Sunflower plot
Contributors to this thread:Whitetail Deer
From: fuzzy
18-Aug-23
I just "burned down" a small plot about 1,000 square feet at a transition zone between a rhododendron hollow bedding area and an oak ridge. I've got a thin timber border with winter oats just coming up joining the corner plot. I've got a ladder stand in the timber strip where I can cover the whole small plot and the (usual morning wind) upwind approach trails from the timber. There are crop fields on the other side of the bedding area which is about 600 yards by 800 yards.
From: fuzzy
18-Aug-23
My question is would sunflower be a good choice to get deer to stop off for a bedtime snack?
From: Catscratch
18-Aug-23
Where I'm at sunflowers need full sun and a lot more than 1000 square feet to make it. Deer love them and will eat them to the ground in short order. Even a couple of acres of sunflowers are in danger of not getting far once the deer find them. I'd guess that you might need something that can handle browse pressure well, maybe a clover?
From: fuzzy
18-Aug-23
I just "burned down" a small plot about 1,000 square feet at a transition zone between a rhododendron hollow bedding area and an oak ridge. I've got a thin timber border with winter oaks just coming up joining the corner plot. I've got a ladder stand in the timber strip where I can cover the whole small plot and the (usual morning wind) upwind approach trails from the timber. There are crop fields on the other side of the bedding area which is about 600 yards by 800 yards.
From: 2Wild Bill
18-Aug-23
I think you are a little late to be planting sunflowers.
From: dnovo
18-Aug-23
I planted close to a 1/2 acre a few years ago and they came up great. They got about 4-6 inches tall and the deer are every one in less than a week. I just planted the same plot again right after 4th of July. Got some good rain at the right time and they’re taking off good. I was wondering if it was a bit late but some are better than knee high and starting to develop heads. The difference is that this spot is close to my shed so I put an electric fence around it. After the first week the deer learned to leave it alone. 1000 sq ft is just a snack for them
From: Pat Lefemine
18-Aug-23
Can’t imagine planting sunflowers now. If you think deer will hammer it, wait till you see what the bears will do to it- assuming you have bears in your area.
But you never know, hopefully they work for you!
From: fuzzy
18-Aug-23
Pat we have one of the highest bear densities in the Eastern US. I know it's late for sunflower, not expecting blooms just something green in the first week of October to make em stand still awhile when crossing into the laurels. And yeah Catscratch I suspect the deer would mow em down before they get started. I've got lots of clover patchwork around just not sure what to do with this little patch. I plan on it being my primary bow stand the first two weeks of October
From: dnovo
18-Aug-23
I planted close to a 1/2 acre a few years ago and they came up great. They got about 4-6 inches tall and the deer are every one in less than a week. I just planted the same plot again right after 4th of July. Got some good rain at the right time and they’re taking off good. I was wondering if it was a bit late but some are better than knee high and starting to develop heads. The difference is that this spot is close to my shed so I put an electric fence around it. After the first week the deer learned to leave it alone. 1000 sq ft is just a snack for them
From: fuzzy
18-Aug-23
Yeah I'll probably have to fence it if I do sunflowers. I've got solar chargers and step in posts
From: APauls
18-Aug-23
Why plant sunflowers instead of something like winter rye or wheat if you just want some green?
From: fuzzy
19-Aug-23
APauls because I already have a patch of oats almost continuous. I want something different to make then use this route
From: Catscratch
19-Aug-23
I've done what you are suggesting (plant spring plants in the fall knowing they won't make grain, but they will get eaten). I've fall planted sunflowers and soybeans. They served their purpose of sprouting and being attractive for a short time, but neither will handle a frost. Maybe you could look at Austrian Winter Peas or something like that? It's difficult to find forbs that are frost tolerant and still palatable but there are some clovers and legumes that might work in your area. Or just say screw it and throw out a bag of sunflower seed... you just might come across something that works for ya!
From: Lewis
19-Aug-23
I have 3 acres of sunflowers here in Tennessee fuzzy and the deer are hammering them and they take 100 days to bloom out probably longer this time of year.why not some brassicas just saying.So far the bears haven’t bothered my sunflowers at least I don’t think.We are covered up with bears.Lewis
From: fuzzy
19-Aug-23
I actually mis spoke it's 10,000 Sq ft about 100x100
From: Lewis
19-Aug-23
Ok fuzzy you have a quarter of an acre this late I guess I would go brassicas or winter peas good luck whatever you decide Lewis
From: fuzzy
19-Aug-23
Actually I put in field peas with popcorn, and mixed brassicas this morning. Thanks Lewis
From: Teeton
19-Aug-23
I know you said you have oats. But here in Pa i can plant then the last week of September. With the right weather, I can have 3 inch oats in 5 days. Young oats are very sweet, just try one a week old. Deer will walk right through a clover field to get to the young oats. After 3 weeks they get course and the deer start to stop hitting them or the frost gets them here in N-E PA. Plant it in 2 planting 2 weeks apart to keep the oats tender. Cheap and very easy. Put a exclusion cage in it, so you can then tell how much its being used and it will be. Sweet young oats is like candy to a deer.
From: fuzzy
19-Aug-23
Teeton good point. I have another plot where I'll put oats later on just not this one.
From: fuzzy
20-Aug-23
This property is a patchwork of small plots interspersed with thick cover and clusters of mixed oaks. My goal is for it to be a place to bowhunt short outings when time or weather isn't conducive to hunting the hardwood "big woods" of the adjacent National Forest. I want a variety of preferred feed plantings in various stages of maturity.
From: fuzzy
26-Aug-23
I overseeded the plot with five pounds of black oil sunflower seed. I'll post pics of progress now through first frost (usually early October here) and a success pic with my first bow kill whitetail doe in the plot
From: Robear
26-Aug-23
I planted an acre of them at the end of July. They got about 2 foot tall and they ate every single plant. No survivors.
From: fuzzy
26-Aug-23
Robear That's kinda what I'm hoping for
From: nchunter
26-Aug-23
I had never heard that deer liked sunflowers. Are they eating the heads or just the plants?
From: Catscratch
26-Aug-23
Mine are just starting to bloom. Mixed them with pinto beans, proso millet, forage collards, and milo.
From: Catscratch
26-Aug-23
Here's what most if them look like. Deer eat the heads before they open. Lots of nutrition in them! The heads will regrow but they won't bloom nice with the new heads. 9 times out of 10 I don't get blooms. Deer love them!
From: dnovo
26-Aug-23
Somebody said they take a 100 days to bloom. I planted mine on July 8th and I have the first one blooming today. Others are ready to open. That's 7 weeks (49 days)
From: Catscratch
26-Aug-23
dnovo, you likely read that it's 100 days to maturity. This is the optimal time frame but many plants will bloom when daylight hours or photoperiod is right, even if the plant isn't fully mature.
From: fuzzy
27-Aug-23
Different varieties have different maturity dates. Maturity is when seeds are hard for harvest. Deer love sunflower leaves. They'll eat them to a bare stem. Thats exactly what I'm after.
From: dnovo
30-Aug-23
I planted close to a 1/2 acre a few years ago and they came up great. They got about 4-6 inches tall and the deer are every one in less than a week. I just planted the same plot again right after 4th of July. Got some good rain at the right time and they’re taking off good. I was wondering if it was a bit late but some are better than knee high and starting to develop heads. The difference is that this spot is close to my shed so I put an electric fence around it. After the first week the deer learned to leave it alone. 1000 sq ft is just a snack for them
From: fuzzy
03-Sep-23
ttt
From: fuzzy
26-Sep-23
Update, as predicted the sunflowers made it to 4 inches high and got hammered. The brassica is growing fast and the oats and the peas are getting nipped. I think this plot will provide shot opportunities at least through early October
From: fuzzy
27-Oct-23
Update, the oats are almost wiped out leaving clover and brassica. Lots of use and some close calls with does while sitting on it
From: Catscratch
29-Oct-23
Congrats fuzzy. Sounds like it's working out well for you!
