deer to digest, so it is recommended that you do not feed them corn at all.
Does deer like winter wheat?
Winter wheat is an excellent cool-season forage for white-tailed deer, and it is consistently eaten by deer from the time it is planted in late summer/early fall through winter, regardless of what other forages are available, according to cafeteria-style plot tests.
What is the best time to plant wheat?
Sow in late summer or early fall for an overwintered crop; spring wheat can be planted while the soil is still cool. Broadcast seed about 3 inches (7 cm) apart and one-half inch (1 cm) deep into cultivated soil.
Does winter wheat come back every year?
Winter wheat is typically planted in the Northern Hemisphere from September to November and harvested in the summer or early autumn the following year; however, facultative varieties can be grown as either winter or spring wheat depending on sowing time.
When should I plant winter wheat for deer?
Wheat should be planted when rain is expected for a day or two after planting, which is late August to mid-September in the north and late September to late October in the south.
How much seed do I need for a 1 acre food plot?
If planting a pure stand of crimson clover, the recommended seeding rate (broadcast, not drilled) is about 25 pounds of PLS per acre.
Is bread okay for deer to eat?
Corn and bread will be eaten by deer but can kill them; small amounts are fine, but if a bunch is left and only one or a couple of animals find it and eat the whole thing, they will die of indigestion; you can’t control how much any one of them will consume because wild deer will not approach it until you leave.
What attracts deer the most?
Red clover, chicory, and orchard grass are common deer attractants, as are high-protein crops like peas, soybeans, turnips, alfalfa, sorghum, kale, or corn. Deer also enjoy the nutritious nuts found in chestnuts and acorns.
How many deer will a 1 acre food plot support?
Both Fort Perry and Gary Schwarz’s El Tecomate support 3.5 deer per acre of food plot, but both programs farm intensively and include a supplemental “safety net.” A reasonable rule of thumb with a bit of wiggle room is that an acre of food plot will support about three deer.
Are salt licks good for deer?
Mineral licks are commonly found in nature, and animals regularly visit those sites where natural salt licks are abundant to supplement their diet. They contain essential mineral nutrients of salt deposits and trace minerals such as phosphorus, iron, zinc, and calcium.