On August 18, 2007 I planted a combined 4 acres of fields, roadside edges, strips, and plots in iron and clay peas, soy beans, and a smattering of sorghum. By Labor Day, September 3, 2007, just 16 days post-planting, the soil moisture and a tiny bit of rain had helped the beans and peas sprout and the deer ate all of them to the last little stem. There was nothing left except thousands of white stems approximately three inches in height. Where once greenery was appearing, now there is brown, gray, and black bare dirt plus a bazillion deer hoof prints.
Yesterday I went hog hunting there and noted all the stems are budding again! With a little luck and a little rain I may have a crop for hunting season after all. I was considering replanting everything but I may hold off. For two hours yesterday I watched a doe and her button buck feed on corn and peas. Nice! No pigs however and that is good too.
Near the end of the day a single small deer with impressive leg, hind quarter, and "blond" color characteristics joined the other two. Not albino, just distinctively lighter in color than the standard brown. I focused my 10X binoculars on its head to determine if it was a B-buck, but no luck. It's forehead is flatter and its face shorter than a yearling doe but there are no tell-tale button markings of a buck. I would very much like its characteristics in my neighborhood deer herd if it turns out to be a buck. I tried to watch when it flipped its tail for evidence of sex, but no luck. Next time I will try to get photos.
