Deer and Alfalfa

[BDann]

We're getting ready to plant a bunch of alfalfa on the farm this fall, instead of the normal wheat and soybeans.  Any ideas on how this may affect the deer feeding patterns?  Do deer feed on alfalfa year round?

[Roughrider]

Yes, especially when it's tender and actively growing.  Once it begins to flower and the quality goes down, so does the deer usage if other feeds are available.  I have about 50 acres of alfalfa in ND that does well for the deer when there's moisture. About ten acres of it is the alfalfa from Whitetail Institute, I think they call it Alfa-rack, and the deer will walk through the others to eat it - it also makes great hay.

[Hummer3T]

If you are planning to take several cuts off it you will see activity throughout the growing cycle.

[Jake Fr]

If yor planting in the fall it will be really thin unless you get a lot of rain but you can mix in some some turnups and deer love them and it will help your alfalfa out as well

[Hummer3T]

Remember alfalfa needs/likes a cover crop, usually you plant under a plant that you can take off that year, I would choose oats, barley, and if someone is harvesting for you other than for hay try similar seed sixe like canola, etc.