The peas are GONE..the fields are bare. Soy Beans are next.

[Land_Owner]

I planted 4 acres of iron and clay peas in fields of 1.25 acres, 2 x 0.33 acres, and fire lines/roads making up the remainder.  It got hit hard by birds at first due to not covering the seeds, then germinated well, then got hit hard by deer and hogs (who uprooted and wiped out about an acre's worth - they like tilled soil.  Who'd have thought that could be an attractant for wildlife).  Now there are no peas left.  The fields are bare.  There are still deer though.  Coming and going.  Looking for a free meal.  I intend to plant another crop right away.

Benallgood sent me about 70# of soy beans.  These have never been planted here before.  No telling how the deer will react to a different plant group.  I am also reconsidering the use of Grain Sorghum versus its shorter brother Wild Game Food (WGF) sorghum.  The taller grain sorghum, if planted correctly this season, is good cover for the deer who appear secure in the fields when feasting on the peas.  I don't say browsing as they stay on those peas until they have had their fill of them and then move on.

I don't have a Grain Drill and am contemplating how to effect a "proper" distribution that doesn't choke out the peas and will still leave hunting opportunities.  It is recognized that always shooting over the planted fields is a good way to deter the deer from daylight feeding so I am considering relocating several stands to the forest access into the fields.

[deerslayer79]

I feel your pain,suffering with a drought and the deer,my cowpeas are down to slim pickins.I am planning to hook up the no till planter saturday and plant some conventional soybeans in my cowpea plots,hopefully we will get a touch of rain to help them germinate.Deer don't mind a transition on the type of food they eat,cowpeas today,soybeans tommorrow,the deer will eat them all the same.Sounds to me you may need some pig control,I always wanted to try some wild pig,If you catch my drift.