Overseeded WGF Sorghum with Shotplot and ProGraze

[Land_Owner]

After TS Fay drown most of the available browse, the deer settled on my newly germinating ICP's and ate them to the dirt line (as they have four previous times).  Saturday (9/20) I overseeded the bare ground in my 3 acres of plots with the equivalent of 8 acres of ShotPlot and ProGraze that was 2007 seed.  I am hoping for 100% germination, but would settle for 50%.

ShotPlot is a mix of Forage Brassicas and ProGraze is annual brassicas, clovers, rape, turnips, and chicory.  I have not used either of these "Evolved Habitat" products.  Pics to follow as the seeds germinate. 

Perhaps a biggun' will participate this season.  Sugar Plum are a dancin' in my head...

[Graybeard]

Now I claim no expert status on the matter but from what I've read or seem to recall from what I think I read I thought most brassicas need a frost before the deer begin to use them to up the sugar content. What's the change you're gonna have a frost?

[Land_Owner]

About a snowballs chance in Pergatory.  We're lucky if we get a good "cool snap" before Christmas.  Maybe put on a sweat shirt sometime in January.  The ducks like it here for the warm climate and open waters they would have had to pick out with an ice auger up north.  Perhaps the brassicas will shield the turnips, clover, rape and chicory so there will be something for the deer to browse until Spring.

[Graybeard]

Kinda what I thought on the frost. I sure don't remember any in Hanies City back when I lived there in '58. I could be mistaken on the brassicas but it sure seems to me that when those things first hit the market folks were claiming the deer wouldn't touch them until after a frost. Just going on memory here and ya know I do have CRS.

[Land_Owner]

My seed purchaser (hunting partner) "got a real good deal" on those year-old brassicas.  Doesn't help if the deer don't eat them.  We'll see.  Since Sunday we've received over 2.26 inches of rainfall.  That'll either stimulate them to germinate or drain them into the Dismal Swamp.  I will report progress.

[Wynn]

I live just a little West and North of Haines City, Fl and hunt the southeastern section of the Green Swamp on two different properties. I plant brassicas and we usually start getting light frosts in late November or early December. Makes for great late season Dear hunting. Right now, our deer are gorging on a massive acorn drop and literally ignoring everything else. We mix the Brassicas in mostly with cow peas & soy bean with the odd handfull of turnip and rape seed. Towards the end of bow season we sow grain rye & oats in the bare spots and edges.

[Land_Owner]

Talk to me about "grain rye".  What is that and what should I ask the seed supplier specifically for?

I did some internet research on "rye" that said "rye grass" was beneficial for and eaten by deer.  I asked for and planted "rye grass" last year.  The plots and roads were beautiful.  It was a real pleasure to sit on stand, except there were no deer!  The deer didn't touch it. 

Now maybe the deer were trying something new to them and just didn't take to it the first time.  I doubt that though.  They eat every ICP plant I grow right to the dirt line.  They don't like WGF Sorghum either.  But the turkeys sure do.

[Land_Owner]

Went for a look at the plots yesterday (9/27) and was disappointed that this past week's rains (>2.5") didn't make the new seeds jump out of the ground.  I was disappointed that I can't tell the difference - perhaps - between weeds and new seed growth.  With the number of seeds distributed and the still barren ground in many locations I was just plain disappointed. 

Perhaps those 2007 seeds were not viable any longer.  I can't see how they could have been wahsed away.  The ground is flat.  Seepage is the way rainfall "runs off".  There was some germination, but several hundred plants across several acres of real estate out of Millions of seeds broadcast is not a good sign.

Perhaps next week there will be more sign.  The place was covered with hoof prints too.  I now wish I was a bow hunter or at least had my four game cameras in place.  Guess there is still time though.  Modern Gun doesn't open here until the 2nd weekend in November.