Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

toddrice · Mar 2, 2003

Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

I moved to Fox Island WA two years ago from AZ.
I have 6 acres with lots of blacktail on the island.
I have a feeder that throws corn every afternoon and have planted a 1/2 clover plot, but the deer don't seem to care!
Any ideas

treekiller · Mar 2, 2003

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

Plant a bunch of rose bushes! You'll feed all the deer on the island. Seriously, blacktails love rose's, blackberries, raspberries, and any thorny, woody type of browse. You might plant some clover in a food plot. My uncle had a farm years ago in northwest Oregon, and the clover fields always got hit hard.

treekiller

Oregon Fishing Guide · Mar 3, 2003

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

Hey Toddrice,

You might wnat to check the search files for food plots for blacktails. I was asking that question a year or two ago and a guy in Castle Rock Washington told me he put some food plots out. I think he said on the second year of horn growth that there was a substantial growth difference. He said he was amazed how big a differenceit made. I am sorry I can't remember his name. Heck I forget mine sometimes. But, I would check in the search here on MM.

Good luck and let us know how it is going. I am still thinking of putting one up.

Jon

springer · Mar 4, 2003

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

I know they love salt. I've had good luck using water softner salt and putting it in a rotted out stump. The salt soaks into the roots and keeps those deer coming back.

Danbtc · Mar 6, 2003

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

Their is a regular on the BlacktailCountry.com message board ( http://members3.boardhost.com/4DRanch/ ) that has developed several seed blends specially formulated for Blacktails. His name is Dave Douglas. If you post a message on the BTC board I am sure he will respond.

Blacktail_boy · Mar 7, 2003

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

I have never really experimented with food plots although I have seen some guys around Wa use them. I have not heard to many good things about them, but then I have not really followed up on how the guys did. I would like to try and set some food plots in the future but I don't have a good spot to try yet...Let me know how you do....B_B

polarbear · Mar 25, 2003

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

I have experimented with food plots and feed for blacktails for about 15 years. The deer that I've messed with did'nt like alfalfa hay, grass hay, dried or rolled corn, livestock grain, anything with molasses, or dried beans. What they did like was white or red clover, especially white clover, short season alfalfa grass, berrys (almost every kind from strawberrys to blackberrys), corn still on the stalk, beans still on the stalk, rhodedendrons, acorns, hazel nuts, roses, and their #1 favorite, apples! I had to transplant all of my apple trees because of the deer eating the new growth, they never had the chance to grow apples. I have yet to find a feeder food that my blacktails will eat.

eweikum338 · Sep 8, 2003

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

I have tried a few different Food Plots for Blacktails here on our ranch in California. I have found that our Blacktails absolutely fight over RAPE. This seed is available from seedland.com for about $10 for 5 lbs. I have also planted Whitetail clover from the Whitetail Institute which produce enourmous antlers on these bucks.
I am trying their Alfa Rack this fall. I have already started preparing the food plot for planting. I'll let you all know how well they respond to it.
But the true and tried all medicine for Blacktails are peaches. I have videos of these bucks standing on their hind legs, picking a peach, eating them and spitting out the seeds.
Best of luck with your food plots, it's fun trying new things to improve our deer herds.
Ed

CRODOG · Apr 20, 2005

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

Hey Ed, how did your plots turn out? Got any pics.?

IT'S BETTER TO HAVE IT,AND NOT NEED IT,THAN NEED IT ,AND NOT HAVE IT!!

springer · May 25, 2005

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

It has been over 2 years since this post. How did it turn out and what worked for you?

eweikum338 · Nov 4, 2005

RE: Feeder/Food plot for Blacktails?

WOW! Sorry it's been so long since I checked this post.

After a few thousand dollars and several tries with food plots, this is what I have found to work best. CLOVER, CLOVER and more clover. Now the question is which type of clover worked best? Imperial White tail clover from the whitetail institute. These blacktails love it and will leave all else for it.
I must tell you though, all the deer will by-pass all food plots for PEACHES.
End of story.
Ed