[tldga3]

Do deer eat the soybeans in the late winter if they are not harvested? I had heard they did and have a small plot about a 1/2 acre. I was wanting to plant winter wheat in there and thought about just broadcast spreading the wheat right into the soybeans. Would you recommend this or should I disc and drag the soybeans under, then plant the wheat??

They sure do eat this in late winter. Where I hunt, last year there were about 1 acre that was too wet to harvest so they left them. Saw lots of deer there.

 

[old Graybeard]

Some guys I know plant late season beans just for the deer to eat through the winter.

 

[tpriest]

Do deer eat the soybeans in the late winter if they are not harvested? I had heard they did and have a small plot about a 1/2 acre. I was wanting to plant winter wheat in there and thought about just broadcast spreading the wheat right into the soybeans. Would you recommend this or should I disc and drag the soybeans under, then plant the wheat??

Broadcast the wheat in with the beans! It will be golden!

 

[Fireman1690m]

ok, I am a farmer and here is what happens. When the soybeans get dry enough to harvest, 10 to 15% moisture, the deer can eat them but they do not digest any of the protein. They have to be wet and swollen for the deer to be able to digest it. I would plant them anyways because it will draw them in. If you are going to plant wheat over top of them, spread it on before the leaves start dropping from the beans. Then, when the leaves do fall off they will cover the wheat and it will sprout and grow.

 

[Jeff K in IL]

I forget all about the beans once they brown out. At that time, around me,m the corn is the number one priority.

 

[NewBow14]

soybeans are considered primarily as a spring/summer plot. It definitely won't hurt the deer to eat them in late winter but as someone mentioned earlier, as the beans break down so does the protein content in them. the main concern deer have in getting through the winter is energy, legumes such as soybeans have a huge protein content but not so good for energy needed in the hard winter. i'm in no way a food plot expert but throwing that wheat in with your left over soybean plot should work for you pretty well. you'll have your wheat for energy and i'm sure they won't mind diggin the beans left in the ground

 

[RxBowhunter]

ok, i am a farmer and here is what happens. When the soybeans get dry enough to harvest, 10 to 15% moisture, the deer can eat them but they do not digest any of the protein. They have to be wet and swollen for the deer to be able to digest it. I would plant them anyways because it will draw them in. If you are going to plant wheat over top of them, spread it on before the leaves start dropping from the beans. Then, when the leaves do fall off they will cover the wheat and it will sprout and grow.

+1

 

[Stanley]

They love beans anytime of the year.

 

[Buckbadger]

I would have to agree with both Jeff and Newbow. I think it all depends on what stage the beans are at, and what other avaible feed is around?

Most deer seem to hit the beans heavy in late Spring and Summer when the plants are lush and green. With that inmind, a late planting that is still green will draw them, although as they brown and other food sources come avaiable, they will not hit them as much.

Once they brown out, in area where White Oaks and corn is within easy access, I'd think these food sources would be the better bet now.

 

[WEEGEE]

ok, I am a farmer and here is what happens. When the soybeans get dry enough to harvest, 10 to 15% moisture, the deer can eat them but they do not digest any of the protein. They have to be wet and swollen for the deer to be able to digest it. I would plant them anyways because it will draw them in. If you are going to plant wheat over top of them, spread it on before the leaves start dropping from the beans. Then, when the leaves do fall off they will cover the wheat and it will sprout and grow.

+1 KEEP THE DEERE TRACKS OUT OF THE BEANS:wink:

 

[ruffme]

Deer love the young shots on the bean plants and will nip them, off down to the stems. When the beans begin to get older and especially in the yellowing stages they tend to lay off them. Then when all that's left is browse they will eat any leftover beans trying to get the highest protein food source available.

 

[country2]

If you disc them under it would be a HUGE mistake!! I plant beans and corn as foodplots side by side.The deer will eat the mature beans 2 to 1 over any other late season food source you can think of.People always say corn because there is lots of waste grain left in corn fields in the late season and there is hardly anything in a bean field so people don't get to see how much they like them.If you leave those beans (plant the wheat if you like in them) I promise you will have the best season of your life over them as long as you don't over hunt it.

 

[DIESEL40]

i would defiantly leave them and broad cast the wheat in them.

 

[scrapejuice]

Thanks a ton everybody.

The beans will be left standing!! I'm going to broadcast the wheat right into it.

Thanks again!!:darkbeer: