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Alfalfa #6115739 01/03/16 05:30 AM
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etx reaper Offline OP
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I hunt in NE Texas in the Pineywoods Area. Question is will deer in this area eat Alfalfa Hay. In trying to hold the deer I have now throughout the year by feeding year round. Was wondering if Alfalfa and starting to feed protein will help. And any other advice about feeding year round in my area would be greatly appreciated.


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6115750 01/03/16 05:45 AM
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I have tried protein at my place in Marion co. It was untouched.,...I mixed corn in with it and they would eat the corn but ignore the protein. So to the protein I would say it probably will not work. I have not tried nor have I heard of anyone using alfalfa hay on free range deer in east Texas. I suspect it is going to be about as successful as my protein feeding. I just think that deer in north east Texas have a lot of food available to them and can be picky on what they eat.

Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6115758 01/03/16 05:54 AM
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Try Purina brand antlermax protein. Deer where we hunt could take or leave all other protein. We tried this and they'll go through 50# a day in free choice feeder, it may work for you. Also break up the alfalfa bails and sprinkle corn on pieces to get deer started on it....

Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6115771 01/03/16 06:21 AM
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Thanks


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6115956 01/03/16 02:24 PM
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Alfalfa works anywhere. It's easy to experiment to see as well. Buy a couple bales, take a slice or two off, and throw it near one of your feeders. Put a trail camera up, and see how quickly the bale slices disappear. Make sure you put it out when there is no rain in the forecast, that way you have a better chance of more deer finding it without a bunch of mud in it. Odds are very high that the dominate buck and oldest does will find it and fight others off to keep it. Here is a still pic and video of such a setup... a few slices from a square bale. The square bale will cost you $12-15 in most parts of Texas.

[Linked Image]


Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6116010 01/03/16 02:56 PM
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New growth Alfalfa grows some really big deer north of Vernon in the Odell area on the river.


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6116032 01/03/16 03:13 PM
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I tried 4 bales worth, spread across 2 feeders last fall just north of Hollis,OK (SW corner of OK) and I don't think they ever took a bite.

Just my experience...

Charlie


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: CharlieCTx] #6116093 01/03/16 04:09 PM
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it takes them awhile to get on it but mixing with corn helps - once they do get on it they wear it out.

I built simple feeders for the bales - took 55 gallon plastic drums and cut in two. Then built a "trough" set up out of wood that held the two drum halves. Then built a wood framed cover over the top of the trough and put tin roof on it. Keep some of the rain off of it and worked well -


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6117137 01/04/16 02:13 AM
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I put a half bale out at one of our busiest feeders and after about 3 weeks they started bedding down in it at the feeder. Hogs even past it over.


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6117799 01/04/16 03:52 PM
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They tear it up at our place in San Saba county.


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6117810 01/04/16 03:58 PM
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Make a food plot. Clover, soybeans and clay/ iron peas. I believe you will get best results going this route



Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6118692 01/05/16 01:05 AM
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Thanks for all the advice. I hunt I'm a small 3 acre oak bottom surrounded by thicket with a creek running through it. Think I may get on the edge of the bottom and clear out a acre and plant in the next few weeks


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6123273 01/07/16 04:27 AM
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We use it late season when everything has died off and it's basically deer crack on our place. We buy 130lb bales for $45 and it's worth every penny. We have mature bucks come to it that won't ever approach a corn spin feeder and I've seen deer fight over who gets to eat it.


Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6123283 01/07/16 04:33 AM
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Get the primo...well worth it in my opinion.



Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6123287 01/07/16 04:35 AM
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I am not a fan of alfalfa hay, due to the cost of it vs. the wasted stalks/stems that deer do not eat. Deer also pick out the leaves (which are the highest protein) which can cause rumen problems with nutritionally stressed deer. A little alfalfa is not a bad thing in a stressed deers diet, to much is a problem IMO. I would not put out full bales of it at one time unless I spread that bale between several feeders.


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6123603 01/07/16 03:10 PM
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Good info. I can't speak on nutritional facts, but just how the deer seem to be attracted to it. We only use it late season after everything has died off. We will spread a 130lb bale amongst 6 feeding locations and it seems to last 4-5 days.


Re: Alfalfa [Re: HuntingJunkie] #6123680 01/07/16 03:49 PM
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Originally Posted By: HuntingJunkie
Good info. I can't speak on nutritional facts, but just how the deer seem to be attracted to it. We only use it late season after everything has died off. We will spread a 130lb bale amongst 6 feeding locations and it seems to last 4-5 days.

If they are eating stalks and stems also then the protein value is less than leaf only. Plus the stalks and stems are adding a lot of fiber to help the rumen out. If they are only eating the leaves then I would be concerned about rumen health and my wasted money laying on the ground. I can buy 4 bags of protein for that money that I know will all be eaten. That will be 200 lbs vs 130 lbs. I will be getting minerals as well as protein into the deer. I have seen mature bucks eat 10 lbs of protein per day post rut for about a week, then slow down. They pound the feed post rut and getting them into good shape ASAP post rut is the key to them starting out their antler growth for this year. Deer are like us, we are attracted to things that not be the best for us nutritional wise. I can speak truthfully about that grin


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6124708 01/08/16 01:26 AM
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More good info. Thanks. We also keep a heavy dose of protein available for the herd at all times at the feeding stations as we agree in the importance of it, especially following the rut. We use the alfalfa really as an attractant late season as it seems our deer will travel quite a distance to find that wheat if we don't supply something green for them. Hopefully we're not doing any harm. We unfortunately can't do any food plots so this has been our late season food plot if you will.


Re: Alfalfa [Re: HuntingJunkie] #6124997 01/08/16 04:06 AM
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Originally Posted By: HuntingJunkie
More good info. Thanks. We also keep a heavy dose of protein available for the herd at all times at the feeding stations as we agree in the importance of it, especially following the rut. We use the alfalfa really as an attractant late season as it seems our deer will travel quite a distance to find that wheat if we don't supply something green for them. Hopefully we're not doing any harm. We unfortunately can't do any food plots so this has been our late season food plot if you will.

The way it sounds the alfalfa is not all they have to eat. Just a small portion of their diet that time of the year. I hunted Stonewall and Kent Counties in the late 90's and know the value of late season food source for the deer up there. We had wheat on our lease or around us, it was a magnet late season in bad weather for all deer. Bucks hit is really hard in bad weather.


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6125523 01/08/16 04:06 PM
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STX... Where were you hunting in Stonewall/Kent? Our ranch is right on the county line. My blind is actually in Kent while the camp is in Stonewall. CR438 in front on the double mountains. Love it out there.

Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6125535 01/08/16 04:14 PM
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North and East of Jayton


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Re: Alfalfa [Re: stxranchman] #6125539 01/08/16 04:17 PM
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Originally Posted By: stxranchman
Originally Posted By: HuntingJunkie
More good info. Thanks. We also keep a heavy dose of protein available for the herd at all times at the feeding stations as we agree in the importance of it, especially following the rut. We use the alfalfa really as an attractant late season as it seems our deer will travel quite a distance to find that wheat if we don't supply something green for them. Hopefully we're not doing any harm. We unfortunately can't do any food plots so this has been our late season food plot if you will.

The way it sounds the alfalfa is not all they have to eat. Just a small portion of their diet that time of the year. I hunted Stonewall and Kent Counties in the late 90's and know the value of late season food source for the deer up there. We had wheat on our lease or around us, it was a magnet late season in bad weather for all deer. Bucks hit is really hard in bad weather.


We hunt the southern Panhandle (Childress/Hall/Collingsworth) and as you know, if you don't have a good green food source the deer will literally disappear. I hunted a ranch in Foard Co for years that bordered the Waggoner....very rough terrain. Come Dec, that place was a ghost town. Nearest wheat field was 7 miles away and I swear most the deer in the county would relocate there late season it seemed. Ironic part was the wheat farmer hated the deer due to their sheds popping $1,200 tractor tires.


Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6125541 01/08/16 04:17 PM
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Ok, you were a bit north of us then. We're between Rotan and Jayton.

Re: Alfalfa [Re: etx reaper] #6126460 01/09/16 02:27 AM
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Originally Posted By: etx reaper
Thanks for all the advice. I hunt I'm a small 3 acre oak bottom surrounded by thicket with a creek running through it. Think I may get on the edge of the bottom and clear out a acre and plant in the next few weeks



if you are going to plant in in Shelby County you need to contact Dr. Young at SFA he is an expert on alfalfa on acid sandy soils

http://environmental.sfasu.edu/index.php/faculty/34-leon-young-phd

you can get a soils test from his lab as well and he will of course know PLENTY about Shelby county soils

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