Is there a "plant once" crop for a deer food plot?

[cqaigy2]

Think long-term.

Plant alternating rows of pines and mixed oak trees that produce acorns. The pines will grow fast and provide shelter for deer and turkey. The mixed oaks will be stressed by the pyramid shape of the fast growing pines and shoot up tall and straight. It'll take a dozen years or more to get the acorns going well (ours took over 20), but once you start getting acorns, deer and turkey will not only over-night there like they did when the trees were small, they'll start feeding on the acorns.

This is looking long term for sure, something like a legacy for those who follow.

 

[Streetcar]

Hloneysuckle is a terrible weed, do not plant it. Deer love oak trees so they must be protected. They have killed 8 ft tall trees that I thought were safe and pulled protection

 

[Gary Fowler]

To me a deer is just an overgrown goat. The more prickly it is, the better they like it. They will walk thru a bunch of field peas to get to an okra or cantaloupe vine. Once the deer at my place found my okra, I haven't been able to grow any since, they nibble it to the ground.
As for perennial, cant help you there.

 

[CMV]

The clover sounds lowest maintenance. Should be good for the honeybees as well - or is it a different type of clover vs what grows wild?

Not doing anything 'long term' since i don't intend to live here and keep this property forever. Don't plan to retire in NC, so maybe 10 yrs most.

 

[boomer1025]

Plant some Alfalfa and red and white Clover mix. That should cover the deer an honeybees food and will come back year after year for a long time.

 

[3gunr]

Plant some Alfalfa and red and white Clover mix. That should cover the deer an honeybees food and will come back year after year for a long time.

Turkeys also love clover as do other small game . A clover plot if maintained can last up to 6 yrs .they need to be mowed and periodically sprayed for weeds and grasses. Don meally has really good you tube videos on food plots.

 

[jaxs]

Is there something I can plant once on about 1/2 acre that will just keep coming back year after year for a food plot? I don't want to spray, till, replant every year. But would like something to attract deer (turkeys too if plants do that) in the fall. There's plenty for them to eat on adjacent properties and probably hard to get them away from the acorns once those start falling, but if there's something I can do once, and then just do minimal maintenance I'd like that.

I get some success with corn + Deer Cane, Beet Crush, or similar in late fall & winter but thinking real vegetation might be better.

The clover sounds lowest maintenance. Should be good for the honeybees as well - or is it a different type of clover vs what grows wild?

Not doing anything 'long term' since i don't intend to live here and keep this property forever. Don't plan to retire in NC, so maybe 10 yrs most.

Perhaps you can start with making your mind up.

 

[Doofy]

I've planted red/white sweet clover mix for any critter or bee that can use it. Moose and caribou enjoy it on occasion. Rodents (red- backed voles) really like it and they feed the owls, hawks and other birds and the red fox. We enjoy the photo ops.

 

[oosik]

When we had a garden the deer seemed to like most everything in the garden. It was something different.

 

[dieselscout80]

Turkeys also love clover as do other small game . A clover plot if maintained can last up to 6 yrs .they need to be mowed and periodically sprayed for weeds and grasses. Don meally has really good you tube videos on food plots.

3gunr,

What are you spraying on clover to kill the weeds?