No one type of deer food planting will meet deer needs throughout the year. Instead, plant a variety of cool and warm season species to maximize forage year round and cover the stress periods. Different plants provide different nutrients to deer. Knowing the missing nutrients in an area, and using supplemental plantings to provide these nutrients, is the key to successful planting for deer. Oats provided the highest level of phosphorous and legumes provided more calcium.
Energy is important in late winter, especially in years of low acorn production.
Planting strategies may include both single and mixed species plantings. However, mixing crops may cause competition among plants and reduce yield. In larger plots, strip planting cool weather crops in one portion and warm weather crops in the other provides greatest production. To avoid over browsing, field peas and soybeans should be planted in larger plots. Evaluate deer utilization by placing wire exclosures in plots to prevent animals from eating in a small area.